Google celebrated Earth Day 2013 with a very special, interactive Google doodle this morning. The doodle features the cycle of the seasons and sees the sun and moon rise and set over the image. Users can create wind, make it rain and see animals emerge with the click of their mouse.

This fantastic animation marks Earth Day, celebrated today,  April 22nd. Earth Day focuses on the importance of taking care of our environment and is celebrated throughout the world. More than a billion people take part in activities to raise awareness of environmental issues, and one of the most popular ways to celebrate the day is to plant a tree.

The 1969 oil spill that took place in Santa Barbara, California prompted US senator Gaylord Nelson to come up with the idea of Earth Day to raise awareness of environmental issues. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and since this celebration, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act.

Nice work Google!