Krista Long began snapping pics of people sliding down a water slide after many visits to the local water park with her tween daughters. The result is an action-packed series that show emotions ranging, she says, “from pure joy to fear, in anticipation of the inevitable splash-down!” (Photo by Krista Long)

Two Herens cows lock horns during the qualification round of the annual “Battle of the Queens” cow fight finals in Aproz, in the western Alpine canton of Valais May 5, 2013. Each year when taken to the alpine pastures, the cows test their strength and fight for the herd's leadership. The competition continues until a new queen has forced all the other cows to retreat. (Photo by Valentin Flauraud/Reuters)

With temperatures soaring and summer well underway, countless Americans will be spending their Independence Day weekend at the beach. Here we revisit some classic images from the turn-of-the-century to the 1930's of vacations by the sea, from Coney Island to Santa Monica.

An orphaned rhesus monkey and white dove that seemed to have lost its mate forged a special bond at the Neilingding Island-Futian National Nature Reserve in China. The monkey was born on the island but had strayed from its mother. Luckily, it was taken in by work staff in the protection center and became friends with the pigeon that had lingered there after possibly losing its mate. (Photo by CNImaging/Photoshot)

“The last known individual of the subspecies was a male named Lonesome George (Spanish: El Solitario Jorge/George), who died on 24 June 2012. In his last years, he was known as the rarest creature in the world. George served as a potent symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos and internationally”. – Wikipedia. (Photo by Rodrigo Buendia/AFP)

An American family with a carved pumpkin illuminated by a candle to celebrate Halloween. (Photo by Sherman/Three Lions/Getty Images). Circa 1955

A collection of Sir Winston Churchill's wartime cigars, including four Romeo y Julieta Cuban Cigars given to Mr Percy Bower, Manager of the cigar department of his suppliers, the Army and Navy Stores to mark the end of the war, are displayed on January 13, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

Young demonstrators (many shirtless) shout and cheer as they overturn a truck trailer in the Reflecting Pool on the Mall facing the Washington Monument during the “Honor America Day Smoke-In” thrown by marijuana activists to protest the official “Honor America Day” ceremonies being held at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC, July 4, 1970. (Photo by David Fenton/Getty Images)