Hot air balloon over Auburn, Washington, USA
© Taliesin Black-Brown and Ben Cowan/Nimia
Hot air balloon over Auburn, Washington, USA
Really, there’s only one way to celebrate Hot Air Balloon Day properly. But if you can’t catch a ride in a basket under a giant balloon today, know that the idea dates back at least to 3rd-century China, where paper lanterns were used as military signals. Fast forward to 18th-century France, where two paper-making brothers, the Montgolfiers, launched unmanned hot air balloons. Then, to great fanfare, they tried sending up a sheep, duck and rooster, and finally, Etienne Montgolfier took a ride himself. Designs have improved since then, resulting in the standard hot air balloon seen here.
Related Images
Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Last light on Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
West Cornwall Covered Bridge over the Housatonic River, Connecticut, USA
Beach at sunrise, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida, USA
Buttermere, Lake District National Park, England, United Kingdom
Oktoberfest in Munich from a high view at sunset
Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
Milky Way over the Elbow River, Alberta, Canada
Today on Bing
Banner Peak, Ansel Adams Wilderness, California, USA
Jun 04, 2022
The Dune of Pilat, Arcachon Bay, France
Jun 04, 2021
Date palm groves near Zagora, Morocco
Jun 04, 2019