The 10 Best Photos From The Department Of The Interior's Instagram Account In 2014

We've seen some stunning photos of America's public lands pop up on the Department of the Interior's Instagram account over the past year, including some striking animal shots and glorious nightscapes.

The agency is tasked with protecting more than 500 million acres of public lands and waterways across the country, including a wide breadth of national parks, from Acadia to Yosemite.

Take a look at the top 10 Instagram posts on the Interior Department's account from 2014, and follow along throughout the new year @usinterior.

Moose in the Mist There was a heavy fog in the river valley this morning in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. This large bull moose was spotted eating his breakfast of Pacific willow leaves and branches near Headquarters. Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Aug 8, 2014 at 2:18pm PDT

Photo by Tom Koerner, USFWS.

The morning commute is a little different at #Yellowstone #NationalPark. Cameron Patrick captured this photo on a cold morning -- just after the #bison herd had waded through a river along side the road. The bisons' body heat caused the water to turn to steam in the cold air, creating the mist around the bison.

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Nov 11, 2014 at 9:00am PST

Photo courtesy of Cameron Patrick.

The Teton Range glows orange and red after a fresh coat of snow. Robert Buman captured this gorgeous photo just before #sunrise at #GrandTeton #NationalPark in #Wyoming. Photo from www.sharetheexperience.org.

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Oct 10, 2014 at 8:01am PDT

Photo by Robert Buman (www.sharetheexperience.org).

From all of us at the Department of the Interior and NPS (including this grizzly bear), we want to thank you for the kind words about the National Park Service 98th birthday today. Here is our second photo celebrating the national parks and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Wilderness act on September 3rd. This bear is in Lake Clark National Park, a land of stunning beauty where volcanoes steam, salmon run, bears forage, craggy mountains reflect in shimmering turquoise lakes, and local people and culture still depend on the land and water of their home. Solitude is found around every bend in the river and shoulder of a mountain. Venture into the park to become part of the wilderness. Photo: Kevin Dietrich (www.sharetheexperience.org)

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Aug 8, 2014 at 3:25pm PDT

Photo by Kevin Dietrich (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Happy National Public Lands Day! To celebrate the national day that is dedicated to playing, learning, serving and working on our public lands, we’re waiving the entrance fee for all national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands -- including the J. Clark Salyer Refuge (pictured here) in #NorthDakota. This 58,700 acre refuge has a diverse mix of habitats -- from grass prairie and marshes to sandhills and woodlands -- that help support waterfowl, migratory birds and other wildlife. Photo by Gary Eslinger (@USFWS).

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Sep 9, 2014 at 7:17am PDT

Photo by Gary Eslinger, USFWS.

America's first #nationalmonument, Devils Tower is a geologic feature that protrudes out of the rolling prairie in #Wyoming. David Lane (@drlane56) captured this amazing 16-image panorama of the monument illuminated by the #MilkyWay and green airglow. Of visiting #DevilsTower, David says: "From ancient stories of the Pleiades taking refuge at the top to the generations of Native Americas that held it sacred, it had a deep sense of age and a stoic nature that impressed me. It's so unexpected, so large in person, so steeped in traditions."

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:24pm PST

Photo courtesy of David Lane (@drlane56).

America’s public lands, like #Yosemite #NationalPark in California (pictured here), are some of the best places for stargazing. Joseph Taylor (@joe__taylor) captured this stunner of the endless #MilkyWay galaxy floating above the granite monoliths -- Washington Column and #HalfDome -- in @YosemiteNPS’s Stoneman Meadow. "To be a part of a beautiful moment on Earth like this one is always breathtaking, but to capture it with my camera was incredible,” says Joseph. Want to be featured on @USInterior’s Instagram account and our other social media channels? Tag us in your amazing images of national parks, wildlife refuges (@usfws) or @mypubliclands, and we could end up sharing your photo of America’s public lands!

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:06pm PST

Photo courtesy of Joseph Taylor (@joe__taylor).

"If it isn't God's backyard, then he certainly lives nearby." - Robin Williams on Glacier National Park. RIP Photo: Kim Hang Dessoliers

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Aug 8, 2014 at 5:34pm PDT

Photo by Kim Hang Dessoliers (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Tunnel View in #Yosemite #NationalPark (@yosemitenps) provides one of the most famous views of the Yosemite Valley. From here you can see El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rising from the valley, with Half Dome in the background. Toby Harriman (@tobyharriman) snapped this photo from that viewpoint a few weeks ago on as low fog rolled into the valley -- capturing conditions he had always dreamed of. His favorite part of the photo: The climber's headlamp that is visible mid way up El Capitan on the left. Photo courtesy of @tobyharriman.

Ein von U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) gepostetes Foto am Dez 12, 2014 at 2:13 PST

Photo courtesy of Toby Harriman (www.tobyharriman.com).

Amazing photo of a moose through a light blanket of fog in #GrandTeton #NationalPark! Daniel D'Auria (@drdadbooks) captured this image at the Cattleman's Bridge site just after #sunrise as a lone bull moose was crossing the Snake River.

A photo posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Oct 10, 2014 at 7:45am PDT

Photo by Daniel D'Auria (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/31/department-of-the-interior-instagram_n_6401548.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com