1306. A decomposing leaf leaves only a delicate reminder of itself on a log. Receiving upward of 140 inches (355 centimeters) of rain annually, the Hoh River Valley is home to one of North America‘s only temperate rain forests. These unique environmental conditions lead to amazing rates of decomposition.
　　(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Olympic Peninsula," May 1984, National Geographic magazine)
　　

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1305. "Glorious age of sail comes to life for cadets aboard the Belgian school ship ‘Mercator,‘ driving past the Virginia capes on a visit to America in 1959."
　　—From the National Geographic Book Men, Ships, and the Sea, 1973
　　

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　1304. "Hopping along with clawlike fins, a sea moth probes with its long nose for food in the soft bottom, levitating briefly to scout its territory."
　　—From "Coral Eden," January 1999, National Geographic magazine
　　

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1303. These three cyclists attempted and completed a 700-mile (1,126-kilometer) bicycle trek along the Alaskan Range. The trio traveled along game trails, gravel bars, and glaciers.
　　(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Biking Across the Alaskan Range," May 1997, National Geographic magazine)
　　

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　1302. "Snubbed by Robert Peary in 1909 after helping him reach the North Pole, Matthew Henson was overlooked by history as well. Discover his story and those of the Underground Railroad, African-American cowboys, and Muhammed Ali at nationalgeographic.com/history."
　　—From the nationalgeographic.com page, February 2003, National Geographic magazine
　　

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