We can’t be outside all day. Work and other things keep us at the office or on the couch at home. But with just a few clicks, you can watch a live stream of wildlife or a beautiful view outside.
Many studies show that spending time outside is great for your mental health. What’s even more surprising is that newer studies show that just looking at nature may be good for you. In a study that came out earlier this year, about 50 college students were given a computerized experience of nature. Because of this, many people felt less anxious. The study found that people who really liked being outside got even more out of the virtual experience.
Here are some of the best livestreams you can find on Explore.org, whether you just want to watch live cameras or need a break from your thoughts.
Katmai National Park’s Brooks Falls
This is the camera for you if you like grizzly bears, fishing, or grizzly bears fishing. The camera is in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where grizzly bears often fish for salmon. A few other kinds of wildlife sometimes show up, but the bears are the most interesting. The best part is that it’s not hard to see bears, even when it’s dark and early in the morning in Alaska.
British Columbia’s Orcalab
This is where fog-covered cameras that want to take pictures of the Pacific coast go. Orcalab is a group that has been studying whales for 50 years. With the organization’s cameras, people all over the world can sometimes see a pod of orcas going through the area. There are also sea birds, dolphins, and sea lions that you might see.
Manitoba, Canada’s Northern Lights
You’ll want to remember this camera in Canada’s far north in the evening. The camera is set up right under the aurora circle, which is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, also called the aurora borealis. The afternoon livestream won’t bring much outside the Churchill Northern Studies Center, but good things come to those who wait. Be sure to watch this camera closely, especially at the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Underwater Manatee Cam in Florida’s Blue Spring State Park
Few animals are as gentle and calming to watch as a manatee. The animal, which people call a “sea cow,” grazes quietly beneath. In a Florida state park, this camera is a great way to get close to the animals. The park’s warm spring water brings in a lot of manatees every year.
Hawaii’s Oahu is home to Waimea Bay Cam.
With this live stream from the north shore of Oahu, you can go on vacation without leaving your work. The beach is known as the place where big wave surfing started, so you might see a skilled surfer tearing up the big waves occasionally. If nothing else, you can almost smell the salty air when you watch the waves crash.
