Happy Alaska Day!

Alaska Day is a legal holiday in (you guessed it) the state of Alaska. It’s observed on October 18, the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States in 1867.

Although the territory was sold to the U.S. in March of 1867, it was not until October that the formal transfer was arranged in Sitka, Alaska. 250 uniformed U.S. soldiers marched to the Governor’s house in Sitka at “Castle Hill,” where Russian troops lowered the Russian flag and the U.S. flag was raised.

To honor the U.S.’ “Last Frontier,” and the largest state in the union, we’ve gathered together some gorgeous photos from Mount McKinley/Denali (#mtmckinley), the highest mountain peak in North America, and Denali National Park (#denalinationalpark).

Cambodia Mourns Passing of King Norodom Sihanouk

Spotlight For more photos from yesterday’s procession, search the hashtag #sihanouk, and visit the Royal Palace location page.

On Tuesday, tens of thosands of mourners lined the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia to honor former King Norodom Sihanouk, who died in China on Monday.

Sihanouk served as the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955, and again from 1993 to 2004, and was the effective ruler of Cambodia from 1953 to 1970. Though much of Cambodia’s history during this period saw devastation and upheaval, Sihanouk came to be known as “The King-Father of Cambodia.” Learn more about his life here.

Berlin’s Festival of Lights

Berlin is in the midst of its annual Festival of Lights. During the festival which runs from Oct. 10, until Oct. 21, 2012, over 70 buildings and landmarks in the German capital are illuminated in various shapes, patterns and colors.

Instagrammers in Berlin are catching some gorgeous, and technical, nighttime shots of the festivities. To see more, check out pictures with the hashtag #festivaloflights, and taken at Potsdamer Platz, Brandenburger Tor, Berliner Dom, Gendarmenmarkt, and Fernsehturm | Berlin TV Tower

Belém Brazil’s Círio de Nazaré

Spotlight Want to see more from yesterday’s festivities? check out the #ciriobemnafoto hashtag, and the Círio 2012 location page.

During the second Sunday of October, hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful gather in Belém, Brazil for Círio de Nazaré, often referred to as the “Christmas of the Amazon.”

Círio de Nazaré—known informally as “Cirio”—celebrates the story of Plácido José de Souza, a farmer who found an image of the Virgin Mary and took it home. The image mysteriously returned to the site where it was found, prompting the farmer to build a chapel there.

The site is now home to the Basilica of Nazaré, and the celebratory procession from the Basilica to the Cathedral of Sé attracts over 1 million pilgrims a year.

Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPneonsigns

Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday.

This weekend’s tag was #WHPneonsigns, which asked participants to capture photographs of neon signs. Every Monday we feature some of our favorite submissions from the project, but be sure to check out the rest here.

Felix Baumgartner’s Historic Jump

Want to see more photos of the jump? Take a look at the Red Bull Stratos Mission Control location page, the @redbullstratos, @redbull, @joergmitter, and @limeximages accounts, as well as the hashtags #felixbaumgartner and #stratos

Earlier today, Felix Baumgartner took a stratospheric balloon flight to 127,000 feet (37,000 meters) and then, he jumped. The freefall jump was an attempt to become the first man to break the speed of sound (690 miles or 1,110 kilometers per hour). It lasted 4 minutes and 22 seconds and according to indicators provided by the @redbullstratos team, Baumgartner surpassed Mach 1. His jump came exactly 65 years to the day after Chuck Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier in an airplane.

The Week on Instagram | 48

News

• New Yorker: Landon Nordeman Instagrams Euro Dog 2012
• Surfing and Instagram Make for Incredible Photos

Get Involved

• Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPneonsigns. View photos from the last project, #WHPshiftingseasons.

Around the Community

• Atlanterhavsveien — Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road
• Location Feature: Imagine Peace Tower
• Protests in Athens Over Chancellor Merkel’s Visit

Atlanterhavsveien — Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road

Want to see more photos? Take a look at Atlanterhavsvegen’s location page as well as #atlanterhavsveien

County Road 64, also known as The Atlantic Ocean Road, is an 8.3-kilometer (5.2 mile) stretch of pavement through island & peninsulas consisting of beautiful arching bridges and scenic causeways that are only 6.5 meters (21 feet) wide.

Storseisundet Bridge is the longest bridge of eight bridges that make up Atlanterhavsveien, and is the most frequently photographed feature of The Atlantic Ocean Road. It’s been called “The road to nowhere” because, when photographed at the right angle, it can appear as if the bridge leads to a plummet directly into Norwegian Sea.

This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPneonsigns

Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday.

The goal this weekend is to capture photographs of neon signs. Movie theaters, concert venues, and even local neon sign-making shops are all excellent places to start your hunt for the perfect sign photo!

PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPneonsigns to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!

Austin City Limits 2012

Austin City Limits begins today. This marks the 11th year the three-day music festival has taken over Austin, Texas, with more than 130 acts playing to over 70,000 people each day. You can follow the festival’s official Instagram account, @aclfestival, to keep up with what’s happening, and be sure to check out the festival’s location page for more photos from Austin’s Zilker Park.