Update (Wednesday, 9:34 p.m.): The answer to today's challenge is the Bacteria Mats, along Yellowstone National Park's Fountain Paint Pots Trail. Almost everyone who responded knew it was Yellowstone, but I needed more specificity. As I wrote when I visited there last year, "This is actually a large collection of thermophiles--heat-loving microorganisms--that, according to the National Park Service, 'usually form the ribbons of color like you see here. The green, brown and orange mats are mostly cyanobacteria, which can live in waters as hot as 167 degrees Fahrenheit.'" If you weren't the winner, please try again tomorrow.
In just a week, I'll be getting on a plane and heading out to begin Road Trip 2010, and that will mean a slew of new feature stories and photo galleries on some of the most interesting destinations on the East Coast.
It will also mean that the Road Trip Picture of the Day challenge will be (mainly) based on new photos I'll take on the road. But until then, I'm hoping you'll recognize things that I've done on one of the four previous years' projects.
Like today's. It was taken at a beautiful spot, close to something pretty famous. But hopefully, you'll recognize it anyway. And what I want to know from you is, what is this, and where is it located?
So if you have those answers, please e-mail them to me (at daniel--dot--terdiman--at--cnet--dot--com, including "Picture of the Day" in the subject line). At the end of the day, I'll choose a winner at random from among everyone who sends in both pieces of the correct answer. Please forgive me if you don't hear from me if you're not the winner. I get dozens of responses each day.
Also, I've turned off comments because some people have been posting the correct answers there. I hate to shut down discussion, but I want you to figure out the answer on your own.
And one caveat: No individual can win more than two prizes. But at the end of the trip, I'll be drawing a name from among all the daily challenge winners and giving out something a little more substantial to that person.
On June 24, CNET News reporter Daniel Terdiman and his Geek Gestalt blog will kick off Road Trip 2010. After driving more than 18,000 miles in the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and the Southeast over the last four years, I'll be looking for the best in technology, science, military, nature, aviation and more throughout the American northeast. If you have a suggestion for someplace to visit, drop me a line. In the meantime, you can follow my preparations for the project on Twitter @GreeterDan and @RoadTrip.