# img_cn

date: 2025-04-19
filename: ZionValley_ZH-CN0611524754.jpg
title: 国家公园周开始了
copyright: 锡安国家公园，犹他州，美国 (© Simon Dannhauer/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月19日
锡安国家公园，犹他州，美国
穿上你的登山靴——国家公园周开始了！这个为期九天的活动从今天开始，鼓励人们探索并欣赏国家公园的自然美景与文化遗产。这是一个了解这些受保护区域、参与保护工作、并享受壮丽景观的绝佳时机。可以通过参观国家公园、分享这些自然宝藏的信息，来加入这一庆祝活动，同时也感受它们在国家遗产中所扮演的重要角色。
人类在该地区的居住始于大约 8,000 年前，当时由美洲原住民的小型家庭群体组成。


date: 2025-04-20
filename: BunnyLove_ZH-CN1145897965.jpg
title: 复活节兔子要来了
copyright: 春天里的野生小兔子 (© Fiona McAllister Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月20日
春天里的野生小兔子
复活节快乐！今天是全世界数十亿基督徒的重要节日，这是一个重生、庆祝与传承传统并存的时刻。复活节，也被称为“逾越节”或“复活主日”，纪念《新约》中所描述的耶稣基督的复活事件。这也是一个充满节日传统的时刻，从日出礼拜到寻找复活节彩蛋活动，当然还有深受大家喜爱的复活节兔子！
复活节的另一个象征是兔子，因为它繁殖能力强，人们将其视为新生命的创造者。此外，百合花是复活节期间主要使用的花卉。


date: 2025-04-21
filename: JoshuaStars_ZH-CN1375098210.jpg
title: 银河的魔力之下
copyright: 银河下的约书亚树，加利福尼亚州，美国 (© Chao Zhang/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月21日
银河下的约书亚树，加利福尼亚州，美国
想象一下，站在一片漆黑的天空下，银河像一条发光的丝带横跨天际。这正是“国际暗黑周”希望带给我们的体验。每年四月，在新月周（今年是4 月 21 日至 27 日）期间，人们被邀请关闭灯光，仰望星空。这项活动由高中生詹妮弗·巴洛于2003 年发起，旨在对抗光污染。体验夜空之美的最佳地点之一是位于加利福尼亚州东南部的约书亚树国家公园，这是一个国际黑暗公园。在这里，由于没有人工光源的干扰，游客可以看到我们的祖先曾经看到过的星星。你知道吗？光污染使我们无法看到银河系中的大多数星星。通过减少光污染，我们可以重新与宇宙的美丽和神奇建立联系。
暗夜保护区是受保护的区域，用于防止或减少光污染，保持夜空的黑暗。


date: 2025-04-22
filename: YellowstoneSpring_ZH-CN2643482467.jpg
title: 我们的能源，我们的星球
copyright: 大棱镜彩泉，黄石国家公园，怀俄明州，美国 (© Ajith Kumar/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月22日
大棱镜彩泉，黄石国家公园，怀俄明州，美国
在地球日这一天，让我们前往大自然最壮观的地热奇观之一，位于美国怀俄明州黄石国家公园的大棱镜温泉。这是美国最大的温泉，直径达 370 英尺，水温高达 160 华氏度。这一地热奇观由地表下巨大的黄石火山所产生的强大热能驱动。温泉中色彩斑斓的蓝色、绿色、黄色和橙色环带是由生活在富含矿物质的热水中的嗜热微生物（称为嗜热菌）所形成的。
2025年世界地球日的主题是“我们的能源，我们的星球”，呼吁全球团结一致，支持可再生能源，并在2030年前将全球清洁电力的产量提高三倍。


date: 2025-04-23
filename: BeachChairsSteinwarder_ZH-CN2947390092.jpg
title: 波罗的海的魔力
copyright: 海利根港斯坦沃德海滩上的沙滩椅，石勒苏益格-荷尔斯泰因州，德国 (© Frank Lukasseck/eStock Photo)
story:
2025年4月23日
海利根港斯坦沃德海滩上的沙滩椅，石勒苏益格-荷尔斯泰因州，德国
沙滩椅最早是在 19 世纪被发明的，用于防风和防止细沙侵扰。即便是在风暴天气下，如今日照片中石瓦尔德码头前的场景，沙滩椅依旧有其特别的魅力。石瓦尔德是一个风景如画的半岛，最初仅通过盐沼和艾希霍尔茨低地与大陆相连。如今，它是追求宁静与自然的度假者的天堂。
在海利根港的海滩上，有超过 900 把沙滩椅可供租用。如果你深深爱上了这种户外家具，甚至还可以买下来——无论是新的还是二手的。


date: 2025-04-24
filename: KenaiSpires_ZH-CN3045699778.jpg
title: 崎岖山峰与野性水域
copyright: 阿拉斯加基奈峡湾国家公园尖顶湾, 阿拉斯加州苏厄德, 美国 (© Wander Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月24日
阿拉斯加基奈峡湾国家公园尖顶湾, 阿拉斯加州苏厄德, 美国
随着国家公园周的持续进行，让我们把目光转向阿拉斯加基奈半岛上的瑰宝——基奈峡湾国家公园。该公园面积超过1,000 平方英里，拥有高耸的峡湾、蜿蜒的河谷和高山地貌。其中超过一半的区域被冰雪覆盖，冰川占据了其面积的 51%。在 20 世纪，公园内的冰川不断消退，为植物和动物的生长腾出了新的土地。从古老的西加云杉到娇嫩的柳兰幼苗，再到覆盖森林地面的茂密苔藓，尽管地势崎岖，基奈峡湾的植物依然繁茂生长。该公园也是多种陆地和海洋哺乳动物的栖息地，包括森林狼、豪猪、加拿大猞猁，以及虎鲸和长须鲸等鲸目动物。这里还栖息着多种鸟类，如白头海雕和皮尔氏游隼。
基奈峡湾国家公园是阿拉斯加最受欢迎的国家公园之一，为游客提供了休闲和冒险兼备的多种活动，包括游船观光、皮划艇、露营、公用小屋、钓鱼、沙滩拾趣、骑行、徒步旅行、越野滑雪、狗拉雪橇、护林员讲解活动、观光飞行和登山等。


date: 2025-04-25
filename: MagellanicPenguin_ZH-CN3177950090.jpg
title: 身着燕尾服的水手们
copyright: 麦哲伦企鹅, 志愿者角, 福克兰群岛 (© imageBROKER/Matthias Graben/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月25日
麦哲伦企鹅, 志愿者角, 福克兰群岛
可爱、笨拙又极具魅力，企鹅在今天成为了焦点。世界企鹅日旨在庆祝这些不会飞的鸟类，同时提高人们对其栖息地的认识。这个节日起源于南极洲罗斯岛上的美国麦克默多站，当时科学家们观察到阿德利企鹅在这个时候开始年度迁徙。受此自然现象的启发，世界企鹅日应运而生，以强调企鹅在生态系统中的作用、它们面临的威胁以及保护栖息地的紧迫性。
麦哲伦企鹅年复一年地与同一只伴侣交配。雄企鹅会重新占据前一年使用过的洞穴，等待与雌企鹅重聚。雌企鹅仅通过叫声就能认出自己的伴侣。


date: 2025-04-26
filename: BrucePeninsula_ZH-CN3258296517.jpg
title: 悬崖、洞穴与清澈的水域
copyright: 印第安头湾, 布鲁斯半岛国家公园, 安大略, 加拿大 (© Maurice Prokaziuk/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月26日
印第安头湾, 布鲁斯半岛国家公园, 安大略, 加拿大
布鲁斯半岛国家公园是安大略省一段令人叹为观止的尼亚加拉断崖地貌，由时间与水流共同雕琢而成。该公园于 1987 年设立，保护着高耸的石灰岩悬崖、隐秘的洞穴、茂密的森林和未被破坏的湖岸线。作为联合国教科文组织生物圈保护区的一部分，这里是多种适应崎岖地形的野生动物的避难所，比如黑熊、大响尾蛇和白尾鹿。
布鲁斯半岛北部远离大多伦多地区的喧嚣都市，因此被指定为“暗夜星空保护区”。在无云的夜晚，可见银河系中多达 1,500 亿颗星星闪耀其间。


date: 2025-04-27
filename: RedwoodGrove_ZH-CN3339576686.jpg
title: 就在这里驻足吧
copyright: 红木国家公园和州立公园, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 (© Bob Pool/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月27日
红木国家公园和州立公园, 加利福尼亚州, 美国
国家公园周今天落下帷幕，但这些森林已经庆祝大自然数千年了。走进一个树木直插云霄的世界。位于加利福尼亚州红木国家公园和州立公园的红木林，是地球上最高的树木之一，高达超过 370 英尺。州立公园包括红木国家公园、德尔诺特海岸红木州立公园、杰迪戴亚·史密斯红木州立公园和草原溪红木州立公园。有些红木树在玛雅人建造神庙和中国修建长城时就已经存在了。自 1968 年起被保护，这座公园保留了全球近一半现存的原始红木森林。
作为世界上最高树木的家园，这座世界遗产地兼国际生物圈保护区保护了全球近一半的原始红木林，其中包括高度超过 370 英尺的冠军树种，比自由女神像还高五层楼。


date: 2025-04-28
filename: OrangeImpala_ZH-CN3417660107.jpg
title: 这只黑斑羚正在何处漫游？
copyright: 莫雷米野生动物保护区的高角羚，博茨瓦纳 (© Paul Souders/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月28日
莫雷米野生动物保护区的高角羚，博茨瓦纳
这里是野性主宰之地，大自然按自己的节奏律动。莫雷米禁猎区横跨博茨瓦纳奥卡万戈三角洲的东部，面积达1,900 平方英里。该保护区于 1963 年设立，是非洲首个由当地巴塔瓦纳人（一个原住于南部非洲的班图族裔）创建的自然保护区，旨在防止不受控制的狩猎行为，保护该地区的野生动物。永久性的水源与干燥陆地相结合，使这里成为非洲观察野生动物最理想的地点之一。
黑斑羚与牛椋鸟之间存在共生关系，牛椋鸟以黑斑羚身体某些它自己无法触及部位上的蜱虫为食。黑斑羚是与牛椋鸟相关联的体型最小的有蹄类动物。


date: 2025-04-29
filename: GardensVillandry_ZH-CN3660934263.jpg
title: 几何之美绽放于此
copyright: 维朗德里城堡，卢瓦尔河谷，法国 (© Mint Images/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月29日
维朗德里城堡，卢瓦尔河谷，法国
这边的草地确实更绿，尤其是当那一边是维朗德里城堡时。虽然法国卢瓦尔河谷遍布令人惊叹的城堡，但维朗德里城堡却与众不同，它并非以高耸的塔楼或中世纪的雄伟气势取胜，而是以花园闻名。这座城堡建于 16 世纪，由弗朗索瓦一世国王的财政大臣让·勒·布雷顿所建，目的就是为了令人印象深刻。与为战争而建的防御性城堡不同，维朗德里城堡的设计注重舒适，拥有大窗户和开阔、宜人的布局。城堡的花园分布在不同的梯田上。每个梯田有独特的主题。装饰性花园展示了如图所示的几何图案。水景花园则提供宁静的休憩之所，而蔬菜园则将日常作物打造成艺术展示。
1934年，维朗德里城堡被列为历史古迹。和卢瓦尔河谷的其他城堡一样，它也是世界遗产。


date: 2025-04-30
filename: FozdoIguacu2025_ZH-CN3781165595.jpg
title: 瀑布声在各国间回响
copyright: 从巴拉那州看到的伊瓜苏瀑布, 巴西 (© agustavop/Getty Images)
story:
2025年4月30日
从巴拉那州看到的伊瓜苏瀑布, 巴西
伊瓜苏市是一处由大自然雕琢出的奇观，今日图片仅捕捉到其壮丽景色的一角。位于巴拉那州西南角，这片边境地带回荡着瀑布震耳欲聋的轰鸣声，每秒数百万升水以狂野而迷人的姿态倾泻而下。瀑布腾起的水雾在空中绘出道道彩虹，河流的力量将这片土地塑造成一幅仿佛有生命、不断变化的画卷。
关于这座瀑布流传着一个传说：一位神明原计划迎娶一位名叫奈伊皮的美丽女子，但她却与凡人恋人塔罗巴乘独木舟私奔。神明震怒，劈开河流，造就了这片瀑布，并将这对恋人永远定格在坠落之中。


date: 2025-05-01
filename: PinkPlumeria_ZH-CN3890147555.jpg
title: 芬芳的传统
copyright: 鸡蛋花，夏威夷，美国 (© Miranda Jans/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月1日
鸡蛋花，夏威夷，美国
方式纪念这一天，让整个群岛沐浴在花香之中。每年5月1日，夏威夷庆祝“花环节”，这一传统节日旨在弘扬文化、手工技艺，以及无处不在的阿罗哈精神，这种精神被描述为“每个人内心中思想与情感的协调统一”。 自1928年起，这一传统就在夏威夷广为流行。花环：由花朵、叶子或贝壳编织而成的花冠，成为人与人之间联结的象征。节日的灵感来自诗人唐·布兰丁，他提出设立一个专属于夏威夷的标志性花环节日。当地作家格蕾丝·塔沃·沃伦为其赋予口号：“五一劳动节就是夏威夷的花环节”，这一传统由此迅速生根发芽。
花环在夏威夷文化中意义非凡，它象征着难以言说的“阿罗哈”情感。“阿罗哈”一词的含义会随着场合而变化，它既可以代表告别、问候、爱、希望，也可以表达喜悦。


date: 2025-05-02
filename: BrazilHeron_ZH-CN7200229300.jpg
title: 绿鹭
copyright: 维多利亚睡莲上的绿鹭，潘塔纳尔 ，巴西 (© Gerald Corsi/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月2日
维多利亚睡莲上的绿鹭，潘塔纳尔 ，巴西
在巴西郁郁葱葱的潘塔纳尔湿地，一只绿鹭栖息在一片维多利亚王莲的叶面上。这种水鸟，也被称为红树鹭，约16英寸高，是耐心的猎手，擅长埋伏猎物。它会采用聪明的策略，例如投下羽毛或昆虫引诱鱼类上钩。绿鹭常见于南美洲的湿地，也分布于北美、澳大利亚、非洲、亚洲、新几内亚和太平洋岛屿。
绿鹭有时会使用诱饵，它会小心地将一根羽毛或一片树叶投放到水面上，等候前来探查的鱼类。


date: 2025-05-03
filename: ArchesGalaxy_ZH-CN0954505086.jpg
title: 让我们一起庆祝宇宙
copyright: 拱门国家公园双拱门映衬下的银河，犹他州，美国 (© Adventure_Photo/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月3日
拱门国家公园双拱门映衬下的银河，犹他州，美国
你是否曾好奇，通过望远镜看到的土星环是什么样子？又或者，天文学家是如何发现遥远星系的？国际天文日正是探索这些奥秘的绝佳时机！这一年度活动最早于 1973 年发起，其官方主题是：“将天文学带给大众”。 从当地公园到天文俱乐部、博物馆，再到天文台，游客们可以参与望远镜观测、太空讲座，甚至体验模拟月球重力的装置！这一想法起源于加利福尼亚的一位天文学家道格·伯杰。他不再等待人们走进天文台，而是直接把望远镜带到热闹的公共场所。这一招奏效了，人们很快就迷上了仰望星空！如今，世界各地都在庆祝国际天文日，加拿大、瑞典、阿根廷等许多国家都有举办相关活动。今天，就是探索宇宙的好时机。找一架望远镜，一起仰望星空、庆祝宇宙的壮丽吧！
2020年，由于全球新冠疫情，天文联盟取消了线下活动。但如洛厄尔天文台等机构仍举办了线上活动，以延续这一传统。


date: 2025-05-04
filename: SevilleNaboo_ZH-CN1065227658.jpg
title: 欢迎来到纳布星球！
copyright: 西班牙广场，塞维利亚，西班牙 (© Horia Merla/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月4日
西班牙广场，塞维利亚，西班牙
5月4日是《星球大战》粉丝们的“星球大战日”，这一天旨在致敬由乔治·卢卡斯创造的这一广受喜爱的系列电影。该系列共包含九部电影，统称为“天行者传奇”。 其中一个令人难忘的拍摄地是西班牙塞维利亚的西班牙广场，正如今日图片所展示。这座美丽的广场呈半椭圆形，建筑风格令人惊叹，在影片中被用作纳布星的希德城。参议员阿米达拉抵达纳布星的场景，就是在这里拍摄的，演员包括娜塔莉·波特曼和海登·克里斯滕森。西班牙广场独特的设计，包括中央建筑、塔楼和喷泉，为《星球大战》的世界增添了一抹魔幻色彩。这座历史悠久的广场由安尼巴尔·冈萨雷斯设计，最初是为1929 年举办的伊比利亚-美洲博览会而建造的。
无论你身处西班牙，还是银河系的其他地方，愿原力与你同在！


date: 2025-05-05
filename: BeginningofSummer25Y_ZH-CN2000519236.jpg
title: 秀美壮丽的山河
copyright: 日出时分，美丽的喀斯特山脉鸟瞰图，中国桂林 (© zhaojiankang/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月5日
日出时分，美丽的喀斯特山脉鸟瞰图，中国桂林
今天是立夏，标志着我们即将进入夏季，今天图片中壮丽又秀美的山河景色是位于中国桂林的喀斯特山脉景致。桂林喀斯特地貌，位于广西南岭构造带中部，是大陆型塔状岩溶的典型代表，华南地区岩溶演化末期的地貌展现，世界地质遗产地。桂林喀斯特位于南岭构造带中部，以秀美漓江及其支流周边的塔状及锥状岩溶地貌为主要特征，同时发育有许多洞穴。受古生代构造运动的影响，桂林喀斯特形成了独特的岩溶发育盆地。
2024年9月，《桂林喀斯特》入选第二批100个世界地质遗产地名录。


date: 2025-05-06
filename: FlyoverNamibia_ZH-CN2114171516.jpg
title: 不一般的沙漠之旅
copyright: 一架超轻型飞机飞越纳米比亚沙漠 (© Burt Johnson/Alamy Stock Photo)
story:
2025年5月6日
一架超轻型飞机飞越纳米比亚沙漠
想象一下，在轻型飞行器中翱翔于天空，风呼啸而过，俯瞰着如画的风景。下方是世界上最古老的沙漠：纳米布沙漠，在5500万年的风力作用下形成并不断演变。这就是纳米比亚，一片由高耸沙丘、干涸河床和流沙构成的超现实梦幻般的景观。
在大多数富裕国家，超轻型飞行器或轻型飞机如今在全球民用飞机中占据了相当大的比例。


date: 2025-05-07
filename: DunluceIreland_ZH-CN2412229757.jpg
title: 岩石上的城堡
copyright: 邓路斯城堡，安特里姆郡，北爱尔兰 (© DieterMeyrl/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月7日
邓路斯城堡，安特里姆郡，北爱尔兰
如图所示的邓路斯城堡，是否让你仿佛置身于《权力的游戏》？那是因为它正是剧中“派克城”——葛雷乔伊家族领地的现实灵感来源。该城堡建于13世纪，坐落于北爱尔兰安特里姆郡，曾是安特里姆·麦克唐纳家族的据点。该家族是苏格兰麦克唐纳氏族的一个分支，在15世纪至17世纪期间在爱尔兰政治中扮演了重要角色。1690年博因河战役后，该家族的势力衰落，由于缺乏资金维护，城堡逐渐荒废成废墟。
2011年，一次重大的考古发掘发现了“邓路斯失落之城”的大量遗迹，该城镇在1641年的爱尔兰起义中被夷为平地。


date: 2025-05-08
filename: RhyoliteDonkeys_ZH-CN2626127533.jpg
title: 值得大声欢呼的一天
copyright: Rhyolite附近山谷中的驴子，内华达州，美国 (© Moelyn Photos/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月8日
Rhyolite附近山谷中的驴子，内华达州，美国
每年5月8日，驴子们迎来了属于自己的高光时刻——尽管它们可能更喜欢待在阴凉处。世界驴日由来自巴基斯坦的畜牧专家阿卜杜勒·拉齐克·卡卡尔博士设立，旨在庆祝这些勤劳动物的重要贡献。驴子素有倔强之名，但这其实是个误解。它们其实是深思熟虑的动物。与在遇险时可能立即逃跑的马不同，驴子会先停下来评估情况，再决定是否采取行动。从古代的贸易路线到现代的农场，驴子一直是运输与农业的重要角色。在世界许多地方，它们仍然是农村经济的支柱，在车辆无法通行的崎岖地形中负责运送物资。尽管驴子发挥着重要作用，但它们却面临诸多困境。许多驴子承受着过度劳累、虐待，甚至遭到遗弃。
驯化驴如今遍布世界各地，其驯养历史可追溯至公元前4000年之前。


date: 2025-05-09
filename: CuteChameleon_ZH-CN5029981236.jpg
title: 融入又突出
copyright: 普通变色龙 (© Photostock-Israel/SPL/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月9日
普通变色龙
上一刻它们融入环境，下一刻却又炫耀起崭新的色彩。变色龙真是色彩世界里的魔法师。但每年5 月 9 日，这些伪装大师却无法躲避聚光灯。国际变色龙日正是为了庆祝它们的变色技能、闪电般的舌头以及奇特的适应能力。全球已发现超过 200 种变色龙，它们生活在各种不同的环境中。不过，它们变色并非只是为了与背景相匹配，而是用于调节体温、吸引配偶以及与同类交流。它们的皮肤中拥有特殊的细胞，包括能反射光线的虹彩细胞，可呈现令人惊叹的视觉效果。有些种类在发怒时会变亮色，而另一些则采用低调色调以避免引人注目。
树栖类变色龙在移动或停留于树木和灌木中时，会用可抓握的尾巴作为额外的锚点，因此它们的尾巴常被称为“第五条肢体”。


date: 2025-05-10
filename: Castildetierra_ZH-CN6042529770.jpg
title: 童话烟囱！
copyright: 巴尔德纳斯雷亚尔斯自然公园的卡斯蒂尔德蒂拉，纳瓦拉，西班牙 (© Eloi_Omella/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月10日
巴尔德纳斯雷亚尔斯自然公园的卡斯蒂尔德蒂拉，纳瓦拉，西班牙
在西班牙纳瓦拉自治区这片独特的半沙漠景观中心，矗立着一座标志性的岩石地貌：卡斯蒂尔德蒂耶拉。它如天然石塔般的轮廓，是风与水共同侵蚀的杰作，也是这一地区的象征。此地已被联合国教科文组织列为生物圈保护区。
巴尔德纳斯雷亚莱斯自然公园分为两大区域：白巴德纳与黑巴德纳，其鲜明的地貌对比将带给你无限惊喜。


date: 2025-05-11
filename: LeopardMother_ZH-CN6134353524.jpg
title: 以猫科动物的方式庆祝母爱！
copyright: 豹妈妈正在梳理她的幼崽，Jao保护区，博茨瓦纳 (© Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年5月11日
豹妈妈正在梳理她的幼崽，Jao保护区，博茨瓦纳
从温暖的拥抱到明智的引导，母亲们为我们倾其所有。母亲节是致敬那些塑造我们生命的女性的日子，赞颂母爱、牢不可破的亲子纽带，以及母亲们对社会的深远影响。虽然现代美国版母亲节始于 20 世纪初，但庆祝母亲的传统在多个文化中已存在数百年。社会活动家安娜·贾维斯于 1908 年在西弗吉尼亚州格拉夫顿的安德鲁斯卫理公会教堂主持了首届母亲节礼拜仪式，如今那里已成为国际母亲节活动圣地。
豹子曾广泛分布于欧洲，但在晚更新世末期至全新世初期在该地区灭绝。


date: 2025-05-12
filename: IrisGarden_ZH-CN6226448882.jpg
title: 紫色的波浪
copyright: 东京的鸢尾花园, 日本 (© M.Arai/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月12日
东京的鸢尾花园, 日本
赏花是日本深受喜爱的传统活动，每个季节都有其独特的自然景观。当最后一片樱花花瓣随风飘落时，东京的庭园便开始迎接下一场花事盛典：鸢尾花季。今日图片展示的是东京的一处鸢尾花园。鸢尾是一类开花植物的属名，拥有已知的310 个物种，以色彩艳丽、花型优美而闻名。该属的名字来源于希腊语“iris”，意为“彩虹”，也是希腊彩虹女神的名字。
据家族传说，在江户时代早期（1603–1867 年），一位嫁入神护氏家族的贵族女子从日本北部遥远的岩出山城带来了最初的鸢尾花。鸢尾花被视为神圣之花，据说具有驱邪避灾之力，因此很可能被种植在主门前，以保佑婚姻幸福美满。


date: 2025-05-13
filename: TorresChile_ZH-CN6319613148.jpg
title: 66岁，依然美丽动人
copyright: 百内国家公园, 巴塔哥尼亚, 智利 (© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月13日
百内国家公园, 巴塔哥尼亚, 智利
在智利最壮丽的自然保护区之一，野生动物自由穿梭，高耸的山峰与古老的冰川共同塑造出这片原始而壮观的土地。百内国家公园于 1959 年的今天正式成立，至今已满 66 岁，面积超过 448,000 英亩。最初它被称为格雷湖国家旅游公园，1970 年更名为百内国家公园，1978 年被联合国教科文组织指定为生物圈保护区。公园中最具标志性的地貌是三座高达 8,000 英尺以上的巨大花岗岩尖峰：百内塔。这些岩柱由岩浆侵入、地壳抬升，以及数百万年的冰川侵蚀共同形成，最终留下了今天令人惊叹的锯齿状山峰。
这座国家公园也是鸟类爱好者的天堂，共有15 种猛禽在此栖息。其中最著名的当属安第斯神鹰。此外，智利火烈鸟、麦哲伦啄木鸟、白天鹅以及麦哲伦鹅等也是这里常见的明星鸟类。


date: 2025-05-14
filename: SardiniaFlavia_ZH-CN6784449568.jpg
title: 矿石与传奇
copyright: 弗拉维亚港, 苏尔西斯-伊格莱西恩特, 撒丁岛, 意大利 (© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月14日
弗拉维亚港, 苏尔西斯-伊格莱西恩特, 撒丁岛, 意大利
大多数港口依赖延伸至海岸线的码头与吊车来进行货物装载，而波尔图弗拉维亚则完全反其道而行之。这一工程奇迹将一座石灰岩峭壁变成了撒丁岛矿石产业的门户。苏尔西斯-伊格莱西恩特的采矿历史可以追溯至几千年前，从腓尼基人、古罗马人一直延续到 20 世纪的工业繁荣时期。这里曾大量开采铅、锌、煤、硫磺、重晶石和银等矿产。但运输这些矿物却是一场噩梦：矿石需先用推车运至小船，再从小船转运至大型货船，过程缓慢、成本高昂、效率低下。
波尔图弗拉维亚是一处联合国教科文组织保护的遗址，也是该地区采矿和工业考古之旅的推荐目的地之一。如今，隧道内每天都有导览行程，由曾在此工作的工人或IGEA矿业技术人员亲自讲解。


date: 2025-05-15
filename: LondonParliament_ZH-CN7089923691.jpg
title: 伦敦时间到！
copyright: 大本钟和国会大厦, 威斯敏斯特宫, 伦敦, 英国 (© Puthipong Worasaran/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月15日
大本钟和国会大厦, 威斯敏斯特宫, 伦敦, 英国
伦敦最著名的钟楼其实并不叫“大本钟”，这个名字指的是钟楼内那口重达13.5吨的巨大钟体。自1859年以来，它便为伦敦人报时，钟声响起自如今名为“伊丽莎白塔”的建筑中。2012年，在伊丽莎白二世女王登基60周年之际，这座原本称为“钟楼”的建筑被正式更名为“伊丽莎白塔”。自诞生以来，这座钟仅在维修或特殊情况下才停止运转，如一战和二战期间因轰炸受损。它的四个钟面每个直径达22.5英尺，分针长度达14英尺。钟楼高达316英尺，属于雄伟的威斯敏斯特宫的一部分，也就是英国议会的所在地。
这座钟已成为英国的重要文化象征，尤其在视觉媒体中尤为显著。当影视作品需要展示“英国”这一概念时，通常会选用这座钟楼的画面，前景常伴有红色双层巴士或黑色出租车。


date: 2025-05-16
filename: GreenMacaw_ZH-CN3451340204.jpg
title: 守护濒危生命的一天
copyright: 大绿金刚鹦鹉, 墨西哥 (© Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年5月16日
大绿金刚鹦鹉, 墨西哥
每年五月的第三个星期五，全球都会迎来“濒危物种日”。这是一个为濒危野生动植物而庆祝、学习并付诸行动的日子。该活动由濒危物种联盟及环保主义者大卫·罗宾逊于 2006 年共同发起，旨在激励全球各地的人们保护濒危动物及其栖息地。
墨西哥的蝾螈是一种极危两栖动物，它拥有惊人的再生能力，能够重生整个身体部位，包括心脏、肺，甚至大脑的一部分。


date: 2025-05-17
filename: VeniceLagoon_ZH-CN3791408491.jpg
title: 威尼斯式的“甜蜜生活”
copyright: 威尼斯潟湖中的三角洲, 意大利 (© Dimitri Weber/Amazing Aerial Agency)
story:
2025年5月17日
威尼斯潟湖中的三角洲, 意大利
今天图片中的是意大利威尼斯潟湖三角洲的壮观景色。该潟湖面积超过 212 平方英里，由岛屿、泥滩、运河和沼泽组成，是整个地中海盆地最大的湿地之一。潟湖不仅是一个风景奇观，也是一个充满历史和创新的地方。它形成于上一个冰河时期之后，在西元476年西罗马帝国灭亡前后，成为人们躲避入侵的避难所。在随后的几个世纪里，这些早期的定居者开始建造最终成为标志性城市的威尼斯。
潟湖的水位会发生惊人的变化。其中最著名的潮汐现象被称为“高水位”，通常发生在每年10月至1月之间，届时威尼斯部分地区常遭水患。


date: 2025-05-18
filename: ToulouseBridge_ZH-CN3930246927.jpg
title: 图卢兹的暮色
copyright: 加龙河对面的圣皮埃尔桥，图卢兹，法国 (© Image Professionals GmbH/Alamy)
story:
2025年5月18日
加龙河对面的圣皮埃尔桥，图卢兹，法国
夕阳西下，加龙河畔的图卢兹展现出最迷人的景致——圣皮埃尔桥与雄伟的拉格拉夫圆顶倒映在水面上，相映成辉。这座连接粉色之城两岸的桥梁最初建于1849年，后分别在1927年和1987年进行重建，以适应现代需求。
图卢兹拥有三处联合国教科文组织世界遗产：米迪运河（1996年列入，与其他城市共享）、圣瑟南大教堂（欧洲现存最大的罗马式建筑）及圣雅克医院旧址。这两处建筑因其在圣地亚哥-德孔波斯特拉朝圣路线上的重要作用，于1998年被列入世界遗产名录。


date: 2025-05-19
filename: MountHamilton_ZH-CN4280549129.jpg
title: 汉密尔顿山的蜿蜒之路
copyright: 汉密尔顿山, 旧金山湾区, 加利福尼亚, 美国 (© Jeffrey Lewis/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年5月19日
汉密尔顿山, 旧金山湾区, 加利福尼亚, 美国
驾车驶上加州湾区的汉密尔顿山，游客将沉浸于迷人的自然景观与丰富的历史之中。全长19英里的汉密尔顿山公路，是130号州道的一部分。凭借漫长的爬坡路段和稀少的车流量，该道路深受骑行与摩托车爱好者的喜爱。这条公路建于1875年至1876年，最初旨在为世界首个长期有人驻守的山顶天文台“利克天文台”运送建材而修建。在海拔4265英尺的山顶，天气晴朗时，甚至可以远望至优胜美地国家公园或内华达山脉。
汉密尔顿山拥有加州一些最美丽的自然景观，同时也是最脆弱的自然环境之一。这里生长着高大的橡树、珍稀的本地草种，以及遍地盛开的野花。


date: 2025-05-20
filename: HoneyBeeLavender_ZH-CN4513594236.jpg
title: 小翅膀，大作用
copyright: 薰衣草上的蜜蜂 (© Anthony Brown/Alamy Stock Photo)
story:
2025年5月20日
薰衣草上的蜜蜂
蜜蜂身躯虽小，但没有它们，你的购物清单可能会少很多。不再有莓果、牛油果，甚至咖啡。蜜蜂与蝴蝶、蝙蝠和蜂鸟一起，为全球近 90% 的野生开花植物和超过 35% 的我们所依赖的农作物授粉。每年5月20日的世界蜜蜂日，正是为了向这些至关重要的传粉者致敬，并纪念现代养蜂业先驱安东·扬沙。扬沙曾称蜜蜂为“最高贵的昆虫”，这一观点如今也得到了科学的证实。
选定每年5月20日作为世界蜜蜂日是因为这一天是现代养蜂业先驱安东·扬沙的生日。扬沙来自斯洛文尼亚的一个养蜂世家，当地的养蜂活动有着悠久的历史传统，是重要的农业活动之一。


date: 2025-05-21
filename: SongyangTeaGarden_ZH-CN4763170909.jpg
title: 茶歇时光
copyright: 杨家塘村茶园，松阳县，中国 (© feng xu/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月21日
杨家塘村茶园，松阳县，中国
传说中，茶的故事始于中国古代：一片树叶偶然落入沸水中，开启了这段芳香之旅。几个世纪之后，茶已成为全球消费量第二的饮品（仅次于水）。今天是国际茶日，这是由联合国设立的全球性节日，旨在肯定茶在消除贫困和促进可持续发展方面的重要作用，也向茶产业中的劳动者们致以敬意。
今年，国际茶日的主题是突出妇女在茶产业中的重要作用。


date: 2025-05-22
filename: BaobabAvenue_ZH-CN5217451344.jpg
title: 猴面包树大道
copyright: 日落时分的猴面包树，猴面包树大道，马达加斯加 (© Framalicious/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年5月22日
日落时分的猴面包树，猴面包树大道，马达加斯加
从微小的细菌到高大的树木，地球上的生命彼此相互关联。国际生物多样性日旨在庆祝这一维系地球繁荣的生命之网。生物多样性与日常生活息息相关，涵盖可持续农业、清洁用水、气候行动以及灾害防范等诸多领域。生物多样性的减少会增加动物传染病传播的风险（包括动物传染给人类的疾病）。相反，保护生物多样性则有助于增强我们预防和应对大流行病等健康危机的能力。联合国深知生物多样性对当前和未来世代的重要意义，因此每年都设立这个纪念日，提高公众意识并推动保护行动。
一些猴面包树品种能提供纤维、染料和燃料。


date: 2025-05-23
filename: ButterflyTurtle_ZH-CN5706515924.jpg
title: 为龟喝彩！
copyright: 停在黄头侧颈龟鼻子上的茱莉亚蝶，亚马逊地区，厄瓜多尔 (© Westend61/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月23日
停在黄头侧颈龟鼻子上的茱莉亚蝶，亚马逊地区，厄瓜多尔
今天是世界海龟日成立的25周年纪念日。海龟和陆龟在多种环境中生存，被人们视为智慧与坚韧的象征。所有的陆龟都是海龟，但并非所有海龟都是陆龟。海龟体型较小，适合水中生活，而陆龟体型较大、较重，适应陆地生活。美国龟类救援组织（ATR）在每年5月23日设立世界海龟日，旨在提高公众保护龟类的意识。该组织已帮助约4000只海龟和陆龟进行康复、救助和重新安置，同时致力于保护它们及其逐渐消失的栖息地。
根据种类的不同，海龟可分为草食性、肉食性和杂食性。它们的食物范围涵盖了植物、水果、昆虫和鱼类。


date: 2025-05-24
filename: JotunheimenPark_ZH-CN7417034574.jpg
title: 欧洲的野性之美
copyright: 挪威尤通黑门山国家公园 (© Marisa Estivill/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年5月24日
挪威尤通黑门山国家公园
今天是“欧洲公园日”，旨在庆祝那些塑造各国自然特性的国家公园和保护区。该纪念日由欧洲公园联盟于1999年创立，以纪念1909年在瑞典建立的九座欧洲最早的国家公园。该节日旨在推动保护自然栖息地、野生动植物及文化遗产的行动，同时鼓励可持续旅游与户外活动。
2020年2月，“冰之秘密”项目的研究人员在挪威南部尤通黑门山脉，因气候变化而逐渐消融的冰川中，发现了一支距今1,500年来自日耳曼铁器时代的维京箭头。


date: 2025-05-25
filename: ButchartFlowers_ZH-CN6692930571.jpg
title: 绽放于你所在之地
copyright: 布伦特伍德湾的布查特花园，不列颠哥伦比亚省，加拿大 (© 2009fotofriends/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年5月25日
布伦特伍德湾的布查特花园，不列颠哥伦比亚省，加拿大
一个多世纪前，这里还是一片荒废的采石场，如今每年春季则变成了色彩斑斓的花海。位于加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省布伦特伍德湾的布查特花园，展示了如何将缤纷花卉演绎为盛宴。春季时节，郁金香的香气弥漫小径，沿途色彩斑斓，每一个转角都有新花绽放。然而，这里并非一直如此美丽。20世纪初，罗伯特·皮姆·布查特曾在此经营石灰石采石场。1912年，他的妻子珍妮识别出废弃矿坑的潜力，开始在坑内种植花卉。如今，布查特花园占地55英亩，种植有900多种植物，每年春天近30万株球茎花卉竞相绽放。
1982年，布查特花园被选为佛罗里达州奥兰多卡特中心加拿大馆花园的设计灵感来源。


date: 2025-05-26
filename: Arashiyama2025_ZH-CN7836747321.jpg
title: 山间奔驰
copyright: 沿着岚山保津川行驶的火车，京都，日本 (© Alvin Huang/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月26日
沿着岚山保津川行驶的火车，京都，日本
岚山四季景色各具风韵，春季樱花盛放，秋季枫叶绚丽，令人叹为观止。此地最具代表性的地标之一为渡月桥，横跨宁静的桂川，桥上可远眺群山环绕的壮丽景色。漫步于嵯峨野竹林小径，高耸的竹子随风摇曳，仿佛置身于一个神秘而静谧的世界。岚山亦坐落着宁静的天龙寺，以其精致的枯山水庭园而闻名。若希望体验难忘之旅，游客可搭乘嵯峨野观光小火车，穿越风光旖旎的保津川峡谷，沿途欣赏四季更替的自然景观。无论是寻求静谧、感受自然之美，还是希望体验京都深厚的历史文化，岚山都能为来访者留下难以磨灭的回忆。
岚山是京都著名的风景区，位于京都市西北部，地处丹波高原的东缘，被誉为“京都第一名胜”。


date: 2025-05-27
filename: MonaValePool_ZH-CN7968271596.jpg
title: 一处海滨奇观
copyright: 梦娜维尔岩池，悉尼，澳大利亚 (© jamenpercy/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月27日
梦娜维尔岩池，悉尼，澳大利亚
若你曾向往在海洋中畅游，却又不愿吞入口中的咸水，那么澳大利亚悉尼的莫纳维尔岩池无疑是一处理想选择。该泳池可谓水域中的一处悖论：池外波涛汹涌，而池内则水面平静、适宜游泳。岩池位于贝森海滩与莫纳维尔海滩之间，其形态更近似天然奇观而非典型人造泳池。这座泳池建于20世纪30年代的大萧条时期，作为失业救济工程的一部分，由工人于天然岩架上凿建而成。历经多次改建与升级，如今该泳池长度达30米，旁侧还设有一座较小的儿童泳池。二战期间，大批驻扎于附近的士兵也常前来此地游泳。泳池全年免费开放，定期由市政工作人员与潮汐共同清洁。因此，若你计划造访悉尼，不妨亲身体验这一海浪与池壁交汇之处，感受别具一格的海滨魅力。
莫纳维尔实际上由两片独立的海滩组成，中间由一块宽广的海洋岩石平台所分隔。海浪沿平台南缘涌入一条沟壑，在此形成平稳而强劲的破浪现象。


date: 2025-05-28
filename: KelpOtter_ZH-CN8297228161.jpg
title: 海獭很重要
copyright: 一只海獭漂浮在阿拉斯加海洋国家野生动物保护区的海藻床上，美国 (© Gerry Ellis/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年5月28日
一只海獭漂浮在阿拉斯加海洋国家野生动物保护区的海藻床上，美国
它们在水中穿梭如同毛茸茸的鱼雷，在河岸上翻滚仿佛孩童在游乐场嬉戏，甚至在休息时也会彼此牵手。海獭是大自然中极具玩性的小动物，然而它们的未来并非一片光明。栖息地破坏、污染以及非法野生动物贸易正对多个水獭物种构成严重威胁。然而，这种情况并非不可逆转。每年五月最后一个星期三为“世界海獭日”，这一纪念日旨在提升公众对海獭所面临威胁的认识，并鼓励人们采取行动，共同保护它们赖以生存的野外栖息地。
海獭生性好动，似乎会纯粹为了娱乐而进行各类行为，例如制造水滑梯并从上方滑入水中。


date: 2025-05-29
filename: MiravetSpain_ZH-CN8584568741.jpg
title: 穿越数个世纪的流淌
copyright: 米拉韦特，埃布罗河，加泰罗尼亚塔，西班牙 (© Eloi_Omella/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月29日
米拉韦特，埃布罗河，加泰罗尼亚塔，西班牙
在某些城镇中，现代化占据主导地位，而西班牙的米拉韦特村则似乎有意维持其历史原貌。这座位于加泰罗尼亚的村落依傍埃布罗河畔的悬崖而建，至今保留着鲜活的中世纪风貌。一座古堡仍俯瞰全境，陶艺匠人如同停留于14世纪，而当地的渡船至今仍未引入现代机动化技术。欢迎来到这座连河水都显得格外悠然的村庄。作为西班牙最长的河流，埃布罗河蜿蜒流淌，承载着伊比利亚人、罗马人、摩尔人与圣殿骑士的历史。历史上，当地居民依赖河水进行贸易、运输与防御。时至今日，游客仍可见皮划艇和渡船缓缓穿行其间，沿着曾为十字军战士所行的水道悠然漂流。
米拉韦特的埃布罗河沿岸风光旖旎，自然环境宛如一处令人惊叹的绿洲，这里仍保留着该地区最后一个原始渡口。


date: 2025-05-30
filename: LittlePigeonRiver_ZH-CN6554251943.jpg
title: 流经烟雾弥漫之地
copyright: 小鸽子河，大雾山国家公园，田纳西州, 美国 (© GreenStock/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月30日
小鸽子河，大雾山国家公园，田纳西州, 美国
若不留神，便可能错过它，直到耳边传来潺潺水声、鳟鱼跃水的扑通声，或远处徒步者的欢笑声。这便是小鸽子河，蜿蜒穿越美国田纳西州的大烟山国家公园。在漂流活动与飞蝇钓兴起之前，这条河曾是当地原住民与早期定居者赖以生存的重要资源。切罗基族曾在此捕鱼，定居者沿河建起磨坊，盖特林堡、鸽子谷等城镇亦因河而兴。河名“小鸽子”源于曾栖息于此的旅鸽，尽管这一物种已于20世纪初灭绝，这一命名仍是对自然历史的纪念。
尽管名称相近，小鸽子河并非附近鸽子河的支流。鸽子河在道格拉斯大坝上游汇入法国宽河，并流入该水库。


date: 2025-05-31
filename: DuanwuFestivalY25_ZH-CN7343005503.jpg
title: 充满节日氛围节装饰
copyright: 用彩色丝线串成的香囊，端午节前夕的庙会上，吉林省吉林市，中国 (© Visual China Group/Getty Images)
story:
2025年5月31日
用彩色丝线串成的香囊，端午节前夕的庙会上，吉林省吉林市，中国
端午节，是中国四大传统节日之一，端午节除了吃粽子，还有许多富有特色的民间习俗，比如今天图片中的彩色丝线串成的香囊。这是在吉林市的端午节前夕就开始的庙会上售卖的。
端午节祝福语说 “快乐 ”还是说 “安康 ”的讨论，从根本上说，是对端午节文化传统意义的探索，也是人们对未来生活的美好期盼。


date: 2025-06-01
filename: GrandeTerreReef_ZH-CN7463701309.jpg
title: 海底世界
copyright: 格朗特尔岛附近的堡礁，法属新喀里多尼亚 (© Karsten Wrobel/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月1日
格朗特尔岛附近的堡礁，法属新喀里多尼亚
“海底的世界比陆地上的任何地方都要美好。” 迪士尼动画电影《小美人鱼》中，赛巴斯汀曾这样对爱丽儿说道。然而，我们是否真的为保护这一海底世界做得足够多？6月1日是世界珊瑚礁意识日，这是一个唤起人们关注珊瑚礁生态系统之美及其脆弱性的日子。一个壮丽的范例是新喀里多尼亚的大堡礁，它环绕着新喀里多尼亚最大的岛屿格兰德特尔岛。这条珊瑚礁长达930多英里，是世界上最长的连续堡礁之一。其广阔的9,300平方英里泻湖孕育着2300多种鱼类、濒危的儒艮、绿海龟以及迁徙的座头鲸。
珊瑚礁最早出现在约4.85亿年前的奥陶纪早期，取代了寒武纪时期的微生物礁和海绵礁。


date: 2025-06-02
filename: EchinaceaButterfly_ZH-CN7877489878.jpg
title: 花的力量
copyright: 一只停在紫锥菊上的灰蝶，洛克菲勒州立公园，纽约 (© Marianne A. Campolongo/Alamy)
story:
2025年6月2日
一只停在紫锥菊上的灰蝶，洛克菲勒州立公园，纽约
今日图片中展示的是一只灰蝶，它以迅速、跳跃式的飞行方式而闻名，正停驻在一朵鲜艳的紫锥菊上，亦称松果菊。紫锥菊原产于北美，以其耐寒的花朵和独特的刺状花心而广受园艺爱好者和传粉昆虫的喜爱。
研究表明，仅仅观赏花园就能降低血压和减轻压力。


date: 2025-06-03
filename: BicyclesUtrecht_ZH-CN8016028978.jpg
title: 为快乐而刹车
copyright: 乌得勒支桥上的自行车，荷兰 (© George Pachantouris/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月3日
乌得勒支桥上的自行车，荷兰
两个轮子，无需燃料，却承载着深远的意义：骑行不仅经济、环保，更对地球友好。如此简单的一项活动，便能显著改善健康状况。将汽车出行替换为骑行，是保持活力的便捷方式。此外，骑行有助于减少污染、缓解交通拥堵，并为无驾照者提供一种经济实惠的交通选择。正因其多重益处，联合国将每年6月3日设立为“世界自行车日”，以庆祝这种双轮工具所承载的全部价值。
尽管“bike”和“cycle”这两个词在大多数情况下可以互换使用，均指代两轮交通工具，但它们在世界各地的具体用法仍略有不同。


date: 2025-06-04
filename: CalaLuna_ZH-CN8174946414.jpg
title: 卡拉卢纳海滩, 撒丁岛, 意大利
copyright: 卡拉卢纳海滩, 撒丁岛, 意大利 (© guenterguni/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月4日
卡拉卢纳海滩, 撒丁岛, 意大利
意大利撒丁岛以其崎岖的悬崖、隐秘的海滩以及层层叠叠的蓝色海水，堪称地中海的一颗明珠。全岛海岸线长度超过1100英里。尽管岛上自然河流稀少，其中提尔索河为最长河流，撒丁岛通过水利工程建设了54座人工湖与水坝。其中最重要的两座为奥莫代奥湖与科吉纳斯湖，分别为当地的重要水源及电力供应地。
因其非凡的美丽与野性魅力，卡拉卢纳海滩曾被选为意大利经典电影《踩过界》的拍摄地，同时也是由国际巨星麦当娜主演的同名电影翻拍版的取景地。


date: 2025-06-05
filename: FumacinhaBahia_ZH-CN9190616593.jpg
title: 隐藏的美景
copyright: 福玛萨瀑布，迪亚曼蒂纳，巴西 (© Pulsar Images/Alamy)
story:
2025年6月5日
福玛萨瀑布，迪亚曼蒂纳，巴西
今日图片带我们走近迪亚曼蒂纳高地国家公园中最壮观、却极少有人踏足的瀑布之一福玛萨瀑布。该瀑布位于巴伊亚州，垂直落差约为100米。通往瀑布的小径始于巴伊绍村，由于地形陡峭，被评为高难度路线。
环绕迪亚曼蒂纳高地国家公园的城镇，遍布殖民时期的建筑，体现出当时的建筑风格，也清晰地提醒人们钻石时代曾带来的繁荣，正是这段时期促使巴西在20世纪初成为全球最大的钻石生产国。


date: 2025-06-06
filename: NormandyBeach_ZH-CN9312381737.jpg
title: 诺曼底登陆日的转折点
copyright: 诺曼底的阿罗芒什莱班 , 法国 (© Horia Merla/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月6日
诺曼底的阿罗芒什莱班 , 法国
今天是诺曼底登陆日的81周年纪念日，也是我们缅怀现代史上最具决定性的时刻之一。1944年6月6日，超过15.6万名盟军部队在法国诺曼底海滩登陆，发起了代号“霸王行动”的军事进攻，也就是我们熟知的D日。这场复杂的突袭整合了空中、海上与陆地部队，是解放西欧摆脱纳粹控制战役的开始。
今天，阿罗芒什主要是一个旅游城镇。由于地理位置优越，适合参观所有战役遗址和战争公墓，阿罗芒什还设有一个博物馆，介绍有关“霸王行动”，尤其是“桑树港”的内容。


date: 2025-06-07
filename: PacificCrestTrail_ZH-CN9582395021.jpg
title: 走上高远之路
copyright: 松山顶峰, 洛杉矶国家森林公园, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 (© Matthew Kuhns/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年6月7日
松山顶峰, 洛杉矶国家森林公园, 加利福尼亚州, 美国
森林步道不仅仅是一条欣赏大自然的路径，它们将人们与自然和冒险联系在一起。如今日图片所示的是位于加利福尼亚州的洛杉矶国家森林的步道。此地拥有高耸的松树、崎岖的山脊，并包含著名的太平洋山脊步道（PCT）的一段。该步道全长超过2600英里，从墨西哥延伸至加拿大，是许多徒步爱好者心中的终极梦想。太平洋山脊步道于1968年被指定为国家风景步道，穿越7座国家公园和25个国家森林，是领略美国西部壮丽风光的独特方式。不过，想要体验它的魅力，并不需要走完全程。在加州南部，该步道穿越圣盖博山脉的部分便可带来壮观景色和充满成就感的一日徒步体验。
国家步道日的历史可以追溯至五十多年前。最初，美国尚未建立统一的官方步道体系。直到1968年10月，林登·约翰逊总统签署《国家步道法》，才正式建立起供公众旅游与休闲的国家步道网络。


date: 2025-06-08
filename: StellarSeaLions_ZH-CN2859514359.jpg
title: 来自彼岸的问候
copyright: 北海狮, 温哥华岛, 不列颠哥伦比亚省, 加拿大 (© Steve Woods Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月8日
北海狮, 温哥华岛, 不列颠哥伦比亚省, 加拿大
如今日图片所示，在加拿大温哥华岛海岸，北海狮在寒冷的海域中自由穿梭。这些大型海洋哺乳动物雌性平均体重约580磅，雄性则可达约1200磅。雄性北海狮体型更为庞大，具响亮的吼声、粗壮的颈部和平坦的鼻梁，是其显著特征。它们通过深沉的声音进行交流，声音形式包括打嗝声、低吼和喷气声，用于警示或水下沟通。雄性通过巨大的咆哮声来捍卫领地，而母子之间则会使用特有的呼叫方式在嘈杂的栖息地中识别彼此。尽管体型庞大，北海狮仍是虎鲸和大型鲨鱼的猎物之一。目前该物种被列为“近危”，在阿拉斯加部分海域，其种群数量正在下降。持续的海洋保护行动为它们以及众多其他海洋哺乳动物的生存提供了重要支持。
“太平洋”这个名字源自拉丁语Tepre Pacificum，意为“平静的大海”。


date: 2025-06-09
filename: DubrovnikTwilight_ZH-CN2981648854.jpg
title: 探索君临城
copyright: 达尔马提亚的杜布罗夫尼克古城，克罗地亚 (© bluejayphoto/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月9日
达尔马提亚的杜布罗夫尼克古城，克罗地亚
有些城市仿佛将历史穿戴在身上，杜布罗夫尼克便是其中之一。这座城市曾为独立的拉古萨共和国，在14世纪至19世纪间是亚得里亚海沿岸的重要海上强国与贸易中心。它位于克罗地亚达尔马提亚南部，靠近亚得里亚海，城市的繁荣得益于其娴熟的外交策略与卓越的航海技术。杜布罗夫尼克城墙建于13世纪至17世纪，全长超过1.2英里，配有塔楼、堡垒及防御工事，至今仍然巍然屹立。如今城墙的布局延续自1292年，当年城市在威尼斯统治下经历了一场大火并重建。
克罗地亚杜布罗夫尼克古城曾出现在1993年与2002年发行的克罗地亚50库纳纸币的背面。


date: 2025-06-10
filename: AerialEverglades_ZH-CN3388982881.jpg
title: 草之河流
copyright: 大沼泽地国家公园的鸟瞰图，佛罗里达州，美国 (© Robert DelVecchio - OcuDrone/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月10日
大沼泽地国家公园的鸟瞰图，佛罗里达州，美国
我们是否曾设想，从高空俯瞰自身在这片广袤水域中的倒影？佛罗里达州的大沼泽地国家公园是美国最大的热带荒野，面积超过150万英亩。它保护了原始大沼泽地的南部20%，栖息着众多珍稀和濒危物种，包括佛罗里达美洲豹、美洲鳄以及西印度海牛。大沼泽地国家公园被称为“草之河”，其独特的生态系统由从奥基乔比湖缓慢流向佛罗里达湾的河流供养，是热带涉禽的重要繁殖地。这座国家公园不仅是美国的自然瑰宝，也具有重要的国际价值。它被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产、国际生物圈保护区以及国际重要湿地。
佛罗里达州大沼泽地国家公园的部分区域非常适合在南佛罗里达进行暗夜星空观测。最佳观测点位于大沼泽地偏远的南部和西部地区，例如弗拉明戈和万岛。


date: 2025-06-11
filename: FlamingosNamibia_ZH-CN3639748956.jpg
title: 潮汐间的芭蕾
copyright: 大红鹳，吕德里茨，纳米比亚 (© Karine Aigner/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年6月11日
大红鹳，吕德里茨，纳米比亚
在纳米比亚吕德里茨，这些鸟类并非过客，而是真正“站稳脚跟”的居民，字面意义上，仅用一条腿支撑。它们便是大红鹳，为南大西洋沿岸狂风席卷的纳米比亚海岸增添了一抹亮丽的粉色。作为所有鹳类中体型最大的一种，大红鹳毫不吝啬地展示自身风采：身高可达59英寸，具有匙状弯曲喙和修长的双腿，极具辨识度。
成年大红鹳几乎没有天敌。然而，其蛋和雏鸟仍可能遭受猛禽、乌鸦、海鸥和白鹳的捕食。据估计，约一半的大红鹳蛋和雏鸟都被黄脚银鸥所捕食。


date: 2025-06-12
filename: BigBendChisos_ZH-CN3794880768.jpg
title: 星空、岩石与孤寂
copyright: 奇索斯山脉，大弯国家公园，德克萨斯州，美国 (© Dean Fikar/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月12日
奇索斯山脉，大弯国家公园，德克萨斯州，美国
人们常说：“德州的一切都更大。”而大弯国家公园正是对这句话的最佳注解。这片占地801,163英亩的广袤区域，最初属于墨西哥领土，1848年并入美国。自20世纪30年代起，该地区的自然景观便受到保护，并于1944年6月12日正式被指定为国家公园。大弯国家公园是美国最偏远、游客最少的国家公园之一。它并非由单一地貌构成，而是三种景观的综合体：奇瓦瓦沙漠、奇索斯山脉和格兰德河。公园地处美墨边境，其历史也体现出文化交融的特征：原住民、西班牙探险者、牧场主、矿工和游客皆曾在此留下足迹。岩画、历史遗迹和古道见证了这片土地在成为国家公园之前就已拥有深厚历史。
大弯国家公园内拥有多个温泉，其中包括位于温泉历史区内的主要温泉。该温泉常被称为“博卡迪拉斯温泉”或“兰福德温泉”，已被列入国家史迹名录。


date: 2025-06-13
filename: SanMiguelAzores_ZH-CN2511982585.jpg
title: 海洋的隐秘心跳
copyright: 维拉弗兰卡岛，圣米格尔岛，亚速尔群岛，葡萄牙 (© ARoxo/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月13日
维拉弗兰卡岛，圣米格尔岛，亚速尔群岛，葡萄牙
位于葡萄牙亚速尔群岛圣米格尔岛附近的维拉弗兰卡岛，是一座无人居住的绿色火山岛，静静地坐落在弗兰卡村镇的南侧。尽管今日宁静怡人，这座小岛却拥有悠久而多变的历史。早在1537年，文献中便有定居者向西扩展至此的记载，使维拉弗兰卡岛正式登上历史舞台。它曾先后作为军事要塞、避风港、葡萄园种植地，乃至观鲸瞭望台。
尽管这座小岛仅覆盖着一层薄薄的土壤，但历史上其海拔最高处曾被用于葡萄种植，如今，废弃葡萄园的痕迹仍清晰可辨。


date: 2025-06-14
filename: DolomitiEstate_ZH-CN6501271709.jpg
title: 静谧之声
copyright: 五塔峰，多洛米蒂山脉，科尔蒂纳丹佩佐，贝卢诺省，意大利威尼托大区 (© usabin/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月14日
五塔峰，多洛米蒂山脉，科尔蒂纳丹佩佐，贝卢诺省，意大利威尼托大区
五塔峰坐落于意大利威尼托大区贝卢诺省的多洛米蒂山脉腹地，仿佛天然雕塑般矗立，是夏季避暑、远离海滩与城市喧嚣的理想之选。每一座岩塔皆承载着独特的历史与自然故事：从古文明的遗迹，到徒步与登山者的足迹，再到第一次世界大战时期的军事要地。这些塔峰在战时曾扮演战略要塞的角色，如今游客仍可探访战壕遗址与战争留下的痕迹。然而，自然的力量终将超越人类历史：茂密松林、芳草牧场与山间溪流共同构成了一幅宁静和谐的生态图景，晴朗的天空与繁花草甸相映成趣，伴随着阵阵鸟鸣，为前行的每一步增添生机。
这几座岩塔因具备多样化的攀登路线等级，成为攀岩爱好者的重要目的地，适合不同水平的攀岩者挑战。


date: 2025-06-15
filename: RheaDad_ZH-CN6706868651.jpg
title: 羽翼下的父爱
copyright: 雄性小美洲鸵与幼鸟，托雷斯德尔潘恩国家公园，巴塔哥尼亚，智利 (© Ignacio Yufera/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年6月15日
雄性小美洲鸵与幼鸟，托雷斯德尔潘恩国家公园，巴塔哥尼亚，智利
早在领带和贺卡成为父亲节的象征之前，这一节日的诞生源于一位女儿的悼念之情与不懈坚持。1907年，格雷斯·克莱顿因父亲在蒙农加哈矿难中遇难，提议举行一次纪念仪式，以缅怀事故中逝去的众多父亲。虽然当时并未广泛引起共鸣，但在1909年，索诺拉·斯马特·多德在华盛顿州斯波坎重新点燃了这一提议的火种。她希望纪念自己的父亲，一位在南北战争后独自抚养六个孩子的退伍军人。她的努力最终促成了我们今日所熟知的父亲节传统。
小美洲鸵通常性情温和，少有鸣叫。唯有雏鸟会发出哀鸣，而雄鸟在求偶时则以低沉的轰鸣声吸引异性。


date: 2025-06-16
filename: SeaTurtleBrazil_ZH-CN6907161064.jpg
title: 远古泳者的现代困境
copyright: 海龟，费尔南多·迪诺罗尼亚群岛，巴西 (© João Vianna/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月16日
海龟，费尔南多·迪诺罗尼亚群岛，巴西
它们天生“头戴钢盔”，以从容节奏穿梭海洋，丝毫不受人类时间表的影响。以今日图片中拍摄于巴西费尔南多·迪诺罗尼亚群岛的海龟为例：这类生物早在霸王龙出现之前就已在地球的海洋中悠游。6月16日是“世界海龟日”，旨在唤起人们对这一古老物种及其在维持海洋生态平衡中所发挥作用的关注。该日期之所以被选定，是为纪念被誉为“海龟保护之父”的美国自然保护主义者阿奇·卡尔的生日。他的研究与倡导为现代海龟行为学研究和保护实践奠定了坚实基础。
2001年，联合国教科文组织将这里列为世界遗产地，理由是其对金枪鱼、鲨鱼、海龟和海洋哺乳动物的重要觅食地位。


date: 2025-06-17
filename: CumberlandOaks_ZH-CN7265906780.jpg
title: 海岸静谧，野性依旧
copyright: 坎伯兰岛国家海岸的海滨森林，乔治亚州，美国 (© Chris Moore/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年6月17日
坎伯兰岛国家海岸的海滨森林，乔治亚州，美国
在你踏上沙滩之前，便能听见海风中树叶的沙沙声、扭曲树干的嘎吱响，以及仿佛来自古老世界的低语。欢迎来到乔治亚州大西洋海岸最南端坎伯兰岛国家海岸的海滨森林。面对盐雾、沙土与飓风的挑战，这里的树木依旧坚定屹立。南方红橡树弯而不折，锯叶棕榈如同绿叶护卫般贴地而生，西班牙苔藓则似大自然的流苏垂挂于树枝之上。这片海洋森林是美国现存最完整的此类稀有生态系统之一。得益于坎伯兰岛被划定为国家海岸，其生态得以避免其他海岸地区常见的城市化侵蚀。
坎伯兰岛国家海滨拥有丰富多样的海岸动植物群。


date: 2025-06-18
filename: AsianSwallowtail_ZH-CN7442263508.jpg
title: 让授粉游戏开始吧！
copyright: 红花石蒜上的柑橘凤蝶 (© lzh/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月18日
红花石蒜上的柑橘凤蝶
传粉者周正在如火如荼地展开！今年的庆祝时间为6月16日至22日，旨在关注那些为近90%开花植物完成授粉过程的重要传粉者，包括我们日常喜爱的水果、蔬菜和坚果等作物的“幕后功臣”。今日图片展示的是一只亚洲凤蝶，它正优雅地停驻在一朵鲜红的彼岸花上。亚洲凤蝶广泛分布于东北亚地区，甚至扩展至夏威夷部分区域。这类蝴蝶具有敏锐的色觉，擅长寻找花朵，尤其偏爱柑橘类植物。尽管该物种当前种群稳定、不被列为受威胁物种，它在自然授粉过程中的作用仍不可或缺。
授粉者不止有蜜蜂，还有蝴蝶、鸟类、蝙蝠、风、水，甚至某些植物也能完成自花授粉！


date: 2025-06-19
filename: WinterBegins_ZH-CN7638411804.jpg
title: 潮汐与时间交汇之地
copyright: 圣卡塔琳娜州的海滩, 巴西 (© CaioCarvalhoPhotography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月19日
圣卡塔琳娜州的海滩, 巴西
圣卡塔琳娜州位于巴西南部，其海岸线沿大西洋延展超过560公里，是一处汇聚历史演进与人类活动的多元文化地带。在欧洲航海者首次抵达前，图皮瓜拉尼族等原住民族群已在此定居，依赖捕鱼与农业生计，并与自然环境建立了密切联系。1529年，随着航海探险的发展，该地区被绘入地图，“圣卡塔琳娜”一名首次出现在世界地理文献中。
在拉古纳，宽吻海豚群体会协助渔民捕鱼，将鱼群驱赶至岸边；当其中一只海豚以翻身动作示意，便成为渔民撒网的信号。


date: 2025-06-20
filename: SerengetiGiraffe_ZH-CN2613013393.jpg
title: 寻找斑点
copyright: 一只马赛长颈鹿妈妈正在给小长颈鹿梳理毛发, 塞伦盖蒂,坦桑尼亚 (© Alberto Cassani/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月20日
一只马赛长颈鹿妈妈正在给小长颈鹿梳理毛发, 塞伦盖蒂,坦桑尼亚
今天我们介绍的是生活于塞伦盖蒂地区的马赛长颈鹿。它们以独特的锯齿状斑点而闻名，是东非的本土物种。除了肯尼亚和乌干达，马赛长颈鹿还广泛分布于坦桑尼亚辽阔的塞伦盖蒂平原。“塞伦盖蒂”一词源自马赛语“seringit”，意为“无边无际的平原”。如今日图片所示，一对母子马赛长颈鹿在这片壮阔的景色中彼此依偎，画面温馨动人。据估计，目前全球野生长颈鹿仅存约117000头，现在正是采取行动的关键时刻。通过支持“世界长颈鹿日”， 你可以为保护这些奇特生物及其自然栖息地贡献力量。加入这一年度庆祝活动，为地球上最高的陆生动物带来切实的改变。
马赛长颈鹿在奔跑时，时速最高可达近64公里（40英里）。


date: 2025-06-21
filename: SummerSolsticeY25_ZH-CN2728972774.jpg
title: 此花端合在瑶池
copyright: 雾中莲花，中国佛山 (© huoguangliang/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月21日
雾中莲花，中国佛山
夏至既是二十四节气之一，“夏至”是盛夏的起点，这个季节也是荷花盛开的季节。今天图片中的美景位于广东佛山地区的盛开的荷花。晨曦在水面上织就一层丝丝薄纱。漫步岸边，仿佛置身于云雾缭绕的仙境，每一次呼吸都模糊了虚实的界限。这便是“朦胧”的精髓——这种诗意的朦胧感曾深深触动过中国古代文人，激发出无数颂扬莲花空灵之美的诗句。
荷花全身皆宝，藕和莲子能食用，莲子、根茎、藕节、荷叶、花及种子的胚芽等都可入药。


date: 2025-06-22
filename: AmazonEcuador_ZH-CN2864991745.jpg
title: 一路丛林
copyright: 亚马逊雨林，厄瓜多尔 (© Mark Fox/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月22日
亚马逊雨林，厄瓜多尔
“世界雨林日”不仅是日历上的一个纪念日，更是一项行动号召。该节日由非营利环保组织“雨林伙伴关系”于2017年设立，旨在提升公众对雨林重要性的认识，并推动全球范围内的保护工作。在美国，人们通过社区植树、学校项目以及社交媒体活动参与纪念，宣传雨林保护的成功案例。许多植物园会举办特别展览，而环保组织则发起筹款挑战，以支持实地保护项目。
亚马逊雨林绝非人迹罕至，约有三千万人生活在该流域之中。


date: 2025-06-23
filename: DresdenElbe_ZH-CN8776977800.jpg
title: 从废墟中重生
copyright: 德累斯顿易北河谷, 德国 (© Sean Pavone/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月23日
德累斯顿易北河谷, 德国
柏林充满活力，慕尼黑以啤酒闻名，那么德累斯顿则诉说着历史与重生的故事。这座位于德国萨克森州的城市，曾被誉为“易北河上的佛罗伦萨”。然而，在1945年第二次世界大战期间，城市几乎被彻底摧毁。自那以后，它经历了浴火重生，如今成为一座融合现代艺术博物馆、巴洛克建筑与河畔风光的文化城市。德累斯顿最古老的建筑群主要分布在老城区与新城区两大区域。周边街区最初由萨克森王室在18世纪至19世纪间规划，并以历代君主命名，例如腓特烈城和阿尔贝特城。
易北河上有多条渡轮航线运营，既有载客渡轮，也有可搭载车辆的渡轮。


date: 2025-06-24
filename: DelicateArch_ZH-CN8971667580.jpg
title: 大自然的耐心之作
copyright: 精致拱门, 拱门国家公园, 犹他州, 美国 (© mmac72/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月24日
精致拱门, 拱门国家公园, 犹他州, 美国
这片景观并非一朝一夕形成，而是大自然历经漫长岁月的雕琢之作。你在美国犹他州拱门国家公园所见的一切，是3亿多年间地壳抬升、风化与侵蚀共同作用的结果。这些天然拱门最初由古海洋遗留下的盐层构成，在时间推移中，砂岩层开裂、位移并不断风化，最终形成了超过2000座天然拱门。这些地貌主要由恩特拉达砂岩与纳瓦霍砂岩构成。该地区于1929年被认定为国家纪念地，并于1971年正式升格为国家公园。
在这座公园内，游客可以进行露营、在指定小径徒步旅行、背包探险、峡谷穿越、攀岩、骑行，以及在现有的铺砌和未铺砌道路上驾车游览等活动。


date: 2025-06-25
filename: GlastonburyScenic_ZH-CN9162571249.jpg
title: 这里举办的是哪个音乐节？
copyright: 格拉斯顿伯里托尔上的圣迈克尔塔, 格拉斯顿伯里, 萨默塞特郡, 英格兰 (© Gavin Hellier/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月25日
格拉斯顿伯里托尔上的圣迈克尔塔, 格拉斯顿伯里, 萨默塞特郡, 英格兰
当阳光洒落在英格兰萨默塞特郡起伏的山丘上，格拉斯顿伯里音乐节便随之揭幕。这一音乐盛会最初的门票仅为1英镑，如今已发展为全球最具影响力的文化活动之一，每年吸引超过20万人参与。音乐节深植于嬉皮文化、20世纪60年代的反主流运动与自由音乐节的理念之中，这些价值观正是其诞生的基石。从大卫·鲍伊和艾尔顿·约翰，到金属乐队和比莉·艾利什，这个舞台承载了无数定义时代的经典演出。今年的格拉斯顿伯里音乐节从今天开始，持续至6月29日，主打阵容包括The 1975、尼尔·杨与奥利维亚·罗德里戈等。俯瞰整个音乐节现场的，是如今日图片所示的格拉斯顿伯里托尔山丘。山顶耸立着14世纪的圣迈克尔教堂塔楼。托尔山被视为传说中亚瑟王的阿瓦隆王国所在地，并与古老的精神传统息息相关，成为历史与神话交汇之地。
2025年1月，据报道截至2024年3月，格拉斯顿伯里音乐节税前利润翻倍，达到590万英镑，并在同期向慈善机构捐赠了520万英镑。


date: 2025-06-26
filename: HorseheadRock_ZH-CN9319651125.jpg
title: 海岸线附近的“马戏”
copyright: 马头岩上空的银河, 新南威尔士州, 澳大利亚 (© Philip Thurston/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月26日
马头岩上空的银河, 新南威尔士州, 澳大利亚
人们常说：“你可以牵马到水边，却无法强迫它饮水。”当然，马头岩除外。这块岩石屹立于澳大利亚新南威尔士州伯马吉附近的蓝宝石海岸。如今日图片所示，这块古老的岩石宛如大自然亲手雕刻的一匹神话中的骏马，永远在低头畅饮海水。据估计，马头岩已有5亿年历史，其酷似一匹弯颈饮水的马，这正是风蚀与海浪侵蚀共同作用的结果。作为该地区最古老且最具象征意义的地质地标之一，马头岩全年吸引着徒步旅行者、摄影师与自然爱好者前来观赏。最佳观景点位于骆驼岩与穆鲁纳角之间的高地步道，而更富冒险精神的访客则可在退潮时，从骆驼岩冲浪海滩绕行至此。
1880年，政府地质学家拉蒙特·杨与另外四人在从伯马吉出海途中神秘失踪，该海湾的命名正与这起事件有关。


date: 2025-06-27
filename: SwedenReserve_ZH-CN9963744170.jpg
title: 古冰川遗迹之地
copyright: Knuthöjdsmossen自然保护区, 海勒福什市, 瑞典 (© Sven Halling/DEEPOL/plainpicture)
story:
2025年6月27日
Knuthöjdsmossen自然保护区, 海勒福什市, 瑞典
克努特霍德斯莫森自然保护区位于瑞典海勒福什市附近，占地近250英亩。这片宁静的绿洲拥有环形木栈道，穿越沼泽地带，沿途分布着多个小湖泊、沙丘、湿地与松林。其中部分路段无障碍设计，适合轮椅和婴儿车通行。
最佳造访时间为每年4月至5月。若运气不错，你甚至可能在步道旁发现鸟巢。请注意：在4月1日至7月15日的鸟类繁殖期内，请务必留在步道上，以避免惊扰野生鸟类。


date: 2025-06-28
filename: WatertowerMannheim_ZH-CN0692039329.jpg
title: 从实用建筑到地标象征
copyright: 曼海姆水塔, 德国 (© no limit pictures/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月28日
曼海姆水塔, 德国
位于曼海姆市中心的这座水塔，正是今日图像中所展示的主体。它不仅仅是一座功能性建筑，更是曼海姆的文化象征。该塔由著名建筑师古斯塔夫·哈姆胡伯设计，他后来还参与了柏林国会大厦的建设。水塔建于1886至1889年之间，高达60米，最初作为城市饮用水的蓄水塔，储水容量可达200万升。如今，它不仅是一处旅游打卡地，也常用作文化活动与市民休闲的重要场所，象征着曼海姆在保留传统的同时拥抱现代化的城市精神。
凭借其巴洛克风格的设计与核心地理位置，曼海姆水塔已成为这座城市最具代表性的标志性建筑。这座塔坐落于弗里德里希广场以新艺术风格闻名的宏伟景观花园中央，四周环绕着喷泉与精美的花卉布景，呈现出一幅赏心悦目的城市画卷。


date: 2025-06-29
filename: BandaIsland_ZH-CN1145779264.jpg
title: 哪里让历史变得“辛辣”
copyright: Pulau Ay蓝色泻湖, 班达群岛, 印度尼西亚 (© fabio lamanna/Alamy Stock Photo)
story:
2025年6月29日
Pulau Ay蓝色泻湖, 班达群岛, 印度尼西亚
每年6月29日是“国际热带日”，旨在引导人们关注紧贴赤道的热带地区，这些地区全年阳光充足，却也在气候变化议题中尤为脆弱。热带带位于北回归线与南回归线之间，涵盖亚洲、非洲、大洋洲、中美洲及南美洲的部分地区。全球近40%的人口生活于此，这里同时孕育了全球约80%的生物多样性。不仅自然资源丰富、文化多元，这些地区也承载着重要的历史背景；然而它们也面临着气温上升、森林砍伐和快速城市化等挑战。
艾岛真正的魅力在于沙滩与浮潜或深潜体验。这里拥有原始的珊瑚礁，特别是在那些陡然下沉数千米的峭壁区，水下能见度如空气般清澈。


date: 2025-06-30
filename: WolfeCrater_ZH-CN1652906326.jpg
title: 是谁击中了地面？
copyright: 沃尔夫溪陨石坑, 澳大利亚 (© Abstract Aerial Art/Getty Images)
story:
2025年6月30日
沃尔夫溪陨石坑, 澳大利亚
地球表面每一道因陨石撞击而留下的伤痕，都讲述着一个关于宇宙的故事，从导致恐龙灭绝的小行星，到遍布全球却鲜为人知的陨石坑。小行星日正是为了提醒人类关注这些来自太空的访客，以及它们可能带来的潜在威胁。该纪念日设立于2015年，受到联合国支持，以纪念1908年6月30日发生在西伯利亚通古斯河附近的通古斯大爆炸。这场爆炸摧毁了超过800平方英里的森林，所释放的能量相当于10至15兆吨TNT炸药。自那以后，科学家们通过研究亚利桑那州的巴林杰陨石坑、加拿大魁北克的马尼库阿甘陨石坑等地，深入探索了天体撞击对地球的影响。
沃尔夫溪陨石坑是世界第二大已知陨石坑。大约在30万年前，一颗巨大的陨石撞击地球，形成了这一壮观地貌。这块巨大的太空岩石以每秒15千米的速度穿行大气层，若从澳大利亚一端穿越至另一端，仅需五分钟。


date: 2025-07-01
filename: CanadaDayFogo_ZH-CN2593963748.jpg
title: 原始渔村的风貌
copyright: Tilting渔村, 福戈岛 , 纽芬兰和拉布拉多省, 加拿大 (© FedevPhoto/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月1日
Tilting渔村, 福戈岛 , 纽芬兰和拉布拉多省, 加拿大
蒂林村最初由18世纪的爱尔兰移民所建立，是极少数至今仍保留爱尔兰渔村文化特色的社区之一。当地渔棚与住宅采用明亮色彩，不仅具有装饰功能，更是为了在浓雾或风雪中提高可见性。这种设计体现了早期居民兼具实用性与创造力的生活智慧。今天，加拿大迎来了建国158周年纪念日。从东海岸的历史小村到现代都市，从多元文化融合到壮丽自然风光，我们共同庆祝这个国家的历史积淀、文化底蕴与持续发展的未来愿景。
蒂林渔村坐落于加拿大东部福戈岛，是一座历史悠久的小村庄，其丰富的历史通过保存完好的建筑与文化传统得以传承。该村被列为国家历史遗址和注册遗产区，成为历史爱好者及希望亲身体验纽芬兰传统风貌游客的重要目的地。


date: 2025-07-02
filename: MaroonClownfish_ZH-CN5071934692.jpg
title: 触手之间的依赖
copyright: 被泡尖海葵包围的刺颊海葵鱼，米尔恩湾，巴布亚新几内亚 (© Fred Bavendam/Nature Picture Library)
story:
2025年7月2日
被泡尖海葵包围的刺颊海葵鱼，米尔恩湾，巴布亚新几内亚
图片中藏匿于海葵中的色彩斑斓小鱼，是棘颊海葵鱼，也称栗色小丑鱼。它不仅是水下世界中广受喜爱的角色，更是海洋生态中独特共生机制的代表物种。该鱼类原产于印太区域，其分布范围自印度尼西亚西部延伸至中国台湾与大堡礁。它们多栖息于珊瑚礁边缘，最具辨识度的特征是面颊两侧明显突出的棘刺，这一特征正是其命名的由来。在一个群体中，所有个体均围绕一条占主导地位的雌鱼而生存；一旦雌鱼不再存在，首位雄鱼将通过性别转变，继任为新的主导者。棘颊海葵鱼偏好温暖浅水环境，且始终依赖于选定的海葵栖息。
这种鱼的显著颜色变化与性别和地理位置有关。雄性和幼鱼为明亮的红橙色，在性别变为雌性时，颜色会变深，从栗色到深褐色不等。


date: 2025-07-03
filename: RainbowRiver_ZH-CN5320095849.jpg
title: 彩虹河的清澈拥抱
copyright: 彩虹泉州立公园的彩虹河，佛罗里达州，美国 (© Michel Roggo/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年7月3日
彩虹泉州立公园的彩虹河，佛罗里达州，美国
坐落于佛罗里达州北部墨西哥湾沿岸的，是彩虹泉州立公园。数百年来，这片区域一直作为自然资源，为人类与动物所依赖。穿越公园蜿蜒流淌的彩虹河，正是其中的关键生态要素。河水源自佛罗里达州最大型的泉水之一彩虹泉，其水体汇集自770平方英里的广阔集水区，最终流入威特拉库奇河。
彩虹河因其卓越的自然美景和审美价值，曾于1972年被指定为“国家自然地标”，1986年列为“水域保护区”，并在1987年被评为“杰出的佛罗里达水道”。


date: 2025-07-04
filename: OroseiSardegna_ZH-CN5789138034.jpg
title: 水、空气、岩石
copyright: 奥罗塞，撒丁岛，意大利 (© EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月4日
奥罗塞，撒丁岛，意大利
此刻，我们置身于意大利撒丁岛东部奥罗塞湾的一处瑰宝卡拉卢纳，坐落于第勒尼安海之滨。大自然在此将岩石雕琢成面向大海的隐秘洞穴，正如今日图片所示，湛蓝海水悄然渗入石窟，在石灰岩墙上投射出光影交织的图案。金色沙滩与天然阴影交错，地中海的微风带来咸香气息，海浪轻拍岩岸，低语着亘古不变的旋律。被岩洞环抱的这片海滩仿若人间秘境，陆地与海洋在此交汇，构成一幅和谐而独特的自然画卷。清澈海水邀请人们畅游其中，峭壁巍峨静立，见证岁月流转。卡拉卢纳不仅是一处地理位置，更是一段自然的诗篇：海浪拍击古老岩石的低语，金色阳光在水面上的短暂停留，共同诉说着海洋以超越语言的方式，留下的恒久故事。
奥罗塞虽小，却汇聚了撒丁岛“原貌”的精华：壮丽的历史、隐秘的海湾，以及壮阔的大自然。


date: 2025-07-05
filename: BolozonViaduct_ZH-CN6408632524.jpg
title: 优雅而低调的巨人
copyright: Cize-Bolozon viaduct crossing the Ain gorge, France (© Leonid Andronov/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月5日
Cize-Bolozon viaduct crossing the Ain gorge, France
想象一座桥梁，它连接的不仅是两岸，更是时间与记忆的延续。坐落于法国东部安省的锡兹博洛宗高架桥，它建于1950年，这座桥取代了战争中被摧毁的前代桥梁，成为重建与希望的象征。
安河全长近190公里，长期以来一直作为汝拉山脉与罗讷河之间的重要交通通道。


date: 2025-07-06
filename: MesquiteFlats_ZH-CN7152959188.jpg
title: 时光沙丘
copyright: 死亡谷国家公园的梅斯基特平原沙丘，加利福尼亚州，美国 (© Bryan Jolley/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年7月6日
死亡谷国家公园的梅斯基特平原沙丘，加利福尼亚州，美国
梅斯基特平原沙丘位于死亡谷国家公园内的斯托夫派普韦尔斯村附近，是公园内最易到达且最具标志性的沙丘。它们由北侧山脉风化提供的沙源、盛行风的搬运作用，以及南侧山脉的阻挡所共同作用形成，造就了这片波纹起伏的壮美景观。沙丘以在恶劣环境中依旧顽强生长的蜜荆树命名。在日出和日落时分，沙丘的纹理和棱线在光影映照下格外分明，是欣赏日照美景与星空观测的绝佳地点。
梅斯基特平原沙丘以日出和日落时分的壮丽阴影而闻名，那时沙丘上的波纹和棱线在光线的映照下显得更加分明。这里也是观测死亡谷著名漆黑夜空的绝佳地点。


date: 2025-07-07
filename: ShetlandGannets_ZH-CN7279521125.jpg
title: 闪电俯冲、水花四溅，然后开吃
copyright: 潜水捕鱼的北方鲣鸟，设得兰群岛，苏格兰 (© Richard Shucksmith/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年7月7日
潜水捕鱼的北方鲣鸟，设得兰群岛，苏格兰
优雅、有力，且令人难以忽视的北方鲣鸟是北大西洋海域体型最大的海鸟之一。它们大部分时间都在辽阔的海面上滑翔，只有在繁殖季节才会返回陆地。这些海鸟以其庞大而喧嚣的繁殖群体著称，被称为“鲣鸟群”，通常选择在陡峭悬崖、偏远岩岛，或突兀于海中的海蚀柱上筑巢。
这些羽毛具备防水特性，使得该类鸟能够在水中停留较长时间。羽毛表面覆盖着一种由皮脂腺分泌的防水物质，鸟类通常会用喙或头部将其涂抹至全身。


date: 2025-07-08
filename: SecedaPeak_ZH-CN7633793128.jpg
title: 锋芒毕露的美
copyright: 塞切达，多洛米蒂山脉的山峰，南蒂罗尔，意大利 (© Kalyakan/Adobe Stock)
story:
2025年7月8日
塞切达，多洛米蒂山脉的山峰，南蒂罗尔，意大利
意大利多洛米蒂山脉不仅雄伟耸立，更如施展魔法般，使每一条山路都变成一个故事。人们亲切地称它们为“苍白山脉”，这一名字源自其主要构成矿物白云石。这片山脉坐落于意大利北部阿尔卑斯山脉，占地超过34.5万英亩，拥有18座海拔超过9,500英尺的高峰。其地貌特征包括陡峭的悬崖、雄伟的岩壁和蜿蜒狭窄的山谷。
塞切达位于瓦尔加迪纳山谷向阳的一侧，冬季可欣赏令人惊叹的美景，是一个应有尽有的滑雪胜地。夏季，这里为游客提供了无限的户外活动机会。


date: 2025-07-09
filename: ConstitucionStation_ZH-CN7962568053.jpg
title: 具有纪念意义的火车站
copyright: 宪法火车站，布宜诺斯艾利斯，阿根廷 (© Grafissimo/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月9日
宪法火车站，布宜诺斯艾利斯，阿根廷
今天是阿根廷的独立日。这片拥有辽阔潘帕斯草原、丰富文化遗产与鲜明民族认同的南美国家，于1816年在图库曼省圣米格尔市正式宣告独立，摆脱西班牙的殖民统治。通往独立的道路充满挑战，伴随着长期内战与政治动荡；而阿根廷的独立运动也深受美国和法国独立运动的影响。最终，阿根廷人民以坚定不移的意志赢得了国家的自由。
2021年，这座火车站被授予国家历史纪念碑的遗产称号。


date: 2025-07-10
filename: BahamaBlues_ZH-CN8134624828.jpg
title: 奔向自由之浪
copyright: 巴哈马的绿松石色水域 (© BlueOrange Studio/Adobe Stock)
story:
2025年7月10日
巴哈马的绿松石色水域
今天，巴哈马以缤纷的色彩、音乐与自豪感迎来国家独立日的庆祝。1492年，克里斯托弗·哥伦布首次抵达这些岛屿，自此被欧洲人记录在案。最初，这些岛屿处于西班牙统治之下，之后曾短暂由美国控制，随后成为英国殖民地。经过数十年的法律谈判与日益高涨的自治诉求，巴哈马最终于1973年7月10日实现完全独立。
虽然巴哈马在1973年获得独立，但英国君主仍为其国家元首。


date: 2025-07-11
filename: TokyoSunrise_ZH-CN0091906710.jpg
title: 把我们都算上
copyright: 日出时的东京，日本 (© pongnathee kluaythong/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月11日
日出时的东京，日本
我们生活的地球早已人满为患，并且仍在不断变得更加拥挤。目前全球人口已达82亿，且呈持续增长之势。世界人口日旨在引发人们对人口增长如何影响城市发展、粮食供给与未来前景的思考。该纪念日设立于1989年，聚焦于不受控的人口增长对可持续性带来的影响，其灵感源自1987年全球人口首次突破50亿的“50亿人口日”。随着城市不断扩张，绿地面积减少，农业也在有限的土地和水资源中展开竞争。然而前路并非无解：通过教育投资、改善医疗可及性，以及建设更智慧的城市，人口增长与可持续发展之间可以实现平衡。
在过去三十年间，世界各地的社会在人口数据的收集、分析与使用方面取得了显著进步。如今的人口数据可以按年龄、族裔、性别及其他因素进行细致划分，更加准确地反映出我们社会的多样性。


date: 2025-07-12
filename: ThomsonGazelle_ZH-CN0413171014.jpg
title: 跟随妈妈的脚步
copyright: 汤氏瞪羚母亲和小鹿，马赛马拉，肯尼亚 (© Gallo Images/DanitaDelimont.com)
story:
2025年7月12日
汤氏瞪羚母亲和小鹿，马赛马拉，肯尼亚
在肯尼亚西南部的马赛马拉稀树草原上，金色阳光洒落大地，野生动物穿梭其间，形成一幅动人画面。这片草原上野生动物众多，有在灌木丛中漫步的大象，地平线上搜寻猎物的猎豹等。然而，真正吸引目光的，往往是那些体型较小却灵动可爱的动物，比如今日图片中的汤氏瞪羚。
2016年迪士尼动画电影《疯狂动物城》中，一位拟人化的流行歌手“汤氏瞪羚”由歌手夏奇拉配音，令人印象深刻。


date: 2025-07-13
filename: BasaltColumns_ZH-CN0743036217.jpg
title: 层层叠叠的岩石
copyright: 卡尔夫沙马尔斯维克湾玄武岩柱，斯卡吉半岛，冰岛 (© Arterra Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo)
story:
2025年7月13日
卡尔夫沙马尔斯维克湾玄武岩柱，斯卡吉半岛，冰岛
你觉得岩石只是……岩石吗？这些天然的矿物组合不仅仅只是静静地待在原地，它们是地球地壳的基本组成单位，从石器时代的工具到为现代文明提供动力的矿物，岩石在人类发展史中发挥了重要作用。国际岩石日的设立，正是为了庆祝岩石在自然界及人类社会中的深远影响，激发公众对地质科学的兴趣，并鼓励人们欣赏岩石所展现的自然之美与多样性。
玄武岩是火星表面常见的岩石类型之一，这一事实已通过来自火星探测任务的数据与陨石分析得到了证实。


date: 2025-07-14
filename: YoungShark_ZH-CN0887374663.jpg
title: 追逐海浪，掀起潮汐
copyright: 加利西亚海域游弋的幼年大青鲨，西班牙 (© Damocean/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月14日
加利西亚海域游弋的幼年大青鲨，西班牙
鲨鱼在地球上的历史可追溯至4亿年前，它们早于恐龙出现，并在历经冰河时期及多次生物大灭绝后依然顽强存续，成为海洋生态系统中不可或缺的一环。鲨鱼被视为健康海洋的指标物种，因此每年“鲨鱼意识日”的设立，正是为了提升公众对鲨鱼生态重要性的认知。作为海洋食物链顶端的掠食者，鲨鱼有助于维持物种平衡，其保护关系到整个海洋生态的可持续性。然而，当前多种鲨鱼面临灭绝危机，这一天也提醒人们采取行动，避免这些古老生物从海洋中消失。
大青鲨与真鲨科其他成员一样，具备五种核心感官：视觉、听觉、侧线感知、化学感知以及电感知。


date: 2025-07-15
filename: PerseidsPine_ZH-CN1081004815.jpg
title: 永恒的光芒
copyright: 英仙座流星雨和一棵古老刺果松，大盆地国家公园，内华达州，美国 (© Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年7月15日
英仙座流星雨和一棵古老刺果松，大盆地国家公园，内华达州，美国
准备迎接一年中最耀眼的天文奇观之一英仙座流星雨吧！该流星雨每年活跃期为7月中旬至8月下旬，而今年的峰值将于8月12日夜间至13日凌晨上演璀璨盛景。当地球穿越彗星斯威夫特-塔特尔留下的冰岩碎片轨道时，形成了这一流星雨。这颗彗星上一次接近地球是在1992年。当这些尘埃颗粒以高速进入地球大气层时，会因摩擦而燃烧，划出一道道明亮的光痕。
英仙座流星雨之所以得名，是因为这些流星看起来像是从英仙座方向划破夜空。“Perseids”一词源自希腊语，意为“英仙的子孙”。


date: 2025-07-16
filename: TemplePhilae_ZH-CN1232015188.jpg
title: 伊西斯女神的光辉照耀下
copyright: 菲莱神庙 (aka Temple of Isis), 阿斯旺, 埃及 (© Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月16日
菲莱神庙 (aka Temple of Isis), 阿斯旺, 埃及
菲莱神庙，常被称为伊西斯神庙，是埃及最迷人的古迹之一。它最初建在菲莱岛上，后来为避免被洪水淹没而迁至附近的阿吉勒基亚岛。这项迁移工程是20世纪60年代由联合国教科文组织发起的国际文物拯救项目，历时多年，搬运了逾4万块石块，才得以完整重建并保存这座古老神庙。如今，它坐落在尼罗河环绕的静谧之地，是乘船游览和探寻往昔的绝佳去处。
菲莱岛虽小，仅长约450米、宽不足150米，却自古以来便吸引着无数前来埃及的游客。因其秀美的景致，这座小岛素有“埃及明珠”之称。


date: 2025-07-17
filename: FranceLavender_ZH-CN1639602547.jpg
title: 追随香气的地平线
copyright: 瓦朗索勒高原的薰衣草田，法国 (© zpagistock/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月17日
瓦朗索勒高原的薰衣草田，法国
若你正在寻找一场充满芬芳的夏日旅程，法国普罗旺斯的瓦朗索勒高原无疑是理想之选。从六月下旬至七月中旬，这片高原便会被紫色花海覆盖，宛如香气四溢的天然画布。高原坐落于海拔约1,900英尺的地带，面积达约300平方英里，是法国规模最大的薰衣草种植区之一。
与普罗旺斯的其他地区一样，瓦朗索勒高原受益于充足的阳光，这一气候条件不仅适合薰衣草的生长，也吸引了大量偏好自然体验的夏季游客，与偏爱地中海沿岸的游客群体形成鲜明对比。


date: 2025-07-18
filename: IcelandSolstice_ZH-CN6073168622.jpg
title: 一切准备就绪，等待日落
copyright: 塞里雅兰瀑布日落美景，冰岛 (© Tom Mackie/AWL/plainpicture)
story:
2025年7月18日
塞里雅兰瀑布日落美景，冰岛
这座197英尺高的瀑布从曾经标志着冰岛海岸线的悬崖峭壁倾泻而下。奔腾的瀑布是塞里雅兰河 (Seljalandsa River) 的一部分，发源于火山冰川埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖 (Eyjafjallajökull)。这座冰盖下的火山上次喷发是在2010年，对当地居民和空中交通造成了影响。游客可以走到瀑布后面的一个小洞穴，那里拥有独特的视角，也是摄影师的最爱。夜晚，泛光灯照亮了瀑布，营造出一幅梦幻般的景象。如果您计划在夏至期间度假，塞里雅兰瀑布 (Seljalandsfoss) 值得列入您的旅行清单。无论您是自然爱好者还是摄影爱好者，这次体验都将为您留下难忘的回忆。
仲夏节是这里一个重要的节日，是一个庆祝一年中白天最长的节日。它在斯堪的纳维亚国家尤其受欢迎，那里的传统包括围绕五朔节花柱跳舞、盛宴和点燃篝火。


date: 2025-07-19
filename: YohoNP_ZH-CN2349599497.jpg
title: 化石、瀑布与林间小径
copyright: 幽鹤国家公园的伯吉斯山和翡翠湖, 不列颠哥伦比亚省, 加拿大 (© Feng Wei Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月19日
幽鹤国家公园的伯吉斯山和翡翠湖, 不列颠哥伦比亚省, 加拿大
“Yoho”听起来就像是人们站在山巅情不自禁发出的欢呼，而来到这里，你或许真的会这样做。幽鹤国家公园建于1886年，位于加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省，以其峻峭的悬崖、冰川湖泊与雷鸣般的瀑布而闻名。作为加拿大第二古老的国家公园，它也是加拿大落基山国家公园世界遗产地的一部分。整个公园占地1,313 平方公里，其中的伯吉斯页岩化石遗址保存了逾5亿年前的海洋生物，对理解早期生物演化历程具有不可替代的科研价值。
“Yoho”一词源自克里族语言，意为“惊叹”或“敬畏”，这一名称恰如其分地表达了公园内冰原广布、高峰耸立的壮观景致，堪称加拿大落基山脉中最令人瞩目的自然奇观之一。


date: 2025-07-20
filename: BigMoon_ZH-CN2508603883.jpg
title: 在月光下起舞
copyright: 望远镜下的月球表面照片 (© Sergey Kuznetsov/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月20日
望远镜下的月球表面照片
每年7月20日是国家月球日，纪念1969年尼尔·阿姆斯特朗首次踏上月球这一具有历史意义的时刻。他的那句宣言：“这是我个人的一小步，却是人类的一大步”，也随之载入史册。紧随其后的是巴兹·奥尔德林，成为第二位登上月球的人。
月球也会发生地震，这类震动被称为“月震”。部分月震可能在月球表面形成裂缝，导致气体逸出。对当年的阿波罗宇航员而言，那无疑是一片既陌生又神秘的着陆景观。


date: 2025-07-21
filename: AcroporaReef_ZH-CN2622120276.jpg
title: 海洋中的热带雨林
copyright: 浅海中的鹿角珊瑚 (© blue-sea.cz/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年7月21日
浅海中的鹿角珊瑚
每年七月的第三周被定为珊瑚礁意识周，旨在提醒人们：在广袤海洋的表层之下，存在一个生态复杂度堪比热带雨林的系统。尽管珊瑚礁仅覆盖不到1%的海底面积，却孕育了约25%的海洋生物。以今日图片中的鹿角珊瑚为例，这类珊瑚构成了关键的生态基底，为众多海洋物种提供庇护和栖息空间。这些生态系统不仅维系着海洋生物多样性，也在缓冲海岸侵蚀方面发挥重要作用，并通过旅游业与渔业促进沿海地区经济发展。
珊瑚斑斓的色彩来源于其体内共生的微小藻类。这些藻类不仅赋予珊瑚颜色，还通过光合作用为其提供所需的营养物质。


date: 2025-07-22
filename: GreatHeatY25_ZH-CN8252122347.jpg
title: 天山上的蓝宝石
copyright: 夏季的赛里木湖，博尔塔拉蒙古自治州博乐县, 中国新疆维吾尔自治区 (© Feng Wei Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月22日
夏季的赛里木湖，博尔塔拉蒙古自治州博乐县, 中国新疆维吾尔自治区
大暑是中国传统农历的第十二个节气，也是夏季的最后一个节气，象征着“暑气逼人”——一年中阳光最强烈、气温最热、湿度最高的时期。炎炎夏日来临，何不逃离尘嚣，前往新疆天山附近赛里木湖畔的绝美风景区呢？
赛里木湖原本没有鱼，1998年从俄罗斯引进高白鲑、凹目白鲑等冷水鱼养殖，2000年首次捕捞成品鱼，结束了赛里木湖不产鱼的历史，经过十年的发展，已成为新疆重要的冷水鱼生产基地。


date: 2025-07-23
filename: VaticanCity_ZH-CN3075109504.jpg
title: 城中之国
copyright: 梵蒂冈城与圣彼得大教堂，罗马，意大利 (© RudyBalasko/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月23日
梵蒂冈城与圣彼得大教堂，罗马，意大利
在意大利罗马市中心，有一个独立的国家：梵蒂冈城国。这个国家仅有 121 英亩，是世界上最小的独立国家，但其影响力却跨越了数个世纪和各大洲。作为教皇的居所和罗马天主教的精神中心，这座城墙环绕的飞地融合了艺术、历史与信仰。梵蒂冈城的核心地标是圣彼得大教堂，这座文艺复兴时期的建筑被普遍认为建于耶稣门徒、第一任罗马主教圣彼得的安葬地之上。今日图片中远景所示即为其雄伟的穹顶，也是世界上最大的教堂之一。大教堂前的圣彼得广场是教皇祝福仪式和宗教聚会的重要场所，每年吸引大量信众前来朝圣。此外，梵蒂冈博物馆与西斯廷礼拜堂也是不可错过的文化遗产，后者天顶画由米开朗基罗绘制，堪称艺术巅峰。尽管面积狭小，梵蒂冈城国却拥有独立的行政体系，包括邮政、电话系统、银行以及货币发行权。它虽非欧盟成员国，却发行专属欧元硬币。
1984年，联合国教科文组织将梵蒂冈城国列入《世界遗产名录》，它也是全球唯一一个以整个国家形式入选的世界遗产。


date: 2025-07-24
filename: AshyWoodswallow_ZH-CN3224168805.jpg
title: 物以类聚，鸟以群分
copyright: 栖息在树枝上的灰燕鵙家族 (© Captain Skyhigh/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月24日
栖息在树枝上的灰燕鵙家族
你是否还记得那个怂恿你爬上最高树的表兄，或者在家庭聚会上悄悄帮你多拿一块蛋糕的堂妹？今天，正是感激这些儿时玩伴的日子，表兄妹常常处于兄弟姐妹与朋友之间的独特位置，一起惹祸、分享彼此才懂的玩笑，总是在每次家庭聚会中如影随形。这样的情感纽带，也许会因时间与空间的拉远而变得稀疏，但却极少彻底消散。在自然界中，能够如此生动体现这种亲密联系的，正是今日图片中所展示的灰燕鵙。这种鸟类原产于南亚，具有显著的群居性。它们很少独自行动，常常集群栖息在光秃的树枝或电线等高处。从这些制高点，它们一跃而起，在空中灵巧飞行，优雅地捕食飞虫，展现出与生俱来的协调与默契。
灰燕鵙是所有雨燕中体型最大，生活在新几内亚高达9,800英尺的高地。


date: 2025-07-25
filename: LasPalmas_ZH-CN5993442425.jpg
title: 生活的画卷
copyright: 大加那利岛拉斯帕尔马斯色彩缤纷的房屋鸟瞰图，西班牙 (© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月25日
大加那利岛拉斯帕尔马斯色彩缤纷的房屋鸟瞰图，西班牙
如果你渴望在这个夏天探索一片遥远的风景，不妨跟随我们的步伐，走进拉斯帕尔马斯。这座充满活力的城市是加那利群岛的两大首府之一，同时也是群岛中人口最多的城市。加那利群岛隶属于西班牙，位于大西洋之上，而拉斯帕尔马斯坐落于大加那利岛东北海岸，拥有超过38万居民，是该地区重要的港口及商业中心。从空中俯瞰，这座城市色彩斑斓的建筑为像圣胡安山这样的社区增添了鲜明的层次感，这里的房屋依山而建。拉斯帕尔马斯建于1478年，历史底蕴深厚，曾受到西班牙殖民、海上贸易与移民潮的多重影响。如今，它以典型的亚热带沙漠气候闻名，冬季平均气温约16摄氏度，夏季则在27摄氏度左右。同时，这里还拥有被誉为欧洲最佳城市海滩之一的拉斯坎特拉斯海滩。
拉斯帕尔马斯狂欢节是吸引游客的主要看点之一。


date: 2025-07-26
filename: MangroveTwilight_ZH-CN3596666263.jpg
title: 潮汐的守护者
copyright: 黄昏时的红树林，瓦拉基里海滩，松巴岛，印度尼西亚 (© Boonchet Ch./Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月26日
黄昏时的红树林，瓦拉基里海滩，松巴岛，印度尼西亚
当暮色降临印度尼西亚松巴岛的瓦拉基里海滩时，红树林的剪影宛如潮汐中的哨兵般矗立，既优雅又坚韧，充满生命力。今天是国际红树林生态系统保护日，让我们向这些在维系地球生命中发挥至关重要作用的非凡树木致以敬意。
目前，据估计，在过去40年间，全球红树林的覆盖面积已减少了一半。


date: 2025-07-27
filename: BlackfinBarracuda_ZH-CN3850642551.jpg
title: 同步闪耀
copyright: 黑鳍梭鱼群，鲨鱼礁，拉斯穆罕默德国家公园，西奈半岛，埃及 (© Alex Mustard/Nature Picture Library)
story:
2025年7月27日
黑鳍梭鱼群，鲨鱼礁，拉斯穆罕默德国家公园，西奈半岛，埃及
在埃及拉斯穆罕默德国家公园的鲨鱼礁，当你遇见一群黑鳍梭鱼时，就仿佛被一圈银色的漩涡所环绕。这些体型流畅、带有明显V形条纹的鱼类，几乎以完美的同步移动。它们缓慢而有序地盘旋，并非随意而为，而是进化出的行为策略，既可保障群体安全，也能在捕猎时占据优势。黑鳍梭鱼广泛分布于热带海域，从红海一直延伸至中太平洋。白天，它们在珊瑚礁附近紧密集结成群，黄昏时才会分散，追逐猎物。
拉斯穆罕默德国家公园栖息着超过1,000种鱼类、40种海星、25种海胆、100多种软体动物以及150种甲壳类动物。


date: 2025-07-28
filename: MongoliaYurts_ZH-CN4015475887.jpg
title: 领先一步
copyright: 蒙古草原上的蒙古包 (© Michel Arnault/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年7月28日
蒙古草原上的蒙古包
每年7月28日的世界自然保护日提醒我们，保护自然不是可有可无的选择，而是一种必要的责任。今日图片所介绍的蒙古广袤草原正是这一理念的有力证明。这些生态系统是地球上最大且保持相对完整的温带草原之一，绵延数百万英亩的开阔土地。它们不仅养育了大约20万游牧牧民家庭，也为蒙古黄羊、雪豹等珍稀物种提供了重要的栖息地。
冬季，草原上的草变得干燥且极易燃烧，使得野火更加频繁。草在火灾后通常能迅速恢复，但树木却无法如此，这在一定程度上解释了该地区树木稀少的原因。


date: 2025-07-29
filename: TigerDay_ZH-CN4359136631.jpg
title: 丛林女王
copyright: 雌性孟加拉虎，坎哈国家公园，印度 (© Axel Gomille/Nature Picture Library)
story:
2025年7月29日
雌性孟加拉虎，坎哈国家公园，印度
你觉得自己能听到寂静吗？试着坐在印度心脏地带的坎哈国家公园的吉普车里，静静等待一只孟加拉虎现身。每年的国际老虎日都会引发人们对这种强大却濒危的大型猫科动物的关注。孟加拉虎不仅因其醒目的橙色皮毛和黑色条纹而闻名，更是顶级掠食者，对其所栖息生态系统的健康与平衡至关重要。通过控制鹿和野猪等猎物的数量，老虎帮助维护植被格局，并支撑其环境的整体生物多样性。
老虎是印度河流域文明帕苏帕提印章上的动物之一。


date: 2025-07-30
filename: RibadesellaSummer_ZH-CN4852547359.jpg
title: 理想的世界！
copyright: 里瓦德塞利亚，阿斯图里亚斯，西班牙 (© Agnieszka Glowala/Getty Images)
story:
2025年7月30日
里瓦德塞利亚，阿斯图里亚斯，西班牙
在这个夏天，阿斯图里亚斯以其独特的景观迎接你的到来。里瓦德塞利亚崎岖壮丽的海岸线分布着圣玛丽娜和瓜达米亚等海滩，海与山在此交汇，勾勒出独一无二的景观。附近的世界遗产提托·布斯蒂略洞穴，洞壁画距今已有14000多年，为你开启一段跨越时空的探索之旅。
里瓦德塞利亚位于西班牙阿斯图里亚斯，这里有著名的提托·布斯蒂略洞穴，该洞因史前动物与人物岩画而闻名，被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产“西班牙北部旧石器时代洞穴艺术”。


date: 2025-07-31
filename: NaPaliKauai_ZH-CN5070149838.jpg
title: 远离尘嚣
copyright: 纳帕利海岸的卡拉劳海滩, 可爱岛, 夏威夷, 美国 (© Russ Bishop/DanitaDelimont.com)
story:
2025年7月31日
纳帕利海岸的卡拉劳海滩, 可爱岛, 夏威夷, 美国
这里没有路标，也没有纪念品摊位，只有一条长达11英里的泥泞小径、险峻的峭壁以及开阔的视野，通向夏威夷最为偏远的海滩之一。卡拉劳海滩位于考艾岛卡拉劳步道的尽头，是所有辛苦徒步者最终踏上沙滩的奖赏。唯一的陆路就是这条小径，它穿越山谷，沿着海岸峭壁蜿蜒前行。夏季，一些游客会选择划皮划艇抵达，但无论采用哪种方式，所有在此停留的人都需要提前获得许可。
卡拉劳海滩及其周边栖息着多样的野生动物，包括夏威夷本地鸟类、野山羊以及色彩斑斓的热带植物。


date: 2025-08-01
filename: EdinburghFringe_ZH-CN5243292664.jpg
title: 惊喜随时上演
copyright: 皇家英里大道, 爱丁堡, 苏格兰 (© MEDITERRANEAN/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月1日
皇家英里大道, 爱丁堡, 苏格兰
每年八月，爱丁堡就不再仅仅是一座城市，而是彻底活跃起来，几乎可以说是字面意义上的活跃。从酒吧地下室到公园长椅，舞台会在最意想不到的地方冒出来，表演也会在宁静的街道上突然出现。欢迎来到爱丁堡艺穗节。这个节日的故事始于1947年，当时有八个剧团在未受邀请的情况下出现在爱丁堡国际艺术节上，但他们依然坚持演出。这种叛逆的精神从此延续下来，艺穗节由此诞生。
爱丁堡艺穗节完全向所有人开放，任何有故事想讲，并能找到愿意接纳他们的场地的人，都可以登上这个舞台。


date: 2025-08-02
filename: FruitaPetroglyphs_ZH-CN5423905955.jpg
title: 古老的岩画
copyright: 圆顶礁国家公园弗鲁塔附近的岩画, 犹他州, 美国 (© Nicolas VINCENT/Adobe Stock)
story:
2025年8月2日
圆顶礁国家公园弗鲁塔附近的岩画, 犹他州, 美国
圆顶礁国家公园拥有一种亘古不变的魅力。在这里，红色的岩石峭壁、蜿蜒的峡谷与古老的故事，在犹他州沙漠的天空下彼此交织。1971年，这里被正式指定为国家公园。它不仅因鲜明的地质景观而引人驻足，更因那刻印在大地上的古老叙事与文化遗产而让人驻足沉思。
圆顶礁国家公园被认为是美国所有国家公园中夜空最黑暗的地方之一。


date: 2025-08-03
filename: HappySunflower_ZH-CN5840993161.jpg
title: 你好，黄色！
copyright: 夏天田野里盛开的向日葵 (© Arsgera/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年8月3日
夏天田野里盛开的向日葵
向日葵色彩鲜艳、姿态大胆，深受蜜蜂、鸟类以及几乎所有人的喜爱。它们的属名“Helianthus”源自希腊语，意为“太阳之花”。这些一年生植物因其硕大、形似雏菊的花朵和迷人的魅力而广受赞誉。虽然向日葵也有红色、橙色和深红色等不同品种，但最常见的仍是那些带有棕色花心的经典黄色花朵。
向日葵是一种生长在开阔地带的植物，通常扎根于潮湿的土壤中。它常见于大草原及其他草地、荒地、道路两旁、铁路沿线、稀树草原以及森林边缘。


date: 2025-08-04
filename: LaplandOwl_ZH-CN6070251232.jpg
title: 这是谁的家？
copyright: 巢中的乌林鸮, 芬兰 (© imageBROKER.com/Alamy Stock Photo)
story:
2025年8月4日
巢中的乌林鸮, 芬兰
作为夜空中的无声猎手，猫头鹰是动物王国中最迷人的动物之一。它们能够将头部旋转多达270度，再加上无声的飞行和卓越的夜视能力，充分展现了其非凡的适应性。全球已知有200多种猫头鹰，它们在维护生态平衡中发挥着关键作用，并深深融入人类的文化传统。每年的8月4日是国际猫头鹰意识日，这一天不仅是对它们在自然界中重要角色的致敬，也是提醒人们关注它们所面临威胁的重要时刻。
乌林鸮体型庞大，因而需要定期进食，在冬季，它们每天要捕食多达7只田鼠大小的小型哺乳动物。


date: 2025-08-05
filename: CaliforniaTidepool_ZH-CN6273815361.jpg
title: 潮起潮落
copyright: 拉霍亚的潮汐池‌, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 (© Andrew Shoemaker/DanitaDelimont.com)
story:
2025年8月5日
拉霍亚的潮汐池‌, 加利福尼亚州, 美国
并非每堂科学课都需要在教室里进行。在加利福尼亚州的拉霍亚，退潮后形成的潮池就在你脚下，向你揭示海洋的奥秘。在圣地亚哥这个沿海社区的岩石海岸线上，当潮水退去，海水被困在天然的凹坑中，就形成了潮池。这些浅水池自然分布在拉霍亚的砂岩和礁石之间，尤以风之海海滩、贝壳海滩、南卡萨海滩和医院角附近最为典型。海水停留在这些岩石凹槽中，为海兔、脆皮海星等多样的海洋生物提供了独特的栖息地。潮池的形成要归功于长期的侵蚀作用。海浪日复一日拍击砂岩和石灰岩的海岸，逐渐雕刻出能够蓄水的小坑洼。每天两次，随着潮水的涨落，这些潮池不断被海水淹没又重新显露，内部的生物也因此必须适应极为多变的环境。冬季白天潮水最低，是探索潮池的最佳时机。需要注意的是，这些潮池受到加州《海洋生物保护法》的保护。你可以欣赏这里的美景、观察潮池中的居民并拍照留念，但请不要触碰或打扰其中的任何生物。这是一堂免费的海洋生物课程，正在你眼前生动上演。
在低潮时，拉霍亚是观赏海底世界的绝佳地点。你可能会看到的海洋生物包括海葵、螃蟹、帽贝、章鱼、海星、海蛞蝓、海兔和藤壶。


date: 2025-08-06
filename: BabyLemur_ZH-CN6617977758.jpg
title: 马达加斯加原住民
copyright: 环尾狐猴幼崽在玩自己的尾巴‌, 马达加斯加 (© Andy Rouse/Nature Picture Library)
story:
2025年8月6日
环尾狐猴幼崽在玩自己的尾巴‌, 马达加斯加
看起来这只小家伙像是在玩耍，对吗？其实，当一只幼年环尾狐猴缠绕或拉扯自己的尾巴时，它正在练习一些至关重要的技能。环尾狐猴的幼崽在生命最初的几周会紧紧依附在母亲身上，起初趴在母亲的腹部，随后转移到背上。随着它们逐渐长大、开始离开母亲，追逐尾巴成为学习平衡、协调以及融入群体玩耍的重要一环。这些灵长类动物还会利用它们长长的尾巴进行交流。当它们集体移动时，会将尾巴像旗帜一样高高举起，以便在开阔地带保持队形。此外，响亮而有节奏的叫声、气味标记以及雄性之间的“臭味大战”，都让它们的社会生活显得格外丰富有趣。
环尾狐猴是最擅长发声的灵长类动物之一，它们会用多样的叫声来保持群体联系或发出捕食者警报。


date: 2025-08-07
filename: GasparillaLight_ZH-CN6855683859.jpg
title: 海岸的密码
copyright: 加斯帕里拉岛灯塔后导标灯, 博卡格兰德, 佛罗里达州, 美国 (© Wiltser/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月7日
加斯帕里拉岛灯塔后导标灯, 博卡格兰德, 佛罗里达州, 美国
在GPS尚未为船只导航之前，灯塔就是航海者的重要领航标。每座灯塔都拥有独特的闪光模式，即使在漆黑的夜晚，水手们也能凭此确定自身所处的位置。今天是美国国家灯塔日，正是向这些沿海守护者致敬的良机。1789年，美国国会通过法案，规定所有灯塔由联邦政府统一维护。不论你是历史爱好者、海岸探险者，还是单纯钟爱经典工程建筑的人，这一天都值得你去深入了解灯塔的故事，或与亲朋好友一同参观灯塔。
最初，灯塔使用燃烧的煤炭甚至是篝火作为“灯”或光源。后来，灯塔改用燃油灯，直到1875年最终采用电灯。


date: 2025-08-08
filename: IguazuArgentina_ZH-CN4457051931.jpg
title: 奔流不息，为你为我
copyright: 伊瓜苏瀑布的三火枪瀑布, 阿根廷 (© Mark Meredith/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月8日
伊瓜苏瀑布的三火枪瀑布, 阿根廷
没有任何声音能盖过伊瓜苏瀑布的轰鸣。但令人震撼的不仅是那轰鸣的声浪。这座横跨阿根廷与巴西边境的自然奇观，以其磅礴气势令人无法抗拒。广阔的瀑布群绵延近两英里，汇聚了270多道独立瀑布，每一处都展现出独特的水流奔腾和水雾蒸腾之景。
“伊瓜苏”这个名字源自瓜拉尼语或图皮语，其中“y”意为“水”，“uasu”意为“巨大”，合起来即“巨大的水”。


date: 2025-08-09
filename: MaoriRock_ZH-CN5614685493.jpg
title: 致敬原住民之声
copyright: 陶波湖上的 Ngātoroirangi 矿湾毛利石刻, 新西兰 (© Joppi/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月9日
陶波湖上的 Ngātoroirangi 矿湾毛利石刻, 新西兰
每年8月9日，联合国都会庆祝“世界土著人民国际日”，这一日是纪念原住民社区坚韧精神、智慧和丰富文化的时刻。在美国，这一天也成为反思美洲原住民部落历史与贡献的契机，同时鼓励人们与全球各地的土著人民携手共进。
在陶波湖深水之上的悬崖峭壁上，高达14米的石刻由艺术家马塔希·布赖特韦尔创作，已成为新西兰北岛最受欢迎的旅游景点之一。


date: 2025-08-10
filename: LionessKenya_ZH-CN6791029673.jpg
title: 为正义怒吼
copyright: 马赛马拉国家保护区的雌狮,肯尼亚 (© Tandem Stock/Adobe Stock)
story:
2025年8月10日
马赛马拉国家保护区的雌狮,肯尼亚
狮子的怒吼在非洲大草原上回荡，千百年来激发着人类的想象力。每年的8月10日是世界狮子日，这一天邀请我们共同庆祝这些具有象征意义的猛兽，同时唤起人们对它们数量日益减少以及保护工作的紧迫性的关注。
和许多动物一样，狮子能够通过解谜来获取食物。与众不同的是，它们还能通过观察其他狮子如何解开谜题，从而学会应对同样的挑战。


date: 2025-08-11
filename: SantaMaddalena_ZH-CN7421083295.jpg
title: 来自山巅的明信片
copyright: 圣玛格达莱娜, 多洛米蒂山, 意大利 (© Sakrapee Nopparat/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月11日
圣玛格达莱娜, 多洛米蒂山, 意大利
位于意大利北部阿尔卑斯山的南蒂罗尔州，圣玛格达莱娜村坐落于福内斯山谷中，宛如明信片上描绘的理想村落。村中标志性的尖顶教堂，背后耸立着刀削斧刻般的多洛米蒂山峰，是该地区最常被拍摄的景致之一。多洛米蒂山脉本身被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产，山体主要由淡色石灰岩构成，日落时泛起柔和的粉红色光芒，当地人称之为“日照粉红”现象。
多洛米蒂世界遗产地由九个组成部分构成，保护着一系列极具特色的山地景观，以其卓越的自然美而闻名。


date: 2025-08-12
filename: KenyaElephants_ZH-CN7587207512.jpg
title: 野性、智慧与奇迹
copyright: 非洲象群, 安博塞利国家公园, 肯尼亚 (© Chase Dekker/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年8月12日
非洲象群, 安博塞利国家公园, 肯尼亚
大耳朵，大心脏，大象不仅是野性的象征，更代表着自然界的智慧。每年8月12日是“世界大象日”，这是一个全球纪念日，旨在提高人们对这些雄伟巨兽的关注。今日图片拍摄于肯尼亚的安博塞利国家公园，这里是它们的重要栖息地之一。大象真正令人敬佩的不只是庞大的体型，更是它们卓越的智慧。年长的母象首领拥有惊人的记忆力，能够记得数十年前的水源位置，并在干旱时期带领族群找到水源。它们的社交关系也极为紧密，生活在稳固的家族群体中，会为同伴的死亡哀悼，甚至在困难时互相安慰。
大象喜欢玩耍，而且不仅限于幼象。成年大象也会往空中喷水、在地上打滚，甚至追逐其他动物，仅仅是为了好玩。


date: 2025-08-13
filename: CoronaArch_ZH-CN5406267193.jpg
title: 地球的公开秘密
copyright: 一名男子从摩押附近的科罗纳拱门索降, 美国 (© Grant Ordelheide/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年8月13日
一名男子从摩押附近的科罗纳拱门索降, 美国
通往它的科罗纳拱门步道起初较为平坦，但沿途风光壮丽：穿越铁路轨道、攀爬光滑岩石，甚至需借助金属缆绳前行，让这段旅程远不只是一次在犹他州拱门国家公园之外，有一处如同通向天空的巨大门户般的自然奇观，吸引着摄影师、自然爱好者和徒步旅行者，那就是今日图片中所见的科罗纳拱门。这座巨大拱形岩石由纳瓦霍砂岩构成，是一处充满冒险却不拥挤的旅行目的地。普通的沙漠散步。步行约1.5英里后，你将抵达这座令人震撼的天然拱门，它宽达140英尺，高约105英尺，庞大的规模令人叹为观止。过去曾有人在拱门上系绳荡秋千，这种极限活动后来因安全原因被禁止。即便没有刺激的冒险，这次徒步旅程仍能让你在红岩地貌的心脏地带，欣赏到令人震撼的自然景观，留下难忘回忆。科罗纳拱门也被称为“小彩虹桥”，因其外形酷似鲍威尔湖附近的著名彩虹桥，但它独自坐落于更为宁静的天地之中，绽放着独特的自然魅力。
如果你有恐高症或行走不稳，最好在第一个缆绳处停下，从那里观赏拱门即可。


date: 2025-08-14
filename: PizNairPeak_ZH-CN8209144138.jpg
title: 从山顶俯瞰
copyright: 皮兹奈尔山缆车站, 格劳宾登州, 瑞士 (© Roberto Moiola/Alamy)
story:
2025年8月14日
皮兹奈尔山缆车站, 格劳宾登州, 瑞士
瑞士有一座山，它总是在俯瞰着你，但别太在意。皮茨奈尔峰坐落于阿尔布拉阿尔卑斯山脉，海拔高达10,026英尺，俯视着格劳宾登州的恩加丁山谷。从圣莫里茨出发，先乘坐缆索铁路抵达科尔维利亚，再换乘缆车直达山顶。登顶后，等待你的是观景平台、著名的阿尔卑斯野山羊雕像，以及一间独具特色的玻璃立方体餐厅，在这里可享受 360 度全景用餐体验。
无论是冬季还是夏季，在海拔 3,000 多米的高处，都可以欣赏到皮茨奈尔峰日出的壮丽景观。


date: 2025-08-15
filename: SpottedEagleRay_ZH-CN9894613260.jpg
title: 水下翱翔
copyright: 斑点鹞鲼，圣克里斯托瓦尔岛‌，‌加拉帕戈斯群岛，厄瓜多尔 (© Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年8月15日
斑点鹞鲼，圣克里斯托瓦尔岛‌，‌加拉帕戈斯群岛，厄瓜多尔
这是什么？鸟？飞机？不，这是一条鱼！它挥动鳍状肢在海中滑翔，还自带斑点的时尚外观，斑点鹰鳐绝不会默默无闻。与那些在海底爬行的魟鱼亲戚不同，它是海洋中的“飞行者”。 它的名字来自你猜得没错的部分，那突出而弯曲的吻部，酷似鹰喙；而背部的斑点更是独一无二，就像指纹一样，每一条都有自己独特的花纹。它展开胸鳍时可达 3 米宽，那对如翅膀般的鳍令它在水中翱翔自如。它那长长的尾巴基部带有毒刺，能在有捕食者靠近时发挥防御作用。虽然斑点鹞鲼通常性情温和，但绝非毫无保护能力。
斑点鹞鲼通常栖息于海湾与珊瑚礁之间，偶尔也会进入河口水域。在中国，它分布于东海、台湾沿岸以及南海地区。


date: 2025-08-16
filename: ColorfulBeehives_ZH-CN0180195770.jpg
title: 成为改变的一“蜂”
copyright: 色彩斑斓的蜂巢, 意大利 (© Roberto Caucino/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年8月16日
色彩斑斓的蜂巢, 意大利
如果你以为蜜蜂的存在只是为了蜇人，那就大错特错了。这些小小的有翅工匠，正在从事世界上最甜蜜也最重要的工作，而且它们还有属于自己的节日：每年 8 月第三个星期六的“世界蜜蜂日”。 全球约 35% 的粮食作物产量依赖动物传粉，其中蜜蜂是最重要的传粉者之一。由蜜蜂完成授粉的作物，其经济价值估计高达数千亿美元。尽管拥有这般“超能力”，蜜蜂的生存却正面临危机：栖息地丧失、杀虫剂使用、疾病蔓延以及气候变化，都在让蜂巢生活日益艰难。
蜜蜂通过复杂的“摇摆舞”与蜂巢中的其他蜜蜂沟通，传达食物来源的位置。


date: 2025-08-17
filename: LyngvigLighthouse_ZH-CN0836204503.jpg
title: 眺望大海的高塔
copyright: 灵维格灯塔，维泽桑讷，丹麦 (© Caroline Brundle Bugge/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月17日
灵维格灯塔，维泽桑讷，丹麦
为抵御风暴并引导船只安全靠岸，灯塔最初应运而生。如今，它们不仅是导航工具，更成为文化遗产、建筑奇迹和人类与海洋之间深厚联结的象征。每年 8 月的第三个周末，世界各地都会迎来“国际灯塔灯船周”活动，让人们齐聚一堂，共同庆祝这些海岸地标。该活动由苏格兰艾尔业余无线电小组成员约翰·福赛思和迈克·达尔里姆普尔于 1998年发起，旨在提高对灯塔与灯船保护的意识，同时推广业余无线电通信，并促进国际友好交流。
灯船的使用有着悠久的历史。早在 1311 年，中国就在江苏太仓刘家港西岸的沙嘴上设立了两艘标志船，并竖起旗帜，为粮船导航。这些装置可视为灯船的早期雏形。


date: 2025-08-18
filename: AvalancheLake_ZH-CN1442576083.jpg
title: 溪流入梦
copyright: 雪崩湖步道，阿迪朗达克高峰区，纽约州，美国 (© Posnov/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月18日
雪崩湖步道，阿迪朗达克高峰区，纽约州，美国
在这片高峰密布的区域，一座面积仅约9英亩的高山湖泊静静地坐落在近2,900英尺的海拔处，位于科尔登山与雪崩山之间。湖泊由远古冰川雕刻而成，四周环绕着陡峭的峭壁和崎岖的地形，清晰地保留着冰川时代留下的印记。其中最引人注目的地貌特征是“陷阱裂缝”，一条高达1,200英尺的岩石峡谷，峭壁险峻，是阿迪朗达克地区最令人震撼的自然奇观之一。正是过去发生的大规模雪崩，塑造了这一地形，也因此得名“雪崩湖”。 雪崩湖步道始于著名的阿迪朗达克小屋，这里是进入高峰区进行徒步、登山等户外活动的热门起点。全程约9.6英里，累计爬升约1,350英尺，虽然看似是一段轻松的行程，实则沿途地形复杂、变化多端，是对体力与意志的双重挑战。
纽约州的阿迪朗达克高峰区拥有 46座山峰，其中最高的是马西山，海拔达1,629米，是全州的最高点。整个区域占地约240万公顷，呈弧形分布。


date: 2025-08-19
filename: GipuzcoaSummer_ZH-CN1926924422.jpg
title: 随海而流的岩石！
copyright: 祖马亚的复理层，巴斯克地区，西班牙 (© Eloi_Omella/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月19日
祖马亚的复理层，巴斯克地区，西班牙
这些壮观的岩层坐落于西班牙北部的祖马亚海岸，面向坎塔布连海。对于喜爱徒步的人来说，这里设有沿悬崖而建的远足路线，可通往邻近的德巴和穆特里库等小镇，沿途风光令人叹为观止。你知道吗？这里还是《权力的游戏》部分场景的取景地。它如同电影画面般的美景不仅吸引了无数好奇的旅行者，也吸引了众多地质学家前来考察。祖马亚是探索地球历史与自然之美的理想之地，一旦踏足，定会被它的奇岩异石与丰富地貌深深吸引。
飞来石通常由砂岩和页岩交替组成，是地质学中典型的深海浊流沉积序列；祖马亚地区因其独特的飞来石地貌而被列为联合国教科文组织世界遗产地。


date: 2025-08-20
filename: CitadelBonifacio_ZH-CN2130899430.jpg
title: 永恒的建筑
copyright: 博尼法乔城堡，科西嘉岛南部，法国 (© Marc Dozier/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月20日
博尼法乔城堡，科西嘉岛南部，法国
位于科西嘉岛南端边缘的博尼法乔，隔着狭窄的海峡遥望撒丁岛，石灰岩峭壁高耸于海浪之上。最初，这里并非风景如画的旅游胜地，而是作为沿海防御工事而建立，在数百年间守护着地中海最繁忙的航道之一。公元828年，托斯卡纳的博尼法斯二世创建了博尼法乔公社，这里逐渐成为商人、士兵与水手聚集的地方，各方人群共同推动了城镇的发展。博尼法乔分为两部分：老城区（又称上城）位于高耸的悬崖之上，坐落在最初的城堡围墙内；而下方的滨海区则沿着狭长的海湾分布，拥有港口、海边住宅和日益发展的山谷社区。
博尼法乔是居伊·德·莫泊桑短篇小说《复仇》的背景地。


date: 2025-08-21
filename: WheatearBird_ZH-CN2663965839.jpg
title: 伫立凝视
copyright: 穗䳭和盛开的帚石楠，峰区国家公园，英格兰 (© Ben Hall/Nature Picture Library)
story:
2025年8月21日
穗䳭和盛开的帚石楠，峰区国家公园，英格兰
即便你不是鸟类专家，也不难注意到白尾穗䳭在开阔地面上快速飞奔的身影。这些地栖鸣禽属于水芹属，以直立的姿态和在栖木之间跳跃或奔跑的习性而闻名。尽管名称听起来与谷物有关，白尾穗䳭其实与小麦毫无关系，其名称是“白屁股”这一古老短语的变体，源于该属大多数鸟类所拥有的醒目白色臀部。全球大约有20种白尾穗䳭，但在美国，人们最有可能遇到的是北方穗䳭。这类小鸟体重不足一盎司，却能在阿拉斯加和加拿大北部的夏季栖息地与非洲的越冬地之间往返数千英里。它们的迁徙路线横跨海洋与大陆，是同等体型鸟类中最长的之一。与许多常见的后院鸣禽不同，穗䳭偏爱低矮植被覆盖的开阔地带，在那里它们能够奔跑并迅速扑向昆虫。虽然北美的大多数观鸟者只有在更偏远的北方才能看到它们的身影，但穗䳭在欧洲、亚洲和非洲却分布广泛。
“穗䳭”这个名字并非源自“小麦”或“麦穗”，而是“white”（白色）与“arse”（臀部）两个词的民间词源组合，指的是该属大多数鸟类身上明显可见的白色臀部。


date: 2025-08-22
filename: PalouseWA_ZH-CN2552273820.jpg
title: 大自然的绿色地毯
copyright: 帕卢斯连绵起伏的丘陵，华盛顿州，美国 (© svetlana57/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月22日
帕卢斯连绵起伏的丘陵，华盛顿州，美国
一波又一波的柔软丘陵绵延于帕卢斯地区。这片宁静的区域位于华盛顿州东南部，向爱达荷州和俄勒冈州的边界延伸。覆盖着小麦的坡地随着季节更迭而变换色彩。春季，丘陵呈现出郁郁葱葱的绿色，年轻的小麦和大麦开始生长；夏季则转变为干燥的金黄色，作物即将收割。
帕卢斯南部地区（靠近沃拉沃拉）最近出现了一种新现象——葡萄园的兴起。截至2015年，该地区已有超过800个葡萄园。与小麦种植一样，该地区的气候也非常适合葡萄种植，其中赤霞珠（Cabernet Sauvignon）是主要品种。


date: 2025-08-23
filename: ChushuY25_ZH-CN0495086720.jpg
title: 彩林叠翠间的瀑布
copyright: 秋季九寨沟国家公园里的诺日朗瀑布, 四川省, 中国 (© tawatchaiprakobkit/Getty images)
story:
2025年8月23日
秋季九寨沟国家公园里的诺日朗瀑布, 四川省, 中国
立秋是秋季的第二个节气。这意味着夏季的炎热将从此消失。不过，天气依然闷热，不像秋天。人们称这种天气为 “秋老虎”，通常从8月22日左右开始，到8月24日左右结束。
诺日朗瀑布高20 米（66 英尺），宽 270 米（66 英尺），是中国最宽的瀑布。对面建有观景平台，可将糯日朗瀑布尽收眼底。许多中国电影和电视剧（如《西游记》）的场景都是在这里拍摄的。


date: 2025-08-24
filename: CervusDama_ZH-CN3603505811.jpg
title: “跟我来”
copyright: 欧洲黇鹿‌，英格兰 (© Enrique Aguirre Aves/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月24日
欧洲黇鹿‌，英格兰
扁平的鹿角？没错。斑点的皮毛？没错。灌木丛里的斜眼？也没错。跟欧洲黇鹿打个招呼吧。几个世纪以来，这些中等体型的鹿一直昂首阔步地穿梭于英国的林地和公园之中。虽然它们看起来很像家，但它们并非土生土长的。罗马人很可能把它们带到了这里，后来诺曼人又使它们在狩猎公园里变得常见。如今，它们已成为从苏塞克斯郡到苏格兰各地风景的常客。
2024年的一项研究表明，土耳其黇鹿种群是欧洲大部分黇鹿以及世界各地引进种群的祖先。


date: 2025-08-25
filename: YellowstoneRiver_ZH-CN3716808579.jpg
title: 从火山之源到河流之路
copyright: 方解石温泉区和黄石河，黄石国家公园，怀俄明州，美国 (© Rebecca L. Latson/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月25日
方解石温泉区和黄石河，黄石国家公园，怀俄明州，美国
黄石河是美国本土48州最后一条未建坝的主要河流，它从黄石公园东南方向发源，全长671英里（1080公里），汇入密苏里河，最终汇入大西洋。这座地热与峡谷交汇的观景台，让您近距离欣赏黄石河蜿蜒流经熔岩锻造的峡谷的壮丽景色。沿着玄武岩峭壁，可以看到富含矿物质的地下水仍在冒着热气，形成了白色的矿藏，方解石泉也因此得名。您或许还能看到白头鹰在头顶滑翔，或是野牛在附近悠闲地休息。黄石公园不仅仅是一个公园，它更是一座拥有游客中心的超级火山。
石灰泉得名于覆盖该地区的乳白色石灰石晶体。与石灰石混杂在一起的是半透明的蜂蜜色重晶石晶体。在温泉管道内，有美丽但气味刺鼻的黄色硫磺晶体。


date: 2025-08-26
filename: TrulliHouses_ZH-CN3856452406.jpg
title: 一座非凡的特鲁洛小镇
copyright: 阿尔贝罗贝洛的特鲁洛建筑，普利亚大区，意大利 (© Feng Wei Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月26日
阿尔贝罗贝洛的特鲁洛建筑，普利亚大区，意大利
如果童话故事里有建筑师，他们或许能创造出像意大利阿尔贝罗贝洛那样的景象。但这座小镇的标志性建筑——特鲁利（trulli，单数为trullo），并非靠魔杖，而是石灰岩、无砂浆砌筑，以及——根据某些理论——一些逃税手段——才得以建成。这些粉刷过的石屋顶部是干砌的石灰岩屋顶，形状像倒置的冰淇淋蛋筒。这是一种古老的建筑技术，在阿尔贝罗贝洛，更是巧妙之举。据说早在14世纪，当地人就试图通过建造房屋来逃避房产税，因为国王的税务官来袭时，这些房屋很容易被拆除。
阿尔贝罗贝洛字面意思是“美丽的树”；是意大利南部普利亚大区巴里大都会区的一个小镇和市镇。


date: 2025-08-27
filename: FaroeLake_ZH-CN3977660997.jpg
title: 海洋上方的湖泊
copyright: 瑟沃格湖，瓦加尔岛，法罗群岛 (© Anton Petrus/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月27日
瑟沃格湖，瓦加尔岛，法罗群岛
大自然自有其奇妙之处，瑟沃格湖（Sørvágsvatn）便是其中最精彩的之一。世界湖泊日是探索法罗群岛（丹麦王国的一个自治行政区）这片视错觉的绝佳时机。这座位于沃格岛上的湖泊也被称为莱蒂斯湖（Leitisvatn），看似漂浮在海平面之上。实际上，它的海拔不到100英尺。索尔瓦格斯湖是法罗群岛最大的湖泊，面积约1.3平方英里，为Bøsdalafossur瀑布Bøsdalafossur提供水源，瀑布的湖水在那里奔腾而下，最终倾泻而入大海。
该湖位于瓦加尔岛南部，通过Bøsdalafossur瀑布与大西洋相连，形成了壮丽的“悬湖”景观。


date: 2025-08-28
filename: WhiteEgret_ZH-CN4425921150.jpg
title: 这只白鹭毫无遗憾
copyright: 大白鹭，匈牙利 (© Markus Varesvuo/Nature Picture Library)
story:
2025年8月28日
大白鹭，匈牙利
今天让我们来认识一下大白鹭吧。它们分布在美洲、亚洲、非洲和欧洲部分地区，经常在湿地、潮滩和平静的溪流中涉水。它们耐心而精准，会一动不动地站上几分钟，等待着最佳时机发动闪电般的攻击。鱼类是它们的主要猎物，但也捕食青蛙、爬行动物，甚至小型哺乳动物。大白鹭广泛分布在世界各地。在中国见于东北、河北、江苏、云南、广东、海南、台湾等地。栖息于河川、海滨、沼泽湿地或水田中。性颇机警，见人即飞去。白天多单独寻觅食物，在食物丰富的区域内，也成小群活动。
大白鹭于1758年由瑞典自然学家卡尔·林奈在《自然系统》第十版中正式描述，其学名为Ardea alba。


date: 2025-08-29
filename: PlazaMayor_ZH-CN4576498488.jpg
title: 网格的心脏
copyright: 马约尔广场鸟瞰图, 马德里, 西班牙 (© AirPano LLC/Amazing Aerial Agency)
story:
2025年8月29日
马约尔广场鸟瞰图, 马德里, 西班牙
从高处俯瞰，马德里（西班牙首都）的马约尔广场（Plaza Mayor）上，整齐的拱廊与瓦片屋顶交织成一幅令人着迷的建筑和谐画卷。这片历史悠久的空间曾是热闹的集市广场“阿拉巴尔广场”（Plaza del Arrabal）的所在地，见证了这座城市数百年来的变迁。这一转变始于1561年，当时皇家法院从托莱多迁至马德里，广场随之归入马德里管辖。受秩序与宏伟愿景的启发，菲利普二世重新构想了这片广场——尽管实际施工直至菲利普三世统治时期的1617年才正式展开。
经过一系列火灾后，马约尔广场在历史上曾多次重建。要到达那里，你可以选择其中一个入口，每个入口都别具特色。


date: 2025-08-30
filename: MaldivesWhaleShark_ZH-CN9975504316.jpg
title: 有鳍且惊艳
copyright: 阿里夫达鲁环礁海岸的鲸鲨, 马尔代夫 (© Bachir Moukarzel/Amazing Aerial Agency)
story:
2025年8月30日
阿里夫达鲁环礁海岸的鲸鲨, 马尔代夫
如果你从未见过一条近40英尺长、身上布满斑点的鲸鲨在珊瑚礁间优雅游弋，那你可就错过了精彩的一幕。今天是国际鲸鲨日，提醒我们这些行动缓慢的巨型生物需要我们的关注。自2008年首次设立以来，这一天被研究人员和海洋保护倡导者用来聚焦保护工作，并警示船只撞击、塑料污染和无序旅游等威胁。
自2016年以来，鲸鲨已被国际自然保护联盟列为濒危物种。


date: 2025-08-31
filename: ScottsBluff_ZH-CN0292735112.jpg
title: 彩绘的云，静默的悬崖
copyright: 杰灵的斯科茨布拉夫国家纪念碑‌, 内布拉斯加州,美国 (© Hawk Buckman/Getty Images)
story:
2025年8月31日
杰灵的斯科茨布拉夫国家纪念碑‌, 内布拉斯加州,美国
在GPS问世之前，像斯科茨布卢夫（Scotts Bluff）这样的自然地标就已高耸于大草原之上，为西行的旅人指明方向。在1887年杰林镇（Gering）建镇之前，以及内布拉斯加州于1867年成为美国州份的数十年之前，这些砂岩和泥岩地貌已然引导着成千上万的旅人沿着俄勒冈小径、加利福尼亚小径和摩门教徒小径前行。斯科茨布卢夫国家纪念碑（Scotts Bluff National Monument）以皮毛商人希拉姆·斯科特（Hiram Scott）命名，他曾是落基山皮毛公司（Rocky Mountain Fur Company）的成员，于19世纪20年代在附近地区因神秘原因去世。
纪念碑博物馆展出了该地区的人类和自然历史展品，并收藏了边疆摄影师兼艺术家威廉·亨利·杰克逊（William Henry Jackson）的一系列独特水彩画作品。


date: 2025-09-01
filename: FieldKaiserstuhl_ZH-CN0467488834.jpg
title: 风景如画的葡萄园
copyright: 凯撒施图尔，巴登-符腾堡，德国 (© EyeEM Mobile GmbH/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月1日
凯撒施图尔，巴登-符腾堡，德国
凯撒施图尔山是巴登-符腾堡州南部一座低矮的小山脉，靠近弗莱堡，是德国阳光最充沛的地区之一。凯泽斯图尔因奥托三世皇帝于994年在此统治而得名。这片风景如画的地区是自然爱好者、寻求放松身心人士以及葡萄酒鉴赏家的天堂。肥沃的土壤和温和的气候，使灰皮诺和黑皮诺等葡萄品种在这里茁壮成长。过去的火山活动留下了富含矿物质的土壤，赋予了该地区葡萄酒独特的风味。连绵起伏的丘陵、田园诗般的村庄以及包括珍稀绿蜥蜴在内的多种野生动物，使凯泽斯图尔成为自然爱好者的迷人目的地。
巴登-符腾堡州是德国自然风光最迷人的地区之一，拥有七处景点被列为联合国教科文组织世界遗产。


date: 2025-09-02
filename: DeadvleiTrees_ZH-CN0967414858.jpg
title: 死谷的幽灵
copyright: 骆驼刺树, 死亡谷, 纳米布-诺克卢福国家公园, 纳米比亚 (© Inge Johnsson/Alamy Stock Photo)
story:
2025年9月2日
骆驼刺树, 死亡谷, 纳米布-诺克卢福国家公园, 纳米比亚
乍一看，这仿佛是一件超现实的艺术装置：黑暗的树木凝固在黏土平原上，背后是沙丘和闪烁的天空。但这幅来自纳米比亚纳米布-诺克卢夫国家公园的德阿夫莱（Deadvlei）的景象，完全是自然形成的。德阿夫莱（Deadvlei）这个名字意为“死沼泽”——这是曾经填满这个盆地的湿地的遗迹。
纳米比亚的鸟类、啮齿类动物和人类都以骆驼刺树为食。该树的种子可以研磨成细粉，用作咖啡替代品，而树上分泌的树胶也可食用。


date: 2025-09-03
filename: MinnesotaWaters_ZH-CN6078521418.jpg
title: 享受宁静
copyright: 边界水域独木舟区荒野区, 明尼苏达州, 美国 (© s.tomas/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年9月3日
边界水域独木舟区荒野区, 明尼苏达州, 美国
这里是位于明尼苏达州东北部的边界水域独木舟荒野区。该区域跨越超过100万英亩，由相互连接的湖泊、河流和针叶林组成。这里的地貌由冰川雕琢的水道、岩石露头和茂密林地交织而成，为驼鹿、狼、鸥鸟及无数其他物种提供了理想栖息地。该地区拥有超过1200英里的皮划艇航线和2000多个露营地，为人们提供了难得的与自然亲密接触、享受宁静的机会。
边境水域独木舟荒野区（BWCAW）被美国国家地理旅游杂志评为人生50个必游景点之一。


date: 2025-09-04
filename: WrestlingBears_ZH-CN6430637848.jpg
title: 力量的角逐
copyright: 灰熊摔跤, 卡特迈国家公园及自然保护区, 阿拉斯加, 美国 (© Cavan Images/Adobe Stock)
story:
2025年9月4日
灰熊摔跤, 卡特迈国家公园及自然保护区, 阿拉斯加, 美国
今天图片中正在进行摔跤角逐的是力量型选手——灰熊。年轻的灰熊常常通过“嬉戏打斗”来增强体力、磨练技能并建立社会联系。这些重量级冠军体重可达900磅，但仍能以每小时35英里的速度疾驰，比大多数人类跑得更快。在中国主要分布在新疆、青藏高原和东北山林地区。灰熊广泛分布于北半球各大陆，包括北美洲、亚洲与欧洲的北部。在中国主要分布在新疆、青藏高原和东北山林地区。
灰熊的嗅觉极为敏锐，能够在20英里外嗅到食物——其嗅觉灵敏度是血猎犬的七倍。


date: 2025-09-05
filename: SunsetPier_ZH-CN1202083395.jpg
title: 完美的夜晚
copyright: 太平洋公园，圣莫妮卡州立海滩，加利福尼亚州，美国 (© EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月5日
太平洋公园，圣莫妮卡州立海滩，加利福尼亚州，美国
当夕阳西下，洒下橙色、粉色和紫色的光芒时，圣莫尼卡从悠闲的氛围中转为灯火通明。真的！这片海滩拥有超过3英里的沙滩、一座历史悠久的码头，以及风景如画的太平洋海岸公路，不仅仅是一条美丽的海岸线。让我们先从沙滩说起。宽阔、洁净，无论是打排球还是悠闲地读一本好书，这里都是日光浴爱好者和沙堡建造者的理想之地。
2028年夏季奥运会期间，该海滩将举办沙滩排球和冲浪比赛。


date: 2025-09-06
filename: RufousHummer_ZH-CN1777072350.jpg
title: 忙碌的一天
copyright: 棕煌蜂鸟，旧金山金门公园，加利福尼亚州，美国 (© jeremyborkat/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月6日
棕煌蜂鸟，旧金山金门公园，加利福尼亚州，美国
它们飞向后方，俯冲轰炸对手，飞行距离比大多数公路旅行者更远。让我们来认识一下这只棕红蜂鸟——这张照片拍摄于加州旧金山的金门公园。棕红蜂鸟是塞拉斯福鲁斯属（Selasphorus）九个物种之一，因其锈红色的红橙色羽毛而得名。雄蜂鸟背部泛着铜色光泽，喉部红色斑块在阳光下闪闪发光。雌蜂鸟则较为温顺，但身体两侧和尾部仍带有棕红条纹。
一项使用数字成像测速技术观察翅膀运动的研究发现，红蜂鸟在悬停时主要通过翅膀向下拍打（75% 的升力）而不是向上拍打（25% 的升力）来支撑其体重。


date: 2025-09-07
filename: BlueGdansk_ZH-CN3328928509.jpg
title: 淡彩的梦境和静水
copyright: 位于莫特拉瓦河河畔的格但斯克市，波兰 (© Oscar Dominguez/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年9月7日
位于莫特拉瓦河河畔的格但斯克市，波兰
格但斯克是波兰滨海省一座充满活力的城市，鹅卵石铺就的魅力与清凉的海岸交相辉映。它是格但斯克湾沿岸的三联城（Tricity）的一部分，该区域包括邻近的沿海城市索波特和格丁尼亚市以及周边城镇。这座城市的名字很可能源于“Gdania”，这是流经该市的莫特拉瓦河（Motława）的早期名称。
格但斯克港是波兰最大的港口，也是波罗的海沿岸最大的港口之一。


date: 2025-09-08
filename: OrchardLibrary_ZH-CN3578982798.jpg
title: 当天预订
copyright: 乌节图书馆，新加坡 (© Darwin Fan/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月8日
乌节图书馆，新加坡
读一读，就相信它——读写能力改变一切。作为一项基本人权，读写能力是一个强大的工具，它开启了通往更大自由和积极全球公民身份的大门。国际扫盲日（自1967年以来，每年的9月8日）认识到其深远的影响，提醒人们读写能力在为所有人建设更美好、更可持续的未来方面至关重要。今年的主题探讨了数字时代的读写能力，科技正在不断重塑人们学习、交流和参与社会的方式。因此，数字化参与既是挑战，也是机遇。
识字能力对于培养批判性思维、辨别可靠信息以及应对复杂的信息环境也至关重要。


date: 2025-09-09
filename: SwissSquirrel_ZH-CN1499344455.jpg
title: 她一根一根地准备着
copyright: 一只雌性欧亚红松鼠正在搬运苔藓，瑞士 (© Jean-Luc and Francoise Ziegler/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年9月9日
一只雌性欧亚红松鼠正在搬运苔藓，瑞士
敏捷、聪明、总是四处奔波——来认识一下欧亚红松鼠吧。这种栖息于树梢的绿叶动物遍布欧洲和亚洲的大部分地区。虽然它们更喜欢森林的庇护，但这种敏捷的生物也能轻松适应花园和公园的环境。它们用树枝在高高的树杈上筑巢，称为“drey”（巢穴），形成一个约25到30厘米宽的圆顶结构。图中的雌性欧亚红松鼠正在采集苔藓——苔藓是几种柔软材料中的一种，它们与树皮、树叶和草一起构成巢穴，使巢穴成为一个舒适、隔热的避难所。这些啮齿动物也可能占据树洞或啄木鸟遗弃的洞穴（如果有的话）。
红松鼠的皮毛颜色随季节和地区而变化，从黑色到红色不等。红色在英国最为常见，而欧洲和亚洲各地则呈现出各种不同的颜色。


date: 2025-09-10
filename: YorkshireHay_ZH-CN9097986997.jpg
title: 阳光明媚，赶紧打草
copyright: 干草捆，北约克郡，英格兰 (© Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月10日
干草捆，北约克郡，英格兰
“趁着阳光明媚，赶紧打草”这句谚语听起来可能有些陈旧，但在农业领域，它却是实实在在的真理。打草捆在全球农业中扮演着至关重要的角色。这一过程包括割草、晾干和包装草料，以便在寒冷季节喂养牲畜。整个流程高度依赖天气条件：草料必须在打捆前完全干燥，否则容易发霉。农民必须在干旱天气来临时迅速行动，因此这成为了一场季节性的赛跑。
干草捆主要用于保存和储存干草、豆科植物或其他牧草作物，作为牲畜饲料。


date: 2025-09-11
filename: ExtremaduraJamon_ZH-CN1559355133.jpg
title: 准备仰望天空吧！
copyright: 蒙弗拉圭国家公园塔霍河畔的猎鹰岩，西班牙 (© Daniel Viñé Garcia/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月11日
蒙弗拉圭国家公园塔霍河畔的猎鹰岩，西班牙
探索蒙弗拉圭国家公园，这座位于埃斯特雷马杜拉自治区心脏地带的自然瑰宝。从卡塞雷斯市的萨尔托德尔吉塔诺观景台，您可以欣赏到西班牙最壮丽的日落之一，四周环绕着嶙峋的悬崖，天空被金色的光辉染成一片金黄。两条河流——塔霍河和蒂埃塔尔河——横贯公园，塑造了其崎岖的地形，并滋养了丰富多样的野生动植物和地中海植被。这片天堂是自然爱好者和观鸟者的理想之地。秃鹫在公园上空自由翱翔——这里是欧洲最大的秃鹫群落所在地——与西班牙帝国鹰和埃及秃鹫共同栖息，使这里成为真正的生物多样性热点。
黑美洲鹫并非蒙弗拉圭唯一的明星：这里还有数量可观的西班牙白肩雕。观赏这些雄伟的鸟类，或者像雕鸮和兀鹫这样的其他鸟类，都是一次难忘的体验。


date: 2025-09-12
filename: SpinnerDolphins_ZH-CN9731341241.jpg
title: 野性畅游，自在徜徉
copyright: 红海中的飞旋海豚群, 阿拉姆港, 埃及 (© Franco Banfi/Nature Picture Library)
story:
2025年9月12日
红海中的飞旋海豚群, 阿拉姆港, 埃及
凭借终身伴侣关系、独特的鸣叫声和回声定位能力，海豚远不止是聪明的游泳者。自2022年首次被观察到以来，世界海豚日旨在关注这些聪明的海洋哺乳动物及其赖以生存的海洋环境。这一天鼓励人们了解它们的行为以及所面临的威胁。超过40种海豚在我们的海洋中游弋，从毛伊海豚到伊洛瓦底海豚。它们是卓越的导航者、问题解决者和团队合作者。有些甚至会形成超级群落——数百或数千只海豚在近海共同迁徙的临时聚集。
2021年的这一天，超过一千四百头海豚被杀害。这是有记录以来最严重的集体海豚屠杀事件之一。世界海豚日旨在纪念这些生命，并提醒我们保护海豚为何如此重要。


date: 2025-09-13
filename: PointReyesSeashore_ZH-CN0076789582.jpg
title: 崎岖而狂野
copyright: 烟囱岩, 雷斯岬国家海岸, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 (© Enrique Aguirre Aves/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月13日
烟囱岩, 雷斯岬国家海岸, 加利福尼亚州, 美国
这里没有经过精心打磨或精心策划——而这正是它的精髓所在。从旧金山向北驱车仅需一个多小时，便可抵达点雷斯岬国家海岸公园——一个雾气缓缓飘荡、 tule 鹿自由漫步、时间仿佛停滞的地方。该公园于1962年的今天由国会设立，旨在保护这片海岸线，供公众游览和环境保护之用。公园面积超过100平方英里，拥有令人惊叹的景观，从沿海草原和风吹雨打的岬角，到沙滩和道格拉斯冷杉林。
当象海豹（Mirounga angustirostris）于1981年在点雷耶斯国家海岸公园建立繁殖地时，该公园成为全球唯一同时拥有繁殖哺乳动物和鳍足类动物的国家公园。


date: 2025-09-14
filename: HohWaterfall_ZH-CN0297269806.jpg
title: 苔藓与薄雾
copyright: 奥林匹克国家公园的瀑布, 华盛顿, 美国 (© Chris Moore/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年9月14日
奥林匹克国家公园的瀑布, 华盛顿, 美国
奥林匹克国家公园拥有罕见的多元地形——这正是其独特魅力所在。这里汇聚了高山脊岭、宁静的森林，以及美国本土48州中最长的未开发海岸线之一。这片占地近1400平方英里的华盛顿州区域，作为联合国教科文组织世界遗产地，在2024年吸引了超过370万名游客。该地区最初于1909年由西奥多·罗斯福总统以“奥林匹斯山国家纪念碑”之名设立为保护区，并于1938年正式成为国家公园。
奥林匹克半岛以多雨著称，而雨水也带来了汹涌的河流，这些河流最终形成美丽的瀑布。其中一些瀑布可供轮椅通行，还有少数瀑布可通过船只或皮划艇抵达。


date: 2025-09-15
filename: Echasse_ZH-CN0670369582.jpg
title: 涉水寻迹
copyright: 黑翅长脚鹬, 法国 (© Antonio Sementa/500px/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月15日
黑翅长脚鹬, 法国
在非洲闪烁的泻湖、亚洲蜿蜒的三角洲以及南欧的盐沼之间，一个优雅的身影悄然浮现，轻盈地徘徊于水天之间。黑翅长脚鹬以其修长纤细的红色双腿，在浅滩间悄然移动，举止间透着宁静的优雅。它们的存在有时会带来一种宁静的亲密感——两只鸟儿贴近漂浮，动作如同一场 delicate 的舞蹈，仿佛在分享一个只有湿地才能听到的秘密。它们以安静的精准度狩猎，轻轻地从水面拾取昆虫、幼虫和小型甲壳类动物。每一个动作都展现出对环境的微妙掌控，这种掌控力源于耐心与本能的结合。
黑翅长脚鹬对自己的巢穴和幼鸟非常保护。它们会群起攻击并驱赶体型更大的鸟类。


date: 2025-09-16
filename: OzoneEarth_ZH-CN0993915980.jpg
title: 巨大的成功
copyright: 从地球上空225英里处俯瞰墨西哥湾沿岸各州的夜间景象 (© Stocktrek Images/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月16日
从地球上空225英里处俯瞰墨西哥湾沿岸各州的夜间景象
看不见的气体、老式发胶和卫星有什么共同点？它们都在历史上最伟大的环境复苏之一中发挥了作用。从225英里高空俯瞰，墨西哥湾沿岸如同一片星辰——点点灯光散落在黑暗中。但真正让这一景象成为可能的，却是肉眼无法看见的：臭氧层，它默默地保护着下方的一切免受太阳紫外线的侵害。到了20世纪80年代，这层屏障正迅速变薄——被曾用于制冷和气溶胶产品的化学物质所破坏。解决方案？一项全球协议。1987年签署的《蒙特利尔议定书》促使臭氧层破坏物质迅速被淘汰。如今，卫星数据显示南极上空的臭氧层空洞正在缩小。科学家认为，到本世纪中叶，它可能完全愈合。
联合国的每一个成员国——197个国家——都批准了《蒙特利尔议定书》，使其成为联合国历史上第一个实现普遍批准的条约。


date: 2025-09-17
filename: YoungMoose_ZH-CN4639410217.jpg
title: 成长中的冠冕
copyright: 迪纳利国家公园中的一头年轻雄性驼鹿, 阿拉斯加, 美国 (© Grant Ordelheide/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年9月17日
迪纳利国家公园中的一头年轻雄性驼鹿, 阿拉斯加, 美国
他虽年轻，但这副鹿角已预示着未来的征战。在阿拉斯加的丹纳利国家公园，一只年轻的雄性驯鹿将头颅高高扬起，超越灌木丛的高度。此时，它的鹿角更像是冠冕而非武器——仍覆盖着绒毛。但即便如此，它们已隐约透露出一种由本能、较量与支配欲望悄然塑造的生命轨迹。
驯鹿每年都会沿着相同的迁徙路线迁徙，常常在相同的树木上觅食。阿拉斯加驯鹿每天需要摄入9770千卡（32公斤）的热量。


date: 2025-09-18
filename: DunquinIreland_ZH-CN1418844818.jpg
title: 爱尔兰岛的西端
copyright: 邓金码头的蛇形楼梯, 凯里郡, 爱尔兰 (© Hugh O'Connor/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月18日
邓金码头的蛇形楼梯, 凯里郡, 爱尔兰
这片令人惊叹的景色——天空与大西洋的浩瀚水域相接之处——只能徒步抵达。位于爱尔兰荒野而美丽的丁格尔半岛上，邓金码头是凯里郡最适合拍照的景点之一。这座小型码头以蜿蜒曲折的盘山小径闻名，小径如丝带般在悬崖边剧烈蜿蜒而下。这些陡峭的弯道不仅带来刺激感，更是通往下方码头的唯一路径，从这里出发的船只将驶向偏远的布拉斯凯特群岛。
码头风景如画，是爱尔兰的标志性景点之一，这在一定程度上要归功于那些沿着狭窄小路从码头走向大陆的羊群！


date: 2025-09-19
filename: ThousandIslands_ZH-CN3197750437.jpg
title: 千般理由，邀您探索
copyright: 千岛群岛地区，圣劳伦斯河，美加边境 (© benedek/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月19日
千岛群岛地区，圣劳伦斯河，美加边境
听到“千岛”这个词，你可能会想到一罐沙拉酱，但在这浓郁的酱汁背后，是北美最迷人的地区之一。千岛群岛是圣劳伦斯河上的一个群岛，横跨美国纽约州和加拿大安大略省。它由1800多个岛屿组成。有些岛屿上矗立着童话般的城堡，有些岛屿则狭小得几乎容不下一张吊床。此外，还有一座名为“刚好够住的岛”（Just Room Enough Island），岛上只有一栋房子和一棵孤树，名副其实。
该地区于2002年被联合国教科文组织指定为世界生物圈保护区。


date: 2025-09-20
filename: OktoberfestSwing_ZH-CN5270146600.jpg
title: 关于啤酒和风景的故事
copyright: 慕尼黑啤酒节上的旋转木马，慕尼黑，巴伐利亚，德国 (© LOOK-foto/Alamy)
story:
2025年9月20日
慕尼黑啤酒节上的旋转木马，慕尼黑，巴伐利亚，德国
每年秋天，德国慕尼黑的特蕾莎草地都会摇身一变，成为全球最大的节日之一——慕尼黑啤酒节。啤酒节最初于1810年为庆祝一场皇室婚礼而举办，如今已发展成为一个持续16至18天的传统节日，吸引着来自世界各地的600多万人参加。啤酒节的规模令人叹为观止：场地占地约450万平方英尺，设有14个主帐篷，每个帐篷可容纳数千人。每年，游客们会喝掉约700万升啤酒，以及堆积如山的椒盐脆饼、香肠和姜饼心。慕尼黑啤酒节上供应的所有啤酒均来自慕尼黑啤酒厂，并符合德国啤酒纯度法（Reinheitsgebot）的严格标准。
该活动每年吸引约700万游客；2023年，游客人数达到创纪录的720万人。同年，游客们喝掉了约740万升特制的慕尼黑啤酒节啤酒。


date: 2025-09-21
filename: IceOtters_ZH-CN5393791969.jpg
title: 酷毙了
copyright: 海獭，威廉王子湾，阿拉斯加州，美国 (© Gerald Corsi/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月21日
海獭，威廉王子湾，阿拉斯加州，美国
它们圆溜溜的眼睛背后藏着更多故事。每年一度的海獭认知周，正是为了彰显它们在维护沿海生态系统中的重要作用。这项由非营利环保组织“野生动物保护者”于2003年发起的活动，致力于推动公众教育与实际行动。在阿拉斯加威廉王子湾，海獭或漂浮于冰面，或如今日图片所示，用它们最爱的石头在腹部敲开贝壳。更不为人知的是，它们对海胆的食欲如何助力保护海藻森林。
海獭拥有所有动物中最厚的皮毛。它们的皮毛每平方英寸含有60万到100万个毛囊。与大多数其他海洋哺乳动物不同，海獭没有鲸脂层。相反，它们依靠浓密防水的皮毛来保暖。


date: 2025-09-22
filename: AspenEquinox_ZH-CN5474695693.jpg
title: 到冬天的中途
copyright: 秋日的白杨树，鱼湖国家森林，犹他州，美国 (© Danita Delimont/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月22日
秋日的白杨树，鱼湖国家森林，犹他州，美国
随着九月的到来，今天图片中看到的白杨树开始了一年一度的变迁，呈现出鲜艳的黄色，在山丘上荡漾开来。这片森林覆盖了超过2300平方英里的湖泊、小径和山脉，秋天的色彩闪耀着光芒。看着季节与有着比我们遵循的公历更古老的事物同步变化，让人感到一种踏实的感觉。
一些白杨克隆树，例如犹他州的潘多树林，是地球上最大、最古老的生物之一，其单一根系支撑着数千个基因相同的茎。


date: 2025-09-23
filename: AutumnalEquinoxY25_ZH-CN5692548297.jpg
title: 树树皆秋色
copyright: 航拍中国江苏省常州翠竹公园 (© Xu Changyu/Getty images)
story:
2025年9月23日
航拍中国江苏省常州翠竹公园
又是一年的秋分时节，众所周知，在这一天，全球各地昼夜的时间几乎是相等的。在幅员辽阔的中国，自南向北开始，秋季在每个地区有着不同颜色和不同的温度。大部分地区雨季在此时刚刚结束，秋天的凉意才刚刚开始，此时正是碧空万里，风和日丽的时节。中国的秋季颜色是叠翠鎏金的，许多植物的颜色由此时节开始，由苍翠的绿转为金黄或者橙红色。
秋分曾是传统的“祭月节”，中秋节由“秋夕祭月”演变而来。


date: 2025-09-24
filename: BearLodge_ZH-CN5880511888.jpg
title: 孤独的巨人
copyright: 魔鬼塔国家纪念碑, 怀俄明州，美国 (© Laura Hedien/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月24日
魔鬼塔国家纪念碑, 怀俄明州，美国
在怀俄明州东北部辽阔的草原上，矗立着魔鬼塔——一座从开阔平原拔地而起的岩石地貌。这座山丘原名熊屋，在1875年理查德·欧文·道奇上校率领的探险队中获得现名，据推测可能源于一名翻译将原住民的表述误译为“恶神之塔”。其官方名称省略的撇号符合标准地理命名惯例——因此路标均标注为“魔鬼塔”。1906年，西奥多·罗斯福总统将其指定为美国首个国家纪念碑，这一里程碑事件的周年纪念日正值今日。
这块巨石的土著名称包括“熊屋”或“熊屋”。而魔鬼塔这个名字则是起源一位探险队翻译将一个土著名称误解为“恶神之塔”，后来被延用了。


date: 2025-09-25
filename: FortChittorgarh_ZH-CN5999553283.jpg
title: 忠勇的雕刻石
copyright: 奇陶尔加尔堡, 拉贾斯坦邦, 印度 (© chetansoni/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年9月25日
奇陶尔加尔堡, 拉贾斯坦邦, 印度
奇陶尔加尔堡坐落在印度拉贾斯坦邦一座海拔超过590英尺的山丘上，占地约690英亩。它骄傲地见证着著名武士家族——拉杰普特人的英勇事迹。拉杰普特人的名字源自梵语“rajaputra”，意为“国王之子”，他们以其高贵的血统和尚武传统而闻名于整个印度北部。这座堡垒的石墙见证了几个世纪以来拉贾斯坦邦吟游诗人的歌谣中流传的勇气、骄傲和浪漫。据传说，印度史诗《摩诃婆罗多》中的英雄比姆是这座堡垒的奠基者。
这座雄伟的建筑将人们带回到征服和悲剧的时代，它的墙壁上至今仍回响着非凡男女的令人难以置信的故事。


date: 2025-09-26
filename: AutumnChipmunk_ZH-CN6224482683.jpg
title: 速度与毛茸茸
copyright: 最小花栗鼠, 库特奈国家公园, 蒙大拿州, 美国 (© Donald M. Jones/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年9月26日
最小花栗鼠, 库特奈国家公园, 蒙大拿州, 美国
在林地动物的世界里，体型最小的花栗鼠或许看起来像是“小松鼠”——但别小看它。凭借着敏锐的生存智慧和迅捷的双足，这种小型啮齿动物证明了“体型最小”并不意味着放弃你的潜力。它的体重还不到一副扑克牌，从鼻子到尾巴的长度不到10英寸（约25厘米），是北美体型最小的花栗鼠。
一旦某个区域没有更多的食物可供觅食，最小的花栗鼠就会用尿液标记该区域，并且不会再回到该区域，直到重新供应为止。


date: 2025-09-27
filename: TankLakes_ZH-CN6402368934.jpg
title: 美丽的星空
copyright: 坦克湖 (Tank Lakes), 高山湖泊荒野区, 华盛顿州, 美国 (© Austin Trigg/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年9月27日
坦克湖 (Tank Lakes), 高山湖泊荒野区, 华盛顿州, 美国
今天图片中璀璨的星空来自于坦克湖，它位于高山湖泊荒野区。高山湖泊荒野占地超过40万英亩，位于风景如画的华盛顿州中部喀斯喀特山脉。荒野位于喀斯喀特山脉北段的斯诺夸米山口和史蒂文斯山口之间，其中包括被称为韦纳奇山脉的子山脉，该山脉构成了韦纳奇-雅基马分水岭。
要前往坦克湖，首先要踏上18英里长的东福克福斯步道，进入项链谷，然后才能到达拉博恩峡谷和坦克湖/焚风湖地区。步道从这里开始变得崎岖不平，有时甚至无人维护。


date: 2025-09-28
filename: PienzaItaly_ZH-CN6564335348.jpg
title: 品味皮恩扎
copyright: 托斯卡纳的皮恩扎镇, 意大利 (© zpagistock/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月28日
托斯卡纳的皮恩扎镇, 意大利
有些城镇历经数个世纪缓慢演变。皮恩扎？15世纪，一位教皇为了证明某种观点——或许也为了炫耀——彻底重塑了它。这座意大利小镇坐落在奥尔恰山谷之上，周围环绕着连绵起伏的群山，其景象与你想象中的托斯卡纳一模一样：柏树成荫，蜿蜒的土路，偶尔还能看到几只绵羊。它宁静祥和。而当你踏入城墙，它便会变得灵动起来。
皮恩扎历史中心作为文艺复兴人文主义城市设计理念的首次应用，在意大利乃至全球的后续城市发展中发挥了重要作用。


date: 2025-09-29
filename: HoutenHouses_ZH-CN6776452438.jpg
title: 彩虹骑行与宁静氛围
copyright: 豪滕镇的彩虹屋, 荷兰 (© George Pachantouris/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月29日
豪滕镇的彩虹屋, 荷兰
你不会找到纪念品商店或旅游地图指引方向——但沿着豪滕的里特普拉斯湖畔，你会偶然发现荷兰最令人意想不到的上镜景点之一。虽然许多人涌向阿姆斯特丹的运河或鹿特丹的方块屋，但这座宁静的通勤小镇却拥有独特的建筑风格。彩虹屋如海市蜃楼般鳞次栉比，闪耀着大胆的绘画色彩——一个住宅区变成了一个低调的文化地标。
豪滕是一座通勤城市，其居民非常重视在家乡使用自行车。继2008年荣获“自行车之城”称号后，该市去年再次荣获该称号。


date: 2025-09-30
filename: EucalyptusKoala_ZH-CN6942451940.jpg
title: 坚持重要的事情
copyright: 桉树上的考拉, 大奥特维国家公园, 澳大利亚 (© Jamie Lamb - elusive-images.co.uk/Getty Images)
story:
2025年9月30日
桉树上的考拉, 大奥特维国家公园, 澳大利亚
在大奥特维国家公园茂密的桉树林中，考拉如同沉睡的哨兵，守护着澳大利亚的野性灵魂。这些有袋动物常被误称为“考拉熊”，但实际上它们与袋熊的体型更接近，它们结实的无尾身躯、毛茸茸的耳朵和柔软的黑色鼻子很容易辨认。
1998年，考拉为澳大利亚旅游业带来了超过10亿美元的收益，此后，考拉的国际知名度不断提升。


date: 2025-10-01
filename: YosemiteClark_ZH-CN7179533292.jpg
title: 克拉克山脉的回声
copyright: 克拉克山脉, 内华达山脉, 约塞米蒂国家公园, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 (© Robb Hirsch/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年10月1日
克拉克山脉, 内华达山脉, 约塞米蒂国家公园, 加利福尼亚州, 美国
今年是约塞米蒂国家公园遗产的又一个里程碑。约塞米蒂国家公园自1864年以来一直受到保护，以其令人惊叹的壮丽景色和生态意义而闻名。约塞米蒂坐落在内华达山脉的中心地带，占地近1200平方英里，孕育着巨大的花岗岩、奔腾的瀑布和古老的红杉。克拉克山脉是其鲜为人知的瑰宝之一——今天照片中显示的崎岖高海拔山脊。它以约塞米蒂的第一位守护者、自然保护先驱盖伦·克拉克的名字命名。
约塞米蒂国家公园于1864年首次设立保护区，以其瀑布而闻名。然而，在其近1200平方英里的土地上，你还能发现深邃的山谷、壮丽的草地、古老的巨型红杉、广阔的荒野等等。


date: 2025-10-02
filename: OxbowBend_ZH-CN7211791969.jpg
title: 法定自然区
copyright: 蛇河上的牛轭湖, 大提顿国家公园, 怀俄明州, 美国 (© DanitaDelimont.com/AWL Images/SuperStock)
story:
2025年10月2日
蛇河上的牛轭湖, 大提顿国家公园, 怀俄明州, 美国
除了水，河流还承载着生命、历史和故事。它们是大自然对我们景观的永恒贡献，流淌过大地，跨越时间。蜿蜒流经怀俄明州大提顿国家公园的蛇河便是其中一颗瑰宝。这条河上一个尤为令人惊叹的景点是牛轭湖湾——今天这张照片中就出现了——平静的水面倒映着巍峨的提顿山脉，驼鹿和白头鹰等野生动物在这里繁衍生息。在这里，河水自由流淌，不受混凝土或商业的束缚，受到1968年今天签署的《野生与风景河流法案》的保护。
在牛轭湖湾，莫兰山巍峨耸立，蛇河蜿蜒流淌，仿佛要流向提顿山脉（或从提顿山脉流出）。不难理解，这里为何成为“四大名胜”之一，并成为大提顿国家公园的标志性照片。


date: 2025-10-03
filename: SkyeHeather_ZH-CN2820283990.jpg
title: 雾中遐想
copyright: 布里特尔峡谷里生长的帚石楠花, 斯凯岛, 苏格兰 (© Adam Mowery/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年10月3日
布里特尔峡谷里生长的帚石楠花, 斯凯岛, 苏格兰
雾气袅袅，水波粼粼，传说萦绕——欢迎来到格伦·布里特尔。在苏格兰传说中的“雾岛”斯凯岛上，峡谷绵延展开，紫色石楠花如地毯般铺满崎岖山坡。这片土地回荡着历史的低语：远在八千年前新石器时代猎人循溪而行之前，恐龙的足迹早已镌刻于峭壁之上。九世纪时，航海的北欧维京人在此定居。数百年后，强大的麦克劳德与麦克唐纳氏族相继占据这片疆土，他们的城堡见证了无数战役与同盟的兴衰。
2024年，格伦布里特尔地区的森林清理作业中，发现了一处名为布伦内尔的农耕聚落遗迹，该遗址可追溯至17或18世纪。


date: 2025-10-04
filename: DragonEndeavour_ZH-CN8160066040.jpg
title: 使命必达
copyright: 从SpaceX载人龙飞船“奋进号”视角看到的国际空间站主太阳能电池阵列 (© NASA)
story:
2025年10月4日
从SpaceX载人龙飞船“奋进号”视角看到的国际空间站主太阳能电池阵列
10月4日至10日，世界空间周邀我们一同超越地球的界限，追逐星辰。这一盛事源于1957年苏联发射的"斯普特尼克1号"卫星，以及1967年签署的《外层空间条约》——这份开创性的国际承诺标志着人类和平探索宇宙的崭新篇章。在这一周里，教室里充满实验的热闹，天文馆里惊叹声不绝于耳，望远镜将人类与遥远星系相连。这些瞬间共同编织出科学探索的宇宙篇章，见证人类不断突破边界的执着追求。本年度主题明确：点燃新一代探索者、工程师和梦想家的热情，让他们准备好改写宇宙的篇章。
2016年，国际空间站上培育出第一朵太空花——百日菊，为之后的太空农业开辟了道路。


date: 2025-10-05
filename: TeacherOwl_ZH-CN8289875605.jpg
title: 庆祝智慧！
copyright: 中欧森林里的鬼鸮 (© Ondrej Prosicky/Alamy)
story:
2025年10月5日
中欧森林里的鬼鸮
教书育人的传统在整个人类历史中根深蒂固。今天，我们向那些倾注心血传播知识、塑造思想的教育者致敬。祝所有老师世界教师节快乐，感谢你们帮助我们成为更好的自己。
北方鸮分布于北美洲北部和欧洲地区，它们栖息于茂密的针叶林和混交林之中。


date: 2025-10-06
filename: AnshunBridge_ZH-CN8392458102.jpg
title: 千里共婵娟
copyright: 安顺桥中秋灯展，成都，中国 (© Philippe LEJEANVRE/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月6日
安顺桥中秋灯展，成都，中国
当秋月当空，空气中已透出冬日的气息，那份战栗感总会在记忆中久久萦绕。中秋节——亦称月节——作为中国最珍视的节日之一，为丰收时节的尾声增添了又一抹神话色彩。它在农历八月十五日庆祝，今年恰逢10月6日。相传此夜，月神嫦娥正俯瞰人间。
中秋节时还有一些地方特色型习俗，例如：广东等地的舞火龙、湖南湘西等地象征性的“偷南瓜”等等。


date: 2025-10-07
filename: RidgwayAspens_ZH-CN8735375502.jpg
title: 金色的秋日余晖
copyright: 里奇韦附近斯内弗尔斯山脚下的秋色, 科罗拉多州, 美国 (© Grant Ordelheide/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年10月7日
里奇韦附近斯内弗尔斯山脚下的秋色, 科罗拉多州, 美国
又到了一年之中，山峦褪去夏日青翠，披上绚烂秋色的时节。变色通常始于九月初至十月初，高处山坡率先染上秋意，随后低处山谷渐次跟进。白杨树堪称这场视觉盛宴的主角，其叶片在阳光下闪烁，宛如金币般熠熠生辉。然而白杨的绚烂并非年年如约而至。它们的色彩取决于多重因素——树木健康状况、局部气候变化、土壤湿度，以及生长海拔与纬度。健康的白杨林才是真正的季节主角：枝繁叶茂的林群色彩更明亮，落叶也更晚；而受压或衰弱的树木往往迅速褪色，只留下一抹短暂的辉煌。去年令人惊艳的景致，今年或许黯淡无光。今日镜头捕捉到斯内弗尔斯山麓的绚烂盛景——这座科罗拉多州斯内弗尔斯山脉的最高峰，从里奇韦镇拔地而起，海拔拔高逾7000英尺。
从州道62号公路的达拉斯分水岭眺望，斯内弗尔斯山堪称科罗拉多州最常被拍摄的山峰之一。自2023年起，该山景还被印制在科罗拉多州驾驶执照及身份证上。


date: 2025-10-08
filename: OctopusCyanea_ZH-CN8948609460.jpg
title: 动态伪装
copyright: 白日章鱼, 毛伊岛, 夏威夷, 美国 (© Dave Fleetham/plainpicture)
story:
2025年10月8日
白日章鱼, 毛伊岛, 夏威夷, 美国
八只触手，魅力十足，今天的主角是章鱼！值此世界章鱼日，当我们赞叹它们的智慧时，更要意识到：即便是这些海洋天才，也无法逃避气候变化和污染威胁。守护它们的家园，就是守护海洋的未来。
章鱼能大幅改变身体形状，从而穿过极其狭窄的缝隙。


date: 2025-10-09
filename: WebbPillars_ZH-CN9054137596.jpg
title: 宇宙在绽放
copyright: ‌詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜观测的创生之柱 (© NASA)
story:
2025年10月9日
‌詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜观测的创生之柱
随着世界空间周接近尾声，宇宙依然不断给予我们仰望的理由。想象一下云朵——不是在天空中飘动，而是在浩瀚星海中延展，孕育着新星的诞生。这正是NASA的詹姆斯·韦布太空望远镜所捕捉到的“创生之柱”景象。如图所示，色彩与细节前所未见，令人震撼。
NASA"创生之柱"的命名可追溯至英国浸信会牧师查尔斯·司布真1857年的布道，象征着神圣的宇宙根基。


date: 2025-10-10
filename: MonurikiFiji_ZH-CN9178115886.jpg
title: 思绪之礁
copyright: 莫努里基岛周边的珊瑚礁，玛玛努卡群岛，斐济 (© David Wall/SuperStock)
story:
2025年10月10日
莫努里基岛周边的珊瑚礁，玛玛努卡群岛，斐济
有些日子只标志着一个里程碑，而斐济的10月10日却见证了两个。1874年的这一天，斐济群岛正式成为英国殖民地。近一个世纪后的1970年，同一天，斐济升起了自己的国旗，宣布独立。斐济日是一个独特的全国性节日——既是反思的时刻，也是庆祝的日子。庆典从庄重的仪式开始，国旗冉冉升起，领导人发表演讲。学校和社区团体常常会举行历史重现或表演活动。街道上挤满了游行队伍，村庄里上演着传统舞蹈“梅克”，橄榄球场上热火朝天。家家户户则准备传统菜肴，比如将肉和根茎类作物埋在地下烤制的“洛沃”，以及用柑橘汁腌制的鱼“科科达”。
莫努里基岛在2000年罗伯特·泽米吉斯执导、汤姆·汉克斯主演的电影《荒岛余生》中作为无名小岛的取景地而闻名。


date: 2025-10-11
filename: WoodDuckHen_ZH-CN9558916773.jpg
title: 下一站：墨西哥！
copyright: 林鸳鸯，美国 (© ps50ace/iStock/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月11日
林鸳鸯，美国
鸟类无需护照、签证或行李，它们只需展开翅膀，就能随时启程。每年两次，数十亿只候鸟跨越全球，在繁殖地与越冬地之间飞行数千英里。这段壮丽的旅程正是“世界候鸟日”所要强调的。从每年飞行约44000英里的北极燕鸥，到单次飞行就能横跨墨西哥湾的红喉蜂鸟，这些季节性迁徙的鸟儿展现了真正的耐力。该节日定在每年5月和10月的第二个星期六，同时提醒人们候鸟所面临的威胁：栖息地丧失、气候变化以及光污染，都可能干扰它们的迁徙路线。
林鸳鸯是北美唯一一种能在同一季节抚育两窝雏鸟的鸭类。


date: 2025-10-12
filename: SaranacLake_ZH-CN0224689397.jpg
title: 爱上萨拉纳克
copyright: 萨拉纳克湖村，阿迪朗达克山脉，纽约州，美国 (© DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月12日
萨拉纳克湖村，阿迪朗达克山脉，纽约州，美国
有些地方只是地图上的一个点，但萨拉纳克湖却是一年四季都吸引游客的热门目的地。尽管名字里带“湖”，这个小镇并不直接坐落在萨拉纳克湖群边，而是位于萨拉纳克河的一段宽阔水域——弗劳尔湖畔。几个世纪以来，这片被称为“阿迪朗达克之都”的地方，一直是原住民狩猎和迁徙的要地。到19世纪末，这里因成为疗养胜地而声名鹊起，爱德华·李文斯顿·特鲁多医生在此开创了肺结核的新鲜空气疗法。那一时期的“疗养小屋”至今依然保存完好。
在纽约阿迪朗达克山脉附近，分布着200多个有名字的湖泊，以及超过3,000个小型湖泊、池塘和其他水域。


date: 2025-10-13
filename: HinterseeWaterfall_ZH-CN0432994081.jpg
title: 水声低语
copyright: 温巴赫峡谷瀑布，巴伐利亚州，德国 (© EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月13日
温巴赫峡谷瀑布，巴伐利亚州，德国
陡峭的岩石峡谷，湍急的水流，还有如画般的风景：位于贝希特斯加登国家公园拉姆绍附近的温巴赫峡谷，是巴伐利亚最壮观的峡谷之一。在今日图片中，温巴赫溪在约200米长的狭窄岩层间奔流而下，形成层层小瀑布，并在长年累月中于岩石上雕刻出令人惊叹的纹理。色彩斑斓的岩层揭示了数千年前的地质过程。
国王湖碧绿如翡翠，坐落在贝希特斯加登国家公园中心，雄伟的瓦茨曼山东壁脚下。这里被誉为大自然最瑰丽的杰作之一


date: 2025-10-14
filename: OiaSantorini_ZH-CN0531650189.jpg
title: 蓝与白的梦境
copyright: 伊亚镇，圣托里尼岛，希腊 (© f9photos/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月14日
伊亚镇，圣托里尼岛，希腊
你是否曾想过生活在电影布景中是什么感觉？在希腊圣托里尼群岛的伊亚村，这种体验几乎成真。这里曾出现在《牛仔裤的夏天》和《古墓丽影》等影片中。标志性的基克拉迪式建筑——立方体造型、平顶的白色房屋——与悬崖边的壮丽景色，仿佛不属于现实世界。它独特的建筑风格起源于19世纪末，当时的水手和商人直接在火山悬崖上凿建房屋，夏季清凉、冬季温暖。而蓝白相间的粉刷，也不仅仅是为了美观：石灰涂层能让雨水顺流而下并被收集利用。如今，游客可以漫步在鹅卵石铺就的小巷中，参观海军海事博物馆，或登上圣尼古拉斯城堡遗址，欣赏那令人难忘的落日。
伊亚镇的日落之美举世无双，绝非浪得虚名。观赏日落的最佳地点当属位于村尾的圣尼古拉城堡遗址，那里视野开阔，海景与地平线一览无余。


date: 2025-10-15
filename: AmethystLaccaria_ZH-CN0643667280.jpg
title: 孢子奇遇记
copyright: 紫蜡蘑，西贝克，华盛顿州，美国 (© Danita Delimont/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年10月15日
紫蜡蘑，西贝克，华盛顿州，美国
你知道吗？蘑菇也有属于自己的节日。每年的10月15日是“全国蘑菇日”，这一天邀请我们走进它们奇妙的世界。比如图中的紫蜡蘑，又称“紫晶欺骗菇”。它在幼年时紫色明艳、光彩夺目，但随着时间和环境的变化，颜色逐渐褪去，辨认起来就不那么容易了。尽管外表娇嫩而多变，这种宝石般的真菌不仅可以食用，还在生态系统中发挥着重要作用。
因为它那鲜艳的紫水晶色会随着年龄增长和风吹雨打逐渐褪去，从而难以辨认，所以有了“欺骗者”这个俗名。


date: 2025-10-16
filename: SiberianLynx_ZH-CN0749166653.jpg
title: 幽灵之猫
copyright: 欧亚猞猁，西伯利亚 (© Mario Plechaty Photograph/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年10月16日
欧亚猞猁，西伯利亚
想象一只能在森林中悄然隐去的猫科动物——这就是欧亚猞猁。它耳尖上的簇毛和锐利的目光令人过目难忘。作为四种猞猁中体型最大的一种，它体长可达42 英寸，肩高可达30英寸，身形矫健，兼具力量与敏捷。厚实的脚掌不仅能帮助它悄无声息地移动，还像雪鞋一样分散体重，使其能在厚厚的积雪中追逐猎物。它大多在夜间出没，白天则隐匿在灌木丛或岩石洞穴中，夜幕降临才悄然出击，捕猎鹿、野兔和松鼠。
在一些文化中认为猞猁拥有超自然的视力，甚至能看穿坚实的物体。


date: 2025-10-17
filename: RockRiverFalls_ZH-CN6532185546.jpg
title: 爱上密歇根
copyright: 罗克河瀑布，上半岛，密歇根州，美国 (© Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月17日
罗克河瀑布，上半岛，密歇根州，美国
密歇根州罗克河峡谷深处，罗克河瀑布在冰川雕琢的景观中悄然显现，周遭密林环绕，层层历史沉淀。在上半岛这片土地上，人类足迹绵延数千年：原住民阿尔冈昆语族之后，法国与英国探险者接踵而至；19世纪采矿与伐木业繁荣时期，芬兰、瑞典及法裔加拿大移民在此定居。如今这片人烟稀少的区域仅容纳着密歇根州3%的居民，森林与瀑布依旧保留着近乎原始的宁静。
该森林拥有超过100英里（160公里）的海岸线。两个区域均毗邻苏必利尔湖和密歇根湖。


date: 2025-10-18
filename: SilburyHill_ZH-CN6666447580.jpg
title: 那座铭记往昔的山丘
copyright: 西尔布利山的新石器时代遗址，蒂尔斯黑德，威尔特郡，英国 (© dbstockphotoa/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月18日
西尔布利山的新石器时代遗址，蒂尔斯黑德，威尔特郡，英国
每年十月的第三个星期六是国际考古日，它鼓励我们“深入地表”，探索尘封的历史与文明的根源。该纪念日由美国考古学会（AIA）于2011年设立，如今世界各地通过举办活动、组织参观和亲身体验挖掘等方式来庆祝。
这座山丘的用途至今仍是谜团，尽管已有多种推测被提出。


date: 2025-10-19
filename: AppleHarvest_ZH-CN7317228007.jpg
title: 痴迷科学
copyright: 即将收获的苹果，明尼苏达州，美国 (© Tammi Mild/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月19日
即将收获的苹果，明尼苏达州，美国
在明尼苏达州，秋天不仅是红叶纷飞的季节，更是苹果飘香的时节。从八月中旬到十月下旬，全州各地的果园都敞开大门，迎接前来采摘的游客，园里种满了蜜脆、哈拉尔森等数十种苹果，每一品种都因风味、耐寒性和口感而闻名。今日图片定格了这一瞬间：枝头挂满成熟的果实，静待采收。
苹果通过丝绸之路等早期贸易路线从中亚传播开来，先抵达古代中国，继而传入波斯，最终影响了古希腊和古罗马。


date: 2025-10-20
filename: HoffmansSloth_ZH-CN7563408641.jpg
title: 慢节奏的生活
copyright: 霍氏树懒，厄瓜多尔 (© Murray Cooper/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年10月20日
霍氏树懒，厄瓜多尔
你是否曾幻想过整天什么都不做，只是悠闲地发发呆？对树懒来说，这就是它们的日常。每年的国际树懒日，正是为了向这些慢节奏的动物致敬，也提醒我们：生活不一定总要匆匆忙忙。树懒是一种生活在中美洲和南美洲的树栖哺乳动物。它们行动缓慢，不是因为懒惰，而是一种聪明的生存策略。缓慢的动作不仅帮助它们节省能量，还能避开天敌的注意。更有趣的是，树懒的毛发上常年生长着藻类，使它们在树冠中呈现绿色伪装，进一步增强了隐蔽性。图中展示的是霍氏树懒，它是树懒家族中典型的“慢生活”代表。它们几乎整天挂在树上，只有在需要换树时才会缓缓爬到地面。
树懒的力量约为人类的三倍，它们能紧紧抓住树枝，足以抵御美洲豹的袭击。


date: 2025-10-21
filename: ToucanForest_ZH-CN0072036253.jpg
title: 鸟喙的故事
copyright: 哥斯达黎加的厚嘴巨嘴鸟 (© Juan Carlos Vindas/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月21日
哥斯达黎加的厚嘴巨嘴鸟
胸前闪着一抹亮黄，喙部宛如艺术家手绘——这就是厚嘴巨嘴鸟。它隶属于巨嘴鸟科，与巨嘴啄木鸟同属一个大家族，是40多种巨嘴鸟中的一种。厚嘴巨嘴鸟分布于墨西哥南部至哥伦比亚北部的热带地区，日常大部分时间都在用彩虹般的鸟喙采摘水果，偶尔也会捕食昆虫、鸟蛋和小爬行动物。它的鸟喙长度约占身体总长的三分之一，不仅用于觅食，还能通过内部血管散发多余热量。厚嘴巨嘴鸟性格活泼，常结伴活动，在树冠之间滑翔、鸣叫，它们的翅膀长达7至8英寸，每年仅换羽一次。
这些鸟常以喙相互"决斗"，并将果实抛入对方口中。它们还会"玩球"，一只鸟将果实抛向空中，另一只随即接住。


date: 2025-10-22
filename: BulgariaRocks_ZH-CN0234903972.jpg
title: 刻在石头上
copyright: 贝洛格拉齐克石林，保加利亚 (© EvaL Miko/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年10月22日
贝洛格拉齐克石林，保加利亚
在保加利亚巴尔干山脉西麓，贝洛格拉奇克石林如同一座天然画廊，每一块岩石都诉说着独特的故事。这些砂岩与石灰岩柱经过数百万年的风化与侵蚀，形成了千姿百态的奇特造型，当地人坚信其中有些轮廓酷似人物、动物，甚至完整的场景。因此，这些岩石也被赋予了富有想象力的名字，如"骑手岩"、"女学生岩"、"僧侣岩"等。在这片土地上，辨认岩石形状就像在玩一场大自然版的猜谜游戏，既有趣又充满惊喜。
2009年1月，贝洛格拉奇克石林被提名为保加利亚参与"新七大自然奇观"评选活动的候选地。


date: 2025-10-23
filename: SnowLeopard_ZH-CN6644701381.jpg
title: 雪中深情
copyright: 雪豹和她的幼崽, 斯皮提谷, 寒冷沙漠生物圈保护区, 印度 (© Oriol Alamany/naturepl.com)
story:
2025年10月23日
雪豹和她的幼崽, 斯皮提谷, 寒冷沙漠生物圈保护区, 印度
你可曾尝试在野外寻找雪豹的踪迹？它被称为"山中幽灵"绝非空穴来风——你更可能看到它的爪印，而不是它本尊的身影。但每年10月23日，这位神秘的高原猎手会走到聚光灯下，因为这一天是专为它设立的“国际雪豹日”，旨在呼吁保护这种难得一见的掠食者及其崎岖的栖息地。
2021年，该物种被列入中国《国家重点保护野生动物名录》，属于国家一级保护野生动物。


date: 2025-10-24
filename: QueenMary_ZH-CN0468294074.jpg
title: 从“灰色幽灵”到幽灵传说
copyright: 玛丽皇后号邮轮的夜景, 长滩, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 (© Kit Leong/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年10月24日
玛丽皇后号邮轮的夜景, 长滩, 加利福尼亚州, 美国
她注定不会被遗忘。1936年，“玛丽女王号” 首次横渡大西洋时，便夺尽风采。这艘装饰艺术风格的巨轮打破了航速纪录，承载过无数名流、皇室成员与政要。二战期间，她的身份从“海上宫殿”骤然转变为“灰色幽灵”，奢华尽数褪去，取而代之的是装载盟军部队的使命。1967年，航行30年后，她退役停泊在加州长滩。如今，她的甲板化身为酒店走廊、导览展区，成为一座活生生的海事历史纪念碑。
尽管在大萧条时期遭遇经济困境，导致建造一度停工数年，但冠达航运公司在建造“玛丽女王号”（最初被称为 534 号工程）时依旧不惜工本。


date: 2025-10-25
filename: MartimoaapaFinland_ZH-CN1066271356.jpg
title: 芬兰的活泥炭地
copyright: 马蒂莫阿帕沼泽保护区泥炭地鸟瞰图, 芬兰 (© romikatarina/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年10月25日
马蒂莫阿帕沼泽保护区泥炭地鸟瞰图, 芬兰
芬兰的沼泽大多是由泥炭地组成，它们源自大约 12,000 年前上一个冰河时期结束后，沉积物与苔藓不断堆积、分解而成。
芬兰的沼泽大多是由泥炭地组成，它们源自大约 12,000 年前上一个冰河时期结束后，沉积物与苔藓不断堆积、分解而成。


date: 2025-10-26
filename: PumpkinFarm_ZH-CN1232784365.jpg
title: 南瓜日，今日登场！
copyright: 北卡罗来纳州的南瓜农场, 美国 (© Matthew H Irvin/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月26日
北卡罗来纳州的南瓜农场, 美国
没有什么比一片等待采摘的南瓜田更能代表秋天了。这些圆滚滚的南瓜出现在南瓜派、门廊装饰、拿铁和游行中。美国一些地方更是把对南瓜的喜爱推向极致——伊利诺伊州莫顿镇自称为“世界南瓜之都”，因为其产量高且与罐装南瓜产业联系紧密。新罕布什尔州则紧随其后，将南瓜定为州水果。
2020 年，美国人均南瓜消费量为 6.44 磅。


date: 2025-10-27
filename: AutumnColorY25_ZH-CN1551135398.jpg
title: 千年秘境
copyright: 被胡杨树围绕着的湖, 金塔县, 酒泉, 甘肃, 中国 (© Feng Wei Photography/Getty images)
story:
2025年10月27日
被胡杨树围绕着的湖, 金塔县, 酒泉, 甘肃, 中国
金塔沙漠胡杨林风景区位于甘肃省酒泉市金塔县西部巢湖林场，占地八万余亩，拥有西北地区最大的人工胡杨林。这些古老、耐寒耐旱的胡杨树，是第三纪遗留下来的，创造了“三千年古树”的生态奇观。金波湖水与胡杨林相映成趣，沙枣、柽柳等植物构成了多样的生态系统。
胡杨林是一种神奇的群体，它们耐寒、耐热、耐碱、耐涝、耐干旱。


date: 2025-10-28
filename: TepliceRocks_ZH-CN1785316311.jpg
title: 通往石之奇境的大门
copyright: 安德尔施帕赫-特普利采岩石林的哥特式拱门, 捷克 (© Kseniya_Milner/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月28日
安德尔施帕赫-特普利采岩石林的哥特式拱门, 捷克
从18世纪的最早来访者，到大火烧出小径的故事，这座“岩石之城”一直在诉说着生存的传奇。阿德尔什帕赫–特普利采岩石群位于捷克赫拉德茨–克拉洛韦州，是中欧最大的砂岩迷宫。几个世纪以来，这片悬崖与通道一直被森林覆盖，直到一场大火将树林烧尽，岩石的拱门、塔楼和蜿蜒的廊道才从灰烬中显露出来。最初的徒步小径由此开辟。不久之后，探险家和诗人用石刻铭文留下了他们的印记，描绘出一个既狂野又迷人的目的地。
受中世纪神学的影响，哥特式建筑常给人神秘而幽暗的氛围，甚至带来一种浪漫的“死亡气息”，让人沉浸在其独特的魅力之中，不断追随、改进，最终形成了庞大的体系。


date: 2025-10-29
filename: FanalForest_ZH-CN2203572101.jpg
title: 时光扎根
copyright: 法纳尔森林里的古老月桂树，马德拉群岛，葡萄牙 (© Lukas Jonaitis/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年10月29日
法纳尔森林里的古老月桂树，马德拉群岛，葡萄牙
葡萄牙的马德拉岛位于本土西南约600英里处，这里隐藏着一片与众不同的森林。在岛的北坡上坐落着法纳尔森林，薄雾在古老的月桂树间飘荡。这些树是马德拉岛亚热带常绿林的一部分，亚热带常绿林是曾经广泛分布的月桂树林的杰出遗迹。它是现存规模最大的同类森林，其中约90%被认定为原始林。这里孕育着独特的动植物群，包括马德拉长趾鸽等特有物种，堪称一座活着的自然历史博物馆。
这是马德拉岛和加那利群岛月桂林中的常见树种，富含精油，刚砍伐时木材会散发出刺鼻气味。


date: 2025-10-30
filename: PushkarFair_ZH-CN2069143641.jpg
title: 蹄声、色彩与传承
copyright: 杰伊瑟尔梅尔的骆驼, 拉贾斯坦邦, 印度 (© f9photos/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月30日
杰伊瑟尔梅尔的骆驼, 拉贾斯坦邦, 印度
每到秋季，印度拉贾斯坦邦的沙漠小镇普什卡都会因一场普什卡骆驼节而热闹非凡。这一节庆与印度教的卡提克月相对应，通常在公历10月下旬至11月初举行。今年的庆典自今日起至11月5日，成为了当地一年中最令人期待的季节。
骆驼奶比牛奶略咸，维生素C含量是牛奶的三倍，富含铁、不饱和脂肪酸和B族维生素。


date: 2025-10-31
filename: BranCastle_ZH-CN3879660917.jpg
title: 在万圣节的魔咒之下
copyright: 布兰城堡入口, 布拉索夫, 罗马尼亚 (© blue sky in my pocket/Getty Images)
story:
2025年10月31日
布兰城堡入口, 布拉索夫, 罗马尼亚
今夜，万圣节的魔咒笼罩大地——而地球上仅有少数地方能与罗马尼亚的布兰城堡比肩，承载着如此深邃的谜团。这座建于14世纪的堡垒历经战火洗礼，见证君王更迭与帝国兴衰。但在此地，传说比历史更响亮。这座城堡坐落于以阴森传说闻名的特兰西瓦尼亚与昔日由弗拉德三世·德古拉统治的瓦拉几亚之间，散发着令人心悸的遗迹气息。弗拉德的残暴名声启发了布拉姆·斯托克1897年创作的小说《德古拉》。尽管故事背景并非布兰城堡，但它巍峨的轮廓与关于弗拉德幽灵出没的传闻，让真实与传说交织模糊，永远将这座城堡与人类最持久的传说之一紧密相连。
第二次世界大战期间，伊莱安娜公主将布兰城堡改造成了伤兵医院，她本人曾接受过护士培训。


date: 2025-11-01
filename: BisonSprings_ZH-CN4419733534.jpg
title: 古老血脉的兽群
copyright: 野牛在温泉边吃草, 黄石国家公园, 怀俄明州, 美国 (© Cheryl Ramalho/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月1日
野牛在温泉边吃草,  黄石国家公园, 怀俄明州, 美国
野牛体现了一种矛盾：巨大的力量与沉静的气质并存。这些体型庞大的动物体重可达200​​0磅，身高6英尺（约1.8米），成群结队地漫游在北美的草原和河谷。这张照片拍摄于怀俄明州的黄石国家公园，它们的数量曾达数千万头，但在19世纪几乎灭绝——这一灭绝事件重塑了生态系统，扰乱了人们的生活方式。
黄石公园的野牛非常特殊，因为它们是美国公共土地上最大的野牛种群。制定符合蒙大拿州法律的检疫计划，对于将黄石公园中未感染布鲁氏菌病的野牛纳入保护区至关重要。


date: 2025-11-02
filename: KyotoMaple_ZH-CN4730358356.jpg
title: 竹林吐纳清气，枫叶绚烂如火
copyright: 岚山缤纷的枫叶与竹林, 京都, 日本 (© DoctorEgg/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月2日
岚山缤纷的枫叶与竹林, 京都, 日本
今日，我们前往京都岚山地区，这里以迷人的四季风光闻名于世。此处，鲜艳的日本红枫与静谧的竹林交织出色彩与宁静的和谐画卷。这些以纤细深裂叶片著称的枫树，每逢秋日便幻化成炽烈的红、橙、金三色，吸引着全球游客纷至沓来。它们不仅因绝美姿态备受推崇，更承载着象征优雅、平和与生命无常的文化意蕴。
岚山在四月初和十一月下半月最有吸引力（也最繁忙），此时樱花和秋色通常达到顶峰。


date: 2025-11-03
filename: MexicoJelly_ZH-CN5266285518.jpg
title: 随波轻舞
copyright: 在太平洋中游泳的水母, 格雷罗, 墨西哥 (© Christian Vizl/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年11月3日
在太平洋中游泳的水母, 格雷罗, 墨西哥
它们没有大脑、骨骼，甚至没有心脏，却已在地球海洋中游弋了五亿年。今天，世界水母日，这些摇曳生姿的奇妙生物终于迎来了属于它们的高光时刻——至少在海底世界如此。这一节日旨在推动保护水母栖息地，抵御污染、富营养化径流和海洋酸化等威胁。
水母至少存在了5亿年，甚至可能有 7 亿年甚至更久，这使它们成为最古老的多器官动物群。


date: 2025-11-04
filename: TowerBridgeUK_ZH-CN1846533186.jpg
title: 小心空隙，桥面将开启！
copyright: 塔桥, 伦敦, 英格兰 (© Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月4日
塔桥, 伦敦, 英格兰
有些桥梁只是连接两岸，而伦敦塔桥则连接着历史、工程与戏剧张力。自1894年起，这座伦敦地标矗立于伦敦塔旁，横跨泰晤士河，既能振奋人心，又能疏导交通。双塔矗立，蓝白相间的漆面，以及能像巨型吊桥般开启的活动桥面，塔桥不仅是交通解决方案，更像是一位舞台表演者。
塔桥上拥有令人惊叹的高层步道，步道连接南北塔，从泰晤士河上方42米处，从东到西，可欣赏伦敦令人叹为观止的全景。


date: 2025-11-05
filename: MoncayoAutumn_ZH-CN5187959516.jpg
title: 秋天来了，你开心吗？
copyright: 佩尼亚罗亚山毛榉森林, 蒙卡约自然公园, 萨拉戈萨, 阿拉贡, 西班牙 (© David Santiago Garcia/DEEPOL by plainpicture)
story:
2025年11月5日
佩尼亚罗亚山毛榉森林, 蒙卡约自然公园, 萨拉戈萨, 阿拉贡, 西班牙
西班牙的阿拉贡地区，一般让人想到的是阳光和灌木，而不是森林的阴凉与静谧。然而，当你沿着蒙卡约山坡向上攀登，故事会出现意想不到的转折：一片浓密、低语的山毛榉林悄然迎面而来。这座山犹如气候过山车：山脚是地中海灌木，半山腰是橡树和松林，再往上，霎时间你便置身佩尼亚罗亚，这片山毛榉仙境仿佛在宣告："由我来演绎秋天吧！"
对于游客、徒步旅行者和好奇的游客来说，公园的一大亮点是它所拥有的真菌世界。


date: 2025-11-06
filename: LanternsThailand_ZH-CN3419382923.jpg
title: 满天心愿
copyright: 哈里朋柴佛塔寺的彩色灯笼, 南奔府, 泰国 (© MR. ANUJAK JAIMOOK/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月6日
哈里朋柴佛塔寺的彩色灯笼, 南奔府, 泰国
如果一盏天灯能承载你的心愿，你会许下什么？今晚，在泰国北部，义蓬节为你带来这样的机会。这个延续数百年的兰纳传统，在农历十二月举行，人们点亮孔明灯以纪念佛陀。相传每一盏灯都能带走厄运，照亮通往美好未来的道路。孩子们扶稳灯架，长者低声祈福，成百上千的灯火缓缓升起，越过树梢，点亮夜空。同一轮满月下，南方的水灯节也在进行，烛光点点的花船在水面缓缓漂流。
天灯这个名字来源于中国，又可以叫孔明灯。它是一种古老的汉族手工艺品，属于高空明火飞行物。


date: 2025-11-07
filename: WillowBear_ZH-CN3501489210.jpg
title: 魅力十足的巨型动物
copyright: 丘吉尔的北极熊，曼尼托巴省，加拿大 (© karen crewe/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月7日
丘吉尔的北极熊，曼尼托巴省，加拿大
北极熊是一种大型熊类，原产于北极及其附近地区。加拿大曼尼托巴省的丘吉尔是一个北极熊出没的地方。每年秋天，数百只北极熊聚集在这里，等待海湾结冰，以便再次捕猎海豹——它们的主要食物来源。有没有想过它们是如何保暖的？厚厚的脂肪层和浓密的底毛可以锁住热量。它们游过后，不易缠结的毛发会被甩干，天然油脂可以防止皮毛结冻。遗憾的是，气温升高会延缓结冰过程，迫使北极熊禁食更长时间。为了应对延迟，它们会休息、保存能量，有时还会在附近游荡。科学家们追踪它们的行踪，以了解迁徙模式每年的变化。北极熊周在纪念这些哺乳动物的同时，也提醒我们，它们的未来取决于我们如何应对全球变暖。
北极熊的眼睛靠近头顶，这可以使它们在水面游泳时眼睛露出水面。


date: 2025-11-08
filename: BandonBeach_ZH-CN3684356649.jpg
title: 班登的明星岩石
copyright: 班登海滩的海蚀柱，俄勒冈州，美国 (© Grant Ordelheide/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年11月8日
班登海滩的海蚀柱，俄勒冈州，美国
驶出101号公路，俄勒冈州的班登便迎来了来访者，这里弥漫着咸咸的空气和轻柔的港口钟声。这座小镇始建于19世纪50年代，最初只是个小聚居地，后来发展成为木材和鲑鱼捕捞中心。蔓越莓成为当地的主要作物，至今仍是每年九月蔓越莓节的庆祝活动。老城区的木板路咖啡馆和画廊反映了那段历史，而科基尔河灯塔则矗立在布拉兹海滩，经过修复，依然屹立在那里，提醒着人们当年它曾指引船只的航向。
海蚀柱在中国的沿海地区常可见到。大连的黑石礁、北戴河的鹰角石、山东青岛的石老人,以及东南的部分沿海地区亦有分布．


date: 2025-11-09
filename: LagoonNebula_ZH-CN3890147543.jpg
title: 从前有一颗星星
copyright: 礁湖星云中的星际云，由哈勃太空望远镜拍摄 (© ESA/NASA)
story:
2025年11月9日
礁湖星云中的星际云，由哈勃太空望远镜拍摄
宇宙生机勃勃，生生不息。图中的礁湖星云中，一个名为NGC 6530的星团正在孕育新生恒星，这光芒提醒着我们，宇宙的起源早已交织其中。它距离我们约4350光年，已有数百万年历史，目前仍处于恒星形成的早期阶段。
礁湖星云中存在着一些被称为“博克球状体（Bok globules）（Burnham）的暗星云，成为最值得注意的特征之一。


date: 2025-11-10
filename: PrairieDogTown_ZH-CN3989288881.jpg
title: 草原之下的生命
copyright: 土拨鼠镇的黑尾土拨鼠，劣地国家公园，南达科他州，美国 (© Greg Vaughn/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月10日
土拨鼠镇的黑尾土拨鼠，劣地国家公园，南达科他州，美国
47年前的11月10日，南达科他州一片荒凉的草原被正式列入美国自然遗产名录。由风与水共同雕琢而成的劣地国家公园于 1978 年从国家纪念地升级为国家公园，获得更强的保护级别。公园内的悬崖与尖塔矗立在化石层之上，那些化石揭示了远古时代的犀牛、骆驼以及曾覆盖此地的亚热带海洋。然而，这座公园不仅是通往过去的窗口，它也守护着美国现存最大、最完整的混生草原生态系统之一。
白河劣地作为重要的古生物学资源，其历史可追溯至当地原住民对这片土地的传统认知。


date: 2025-11-11
filename: ExternsteineSunset_ZH-CN4190155102.jpg
title: 传奇之地
copyright: 条顿堡森林的伊克斯坦岩石层，德国 (© Michael Sroka/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月11日
条顿堡森林的伊克斯坦岩石层，德国
在德国北莱茵-威斯特法伦州的霍恩-巴特迈因贝格附近，条顿堡森林的腹地矗立着壮丽的埃克斯特恩岩石群。这些砂岩石柱形成于约7,000万年前，是德国最重要的自然与文化地标之一。高达35米的岩柱以其独特的形态与深厚的历史底蕴吸引着无数游客。早在中世纪，这里就被用作宗教祭祀之地，这一点从12世纪刻在岩石上的下十字架像浮雕中可见一斑，这是阿尔卑斯山以北最古老的此类浮雕。
直到17世纪，这座山脊的官方名称仍是奥斯宁。1616 年，人们为了纪念公元9年的条顿堡森林战役，将其改名为“条顿堡森林”。不过，学者普遍认为这场战役很可能实际发生在卡尔克里泽。


date: 2025-11-12
filename: ColosseumRome_ZH-CN4305271578.jpg
title: 条条大路通罗马
copyright: 斗兽场鸟瞰图，罗马，意大利 (© Nico De Pasquale Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月12日
斗兽场鸟瞰图，罗马，意大利
觉得现代体育赛事已经足够精彩了吗？在古罗马时代，观众们坐在斗兽场中目睹的表演要激烈得多。这座宏伟的圆形露天竞技场由罗马皇帝韦斯帕先于公元72年下令建造，其子提图斯于公元80年完工。与早期依山而建、借助地形支撑的剧场不同，罗马斗兽场完全独立矗立，是一座自成体系的建筑奇迹。斗兽场由石块与混凝土建成，拱门与穹顶结构支撑着可容纳多达5万名观众的竞技场。角斗士的搏斗、异国野兽的展示，甚至模拟海战，都令观众热血沸腾地下的升降机与暗门让场景转换瞬息万变，充满戏剧张力。
从1928年到2000年的夏季奥运会奖牌上，都印有由朱塞佩·卡西奥利设计的图案：罗马斗兽场的形象。


date: 2025-11-13
filename: AloeDichotoma_ZH-CN4432972312.jpg
title: 星光下的颤动之树
copyright: 夜晚的箭袋树与银河，基特曼斯胡普，纳米比亚 (© Wim van den Heever/naturepl.com)
story:
2025年11月13日
夜晚的箭袋树与银河，基特曼斯胡普，纳米比亚
在地球上所有的植物中，箭袋树或许最像来自未来的生命。它们分布于非洲南部，尤其是纳米比亚的干旱地区。虽然名字里有“树”，但它其实是一种芦荟属植物，经过漫长岁月的适应，能在炙热的沙漠中顽强生存。厚实的树干储存水分，分枝则能反射热量，帮助它抵御极端环境。箭袋树可高达7米，有的寿命超过百年，是沙漠生态系统中不可或缺的一环。在几乎没有其他树木的荒原上，它为鸟类提供了珍贵的栖息与筑巢之所。
在当地的原住民桑人语言中，箭袋树被称为 choje。它的英文名被意为“箭袋树”源于桑人的一种传统：他们会将这种植物中空的枝干掏空，用来制作轻便的箭袋。


date: 2025-11-14
filename: ManateeBaby_ZH-CN7805040281.jpg
title: 快节奏时代，别忘了慢下来
copyright: 海牛妈妈和幼崽，水晶河，佛罗里达州，美国 (© Gregory Sweeney/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月14日
海牛妈妈和幼崽，水晶河，佛罗里达州，美国
11月不仅是火鸡大餐和南瓜派的季节，它还有一个特别的主题——海牛保护宣传月。相比翻腾的海豚和抢镜的鲨鱼，海牛凭借“什么都不做”赢得了人们的喜爱，这就是它们的独特魅力。
海牛科目前仅存三种物种，分别是亚马逊海牛、西印度海牛和西非海牛，它们是海牛目仅存的四种物种中的三种。


date: 2025-11-15
filename: IrohazakaAutumn_ZH-CN8146412245.jpg
title: 像日光那样“弯道飞驰”
copyright: 秋天的伊吕波坂，日光市，栃木县，日本 (© oneinchpunch/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年11月15日
秋天的伊吕波坂，日光市，栃木县，日本
秋天是伊吕波坂最耀眼的季节，正如今日画面所示。从10月下旬到11月上旬，枫叶的红、银杏的金、落叶松的黄层层叠叠，铺满山坡。蜿蜒的道路一路通向日光的著名景点：攀登至顶，便可抵达赤地平原。这里有缆车可俯瞰中禅寺湖和气势磅礴的华严瀑布。山顶的中禅寺湖静谧如镜，与盘旋的山路形成鲜明对比，而瀑布在下方轰鸣奔泻。几个世纪前，朝圣者沿着这条路前往神社与寺院，如今旅行者依旧踏上同样的路径，只是相机快门声取代了虔诚的诵经声。
这条山路名叫“伊吕波坂”，名字源自日本古老的假名顺序“伊吕波”。过去它有多达48个发卡弯，每一个弯道都对应着一个假名字符，仿佛把文字铺展在群山之间。


date: 2025-11-16
filename: LyonTraboules_ZH-CN8476826325.jpg
title: 承载过往的篇章
copyright: 里昂的一条穿廊，法国 (© TPopova/Getty Images) 法国
story:
2025年11月16日
里昂的一条穿廊，法国
在法国里昂，你不只是简单地走过街巷，而是像在城市的脉络中轻盈滑行。这里的穿廊，是一条条隐秘的通道，蜿蜒穿梭于庭院与建筑之间，将简单的散步变成一场寻宝之旅。它们曾是最早的捷径，帮助居民避雨、搬运货物，或悄然穿过中世纪街区。如今，这些通道更多承载的是探索的乐趣。它们的历史可追溯至公元四世纪，在文艺复兴时期更显重要——当时丝绸商人利用这些通道，将珍贵织物从作坊安全运送到河边，免受风雨侵扰。二战期间，抵抗运动战士也曾借助这些通道作为秘密逃生路线。走进里昂，你会发现，每一条穿廊都藏着故事，每一次转角都可能遇见历史的回声。
“Traboules”一词源自拉丁语transambulare，经通俗拉丁语演变为trabulare，意为“穿廊”。它指的是一种隐秘的拱顶通道，主要分布在法国里昂。这些通道最初是丝绸制造商和其他商贩用来运输产品的捷径。


date: 2025-11-17
filename: ShenandoahTrail_ZH-CN8626326726.jpg
title: 小径在召唤
copyright: 谢南多厄国家公园的秋色，弗吉尼亚州，美国 (© Michael Ver Sprill/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月17日
谢南多厄国家公园的秋色，弗吉尼亚州，美国
谢南多厄国家公园，弗吉尼亚州的山间瑰宝。蓝岭山脉在此披上最华美的盛装：金黄的山核桃树、绯红的枫树，以及镀上青铜色的橡树。十一月的空气愈发清冽，秋日的余晖低声细语，悄悄停留在山坡上。沿着天际线公路缓缓前行，105英里的蜿蜒公路带你俯瞰云海翻涌，云影在山谷间轻轻流动，像思绪在天空漂移。这里还有超过500 英里的步道，沿着小径，你会走进瀑布奔流的深谷，登上触碰天际的高峰。石人峰、鹰嘴峰、暗谷瀑布——每处皆是石与叶谱写的诗篇，静待游人的脚步与风声共鸣。
该公园最著名的景点当属天际线公路，这条全长105英里（169公里）的道路沿着山脊贯穿整个公园，风景壮丽，四季皆宜。此外，阿巴拉契亚步道中长达101英里（163公里）的路段也位于此公园内。


date: 2025-11-18
filename: AutumnMerganser_ZH-CN1320438449.jpg
title: 秋日里的羽翼明星
copyright: 雄性棕胁秋沙鸭，俄勒冈州，美国 (© Eric Vogt/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年11月18日
雄性棕胁秋沙鸭，俄勒冈州，美国
每到秋季，俄勒冈州静谧的水道就成了棕胁秋沙鸭的季节性驿站——它们是北美特有的小型潜水鸭，潜水灵活，能迅速扎入水下捕捉鱼类和其他猎物。雄性棕胁秋沙鸭最显眼，头顶扇形白冠，深色头部，体侧呈栗棕色；雌鸭则呈灰褐色，冠羽较小。俄勒冈的湖泊和湿地为这些鸟类提供了安全的觅食地，它们在迁徙或越冬途中会在此停留。
棕胁秋沙鸭常在树洞中筑巢，有时还会搬进啄木鸟遗留下来的旧巢穴。


date: 2025-11-19
filename: BudapestParliament_ZH-CN1607028780.jpg
title: 石头与符号，诉说一个民族的故事
copyright: 匈牙利国会大厦，布达佩斯，匈牙利 (© Alexander Spatari/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月19日
匈牙利国会大厦，布达佩斯，匈牙利
走近一点，细节便开始诉说——每一块石头、每一座尖塔、每一尊雕像都仿佛藏着自己的故事。匈牙利议会大厦诞生于19世纪末，设计初衷是展现国家的雄心，将哥特复兴的典雅与独具匈牙利特色的元素巧妙融合。建筑师伊姆雷·施泰因德尔的构想历经二十余年，由逾千名工匠共同完成。中央穹顶高达315英尺（约96米），寓意1896年匈牙利建国千年纪念。整座建筑于1904年竣工，至今仍以恢宏之姿矗立在布达佩斯天际线，成为匈牙利力量的象征。
匈牙利议会大厦融合多种风格，哥特式设计源自维也纳市政厅，穹顶等文艺复兴元素则取材于维也纳的胜利圣母教堂。


date: 2025-11-20
filename: PondCave_ZH-CN2304770650.jpg
title: 颂扬保护与美
copyright: 查帕达迪亚曼蒂纳国家公园，巴伊亚州，巴西 (© Marcio Dufranc/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月20日
查帕达迪亚曼蒂纳国家公园，巴伊亚州，巴西
查帕达迪亚曼蒂纳国家公园拥有宛如梦境般的自然美景，该公园创建于1985年，今年迎来了其40周年的保护纪念日。这座位于巴伊亚州腹地的公园，拥有约15.2万公顷的壮丽景观，是巴西最令人惊叹的生态旅游目的地之一。
该公园被列为世界自然保护联盟（IUCN）保护区类别II（国家公园）。其宗旨在于保护具有重大生态价值和景观美感的自然生态系统，同时促进科学研究、环境教育、户外休闲活动及生态旅游的发展。


date: 2025-11-21
filename: SealWaving_ZH-CN2467723602.jpg
title: 带着“你好”的问候
copyright: 罗伯特·摩西州立公园的港海豹, 长岛, 纽约, 美国 (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月21日
罗伯特·摩西州立公园的港海豹, 长岛, 纽约, 美国
每只港海豹身上都有独一无二的斑点花纹：浅色背景上点缀深色斑，或深色底上布满浅色斑。它们的体色从棕黑到浅褐、灰色不等，腹部通常颜色较浅。这只拍摄于纽约长岛罗伯特·摩西州立公园的港海豹，似乎正在用自己的方式传递友好，一次挥动，一份好心情。这正是每年11月21日 “世界问候日” 所倡导的精神。这个充满善意的节日诞生于1973年，由两位美国兄弟布莱恩和迈克尔·麦考马克发起，作为对全球紧张局势的和平回应。那一年，他们用七种语言向世界各国领导人寄出1360封信，邀请他们参与首次庆祝活动。两人的信念简单却有力：沟通能够守护和平。 如今，已有180多个国家的人们参与其中。
每只港海豹身上都有独一无二的斑点花纹：浅色背景上点缀深色斑，或深色底上布满浅色斑。它们的体色从棕黑到浅褐、灰色不等，腹部通常颜色较浅。


date: 2025-11-22
filename: LeshanBuddha_ZH-CN2804271540.jpg
title: 守护江河的佛像
copyright: 乐山大佛, 四川, 中国 (© www.anotherdayattheoffice.org/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月22日
乐山大佛, 四川, 中国
世上有许多巨像，但没有一座能与乐山大佛相比。它坐落于中国四川省岷江、青衣江与大渡河三江汇流处的峭壁之上，是古代工程学的奇迹。建造始于公元713年，由一位名叫海通的僧人发起，他希望佛像的存在能平息险恶的水流，庇护来往的船只。据传，当工程因资金短缺而停滞时，海通为表诚心，甚至挖去了自己的双眼。整项工程历时约90年，直至他去世多年后才告完工。这尊佛像高达71米，是世界上最大的石刻佛像。其双肩宽约28米，耳长近7米，每只脚掌的长度超过8.5米。佛像内部设有隐蔽的排水系统，能有效防止雨水侵蚀，也因此得以在 1200多年的岁月里屹立不倒。
在乐山大佛的头部后侧、两耳之间，隐藏着一套巧妙而先进的排水系统，用以防止雨水侵蚀。这一巧妙的设计，这也是它历经千年仍得以保存完好的重要原因之一。


date: 2025-11-23
filename: MadgascarAmmonite_ZH-CN6497276091.jpg
title: 大自然的秘密代码
copyright: 马达加斯加菊石化石 (© ThomasLENNE/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年11月23日
马达加斯加菊石化石
仔细观察这块菊石化石。它那优雅盘旋的螺壳，曾是史前海洋生物的家，如今却蕴藏着一个数学的秘密：螺旋结构。每一个新的壳室都比前一个按比例增大，保持着恒定的生长比，这种规律常被认为与斐波那契数列密切相关。
意大利数学家莱昂纳多·波纳奇，即人们熟知的斐波那契，于1202年在著作《算盘书》中首次将斐波那契数列的概念引入西欧。


date: 2025-11-24
filename: GwailorFort_ZH-CN6731607002.jpg
title: 岩石中的秘密
copyright: 瓜廖尔堡, ‌中央邦, 印度 (© ImagesofIndia/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年11月24日
瓜廖尔堡, ‌中央邦, 印度
位于印度中央邦的瓜廖尔，不仅是一座城市，更是印度历史篇章中浓墨重彩的一页。高耸入云的瓜廖尔堡建于公元6世纪是一座历经无数王朝兴衰、充满传奇色彩的山地堡垒。凭借其坚固与宏伟，这座堡垒被誉为“印度的直布罗陀”，并曾获莫卧儿皇帝巴布尔盛赞，称其为“印度所有堡垒中的明珠”。从托马尔王朝到莫卧儿王朝，瓜廖尔堡见证了无数权力更迭、战争纷争与宫廷秘事，也流传着关于隐藏宝藏的神秘传说。
堡垒内部还坐落着多处历史建筑，其中包括由马多·拉奥·辛迪亚于1897年创办的辛迪亚学校，最初仅面向印度诸侯和贵族之子开放的精英学府。


date: 2025-11-25
filename: TreviFountain_ZH-CN6892299520.jpg
title: 爱情、幸运与硬币
copyright: 罗马的特雷维喷泉, 意大利 (© Nico De Pasquale Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月25日
罗马的特雷维喷泉, 意大利
你是否听过比掌声更响亮的硬币碰撞声？这正是意大利罗马的特莱维喷泉的独特旋律。一个历史、希望与自拍杆交织的地方。喷泉建于1762年，标志着古罗马最早的引水渠之一维尔戈水道的终点，这条水道至今仍在供水。名称“特莱维”源自意大利语 Tre Vie，意为“三条道路”，象征它所处的三路交汇之地。喷泉由建筑师尼古拉·萨尔维设计，后由朱塞佩·潘尼尼完成。这座高达86英尺的巴洛克式杰作，是罗马最大的喷泉，也是世界上最著名的喷泉之一。其雕塑群描绘了海神奥克阿诺斯的威严形象，周围环绕着特里同与骏马，展现出壮丽的神话气势。
并非所有人都知道，在喷泉右侧稍远处有一个小型长方形水池，里面有两处细小的出水口，这便是恋人之泉。据说，年轻的情侣若在此饮水，便能永结同心，彼此忠贞不渝。


date: 2025-11-26
filename: OliveGrove_ZH-CN7054006944.jpg
title: 让树叶诉说历史
copyright: 特拉蒙塔纳山脉的橄榄园, 马略卡岛, 巴利阿里群岛, 西班牙 (© cinoby/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月26日
特拉蒙塔纳山脉的橄榄园, 马略卡岛, 巴利阿里群岛, 西班牙
古老而充满生机，扭曲却坚韧不拔，橄榄树可以存活超过一千年。即便树干伤痕累累、内部中空，它们依然年复一年抽出新叶，成为记录风霜、旱灾与烈火的生命见证。2019年，联合国教科文组织将11月26日定为世界橄榄树日，以纪念这种自约公元前6000年起就被人类栽培的树种。橄榄自古以来不仅承载着实用价值，也蕴含着深刻的象征意义：橄榄油被用于涂抹仪式、医药与日常食用；橄榄叶编织的花环曾加冕奥运冠军；而橄榄枝，更成为延续至今的和平象征。
每棵成年的橄榄树根据其健康状况和特性，每年可产橄榄15至45公斤。为了维持产量，通常建议每隔三到四年进行一次修剪，保留更健康、年轻的枝条，让生命力得以延续。


date: 2025-11-27
filename: PierOfEastbourne2025_ZH-CN7178301269.jpg
title: 潮起潮落的坚守
copyright: 伊斯特本码头, 东萨塞克斯郡, 英格兰 (© Tolga_TEZCAN/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月27日
伊斯特本码头, 东萨塞克斯郡, 英格兰
作为英国海滨的地标之一，伊斯特本码头不仅掀起浪花，更在浪潮中屹立了150余年。它于 1870年正式开放，这座维多利亚时代的奇迹经历了风暴、火灾，甚至战争的洗礼。码头优雅地伸向英吉利海峡，最初作为蒸汽船的停靠点，后来随着时间的推移，逐渐演变为一处可以漫步于海面之上，在游戏机前投入几枚硬币，收获几段美好回忆的休闲胜地。
第二次世界大战期间，伊斯特本码头的尽头安装了机枪平台，这座原本轻松欢快的海滨游乐地一度化身为抵御敌军登陆的防御工事。


date: 2025-11-28
filename: InvernoItalia_ZH-CN1329490862.jpg
title: 白色回响
copyright: 瓦尔·布兰德特, 布雷西亚, 伦巴第大区, 意大利 (© ClickAlps/Alamy)
story:
2025年11月28日
瓦尔·布兰德特, 布雷西亚, 伦巴第大区, 意大利
伦巴第大区的亚当洛公园深处，瓦尔·布兰德特静卧于雪的怀抱，冬日的静谧在此化作诗意的低语。我们身处科尔泰诺·高尔基小镇，这座以诺贝尔医学奖得主高尔基命名的小镇，承载着他的记忆与荣耀。这里不仅有科学的印记，更有自然的纯美，是历史与风景交织的圣地。
卡米洛·高尔基是首位荣获诺贝尔医学奖的意大利人，该奖项于1906年授予他，以表彰其在神经系统研究领域的发现。他因发现对细胞功能至关重要的高尔基体而闻名于世。


date: 2025-11-29
filename: DeerVeluwe_ZH-CN1438758687.jpg
title: 哎呀，好冷啊！
copyright: 荷兰梵高国家森林公园的马鹿雄鹿, 荷兰 (© CreativeNature_nl/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月29日
荷兰梵高国家森林公园的马鹿雄鹿, 荷兰
想象一下，在一片21平方英里的开阔土地，野生动物自由穿梭，一头雄鹿昂首炫耀着它的鹿角王冠。1909年，安东·克勒勒与海伦娜·克勒勒·穆勒在荷兰海尔德兰开启了一个梦想：建造一座私人庄园，后来成为了梵高国家森林公园。他们的理念是让艺术融入自然，于是将雕塑与景观相结合——亨利·摩尔的《三种直立动机》伫立在潘佩尔瑟沙地，比利时建筑师亨利·范德维尔德设计的总统斯泰恩石凳静静守候，众多艺术作品点缀其间。
荷兰梵高国家森林公园建立的初衷，是为了保护分布在荒原和林地上的500种植物。同时，这里也是红鹿、狍子以及众多野生动物的栖息地，公园致力于守护它们的家园。


date: 2025-11-30
filename: LeipzigMarket_ZH-CN1517513161.jpg
title: 一路闪耀
copyright: 莱比锡圣诞集市, 德国 (© Krzysztof Baranowski/Getty Images)
story:
2025年11月30日
莱比锡圣诞集市, 德国
你知道567年前的圣诞集市，人们都买些什么吗？不是昂贵的饰品，也不是精致的纪念品，而是蜡烛、香料、本地特产、针织品和玩具。莱比锡的圣诞集市始于1458年，很快成为商人和当地居民最喜爱的去处。如今，这个集市遍布历史老城，约有300个摊位，汇聚文化与美食，是德国规模最大的圣诞集市之一。想象一下，街道上商贩的叫卖声此起彼伏，孩子们追随着蜂蜜姜饼的甜香奔跑。这里是人们聚在一起庆祝冬季、边喝热红酒边聊新闻的地方。圣诞集市从来不仅仅是购物，它更是一种逃离日常的温暖仪式。
除了奥古斯特广场上的童话世界，38米高的摩天轮还能让你俯瞰整座莱比锡，视野独一无二。


date: 2025-12-01
filename: AntarcticArch_ZH-CN1622701432.jpg
title: 冰雪凝息之处
copyright: 冰山上天然形成的拱门, 南极洲 (© Gabrielle/Adobe Stock)
story:
2025年12月1日
冰山上天然形成的拱门, 南极洲
有些照片定格了自然的宏伟瞬间，而真正出色的作品更能揭示深层的故事：在一帧之中，力量与脆弱的微妙平衡，提醒我们地球的脆弱与伟大。今日这张展现南极冰山天然拱门的照片正是如此，它开启了关于宏伟、脆弱、环境与未来的对话。
《南极条约》将南极确立为和平与科学研究的保护区，最初由12个国家签署并生效。如今，已有50多个国家认可这一条约。它奠定了数十年来科学探索与成果的基石。


date: 2025-12-02
filename: WillowLake_ZH-CN9798614021.jpg
title: 一景胜千言
copyright: 柳树湖与布莱克本山, 兰格尔－圣伊利亚斯国家公园暨保护区, 阿拉斯加州, 美国 (© Patrick J. Endres/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月2日
柳树湖与布莱克本山, 兰格尔－圣伊利亚斯国家公园暨保护区, 阿拉斯加州, 美国
1980年12月2日，美国通过《阿拉斯加国家利益土地保护法》，为自然保护史写下浓重一笔。这项具有划时代意义的法律使阿拉斯加逾1.04亿英亩的荒野获得永久保护，图中所示的兰格尔-圣埃利亚斯国家公园暨保护区因此成为美国最大的国家公园。该法不仅守护壮丽的生态，也延续原住民的传统，真正实现自然与人文的和谐共生。
该公园和保护区面积超过瑞士国土，从阿拉斯加湾一路延展至内陆，海拔自海平面攀升至近6000米，造就了丰富的生命栖息地。这里，巍峨的群峰披着永恒的冰雪，冰川与冰原在阳光下闪耀，仿佛时间凝固的世界。


date: 2025-12-03
filename: BosqueCranes_ZH-CN1838488224.jpg
title: 曙光中的鹤影
copyright: 日出时的沙丘鹤, ‌阿帕奇森林国家野生动物保护区, 新墨西哥州, 美国 (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年12月3日
日出时的沙丘鹤, ‌阿帕奇森林国家野生动物保护区, 新墨西哥州, 美国
每年十二月，晨光初露，响亮的鹤鸣声在阿帕奇森林国家野生动物保护区的沼泽间回荡。这片占地5.7万英亩的新墨西哥中部圣地，即将上演一场震撼心灵的自然盛景——沙丘鹤结束季节性迁徙，重返故地。不久，成千上万只雪雁和其他候鸟也将加入，振翅高飞，天空被生命的律动与鸣声填满。
沙丘鹤以植物为主食，但会根据环境条件摄取多种食物。它们常低着头，用喙在地面翻找种子和其他食物，活动范围包括浅水湿地的植被区以及各种旱地栖息地。


date: 2025-12-04
filename: CheetahMound_ZH-CN1970221812.jpg
title: 为生存而疾驰
copyright: 马赛马拉国家保护区的猎豹, 纳罗克, 肯尼亚 (© Andy Rouse/naturepl.com)
story:
2025年12月4日
马赛马拉国家保护区的猎豹, 纳罗克, 肯尼亚
在肯尼亚西南部的马赛马拉国家保护区，一只猎豹立于高高的白蚁丘上，凝视辽阔草原。它的身形流畅，疾驰时可达每小时70英里，堪称陆地速度之王。修长的四肢与柔韧的脊柱让它爆发出惊人的力量，尾巴则在追猎中稳住身形。今天是“国际猎豹日”，这个节日的到来再合适不过。如今，野外猎豹数量已不足7100只，它们是非洲最脆弱的大型猫科动物之一。
目前，猎豹的分布范围仅剩下历史栖息地的约10%。虽然它们仍在多个地区出现，但数量极为稀少，且栖息地呈高度碎片化。非洲南部和东部是猎豹种群的重要据点。


date: 2025-12-05
filename: CopanRuins_ZH-CN2157795324.jpg
title: 绘制星图的城市
copyright: 科潘的玛雅遗址，洪都拉斯 (© diegograndi/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月5日
科潘的玛雅遗址，洪都拉斯
在洪都拉斯西部一片静谧山谷中，坐落着科潘古城的遗址，这座城市曾是古代玛雅文明的璀璨明珠。在这座城市里，天空既是罗盘，又是日历，指引着天象，塑造了庙宇的方向、仪式的时间与人们的生活节奏。公元426年左右，来自玛雅腹地的勇士基尼奇·亚什·库克·莫建立了科潘，并开创了王室王朝。此后，科潘成为玛雅艺术、天文学与政治权力的中心。
自2010年以来，考古学家在科潘遗址持续开展发掘与研究。这些发现共同揭示出，科潘是古典玛雅文明中政治上灵活、象征意义深远的中心，其历史叙事也在每一次新发现中不断延伸。


date: 2025-12-06
filename: EvergladesSunrise_ZH-CN2298606730.jpg
title: 佛罗里达州的生命湿地
copyright: 大沼泽地国家公园的蜘蛛网，佛罗里达州，美国 (© Troy Harrison/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月6日
大沼泽地国家公园的蜘蛛网，佛罗里达州，美国
在美国的最南端，延展着一片与众不同的自然奇景：大沼泽地。它既不是典型的沼泽，也不是河流，而是一片缓慢流动、浅而宽广的水域，从平坦的草原向南漂移，最终注入佛罗里达湾，它将森林、湿地、红树林与沿海草原连成一个庞大而复杂的亚热带生态网络。栖息着包括短吻鳄、海牛及濒危的佛罗里达美洲狮在内的数百种生物。1947年12月6日，美国设立了大沼泽地国家公园，保护面积超过150万英亩，并首次将保护重点从单一地标转向整体生态系统的保育。
在佛罗里达州南部的大沼泽地国家公园内，有几处非常适合观测夜空的区域。最佳观测点位于公园偏远的南部和西部，如弗拉明戈与万岛群等地。


date: 2025-12-07
filename: TheGreatSnowY25_ZH-CN2448918230.jpg
title: 雪落下的声音
copyright: 雪中的故宫，中国北京 (© Ian.CuiYi/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月7日
雪中的故宫，中国北京
今天是中国传统二十四节气中的大雪节气。大雪的到来预示着气温将逐渐降低，冬季降水量也将增加。大雪期间，中国大部分地区已进入严冬，北方部分地区的气温甚至会降至零度以下。北方大地呈现出“万里冰封”的壮丽景象，而南方则展现出“雪花飘舞，万物银装素裹”的迷人景色。
紫禁城是世界上规模最大、保存最完好的古代木构建筑群之一。


date: 2025-12-08
filename: ComoChristmas_ZH-CN2565627033.jpg
title: 一切安详，一切明亮
copyright: 多马索的建筑上的圣诞彩灯，科莫湖，意大利 (© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月8日
多马索的建筑上的圣诞彩灯，科莫湖，意大利
当意大利科莫湖上闪烁的灯光比星辰更耀眼时，你就会知道，圣诞节已在多马索登场。这个昔日的渔村，如今每到冬季便化身为闪亮的节日舞台：粉彩色的房屋、古老的教堂与湖畔别墅被光带缠绕，交织成一幅梦幻的圣诞画卷。
科莫湖，又名拉里奥湖，是意大利伦巴第大区的一座冰川湖。它是意大利第三大湖，仅次于加尔达湖和马焦雷湖。湖深超过400米，是欧洲最深的湖泊之一。


date: 2025-12-09
filename: LlamaDay_ZH-CN2646855786.jpg
title: 说“茄子”……或者“青草”
copyright: 原驼，北角，瓦尔德斯半岛, 阿根廷 (© Sylvain Cordier/naturepl.com)
story:
2025年12月9日
原驼，北角，瓦尔德斯半岛, 阿根廷
如果说羊驼是安第斯山脉中悠闲的明星，那么它们的表亲原驼，就是巴塔哥尼亚的自由精灵。而还有什么日子比“全国羊驼日”更适合让它们成为焦点呢？原驼与羊驼、美洲驼和小羊驼同属骆驼科，但与那些被驯化的亲戚不同，它们依然保留着野性的天性。它们主要分布在阿根廷、智利、秘鲁和玻利维亚的高原地带，天生适应高海拔的生活。厚实的皮毛让它们能抵御寒冷的山风，而柔软的脚掌则能在岩石地形上稳稳立足，连山羊都会为之叹服。
原驼是当今南美洲最大的本土陆生哺乳动物之一。


date: 2025-12-10
filename: CordobaCathedral_ZH-CN4603063077.jpg
title: 文化交汇之地
copyright: 科尔多瓦清真寺大教堂的内部，安达卢西亚，西班牙 (© Elena Zolotova/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月10日
科尔多瓦清真寺大教堂的内部，安达卢西亚，西班牙
科尔多瓦清真寺大教堂是一部凝固在石头中的编年史，诉说着西班牙层叠交融的历史。它最初由日耳曼的西哥特人建造为一座教堂，公元784年，科尔多瓦倭马亚酋长国的创建者阿卜杜·拉赫曼一世将其改建为清真寺。其宏伟的柱式大厅由一排排石柱支撑，最著名的便是那交错的红白相间拱券。如今，殿内仍保留着 850 多根石柱，其中许多取材自古罗马和早期西哥特建筑。
科尔多瓦是一座文化底蕴深厚、历史遗迹遍布的城市。不同的民族曾在此繁衍生息，他们留下的众多文明印记，使这座城市在西方历史中占据了独特的地位。


date: 2025-12-11
filename: EverestGlow_ZH-CN4985720231.jpg
title: 天地相接之处
copyright: 从伦佐拉山口眺望珠穆朗玛峰日落时分的峰顶，尼泊尔 (© shoults/Alamy)
story:
2025年12月11日
从伦佐拉山口眺望珠穆朗玛峰日落时分的峰顶，尼泊尔
每年12月11日，我们庆祝“国际山岳日”， 以此致敬塑造地球的雄伟山脉与哺育生命的冰川。从起伏的阿尔卑斯山到巍峨的喜马拉雅，山地覆盖了地球陆地面积的近四分之一，栖息着全球约 15% 的人口与近一半的生物多样性热点地区。世界最高峰珠穆朗玛峰，海拔逾29,000英尺，象征着人类的追求与自然的壮丽。其冰川滋养着无数河流，维系着数以百万计的生命，证明了山脉不仅是风景，更是地球的生命线。
位于珠穆朗玛峰北坡脚下的绒布河由冰川融水汇成。近年随着冰川加速融化，径流量明显增加，为下游地区提供了更多水资源。


date: 2025-12-12
filename: SpeckledPoinsettia_ZH-CN3726763235.jpg
title: 点亮节日的红色植物
copyright: 有斑点的一品红 (© DigiPub/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月12日
有斑点的一品红
有些植物只是静静地待在窗台上，而一品红却注定要闪耀。它鲜艳夺目，红得像鲁道夫的鼻尖，是十二月的明星，甚至拥有自己的节日——12月12日的一品红日。在成为圣诞装饰之前，这种灌木经历了漫长旅程。很久以前，它生长在墨西哥的野地，阿兹特克人用它制染料、做药材。直到19世纪20年代，美国外交官乔尔·罗伯茨·波因塞特被它的魅力吸引，将它带回家。之后的故事，便是历史与植物学的篇章。
在墨西哥，一品红被称为"圣诞夜之花"，自17世纪起，它便成为圣诞庆典的传统装饰。


date: 2025-12-13
filename: YosemiteWinter_ZH-CN3824387818.jpg
title: 冰封的倒影
copyright: 默塞德河, 优胜美地国家公园, 加利福尼亚, 美国 (© Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月13日
默塞德河, 优胜美地国家公园, 加利福尼亚, 美国
每一幅杰作都需要点睛之笔。而优胜美地的点睛之笔便是默塞德河。作为美国国家级“野生与风景河流”之一，这条水系起源于内华达山脉高处，汇集雪水，蜿蜒145英里，穿过优胜美地山谷，流入加州中央谷地。
默塞德河的主支流是夏季休闲的好去处，这里可以游泳、徒步、钓鱼、漂流、淘金、露营，享受各种户外乐趣。由于海拔较低，冬季也非常适合来一场轻松的日间徒步。


date: 2025-12-14
filename: TuftedTitmouse_ZH-CN4154825372.jpg
title: 假日鸟类大比拼
copyright: 簇山雀栖息在松枝上, 马萨诸塞州, 美国 (© Tim Laman/NPL/Minden Pictures)
story:
2025年12月14日
簇山雀栖息在松枝上, 马萨诸塞州, 美国
每年十二月，成千上万的人放下包装纸，拿起望远镜，走向户外，参与一项别样的节日传统：奥杜邦圣诞观鸟活动。人们不再追逐折扣商品，而是用铅笔代替铅弹，踏上寻鸟之旅。这个传统始于1900年，由鸟类学家弗兰克·M·查普曼发起，为圣诞节期间盛行的"狩猎赛"提供了和平替代方案。当时人们比拼射杀动物的数量，而查普曼提出更美好的构想：不如数一数它们。一个多世纪后，这个简单的转变已发展成全球历史最悠久的公民科学项目。
簇山雀性格活跃，叫声不断，还会对其他鸟类的警觉声作出反应。它们常结成小群，称作“鸟群”或“盗鸟群”，觅食时常与山雀及其他雀形鸟类同行。


date: 2025-12-15
filename: AmsterdamLights_ZH-CN4288146509.jpg
title: 静谧水波，闪耀灯影
copyright: 斯皮格尔运河上的灯光装饰, 阿姆斯特丹, 荷兰 (© Amith Nag Photography/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月15日
斯皮格尔运河上的灯光装饰, 阿姆斯特丹, 荷兰
你有没有想过，运河如何影响城市的演变？几千年来，人们修筑运河，用于运输、控水和连接各地。从古代美索不达米亚和埃及，到中世纪的欧洲，运河让威尼斯、布鲁日等城市成为繁荣的贸易枢纽。到了17世纪，荷兰更进一步，规划出影响城市格局的水道，阿姆斯特丹便是其中的典范。
阿姆斯特丹市政府计划在2030年前实现完全零排放，并致力于在2050年前成为循环利用、气候中和且具备气候适应能力的城市。


date: 2025-12-16
filename: ChristmasGnomes_ZH-CN4405839101.jpg
title: 小帽子，大能量
copyright: 圣诞市场上的手工小矮人 (© Veronika Seppanen/Shutterstock)
story:
2025年12月16日
圣诞市场上的手工小矮人
长胡子、红帽子，每年圣诞都要分走圣诞老人的一点光彩。来认识一下圣诞地精吧——瑞典叫‘tomte’，挪威称‘nisse’，各地习俗各不相同。源于北欧传说，这些小精灵守护家园与农场，陪伴人们度过漫长黑夜。但有个前提：待他们友善些，否则他们会恶作剧。圣诞夜一碗热腾腾的粥，是地精最爱的礼物。据说他们能带来好运与笑声，甚至可能和你花园里的小矮人打成一片，因为他们长得很像。
圣诞袜的起源可追溯至圣尼古拉斯将礼物放入鞋中的传说，后来逐渐演变为炉边传统。


date: 2025-12-17
filename: FrostySquirrel_ZH-CN4613360783.jpg
title: 皮毛、霜冻和盛宴
copyright: 在诺森伯兰郡的欧亚红松鼠, 英格兰 (© Michael_Conrad/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月17日
在诺森伯兰郡的欧亚红松鼠, 英格兰
谁能抗拒这张软乎乎的小脸？一只欧亚红松鼠栖息在积雪覆盖的松枝上，前爪紧紧抓着松果，仿佛那是世上最后的美食。这些灵巧的小家伙全年忙碌：夏季采集坚果、种子和菌类，冬季则靠储存的松果维持生活。
红松鼠只要挺过第一个寒冬，通常能活3年左右。有的能活到7岁，而在圈养状态下，其寿命可延长至10年。


date: 2025-12-18
filename: CathedralValley_ZH-CN5237441521.jpg
title: 犹他州的时光层叠
copyright: 太阳神庙，圆顶礁国家公园, 犹他州, 美国 (© Austin Cronnelly/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2025年12月18日
太阳神庙，圆顶礁国家公园, 犹他州, 美国
数百万年的岩层沉积，伴随地壳的巨大弯曲，造就了这片沙漠独一无二的地质窗口。这里是犹他州的圆顶礁国家公园，砂岩峭壁与峡谷像一本打开的历史书，记录着地球的沧桑。1971年12月18日，它被正式列为国家公园。今日的图片聚焦大教堂谷的砂岩巨石，其中包括壮丽的“太阳神殿”，彰显这片景观的非凡魅力。
圆顶礁国家公园涵盖多种生态区，包括高海拔、凉爽的常绿林峰，植被茂密的河岸地带，以及干燥炎热的沙漠。


date: 2025-12-19
filename: BormioItaly_ZH-CN5397313772.jpg
title: 高山的悠久历史
copyright: 博尔米奥的雪景，伦巴第大区，意大利 (© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月19日
博尔米奥的雪景，伦巴第大区，意大利
博尔米奥位于意大利北部伦巴第大区的阿尔卑斯山中，靠近斯泰尔维奥山口。这片地势险峻的山地数百年来连接着不同山谷中的社区，塑造了当地人生活与迁徙的方式。今日图片中的冬季景观，正映照出这座高山小镇的地理特征与它与群峰之间延续千年的纽带。
博尔米奥保留着独特的中世纪古镇中心，吸引着众多游客。它也将成为2026年冬季奥运会高山滑雪项目的举办地。


date: 2025-12-20
filename: StarLanterns_ZH-CN5598071900.jpg
title: 闪烁的纸星星
copyright: 圣诞星形灯笼，德国 (© artas/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月20日
圣诞星形灯笼，德国
随着圣诞临近，星形灯笼开始在各处亮起：闪烁在阳台上，点亮橱窗，照亮集市摊位。它们的光芒穿透漫长的冬夜，为街道和家中带来欢乐、色彩与节日的温暖。然而，这些节日装饰背后，有着一个和它们的光芒一样迷人的故事。
尽管“圣诞之星”已成为节日中最受喜爱的象征之一，但它所代表的“伯利恒之星”在《圣经》中其实只被提及过一次。


date: 2025-12-21
filename: WintersolsticeY25_ZH-CN6462419684.jpg
title: 美丽的雾凇景色
copyright: 美丽的雾凇景色，大庆市，黑龙江省，中国 (© Dashu Xinganling/shutterstock)
story:
2025年12月21日
美丽的雾凇景色，大庆市，黑龙江省，中国
当2025年的冬至如期而至，北国大地被银装素裹，东北的雾凇奇景更添了几分童话般的浪漫。漫步在雾凇林中，脚下是松软的积雪，发出细微的沙沙声，仿佛是大自然最轻柔的私语。空气中弥漫着清新的气息，仿佛能净化一切尘埃，让人心旷神怡。
雾凇可分为两种：一种是晶状雾凇，一种是粒状雾凇。中国是世界上记载雾凇最早的国家，早在春秋时代成书的《春秋》中就有记载。


date: 2025-12-22
filename: FrankfurtAlteBruecke_ZH-CN6621478221.jpg
title: 历史与现代的交融
copyright: 法兰克福老桥，德国 (© diegograndi/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月22日
法兰克福老桥，德国
位于德国中心地带的法兰克福是一座以现代天际线与历史古城交织闻名的活力都市。老桥是其中的标志性建筑之一，自中世纪以来便横跨美因河，是这座城市现存最古老的河上通道之一。几个世纪以来，它一直是重要的贸易通道。如今的老桥建于1912至1926年间，将老城区与萨克森豪森区连接起来，从这里能欣赏到壮丽的“美因哈顿”天际线与法兰克福大教堂，这是传统与现代融合的象征。尤其在日落时分，更是格外迷人。
自1222年在官方文件中首次被提及以来，法兰克福的发展一直深受这座桥的影响。几个世纪以来，老桥至少被毁坏和重建了18次。


date: 2025-12-23
filename: ReindeerFinland_ZH-CN6822163943.jpg
title: 当节日的魔法踩着蹄声而来
copyright: 冬雪中的驯鹿，拉普兰德，芬兰 (© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月23日
冬雪中的驯鹿，拉普兰德，芬兰
很少有动物能像驯鹿那样唤起节日的魔力。驯鹿也被称为北美驯鹿，是不折不扣的“圣诞精神图腾”。自从克莱门特·克拉克·摩尔在1823年的诗作《圣尼古拉来访记》中为它们安排了拉雪橇的角色后，驯鹿便成为圣诞故事中不可缺少的动物明星。而且它们天生适合这份工作。它们的蹄子在冬季会收缩，露出能抓地的边缘，而在温暖的月份则会膨胀，以获得更好的抓地力。这还不足以让你感到惊叹？想想看，驯鹿体内并没有传统意义的“生物钟”。它们通过调节控制睡眠的褪黑激素来适应极地的极昼与极夜，使它们能够在无尽的黑夜中保持清醒，完成“送礼物”般的长途跋涉。驯鹿能托着圣诞老人飞行，在陆地上奔跑如风，在冰冷水域中也能轻松游动，这都得益于它们强健的体魄和优秀的游泳能力。成年雄性体重可达550磅，一对鹿角甚至可延展至55英寸，最多长出44个枝叉，堪称天然王冠。今日图片拍摄于芬兰，在那里，驯鹿的数量甚至多于人类。它们悠然漫步于这片古老土地，如同它们所代表的节日精神一样永恒不朽。
野生驯鹿的寿命可达15年，而由人工照料下的驯鹿寿命甚至可延长至20年。


date: 2025-12-24
filename: ElmauChapel_ZH-CN6919330333.jpg
title: 流动的传统
copyright: 巴伐利亚阿尔卑斯山脉的雪中教堂与圣诞树，德国 (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy)
story:
2025年12月24日
巴伐利亚阿尔卑斯山脉的雪中教堂与圣诞树，德国
随着平安夜的到来，数以百万计的人们拥抱那些将我们与根源相连的习俗，或者接触全新的文化。如今日图片中所见的那样，在德国巴伐利亚阿尔卑斯山的雪景中，节日灯光在寒冬中闪耀；而在地球的另一端，比如加勒比海、澳大利亚或巴西，耀眼阳光洒在金色海滩上，圣诞节的画面则截然不同
传统的圣诞节点心包括姜饼、德国圣诞果脯面包、奶油酥饼，以及杏仁软糖。


date: 2025-12-25
filename: SantaGlobe_ZH-CN7032279153.jpg
title: 微缩世界，无尽奇想
copyright: 海德堡圣诞市场上的雪球，德国 (© George Pachantouris/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月25日
海德堡圣诞市场上的雪球，德国
在德国海德堡的冬日天空下，集市摊位间闪烁着一只只雪花水晶球，每个玻璃球都以微缩世界的形式捕捉着节日的氛围。如今的圣诞节一个关于信仰、光明与团聚的基督教庆典，邀请我们在一年中最寒冷的日子里迎来温暖与欢乐。在世界各地，窗台上的烛光温柔摇曳，花环装点着街巷与家门，常青树装饰一新，枝头挂满饰品，树下的礼物静静等待被打开。
在大多数西方国家，圣诞节是一年中商业活动最为冷清的一天；几乎所有零售店、商铺和公共机构都会关门停业，几乎所有行业也都会暂停运作，无论法律是否有此规定。


date: 2025-12-27
filename: SuperiorIceMN_ZH-CN5339027344.jpg
title: 冬之碎片
copyright: 苏必利尔湖沿岸的冰层，大马雷，明尼苏达州，美国 (© wanderluster/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月27日
苏必利尔湖沿岸的冰层，大马雷，明尼苏达州，美国
在明尼苏达的苏必利尔湖，冬季来临时，湖岸会出现一种名为“板冰”的奇特景象：薄冰在温度变化下破裂，随风漂移并堆叠，最终形成倾斜的冰片，如同玻璃碎片般闪耀。蓝色与银色交织的半透明冰面在阳光下折射出锐利的光影，使湖边看起来更像艺术雕塑，而非冰封。
苏必利尔湖是全球面积最大的淡水湖，水量则位居第三，仅次于西伯利亚的贝加尔湖和东非的坦噶尼喀湖。


date: 2025-12-28
filename: RuffedLemur_ZH-CN5636795490.jpg
title: 仍存野性
copyright: 马达加斯加的黑白环尾狐猴 (© Cyrielle Beaubois/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月28日
马达加斯加的黑白环尾狐猴
《濒危物种法》颁布至今已51年，其宗旨依然明确：保护濒临灭绝的物种，守护它们赖以生存的栖息地。该法案于1973年签署，成为全球最强有力的保护法律之一，影响力远超美国本土。它证明了当科学研究与执法行动协同时，物种复苏便成为可能。尤其对于那些命运系于国际关注的物种，这种影响更为深远。马达加斯加的黑白环尾狐猴就是典型代表。许多人因动画片《马达加斯加》认识狐猴，但现实中的它们却面临严酷的生存困境。这种外形醒目的灵长类动物已被列为极危物种，只能在日益破碎的森林中艰难存活，栖息地丧失始终是它们挥之不去的威胁。
黑白环尾狐猴拥有一种少见的特性：雌性在群体中占据主导，无论是在进食时，还是在其他社交场合。这种雌性优势也出现在其他长毛狐猴、环尾狐猴以及红长毛狐猴身上。


date: 2025-12-29
filename: AniTurkey_ZH-CN5838141955.jpg
title: 一座比城市更悠久的教堂
copyright: 阿尼遗址的圣格雷戈里教堂，卡尔斯省，土耳其 (© Kenan Talas/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月29日
阿尼遗址的圣格雷戈里教堂，卡尔斯省，土耳其
在土耳其东部与亚美尼亚接壤的边境地带，一片风吹草低的台地上，阿尼古城遗址在荒野中清晰浮现。千年前，这里是丝绸之路上的繁华都城，城墙巍峨，街市喧闹，商旅往来不息，文化在此交汇。如今，风声取代了人声，但那沧桑的轮廓，仍默默诉说着昔日的辉煌。
公元961年至1045年间，这里曾是巴格拉图尼王朝亚美尼亚王国的首都，其疆域涵盖现今亚美尼亚大部分地区及土耳其东部。这座传奇之城常被誉为"千座教堂之城"，但实际教堂数量远不及此。


date: 2025-12-30
filename: SwedenSolstice_ZH-CN8975506700.jpg
title: 新太阳的诞生
copyright: 晨光透过结霜的树木洒下，瑞典 (© Schon/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月30日
晨光透过结霜的树木洒下，瑞典
冬季也总是有一些令人流连忘返的景色，例如瑞典的这片树林，就像踏入了一个银白的童话世界。高大的树木身披厚厚的霜雪外衣，像是忠诚的卫士，静静地伫立。每阳光透过树枝的缝隙洒下，形成一道道金色的光线，与洁白的雪相互交织，营造出一种如梦似幻的氛围。雪花在阳光的照耀下闪烁着晶莹的光芒，像是无数颗细碎的钻石，镶嵌在这银白的世界里。
在瑞典，从10月到次年3月你可挑战凛冽冬夜，回报将是自然界最壮观的景象之一——北极光。这些红，绿，紫色的光幕时常在天空中翩翩起舞起舞。


date: 2025-12-31
filename: GermanyNewYear_ZH-CN9155122755.jpg
title: 柏林，新年之桥
copyright: 除夕夜，奥伯鲍姆桥，柏林，德国 (© spreephoto.de/Getty Images)
story:
2025年12月31日
除夕夜，奥伯鲍姆桥，柏林，德国
三、二、一……等等，先按下暂停键。新年还没到，但柏林的奥伯鲍姆桥仿佛已经提前按下了“庆祝”按钮。今晚，这座桥不再只是河上的通道，而是一条通往新年的跑道：引擎低鸣，烟花预热，人群齐声练习着那句“新年快乐！”
新年的脚步由时区决定。最先跨入新年的，是国际日期变更线以西的太平洋岛屿：基里巴斯的莱恩群岛、萨摩亚，以及汤加。


date: 2026-01-01
filename: NewYearFox_ZH-CN9312618796.jpg
title: 伸个懒腰，迈向新年！
copyright: 正在睡觉的北极狐 (© Chansak Joe/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月1日
正在睡觉的北极狐
是否感觉需要补足整整一年的休息？今日图片上的这只北极狐懂你，它正窝在冰原岩石间，享受惬意时光。无论新年伴随寒风还是暖阳而来，请给自己五分钟，让身体舒展，再迎接接下来的365天。
格里高利历在儒略历的基础上优化了闰年制度，让历法更精准，避免季节随时间逐渐错位。


date: 2026-01-02
filename: VeniceView_ZH-CN3088407995.jpg
title: 威尼斯的灵魂
copyright: 威尼斯鸟瞰图, 意大利 (© Clement Leonard/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月2日
威尼斯鸟瞰图, 意大利
从高空俯瞰威尼斯，宛如一幅迷人的水上画卷，但这座意大利瑰宝真正的魅力，藏在古老墙垣与曲折水巷之间。公元5世纪，它在潟湖中的一簇岛屿上诞生，由沼泽蜕变为海上霸主。中世纪时期，威尼斯成为连接欧洲与东方的重要贸易枢纽，财富与文化在此交织。如今，哥特式宫殿、文艺复兴艺术，以及圣马可大教堂、公爵宫、里亚托桥等地标，仍在诉说这座城市的辉煌历史。
威尼斯的灵魂，古老而迷人，由118座岛屿织成水上锦图，400余座桥梁将它们串联。纵横的运河如脉络般流淌，贡多拉与船只穿梭不止，宛若一场永恒的奇迹。


date: 2026-01-04
filename: KingMountain_ZH-CN0397508222.jpg
title: 王者视野
copyright: 国王山, 楚加奇山脉, 阿拉斯加, 美国 (© Chris Moore - Exploring Light Photography/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2026年1月4日
国王山, 楚加奇山脉, 阿拉斯加, 美国
在阿拉斯加楚加奇山脉，国王山不仅仅是远方的轮廓，它的雄浑之美足以让人停下脚步凝视。海拔逾5800英尺，坐落在帕尔默东北约22英里，俯瞰格伦公路第75英里段，这条公路因壮丽景观而闻名。山体的坡面刻满冰川遗痕，沟谷与山脊如同天然的冒险乐园。
国王山的气温可能骤降至极低水平，最低可降至零下4°F（约零下20 °C）。最佳的游览或攀登时节通常在5月至6月，这段时间天气更为宜人。


date: 2026-01-05
filename: ImpalaRooibok_ZH-CN2307890154.jpg
title: 高角羚群紧急戒备
copyright: 一群高角羚, 隆多洛齐野生动物保护区, 南非 (© Mint Images/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月5日
一群高角羚, 隆多洛齐野生动物保护区, 南非
隆多洛齐野生动物保护区的独特之处，不仅在于草原上的野生动物，更在于其坚守了近百年的守护。自1926年起，这片58平方英里的土地持续支持着野生动物研究工作，并监测着动物在自然栖息地中的行为。它坐落于萨比桑私人保护区，是非洲五大兽的栖息地，并与克鲁格国家公园相连，构建开放的生态系统，让象群、犀牛、狮子、豹、斑马和众多羚羊物种得以在无围栏阻隔的广袤天地间自由迁徙。
根据国际自然保护联盟（IUCN）的分类，高角羚整体并不处于危险状态，被列为“无危”物种。但黑脸高角羚情况不同，它被认定为“易危”物种，截至2008年，野外数量估计不到1000只。


date: 2026-01-06
filename: NuukGreenland_ZH-CN2414771686.jpg
title: 努克的慵懒时光
copyright: 努克, 格陵兰 (© nevereverro/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月6日
努克, 格陵兰
想象一下，日常通勤途中，映入眼底的是峡湾风光、漂移的冰块，以及天际舞动的极光——这不是梦，而是努克的日常。作为格陵兰的首都，这座小而灵动的北极城市，将因纽特文化与北欧现代气息交织融合。它的故事始于1728年，由丹麦-挪威传教士汉斯·埃格德创建，最初的名字叫“Godthaab”，寓意“美好希望”。
努克虽是小镇，却发展了贸易、商业、航运等产业。与格陵兰大部分地区一样，努克高度依赖丹麦的资金支持与整体拨款。


date: 2026-01-07
filename: OldRockArch_ZH-CN2061140260.jpg
title: 古老岩石的传奇
copyright: 拱门国家公园的北窗框景中的炮塔拱门, 犹他州, 美国 (© Jim Patterson/TANDEM Stills + Motion)
story:
2026年1月7日
拱门国家公园的北窗框景中的炮塔拱门, 犹他州, 美国
今天，让我们重新审视时间的尺度。古岩石日，揭开地球深藏的秘密：亿万年的风沙、海洋与火焰，塑造了我们脚下的世界。在犹他州拱门国家公园，透过北窗眺望炮塔拱门，仿佛凝视一段漫长的史诗。如今的拱门由恩特拉达砂岩构成，而那些砂岩曾是流动的沙丘和浅海，经过漫长侵蚀才雕刻出如今的拱形。可即便如此，这些地质构造仍算年轻。地壳在板块、侵蚀与火山的轮回中不断重生，唯有古老的大陆地盾守护着真正的远古。加拿大的阿卡斯塔片麻岩，约有40亿年历史，是目前已知最古老、仍扎根原处的岩石。
自2000年以来，拱门国家公园持续开展古生物野外研究，发现了多处新的重要化石点。这里的化石种类丰富，包括脊椎动物、无脊椎动物、植物，以及记录生物活动的痕迹化石。


date: 2026-01-08
filename: StarlingBrighton2025_ZH-CN2775446092.jpg
title: 废墟之上，椋鸟群舞
copyright: 椋鸟群在布莱顿西码头废墟上空盘旋, 英格兰 (© Philip Reeve/Photodisc/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月8日
椋鸟群在布莱顿西码头废墟上空盘旋, 英格兰
椋鸟是天生的“舞台明星”，它们深谙抢镜之道：羽毛在阳光下闪烁绿紫光泽，叫声里还夹杂着模仿的趣味。椋鸟原产于欧亚大陆，如今已遍布全球。19世纪，一位痴迷莎士比亚作品的鸟类爱好者，将椋鸟引入纽约中央公园，从此开启了它们的美洲传奇。
椋鸟的鸣声丰富而复杂，它们甚至会把周围的声音融入自己的叫声，从汽车警报到人类的语音节奏，无所不包。更令人惊讶的是，它们能凭叫声辨认特定的同伴。这种能力，使椋鸟成为科学家探索语言起源的重要线索。


date: 2026-01-09
filename: MuirWoodsMonument_ZH-CN2985538001.jpg
title: 时光在此处茁壮成长
copyright: 缪尔树林国家保护区的巨型红杉树林, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 (© photo by canderson/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月9日
缪尔树林国家保护区的巨型红杉树林, 加利福尼亚州, 美国
走进巨人的国度吧。试着像拥抱一位温柔的巨人那样，把双臂环在红杉粗壮的树干上，触摸蕴藏着千年智慧的时间年轮。欢迎来到缪尔树林国家纪念地——它在1908年的今天正式诞生，坐落于旧金山北部，是一座由海岸红杉构成的壮丽殿堂。这里的红杉是地球上最高的树木，其中一棵高达约258英尺，相当于43个人从头到脚叠加的高度。这些树大多已经600到800岁，有的甚至跨越了千年。但对于一个最长能活到2000年的物种来说，它们依然算是“年轻的巨人”。在这片幽深的原始森林中，每一棵高耸入云的红杉都是时间的见证者，也是一位静默的守护者。
自1908年被正式列为国家纪念地以来，这片原始林地便既是生命的避所，也是自然的课堂，悄然展现着人类与这片活力大地的深层纽带。


date: 2026-01-10
filename: MatterhornSunrise_ZH-CN3171879631.jpg
title: 纯粹的瑞士魔力
copyright: 日出时分，马特洪峰的倒影映照在斯特利湖中, 采尔马特, 瑞士 (© Andy Trowbridge/naturepl.com)
story:
2026年1月10日
日出时分，马特洪峰的倒影映照在斯特利湖中, 采尔马特, 瑞士
鲜有景致能像马特洪峰倒映在斯特利湖如镜的湖面上那般，完美呈现阿尔卑斯的灵魂。这座传奇山峰耸立在瑞士与意大利边境，海拔高达14,692英尺，象征着大自然的壮美与冒险精神，吸引着世界各地的攀登者、徒步者与追梦人。
马特洪峰的首次攀登发生在 1865 年。当时的队伍中，有四人不幸罹难。但这并未阻止后来者，无数登山者依旧以登顶它为目标。


date: 2026-01-11
filename: BlueMorocco_ZH-CN3296596109.jpg
title: 从抗拒到绽放
copyright: 舍夫沙万的蓝色墙壁, 摩洛哥 (© AnetteAndersen/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月11日
舍夫沙万的蓝色墙壁, 摩洛哥
1944年1月11日，摩洛哥迈出了通往自由的关键一步。当天，66位民族领袖共同签署《独立宣言》，要求结束法国和西班牙的殖民统治，并明确表达国家拥有主权的正当权利。这份宣言在苏丹穆罕默德五世的支持下递交，不仅呈交给殖民当局，也送达了美国、英国以及前苏联的代表，向世界传达出摩洛哥争取独立的呼声与全球自决潮流息息相关。尽管随后遭到打压与镇压，独立运动仍顽强坚持。直到1956年，摩洛哥终于实现完全独立，这一历史节点也成为北非地区迈向自主新时代的重要转折。
舍夫沙万那一整片深浅交织的蓝墙，总能勾起游客的好奇。关于为何要把墙漆成蓝色，流传着多种说法，其中最广为人知的一种解释是：蓝色能驱赶蚊虫。


date: 2026-01-12
filename: SnowOtters_ZH-CN3563991803.jpg
title: 水獭之国爱沙尼亚
copyright: 欧亚水獭和幼崽, 爱沙尼亚 (© Sven Zacek/naturepl.com)
story:
2026年1月12日
欧亚水獭和幼崽, 爱沙尼亚
真正吸引人的，并不是雪地里那串脚印，而是那些从洞口探出头来的小家伙——脸上挂着一层白白的霜，好像刚刚意识到“啊，这就是冬天啊”。在欧洲想看欧亚水獭，爱沙尼亚是再合适不过的地方：清洁的河流、开阔的湿地，还有食物充足的海岸线，都让它们在这里自在生息。这个受保护的物种也因此在2024年被选为当地的“年度动物”。尽管欧亚水獭在全球范围内仍被视为近危，但在爱沙尼亚，它们的数量却一路回升——从千禧年前后仅约300只的低谷，增长到近些年大约2000只，悄悄写下了一段复苏故事。
欧亚水獭和其他鼬科动物一样，力量远比体型看上去更强，足以制服比自己大得多的猎物。它们偶尔甚至会捕猎体型庞大的水鸟，比如成年的灰雁。


date: 2026-01-13
filename: WalesWinter_ZH-CN3692879767.jpg
title: 苹果韵，旧时光
copyright: 克卢伊德谷, 威尔士 (© Valerie Blencowe/Getty Images)
story:
2026年1月13日
克卢伊德谷, 威尔士
大多数人会在一月的第一周就完成新年计划。然而威尔士有个迷人的传统，人们总会说：“等等，我们还有一场庆祝活动。”于是便有了“Hen Galan”——“旧新年”的庆祝活动，每年1月13日，在威尔士的几处乡地举行，尤其以格温山谷最为知名。这个日子源自古老的儒略历，虽然英国其他地方早就换成格里高利历了，但这里的人依旧沿用老传统。
克卢伊德谷生长的丹比赫李子几乎与威尔士的土地融为一体，这片土地被认为是全英国最富饶、最天然的沃土之一。


# img_en

date: 2020-05-14
filename: BaliRiceHarvest_EN-US2268300291.jpg
title: Green fields of grain
copyright:
Rice fields in the Sidemen Valley, with Mount Agung in the background, Bali, Indonesia (© Jon Arnold/Danita Delimont)

story:
Rice fields in the Sidemen Valley, with Mount Agung in the background, Bali, Indonesia (© Jon Arnold/Danita Delimont)


date: 2020-05-15
filename: NorthRimOpens_EN-US8744833658.jpg
title: The last thing seen by Wile E. Coyote
copyright:
Grand Canyon and Colorado River from Toroweap Overlook, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (© Matteo Colombo Travel Photo/Shutterstock)

story:
Grand Canyon and Colorado River from Toroweap Overlook, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (© Matteo Colombo Travel Photo/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-05-17
filename: LofotenIslands_EN-US2533248925.jpg
title: My my, it's Syttende Mai
copyright:
Fishing village of Henningsvær with Henningsvær Idrettslag Stadion, Nordland, Norway (© Viktor Posnov/Alamy)

story:
Fishing village of Henningsvær with Henningsvær Idrettslag Stadion, Nordland, Norway (© Viktor Posnov/Alamy)


date: 2020-05-19
filename: RoaringFork_EN-US2762183808.jpg
title: Loud waters
copyright:
Roaring Fork in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (© Paul Hassell/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Roaring Fork in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (© Paul Hassell/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2020-05-26
filename: CheetahCubs_EN-US2332035796.jpg
title: It's tree-climbing season
copyright:
Cheetah cubs climbing acacia trees in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania (© Paul Souders/Getty Images)

story:
Cheetah cubs climbing acacia trees in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania (© Paul Souders/Getty Images)


date: 2020-06-03
filename: WhiteRimTrail_EN-US2749200524.jpg
title: For the love of bikes
copyright:
Mountain bikers on White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park, Utah (© Grant Ordelheide/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Mountain bikers on White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park, Utah (© Grant Ordelheide/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2020-06-05
filename: SynchronousFireflies_EN-US0423452738.jpg
title: By the light of the fireflies
copyright:
Synchronous fireflies illuminate the forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (© Floris van Breugel/Minden Pictures)

story:
Synchronous fireflies illuminate the forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (© Floris van Breugel/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-06-08
filename: LionSurfing_EN-US1478093197.jpg
title: A day for the oceans
copyright:
Galápagos sea lion off the shore of Fernandina Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador (© Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures)

story:
Galápagos sea lion off the shore of Fernandina Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador (© Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-06-09
filename: BaronLakes_EN-US1588332572.jpg
title: Gem State views
copyright:
Baron Lake and Upper Baron Lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness in Idaho (© Patrick Brandenburg/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Baron Lake and Upper Baron Lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness in Idaho (© Patrick Brandenburg/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2020-06-10
filename: WobblyBridge_EN-US1661773056.jpg
title: The Millennium at 20
copyright:
Millennium Bridge with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background, London, England (© Scott Baldock/Getty Images)

story:
Millennium Bridge with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background, London, England (© Scott Baldock/Getty Images)


date: 2020-06-11
filename: GriboyedovCanal_EN-US1698534243.jpg
title: A midsummer twilight's dream
copyright:
Griboyedov Canal and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, Russia (© Tomas Sereda/Getty Images)

story:
Griboyedov Canal and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, Russia (© Tomas Sereda/Getty Images)


date: 2020-06-12
filename: SantaElena_EN-US1850505356.jpg
title: Big sky at Big Bend
copyright:
Santa Elena Canyon under the Milky Way in Big Bend National Park, Texas (© Stanley Ford/Shutterstock)

story:
Santa Elena Canyon under the Milky Way in Big Bend National Park, Texas (© Stanley Ford/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-06-13
filename: GrandsCausses_EN-US1892862937.jpg
title: A gorge-ous mill in the Causses
copyright:
The Dourbie Gorge Corps Mill and adjoining bridge in Grands Causses Regional Nature Park, France (© Hemis/Alamy)

story:
The Dourbie Gorge Corps Mill and adjoining bridge in Grands Causses Regional Nature Park, France (© Hemis/Alamy)


date: 2020-06-19
filename: Juneteenth_EN-US7526227147.jpg
title: Celebrating freedom
copyright:
The Texas African American History Memorial on the State Capitol grounds in Austin, Texas (© Moab Republic/Shutterstock)

story:
The Texas African American History Memorial on the State Capitol grounds in Austin, Texas (© Moab Republic/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-06-20
filename: BeyondWalls_EN-US5534533148.jpg
title: 'Beyond Walls' for World Refugee Day
copyright:
Artist Saype's 'Beyond Walls' installation in the Parc de la Grange, Geneva, Switzerland (© Valentin Flauraud/Shutterstock)

story:
Artist Saype's 'Beyond Walls' installation in the Parc de la Grange, Geneva, Switzerland (© Valentin Flauraud/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-06-22
filename: SouthernSunbird_EN-US5701754937.jpg
title: Pollinators: not to be sneezed at
copyright:
Male southern double-collared sunbird on a rocket pincushion flower, Cape Town, South Africa (© Martin Willis/Minden Pictures)

story:
Male southern double-collared sunbird on a rocket pincushion flower, Cape Town, South Africa (© Martin Willis/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-06-25
filename: GorchFock_EN-US6157323134.jpg
title: Hoisting a flag for seafarers
copyright:
German navy tall ship Gorch Fock in waters off Reykjavík, Iceland (© DEEPOL by plainpicture/Henn Photography)

story:
German navy tall ship Gorch Fock in waters off Reykjavík, Iceland (© DEEPOL by plainpicture/Henn Photography)


date: 2020-06-28
filename: PrideEmpire_EN-US6567530966.jpg
title: Keep shining
copyright:
The Empire State Building lit up in honor of Pride Week in 2014, New York City (© C. Taylor Crothers/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
The Empire State Building lit up in honor of Pride Week in 2014, New York City (© C. Taylor Crothers/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-07-02
filename: RhodesIsland_EN-US9342527972.jpg
title: All Rhodes lead to the beach
copyright:
Aerial view of blue and white parasols on the rocky coast of Rhodes, an island in Greece (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Aerial view of blue and white parasols on the rocky coast of Rhodes, an island in Greece (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-07-07
filename: CalorisMDIS_EN-US7543211568.jpg
title: Mercury in retrograde
copyright:
Enhanced-color composite of the Caloris Basin, Mercury (© NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)

story:
Enhanced-color composite of the Caloris Basin, Mercury (© NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)


date: 2020-07-08
filename: NorfolkPups_EN-US8929436581.jpg
title: It's only Wednesday
copyright:
Gray seal pup resting on a beach in Blakeney National Nature Reserve, England (© Kevin Sawford/Getty Images)

story:
Gray seal pup resting on a beach in Blakeney National Nature Reserve, England (© Kevin Sawford/Getty Images)


date: 2020-07-13
filename: SunnyRainforest_EN-US9772776383.jpg
title: Welcome to the Hoh
copyright:
The Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, Washington state (© Jorge Romano/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
The Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, Washington state (© Jorge Romano/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-07-19
filename: GrandCanalGondolas_EN-US0380987930.jpg
title: Venice by night
copyright:
The Grand Canal and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, Italy (© Jim Richardson/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
The Grand Canal and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, Italy (© Jim Richardson/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-07-20
filename: EarthriseSequence_EN-US0444696608.jpg
title: Earthrise on Moon Day
copyright:
Earthrise across Mare Smythii on the moon (© Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center)

story:
Earthrise across Mare Smythii on the moon (© Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center)


date: 2020-07-22
filename: RedBlueWildebeest_EN-US0956286533.jpg
title: Wildebeest on the move
copyright:
Blue wildebeest herd migrating at sunset, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya (© Denis-Huot/Minden Pictures)

story:
Blue wildebeest herd migrating at sunset, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya (© Denis-Huot/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-07-26
filename: ADA30_EN-US1238886685.jpg
title: A path to access
copyright:
Frank Gehry's BP Pedestrian Bridge connecting Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park in Chicago (© Devon Neff/Shutterstock)

story:
Frank Gehry's BP Pedestrian Bridge connecting Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park in Chicago (© Devon Neff/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-07-27
filename: AerialTamul_EN-US1289516805.jpg
title: A stunning sight in Mexico's wilderness
copyright:
Tamul waterfall in the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico (© Robert Harding World Imagery/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Tamul waterfall in the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico (© Robert Harding World Imagery/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-08-01
filename: LavaShip_EN-US6422813488.jpg
title: Where fire meets water
copyright:
A lava flow hits water as a tour boat passes, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (© Patrick Kelley/Getty Images)

story:
A lava flow hits water as a tour boat passes, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (© Patrick Kelley/Getty Images)


date: 2020-08-03
filename: SaguaroLightning_EN-US6580736553.jpg
title: The monsoon arrives in the desert
copyright:
Lightning storm in the Tortolita Mountain foothills, north of Tucson, Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)

story:
Lightning storm in the Tortolita Mountain foothills, north of Tucson, Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-08-06
filename: Rettungsstation_EN-US6913294738.jpg
title: Space-age style by the sea
copyright:
Former lifeguard station on the island of Rügen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany (© DR pics/Shutterstock)

story:
Former lifeguard station on the island of Rügen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany (© DR pics/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-08-07
filename: WhaleHug_EN-US7230997767.jpg
title: A whale of a hug
copyright:
Young humpback whale giving its mother a hug off the coast of the Tongan archipelago (© Biosphoto/Alamy)

story:
Young humpback whale giving its mother a hug off the coast of the Tongan archipelago (© Biosphoto/Alamy)


date: 2020-08-10
filename: LionDay_EN-US7411831317.jpg
title: Kings of the Kalahari
copyright:
Lion cubs hiding in tall grass in the Kalahari Desert region of Botswana (© Jami Tarris/Getty Images)

story:
Lion cubs hiding in tall grass in the Kalahari Desert region of Botswana (© Jami Tarris/Getty Images)


date: 2020-08-14
filename: HuntsMesa_EN-US7660712032.jpg
title: In the Navajo Nation for Code Talkers Day
copyright:
A view of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park from Hunts Mesa, Navajo Nation, between Arizona and Utah (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)

story:
A view of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park from Hunts Mesa, Navajo Nation, between Arizona and Utah (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)


date: 2020-08-15
filename: AcadianDay_EN-US7700672584.jpg
title: Celebrating the Acadians
copyright:
Caves and coastal features at low tide on the Bay of Fundy, near St. Martins, New Brunswick, Canada (© Jamie Roach/Shutterstock)

story:
Caves and coastal features at low tide on the Bay of Fundy, near St. Martins, New Brunswick, Canada (© Jamie Roach/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-08-16
filename: BurrowingOwl_EN-US7737468266.jpg
title: Here's looking at you
copyright:
An adult burrowing owl emerges from its burrow at sunset in Davis, California (© Neil Losin/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
An adult burrowing owl emerges from its burrow at sunset in Davis, California (© Neil Losin/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2020-08-23
filename: AugustStargazing_EN-US7610682262.jpg
title: Reflections of the night sky
copyright:
Stars reflected in the Totensee, a mountain lake at Grimsel Pass, Switzerland (© magodevita/Getty Images)

story:
Stars reflected in the Totensee, a mountain lake at Grimsel Pass, Switzerland (© magodevita/Getty Images)


date: 2020-08-24
filename: CrystalRiver_EN-US8025232239.jpg
title: Go with the rainbow flow
copyright:
Caño Cristales river in the Serranía de la Macarena region of Colombia (© Jorge Iván Vásquez Cuartas/Getty Images)

story:
Caño Cristales river in the Serranía de la Macarena region of Colombia (© Jorge Iván Vásquez Cuartas/Getty Images)


date: 2020-08-27
filename: SailingStone_EN-US8158160103.jpg
title: Rocks on the move
copyright:
Sailing stone at Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park, California (© Patrick Walsh/Getty Images)

story:
Sailing stone at Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park, California (© Patrick Walsh/Getty Images)


date: 2020-08-29
filename: BicycleSculptures_EN-US3449807795.jpg
title: Big wheels on a big mountain
copyright:
Bicycle sculptures at the Col d'Aubisque, Hautes Pyrenees, France (© Fco. Javier Sobrino/age fotostock)

story:
Bicycle sculptures at the Col d'Aubisque, Hautes Pyrenees, France (© Fco. Javier Sobrino/age fotostock)


date: 2020-08-31
filename: PRNLCavern_EN-US7693319589.jpg
title: At the shore of an inland sea
copyright:
Cavern in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, Michigan (© Kenneth Keifer/Getty Images)

story:
Cavern in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, Michigan (© Kenneth Keifer/Getty Images)


date: 2020-09-04
filename: PicoIsland_EN-US3959411167.jpg
title: A bull, some flowers, and a stratovolcano
copyright:
A bull in the foothills of Mount Pico on Pico Island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores  (© Atmo-Sphere/Getty Images)

story:
A bull in the foothills of Mount Pico on Pico Island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores  (© Atmo-Sphere/Getty Images)


date: 2020-09-07
filename: HammeringMan_EN-US4359081607.jpg
title: Take a break! It's Labor Day!
copyright:
A worker painting the Hammering Man, a sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky, in Frankfurt, Germany (© Arne Dedert/Alamy)

story:
A worker painting the Hammering Man, a sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky, in Frankfurt, Germany (© Arne Dedert/Alamy)


date: 2020-09-09
filename: BeardedReedling_EN-US4518834402.jpg
title: Where the bearded reedling sings
copyright:
A bearded reedling in Elmley National Nature Reserve in Kent, England (© Mark Bridger/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
A bearded reedling in Elmley National Nature Reserve in Kent, England (© Mark Bridger/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-09-11
filename: FreedomTower_EN-US1578681459.jpg
title: In honor of those we've lost
copyright:
One World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, seen from the Empty Sky memorial in Jersey City, New Jersey (© Maurizio Rellini/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
One World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, seen from the Empty Sky memorial in Jersey City, New Jersey (© Maurizio Rellini/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-09-13
filename: SangreCristoDunes_EN-US1709681114.jpg
title: Super sandy Sweet 16
copyright:
Sand dunes with Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

story:
Sand dunes with Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-09-14
filename: YellowBells_EN-US1777995807.jpg
title: Tiny fliers head south
copyright:
Ruby-throated hummingbird feeding on yellow bells in the Texas Hill Country (© Rolf Nussbaumer/Danita Delimont)

story:
Ruby-throated hummingbird feeding on yellow bells in the Texas Hill Country (© Rolf Nussbaumer/Danita Delimont)


date: 2020-09-15
filename: OutofManyOne_EN-US1814996781.jpg
title: For Hispanic Heritage Month: 'Out of Many, One'
copyright:
'Out of Many, One,' an artwork by Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada on the National Mall in Washington, DC (© Keith Lane/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

story:
'Out of Many, One,' an artwork by Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada on the National Mall in Washington, DC (© Keith Lane/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)


date: 2020-09-17
filename: NationalArchives_EN-US1893473664.jpg
title: Citizenship Day and Constitution Day
copyright:
The US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence on display in the National Archives, Washington, DC (© Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

story:
The US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence on display in the National Archives, Washington, DC (© Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)


date: 2020-09-21
filename: ToleranceShip_EN-US3673736433.jpg
title: A gentle wind fills this sail
copyright:
The Ship of Tolerance, an international art installation in Zug, Switzerland (© Linda Kennard/Alamy)

story:
The Ship of Tolerance, an international art installation in Zug, Switzerland (© Linda Kennard/Alamy)


date: 2020-09-23
filename: GoldenGinkgo_EN-US3839968097.jpg
title: A tree of many memories
copyright:
Golden ginkgo leaves at Xuanwu Lake Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China (© SIPA Asia/ZUMA Wire/Alamy)

story:
Golden ginkgo leaves at Xuanwu Lake Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China (© SIPA Asia/ZUMA Wire/Alamy)


date: 2020-09-24
filename: Almabtrieb_EN-US4018816112.jpg
title: Till the cows come home
copyright:
Cows decorated for the Almabtrieb in Tannheimer Tal, a valley in Tyrol, Austria (© Hans Lippert/Alamy)

story:
Cows decorated for the Almabtrieb in Tannheimer Tal, a valley in Tyrol, Austria (© Hans Lippert/Alamy)


date: 2020-09-25
filename: NatBookFest_EN-US1774393617.jpg
title: One for the books
copyright:
Ceiling and cove of the Great Hall at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC (© Susan Candelario/Alamy)

story:
Ceiling and cove of the Great Hall at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC (© Susan Candelario/Alamy)


date: 2020-09-26
filename: WatkinsGlen_EN-US1837020817.jpg
title: Wandering Watkins Glen
copyright:
Watkins Glen State Park's Rainbow Falls in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York (© Kenneth Keifer/Alamy)

story:
Watkins Glen State Park's Rainbow Falls in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York (© Kenneth Keifer/Alamy)


date: 2020-09-27
filename: FraserRiver_EN-US1907103451.jpg
title: Take me to the river
copyright:
The Fraser River, east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with the Golden Ears mountains (© LeonU/Getty Images)

story:
The Fraser River, east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with the Golden Ears mountains (© LeonU/Getty Images)


date: 2020-09-29
filename: Lavaux_EN-US2058068352.jpg
title: A crush in Lavaux
copyright:
Steeply terraced vineyards of the Lavaux region on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland (© Yves Marcoux/plainpicture)

story:
Steeply terraced vineyards of the Lavaux region on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland (© Yves Marcoux/plainpicture)


date: 2020-10-03
filename: FatBearWeek_EN-US2267733203.jpg
title: In the belly of Fat Bear Week
copyright:
Brown bear in the Brooks River, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska (© littleting/Pradthana Jarusriboonchai/Getty Images)

story:
Brown bear in the Brooks River, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska (© littleting/Pradthana Jarusriboonchai/Getty Images)


date: 2020-10-04
filename: MontageJupiterIo_EN-US2310290045.jpg
title: Infrared Jupiter, erupting Io
copyright:
Montage of images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io (© NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Goddard Space Flight Center)

story:
Montage of images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io (© NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Goddard Space Flight Center)


date: 2020-10-05
filename: PRookery_EN-US2351297489.jpg
title: Hey, you two in the front!
copyright:
Emperor penguin adults and chicks at the Snow Hill Island rookery, Antarctica (© Martin Ruegner/Getty Images)

story:
Emperor penguin adults and chicks at the Snow Hill Island rookery, Antarctica (© Martin Ruegner/Getty Images)


date: 2020-10-10
filename: AmericanFlyer_EN-US0689904340.jpg
title: Birds of a feather
copyright:
Aerial view of American flamingos flying over Los Roques Archipelago National Park, Venezuela (© Cristian Lourenco/Getty Images)

story:
Aerial view of American flamingos flying over Los Roques Archipelago National Park, Venezuela (© Cristian Lourenco/Getty Images)


date: 2020-10-14
filename: BavariaFossil_EN-US1618946222.jpg
title: In praise of the old…the very old
copyright:
Dragonfly fossil, about 150 million years old, in Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany (© Ingo Arndt/Minden Pictures)

story:
Dragonfly fossil, about 150 million years old, in Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany (© Ingo Arndt/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-10-16
filename: WorldFoodDay_EN-US1932305468.jpg
title: It's harvest time on World Food Day
copyright:
View of a tractor and trailers of cabbage in a field in Sankt Pölten, Austria (© Stephan Zirwes/Getty Images)

story:
View of a tractor and trailers of cabbage in a field in Sankt Pölten, Austria (© Stephan Zirwes/Getty Images)


date: 2020-10-19
filename: MatiSiTemple_EN-US2396131405.jpg
title: A cliff-hanging complex of temples
copyright:
The Mati Si (Horse's Hoof Temple) and grottoes of Mati Si Scenic Area, Gansu province, China (© Ana Flašker/Alamy)

story:
The Mati Si (Horse's Hoof Temple) and grottoes of Mati Si Scenic Area, Gansu province, China (© Ana Flašker/Alamy)


date: 2020-10-27
filename: CambronBridge_EN-US0717455259.jpg
title: A bridge of Madison County
copyright:
Cambron Covered Bridge on Madison County Nature Trail near Huntsville, Alabama (© Jens Lambert/Shutterstock)

story:
Cambron Covered Bridge on Madison County Nature Trail near Huntsville, Alabama (© Jens Lambert/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-10-28
filename: BasilicaVoto_EN-US0798981928.jpg
title: A 'grotesque' scene
copyright:
Grotesques of  Ecuadorian seabirds on the Basílica del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador (© Henri Leduc/Getty Images)

story:
Grotesques of  Ecuadorian seabirds on the Basílica del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador (© Henri Leduc/Getty Images)


date: 2020-11-01
filename: SkyRock_EN-US1084520879.jpg
title: Native American Heritage Month
copyright:
Sky Rock petroglyphs in the Volcanic Tablelands near Bishop, California (© JTBaskinphoto/Getty Images)

story:
Sky Rock petroglyphs in the Volcanic Tablelands near Bishop, California (© JTBaskinphoto/Getty Images)


date: 2020-11-04
filename: KobukRiver_EN-US1344443933.jpg
title: Caribou on the move
copyright:
Caribou swimming across Alaska's Kobuk River during fall migration (© Michio Hoshino/Minden Pictures)

story:
Caribou swimming across Alaska's Kobuk River during fall migration (© Michio Hoshino/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-11-06
filename: TwoWest_EN-US4160752221.jpg
title: Life in the slow lane
copyright:
West Indian manatees in Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida (© Norbert Probst/Getty Images)

story:
West Indian manatees in Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida (© Norbert Probst/Getty Images)


date: 2020-11-08
filename: DerwentIsle_EN-US4330153177.jpg
title: Languid life on the Lakes
copyright:
Derwent Island on Derwentwater in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, England (© Chris Warren/eStock Photo)

story:
Derwent Island on Derwentwater in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, England (© Chris Warren/eStock Photo)


date: 2020-11-17
filename: WoodLine_EN-US5118404691.jpg
title: Take a hike near Lovers' Lane
copyright:
Andy Goldsworthy's 'Wood Line' installation near Lovers' Lane in the Presidio of San Francisco, California (© Chris LaBasco/Alamy)

story:
Andy Goldsworthy's 'Wood Line' installation near Lovers' Lane in the Presidio of San Francisco, California (© Chris LaBasco/Alamy)


date: 2020-11-18
filename: UdvarHazy_EN-US5210432821.jpg
title: An aviation celebration
copyright:
Interior view of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia (© Rebecca Wyatt/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Interior view of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia (© Rebecca Wyatt/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-11-19
filename: ToucanCostaRica_EN-US5323179600.jpg
title: That bill's just not going to fit
copyright:
Chestnut-mandibled toucan nesting in the cavity of a tree, Costa Rica (© Greg Basco/Minden Pictures)

story:
Chestnut-mandibled toucan nesting in the cavity of a tree, Costa Rica (© Greg Basco/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-11-20
filename: MontBlancPeak_EN-US7582043001.jpg
title: Atop the Needle of Chamonix
copyright:
Aerial view of the Aiguille du Midi in the Mont Blanc massif, France (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Aerial view of the Aiguille du Midi in the Mont Blanc massif, France (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-11-21
filename: NCHighCountry_EN-US7693894330.jpg
title: Headed to the High Country
copyright:
Autumn leaves frozen in ice, Price Lake, Julian Price Memorial Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina (© Richard Bernabe/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Autumn leaves frozen in ice, Price Lake, Julian Price Memorial Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina (© Richard Bernabe/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-11-24
filename: AsilomarSB_EN-US8366690151.jpg
title: Feel the spray in Monterey
copyright:
Huge waves crashing on rocks along Asilomar State Beach, Pacific Grove, California (© Sheila Haddad/Danita Delimont)

story:
Huge waves crashing on rocks along Asilomar State Beach, Pacific Grove, California (© Sheila Haddad/Danita Delimont)


date: 2020-11-28
filename: ValCervara_EN-US8802099255.jpg
title: Europe's oldest beech forest
copyright:
Partly snow-covered slope in Val Cervara, an old-growth beech forest, Abruzzo, Italy (© Bruno D'Amicis/Minden Pictures)

story:
Partly snow-covered slope in Val Cervara, an old-growth beech forest, Abruzzo, Italy (© Bruno D'Amicis/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-11-29
filename: MountTaranaki_EN-US8879642420.jpg
title: New Zealand's loneliest mountain
copyright:
Mount Taranaki, Egmont National Park, North Island, New Zealand (© Francesco Vaninetti/plainpicture)

story:
Mount Taranaki, Egmont National Park, North Island, New Zealand (© Francesco Vaninetti/plainpicture)


date: 2020-12-06
filename: PLNP_EN-US1730701592.jpg
title: A hidden jewel in Croatia
copyright:
Elevated path in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (© Alessandro Laporta/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Elevated path in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (© Alessandro Laporta/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-12-07
filename: WWIIPHDedication_EN-US1829070269.jpg
title: In memory of those lost
copyright:
View of the Washington Monument and the National World War II Memorial with its Pearl Harbor Dedication, Washington, DC (© Olga Bogatyrenko/Shutterstock)

story:
View of the Washington Monument and the National World War II Memorial with its Pearl Harbor Dedication, Washington, DC (© Olga Bogatyrenko/Shutterstock)


date: 2020-12-11
filename: QueenoftheAndes_EN-US2037242483.jpg
title: Mountains fit for a queen
copyright:
Queen of the Andes plants with the Cordillera Blanca massif in the background, Peru (© Cyril Ruoso/Minden Pictures)

story:
Queen of the Andes plants with the Cordillera Blanca massif in the background, Peru (© Cyril Ruoso/Minden Pictures)


date: 2020-12-13
filename: PolarExpress_EN-US8621770462.jpg
title: The view will stop you in your tracks
copyright:
Gornergrat railway station and the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland (© coolbiere photograph/Getty Images)

story:
Gornergrat railway station and the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland (© coolbiere photograph/Getty Images)


date: 2020-12-15
filename: ElbeBastei_EN-US2188074630.jpg
title: A bridge that rocks
copyright:
Bastei Bridge above the Elbe River in Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany (© Reinhard Schmid/eStock Photo)

story:
Bastei Bridge above the Elbe River in Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany (© Reinhard Schmid/eStock Photo)


date: 2020-12-16
filename: Beethoven250_EN-US2271531118.jpg
title: Beethoven's 250th
copyright:
Ludwig van Beethoven sculptures and monument at the Münsterplatz, Bonn, Germany (© dpa/Alamy Live News)

story:
Ludwig van Beethoven sculptures and monument at the Münsterplatz, Bonn, Germany (© dpa/Alamy Live News)


date: 2020-12-18
filename: TreCime_EN-US0044017385.jpg
title: A towering view of the 'Pale Mountains'
copyright:
Tre Cime di Lavaredo as seen from the Lavaredo fork, Sexten Dolomites, Italy (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)

story:
Tre Cime di Lavaredo as seen from the Lavaredo fork, Sexten Dolomites, Italy (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)


date: 2020-12-19
filename: Siguniangshan_EN-US5804368436.jpg
title: Four Sisters, thousands of trees
copyright:
Early morning frost on trees in Mount Siguniang National Park in Sichuan province, China (© Robert Harding World Imagery/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Early morning frost on trees in Mount Siguniang National Park in Sichuan province, China (© Robert Harding World Imagery/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2020-12-21
filename: CastleriggStone_EN-US0211858038.jpg
title: Shadows on the solstice
copyright:
Castlerigg stone circle near Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria, United Kingdom (© Alan Copson/plainpicture)

story:
Castlerigg stone circle near Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria, United Kingdom (© Alan Copson/plainpicture)


date: 2020-12-25
filename: SleighMailbox_EN-US0378551322.jpg
title: Big dreams require a big sleigh
copyright:
Santa's giant sleigh and mailbox, Ilulissat, Greenland (© Walter Bibikow/Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alamy)

story:
Santa's giant sleigh and mailbox, Ilulissat, Greenland (© Walter Bibikow/Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alamy)


date: 2020-12-26
filename: BarnettsDemesne_EN-US0418109777.jpg
title: Happy Boxing Day!
copyright:
Families play on the snow-covered slopes at Barnett Demesne Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland (© Stephen Barnes/Alamy)

story:
Families play on the snow-covered slopes at Barnett Demesne Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland (© Stephen Barnes/Alamy)


date: 2021-01-09
filename: SpanishSeaSlug_EN-US5956865427.jpg
title: The stylish Spanish shawl
copyright:
Spanish shawl nudibranch on kelp off Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California (© WaterFrame/Alamy)

story:
Spanish shawl nudibranch on kelp off Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California (© WaterFrame/Alamy)


date: 2021-01-12
filename: IceSailing_EN-US4693631571.jpg
title: Sailing on thick ice
copyright:
Antique iceboats on the frozen Hudson River near Astor Point in Barrytown, New York (© Mike Segar/REUTERS)

story:
Antique iceboats on the frozen Hudson River near Astor Point in Barrytown, New York (© Mike Segar/REUTERS)


date: 2021-01-13
filename: BolivianSummer_EN-US6076997237.jpg
title: Strolling across the Red Lagoon
copyright:
Flamingos in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)

story:
Flamingos in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)


date: 2021-01-16
filename: GlassIgloos_EN-US4753593580.jpg
title: Oh, to sleep under the northern lights
copyright:
Glass igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä, Finland (© Lingxiao Xie/Getty Images)

story:
Glass igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä, Finland (© Lingxiao Xie/Getty Images)


date: 2021-01-18
filename: IHADInscription_EN-US1526588709.jpg
title: A step toward freedom
copyright:
'I Have a Dream' inscription at the location of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC (© Pgiam/Getty Images)

story:
'I Have a Dream' inscription at the location of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC (© Pgiam/Getty Images)


date: 2021-01-19
filename: Calakmul_EN-US4913753574.jpg
title: The ruins of a Maya superpower
copyright:
Ruins of the ancient Maya city of Calakmul surrounded by jungle in Campeche, Mexico (© Alfredo Matus/Shutterstock)

story:
Ruins of the ancient Maya city of Calakmul surrounded by jungle in Campeche, Mexico (© Alfredo Matus/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-01-22
filename: BloodyBrook_EN-US5215856823.jpg
title: Cold? What cold?
copyright:
Paddleboarder in Bloody Brook, alongside the Connecticut River in Hanover, New Hampshire (© DEEPOL by plainpicture)

story:
Paddleboarder in Bloody Brook, alongside the Connecticut River in Hanover, New Hampshire (© DEEPOL by plainpicture)


date: 2021-01-24
filename: Molas_EN-US5410137458.jpg
title: These patterns tell a story
copyright:
Handicrafts of the Guna people of the Guna Yala archipelago, Panama (© Lars Schneider/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Handicrafts of the Guna people of the Guna Yala archipelago, Panama (© Lars Schneider/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-01-26
filename: HeartAustralia_EN-US5604456955.jpg
title: It's Australia Day
copyright:
Heart Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia (© Peter Adams/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Heart Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia (© Peter Adams/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-01-29
filename: RedRobin_EN-US9299641141.jpg
title: So, how long till springtime?
copyright:
European robin during a winter snowstorm, Peak District National Park, England (© Ben Robson Hull Photography/Getty Images)

story:
European robin during a winter snowstorm, Peak District National Park, England (© Ben Robson Hull Photography/Getty Images)


date: 2021-01-30
filename: SeedVault_EN-US9343000928.jpg
title: Even nature needs a backup plan…
copyright:
Svalbard Global Seed Vault with a glittering facade designed by artist Dyveke Sanne, Svalbard, Norway (© Pal Hermansen/Minden Pictures)

story:
Svalbard Global Seed Vault with a glittering facade designed by artist Dyveke Sanne, Svalbard, Norway (© Pal Hermansen/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-02-01
filename: IronworkFacade_EN-US5302409957.jpg
title: Reflecting on Black History Month
copyright:
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC (© tse Pui Lung/Alamy)

story:
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC (© tse Pui Lung/Alamy)


date: 2021-02-03
filename: MountNemrut_EN-US9552662409.jpg
title: The mountaintop of toppled gods
copyright:
Colossal limestone statues on Mount Nemrut, Adıyaman, Turkey (© Peerakit JIrachetthakun/Getty Images)

story:
Colossal limestone statues on Mount Nemrut, Adıyaman, Turkey (© Peerakit JIrachetthakun/Getty Images)


date: 2021-02-05
filename: TheWave_EN-US9748334524.jpg
title: A sea of swirling stone
copyright:
'The Wave' sandstone formation with pools of water in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona (© Dennis Frates/Alamy)

story:
'The Wave' sandstone formation with pools of water in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona (© Dennis Frates/Alamy)


date: 2021-02-06
filename: MountSefton_EN-US9792326237.jpg
title: Where is this gorgeous peak?
copyright:
Mount Sefton in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)

story:
Mount Sefton in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)


date: 2021-02-08
filename: HeroMural_EN-US9967459324.jpg
title: A hero for the 21st century
copyright:
John Lewis hero mural by Sean Schwab in the Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta, Georgia (© Ilene Perlman/Alamy)

story:
John Lewis hero mural by Sean Schwab in the Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta, Georgia (© Ilene Perlman/Alamy)


date: 2021-02-10
filename: PenitentSnow_EN-US0047515629.jpg
title: A throng of ice and spires
copyright:
Nieve penitente ice formations seen on Agua Negra Pass in the Coquimbo Region of the Andes, Chile (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)

story:
Nieve penitente ice formations seen on Agua Negra Pass in the Coquimbo Region of the Andes, Chile (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)


date: 2021-02-12
filename: YearoftheOx_EN-US5106152536.jpg
title: The cycle begins anew
copyright:
Muskox with newborn in the central Arctic coastal plain of Alaska (© Steven Kazlowski/Danita Delimont)

story:
Muskox with newborn in the central Arctic coastal plain of Alaska (© Steven Kazlowski/Danita Delimont)


date: 2021-02-14
filename: OceanHeart_EN-US5478049854.jpg
title: An oceanic valentine
copyright:
Ocean waves crashing over a heart-shaped rock island off the coast of Sydney, Australia (© Kristian Bell/Getty Images)

story:
Ocean waves crashing over a heart-shaped rock island off the coast of Sydney, Australia (© Kristian Bell/Getty Images)


date: 2021-02-16
filename: PurpleFlowers_EN-US5664268733.jpg
title: Mardi Gras flower power
copyright:
Flowers and an ironwork fence in front of a house in New Orleans, Louisiana (© Lauren Mitchell/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Flowers and an ironwork fence in front of a house in New Orleans, Louisiana (© Lauren Mitchell/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-02-17
filename: PeritoMorenoArgentina_EN-US6161367346.jpg
title: The persistence of Perito Moreno
copyright:
Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina (© Juergen Schonnop/Getty Images)

story:
Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina (© Juergen Schonnop/Getty Images)


date: 2021-02-18
filename: VerzascaValley_EN-US6320380092.jpg
title: A river runs through it
copyright:
Rocks in the Verzasca River near the hamlet of Lavertezzo in the Valle Verzasca of Switzerland (© Robert Seitz/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Rocks in the Verzasca River near the hamlet of Lavertezzo in the Valle Verzasca of Switzerland (© Robert Seitz/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-02-19
filename: Parrotfish_EN-US6474384190.jpg
title: Colorful cows of the reef
copyright:
Parrotfish off the coast of Negros Oriental province in the Philippines (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

story:
Parrotfish off the coast of Negros Oriental province in the Philippines (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-02-22
filename: InvisibleMan_EN-US6967873703.jpg
title: Invisible no longer
copyright:
'Invisible Man,' a memorial to Ralph Ellison in Riverside Park, New York City (© Randy Duchaine/Alamy)

story:
'Invisible Man,' a memorial to Ralph Ellison in Riverside Park, New York City (© Randy Duchaine/Alamy)


date: 2021-02-27
filename: TwinsDenning_EN-US9910127756.jpg
title: A snuggling ball of cute
copyright:
Twin polar bear cubs asleep in a snow den in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada (© AF archive/Alamy)

story:
Twin polar bear cubs asleep in a snow den in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada (© AF archive/Alamy)


date: 2021-03-01
filename: IdaBWells_EN-US0043525265.jpg
title: Gazing upon 'Portraits of Change'
copyright:
A section of a large mosaic of Ida B. Wells displayed at Union Station in Washington, DC, in August 2020 (© Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

story:
A section of a large mosaic of Ida B. Wells displayed at Union Station in Washington, DC, in August 2020 (© Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)


date: 2021-03-02
filename: VolcanoLlaima_EN-US0109967122.jpg
title: Fall for Chile
copyright:
Volcano Llaima with Araucaria trees in the foreground, Conguillío National Park, Chile (© Fotografías Jorge León Cabello/Getty Images)

story:
Volcano Llaima with Araucaria trees in the foreground, Conguillío National Park, Chile (© Fotografías Jorge León Cabello/Getty Images)


date: 2021-03-05
filename: MinasdeRioTinto_EN-US0408244151.jpg
title: Reflecting on one of the world's strangest rivers
copyright:
Mineral-laden water in the Rio Tinto, Minas de Riotinto mining area, Huelva province, Andalusia, Spain (© David Santiago Garcia/Getty Images)

story:
Mineral-laden water in the Rio Tinto, Minas de Riotinto mining area, Huelva province, Andalusia, Spain (© David Santiago Garcia/Getty Images)


date: 2021-03-07
filename: Wakodahatchee_EN-US0593250314.jpg
title: Finding a balance between wetlands and water treatment
copyright:
Great blue herons in the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida (© Marie Hickman/Getty Images)

story:
Great blue herons in the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida (© Marie Hickman/Getty Images)


date: 2021-03-09
filename: RollingHills_EN-US0930573674.jpg
title: Spring comes to the Diablo foothills
copyright:
Foothills of the Diablo Range in the East Bay region of Northern California (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Foothills of the Diablo Range in the East Bay region of Northern California (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-03-10
filename: HarrietTubman_EN-US1054261891.jpg
title: Commemorating the life of a famous 'railroad' conductor
copyright:
'Step on Board,' the Harriet Tubman Memorial, sculpted by Fern Cunningham, in Boston, Massachusetts (© Anthony Pleva/Alamy)

story:
'Step on Board,' the Harriet Tubman Memorial, sculpted by Fern Cunningham, in Boston, Massachusetts (© Anthony Pleva/Alamy)


date: 2021-03-12
filename: AztecNewYear_EN-US8147148173.jpg
title: Ringing in the new year at Teotihuacan
copyright:
A balloon flies over the Pyramid of the Sun at sunrise in Teotihuacan, Mexico (© Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)

story:
A balloon flies over the Pyramid of the Sun at sunrise in Teotihuacan, Mexico (© Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)


date: 2021-03-15
filename: MassapequaOwl_EN-US8469635086.jpg
title: Every day is Napping Day for this screech owl
copyright:
Screech owl resting in a tree cavity, Massapequa Preserve, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)

story:
Screech owl resting in a tree cavity, Massapequa Preserve, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)


date: 2021-03-17
filename: Inisheer_EN-US8680602205.jpg
title: An emerald isle of the Emerald Isle
copyright:
Inisheer, the smallest of the three Aran Islands, in Galway Bay, Ireland (© Chris Hill/Minden Pictures)

story:
Inisheer, the smallest of the three Aran Islands, in Galway Bay, Ireland (© Chris Hill/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-03-19
filename: MagneticIsland_EN-US9412695841.jpg
title: Life carries on, rising from a ship's skeleton
copyright:
Aerial view of the City of Adelaide shipwreck with trees growing on it, Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Aerial view of the City of Adelaide shipwreck with trees growing on it, Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-03-21
filename: HallesWood_EN-US9545891830.jpg
title: A glimpse of the 'Blue Forest'
copyright:
Bluebell flowers carpet the Hallerbos forest floor, Flanders, Belgium (© Jason Langley/plainpicture)

story:
Bluebell flowers carpet the Hallerbos forest floor, Flanders, Belgium (© Jason Langley/plainpicture)


date: 2021-03-23
filename: LoftedMadagascar_EN-US9720623596.jpg
title: Uncommon clouds are gathering
copyright:
Satellite image of the Mania River in Madagascar (© NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the US Geological Survey)

story:
Satellite image of the Mania River in Madagascar (© NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the US Geological Survey)


date: 2021-03-24
filename: HumpbackMom_EN-US9862782184.jpg
title: A whale of a picture
copyright:
Humpback whale mother pushes her sleeping calf to the surface, Maui, Hawaii (© Ralph Pace/Minden Pictures)

story:
Humpback whale mother pushes her sleeping calf to the surface, Maui, Hawaii (© Ralph Pace/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-03-25
filename: GoldMine_EN-US9932494168.jpg
title: There was gold in them there hills…
copyright:
Ancient Roman gold mining site of Las Médulas, León province, Spain (© David Santiago Garcia/Getty Images)

story:
Ancient Roman gold mining site of Las Médulas, León province, Spain (© David Santiago Garcia/Getty Images)


date: 2021-03-26
filename: MTCradle_EN-US6777988781.jpg
title: The wild heart of Tasmania
copyright:
Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia (© Paparwin Tanupatarachai/Getty Images)

story:
Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia (© Paparwin Tanupatarachai/Getty Images)


date: 2021-03-27
filename: MadHares_EN-US7045432576.jpg
title: Blink and you'll miss it
copyright:
Mountain hare running across snow-covered upland, Scotland (© SCOTLAND: The Big Picture/Minden Pictures)

story:
Mountain hare running across snow-covered upland, Scotland (© SCOTLAND: The Big Picture/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-03-28
filename: JeffersonCherries_EN-US7147255858.jpg
title: Cherry blossoms spring to life
copyright:
The Jefferson Memorial during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC (© Rae Gabrielle/Alamy)

story:
The Jefferson Memorial during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC (© Rae Gabrielle/Alamy)


date: 2021-04-01
filename: ShyGuy_EN-US7880739914.jpg
title: Why do elephants hide in trees?
copyright:
Common chia elephant (Loxodonta laprofolis) in stealth stance, Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa (© Staffan Widstrand/Minden Pictures)

story:
Common chia elephant (Loxodonta laprofolis) in stealth stance, Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa (© Staffan Widstrand/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-04-05
filename: SautduBrot_EN-US8410506080.jpg
title: Once upon a time there was a bridge…
copyright:
Saut du Brot stone bridge in the Areuse Gorge, Neuchâtel, Switzerland (© Andreas Gerth/eStock Photo)

story:
Saut du Brot stone bridge in the Areuse Gorge, Neuchâtel, Switzerland (© Andreas Gerth/eStock Photo)


date: 2021-04-10
filename: SiblingBears_EN-US6609087772.jpg
title: Bear cubs roughhouse on Siblings Day
copyright:
Grizzly bear cub siblings playing in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (© Ron Niebrugge/Alamy)

story:
Grizzly bear cub siblings playing in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (© Ron Niebrugge/Alamy)


date: 2021-04-12
filename: YurisNight_EN-US6858652982.jpg
title: In orbit for Yuri's Night
copyright:
Earth viewed from the International Space Station, photographed by astronaut Jeff Williams (© Jeff Williams/NASA)

story:
Earth viewed from the International Space Station, photographed by astronaut Jeff Williams (© Jeff Williams/NASA)


date: 2021-04-15
filename: JackieRobinson_EN-US7103495692.jpg
title: Jackie Robinson Day
copyright:
Jackie Robinson signs autographs at spring training in Ciudad Trujillo, now Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on March 6, 1948 (© Bettmann/Getty Images)

story:
Jackie Robinson signs autographs at spring training in Ciudad Trujillo, now Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on March 6, 1948 (© Bettmann/Getty Images)


date: 2021-04-17
filename: NewRiverGorge_EN-US7524399883.jpg
title: A river runs through it
copyright:
New River Gorge Bridge in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia (© Entropy Workshop/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

story:
New River Gorge Bridge in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia (© Entropy Workshop/iStock/Getty Images Plus)


date: 2021-04-18
filename: MontalbanoElicona_EN-US7629651237.jpg
title: In Sicily, history is everywhere
copyright:
Montalbano Elicona, Messina, Sicily, Italy (© Antonino Bartuccio/SOPA Collection/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Montalbano Elicona, Messina, Sicily, Italy (© Antonino Bartuccio/SOPA Collection/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-04-19
filename: Mobula_EN-US7757384682.jpg
title: Rays on parade
copyright:
Large school of Munk's devil rays seen from the air, Gulf of California, Mexico (© Mark Carwardine/Minden Pictures)

story:
Large school of Munk's devil rays seen from the air, Gulf of California, Mexico (© Mark Carwardine/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-04-24
filename: ChollaGarden_EN-US0706816050.jpg
title: A garden of prickly delights
copyright:
The Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park, California (© Bryan Jolley/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
The Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park, California (© Bryan Jolley/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-04-26
filename: Wensleydale_EN-US0930314934.jpg
title: 'Cheese! We'll go somewhere where there's cheese!'
copyright:
Wensleydale, Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire, England (© Guy Edwardes/Minden Pictures)

story:
Wensleydale, Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire, England (© Guy Edwardes/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-04-29
filename: Mockhorn_EN-US1360987065.jpg
title: When does the tide come in?
copyright:
Aerial view of tidal channels in marshland of the Mockhorn Island State Wildlife Management Area, Virginia (© Shane Gross/Minden Pictures)

story:
Aerial view of tidal channels in marshland of the Mockhorn Island State Wildlife Management Area, Virginia (© Shane Gross/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-04-30
filename: SpiritHarlem_EN-US1474494856.jpg
title: 'The Spirit of Harlem' by Louis Delsarte
copyright:
'The Spirit of Harlem' mural by Louis Delsarte in Harlem, New York City (© Pietro Scozzari/agefotostock)

story:
'The Spirit of Harlem' mural by Louis Delsarte in Harlem, New York City (© Pietro Scozzari/agefotostock)


date: 2021-05-01
filename: GGTeaGarden_EN-US1647173456.jpg
title: It's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
copyright:
Cherry blossoms at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California (© luisascanio/iStock/Getty Images)

story:
Cherry blossoms at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California (© luisascanio/iStock/Getty Images)


date: 2021-05-02
filename: LaughingZebras_EN-US1800178960.jpg
title: Happy World Laughter Day
copyright:
Burchell's zebra stallions, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)

story:
Burchell's zebra stallions, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-05-03
filename: TeacherHeart_EN-US1874465116.jpg
title: It's Teacher Appreciation Week
copyright:
Poster for Teacher Appreciation Week by 12-year-old Caroline Holt, 7th-grade student at the Bush School, Seattle, Washington (© Caroline Holt/Eugenia Chang)

story:
Poster for Teacher Appreciation Week by 12-year-old Caroline Holt, 7th-grade student at the Bush School, Seattle, Washington (© Caroline Holt/Eugenia Chang)


date: 2021-05-04
filename: StarWarsSeal_EN-US1938844381.jpg
title: Happy Star Wars Day!
copyright:
Grey seal hitching itself over the beach at Donna Nook, North Lincolnshire, England (© Frederic Desmette/Minden Pictures)

story:
Grey seal hitching itself over the beach at Donna Nook, North Lincolnshire, England (© Frederic Desmette/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-05-06
filename: NurseMask_EN-US2085492290.jpg
title: Why you should thank a nurse today
copyright:
'Now & Forever,' a mural by Tristan Eaton honoring health care workers, May 11, 2020, in New York City (© Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

story:
'Now & Forever,' a mural by Tristan Eaton honoring health care workers, May 11, 2020, in New York City (© Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)


date: 2021-05-07
filename: MaineWetland_EN-US3940841989.jpg
title: Deep in the North Woods wetlands
copyright:
Norcross Brook and wetlands near Moosehead Lake in Piscataquis County, Maine (© Aaron Black-Schmidt/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Norcross Brook and wetlands near Moosehead Lake in Piscataquis County, Maine (© Aaron Black-Schmidt/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-05-10
filename: Hokulea_EN-US8698576653.jpg
title: An ancient sailing tradition takes to the water
copyright:
The Hōkūle'a, a traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe, departs for a 3-year voyage from Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 17, 2014 (© Reuters/Alamy)

story:
The Hōkūle'a, a traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe, departs for a 3-year voyage from Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 17, 2014 (© Reuters/Alamy)


date: 2021-05-12
filename: LimerickDay_EN-US4512689467.jpg
title: A visit to Limerick on Limerick Day
copyright:
A view across the River Shannon in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland (© Piotr Machowczyk/Shutterstock)

story:
A view across the River Shannon in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland (© Piotr Machowczyk/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-05-16
filename: Guatape_EN-US7463341939.jpg
title: A magnificent monolith
copyright:
Aerial view of El Peñón de Guatapé, Guatapé, Antioquia, Colombia (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Aerial view of El Peñón de Guatapé, Guatapé, Antioquia, Colombia (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-05-19
filename: RoanRhododendron_EN-US8777664012.jpg
title: A path lain with petals
copyright:
Fallen rhododendron petals line a trail through Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina (© aheflin/Getty Images Plus)

story:
Fallen rhododendron petals line a trail through Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina (© aheflin/Getty Images Plus)


date: 2021-05-20
filename: BeeLotus_EN-US7861856689.jpg
title: Happy Bee Day to you
copyright:
A bee dives into a lotus flower at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC (© Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

story:
A bee dives into a lotus flower at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC (© Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)


date: 2021-05-23
filename: RoseRoom_EN-US7194472524.jpg
title: A palace for the public
copyright:
The renovated Rose Main Reading Room, New York Public Library Main Branch, New York City (© Sascha Kilmer/Getty Images)

story:
The renovated Rose Main Reading Room, New York Public Library Main Branch, New York City (© Sascha Kilmer/Getty Images)


date: 2021-05-26
filename: TearDropEclipse_EN-US7861293677.jpg
title: Behold the blood moon
copyright:
The total lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015, photographed over Monument Valley, Utah (© Alan Dyer/Alamy)

story:
The total lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015, photographed over Monument Valley, Utah (© Alan Dyer/Alamy)


date: 2021-05-27
filename: ICanHearIt_EN-US7945824197.jpg
title: Listening to the sea
copyright:
'I Can Hear It,' an installation by artist Ivars Drulle on the beach by the villages of Middelkerke and Westende, Belgium (© Arterra Picture Library/Alamy)

story:
'I Can Hear It,' an installation by artist Ivars Drulle on the beach by the villages of Middelkerke and Westende, Belgium (© Arterra Picture Library/Alamy)


date: 2021-05-29
filename: RedAlley_EN-US8215991251.jpg
title: A path into history
copyright:
Alley and bamboo grove in Wuhou Temple, Chengdu, Sichuan province, China (© Eastimages/Getty Images)

story:
Alley and bamboo grove in Wuhou Temple, Chengdu, Sichuan province, China (© Eastimages/Getty Images)


date: 2021-05-30
filename: SeaDog_EN-US8346901369.jpg
title: Who's hiding in the kelp?
copyright:
California sea lion in a forest of giant kelp near the Channel Islands of California (© Nature Picture Library/Alamy)

story:
California sea lion in a forest of giant kelp near the Channel Islands of California (© Nature Picture Library/Alamy)


date: 2021-05-31
filename: WomensMemorial_EN-US8561851319.jpg
title: Here we honor the women who've served
copyright:
Military Women's Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia (© Brycia James/Getty Images)

story:
Military Women's Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia (© Brycia James/Getty Images)


date: 2021-06-01
filename: PoetrysCave_EN-US8786875244.jpg
title: Pretty poetic for a pit
copyright:
Aerial view of the Grotta della Poesia (Poetry's Cave) near Roca, Lecce, Italy (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Aerial view of the Grotta della Poesia (Poetry's Cave) near Roca, Lecce, Italy (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-06-03
filename: SocaCycles_EN-US8987262585.jpg
title: Get on your bike and ride
copyright:
Cyclists on a wooden suspension bridge over the Soča River in Slovenia (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Cyclists on a wooden suspension bridge over the Soča River in Slovenia (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-06-05
filename: ToucanRainforest_EN-US8174584515.jpg
title: Bird's-eye view on World Environment Day
copyright:
Black-mandibled toucan in the rainforest canopy of La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica (© Greg Basco/Minden Pictures)

story:
Black-mandibled toucan in the rainforest canopy of La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica (© Greg Basco/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-06-08
filename: CortezJacks_EN-US4025428525.jpg
title: A day for our oceans
copyright:
Thousands of jack fish swimming together at Cabo Pulmo National Park, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico (© Christian Vizl/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Thousands of jack fish swimming together at Cabo Pulmo National Park, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico (© Christian Vizl/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-06-14
filename: LargestFlag_EN-US9248418324.jpg
title: A Flag Day tradition
copyright:
The George Washington Bridge displays the American flag in honor of Flag Day, June 14, 2016, Fort Lee, New Jersey (© Robert D. Barnes/Getty Images)

story:
The George Washington Bridge displays the American flag in honor of Flag Day, June 14, 2016, Fort Lee, New Jersey (© Robert D. Barnes/Getty Images)


date: 2021-06-15
filename: LakePinatubo_EN-US8170111215.jpg
title: Are you older than this lake?
copyright:
Aerial view of volcanic Lake Pinatubo and mountains, Luzon, Philippines (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Aerial view of volcanic Lake Pinatubo and mountains, Luzon, Philippines (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-06-18
filename: ReussRiver_EN-US4195043036.jpg
title: A city of bridges
copyright:
Aerial view of Chapel Bridge over the River Reuss in Lucerne, Switzerland (© Neleman Initiative/Gallery Stock)

story:
Aerial view of Chapel Bridge over the River Reuss in Lucerne, Switzerland (© Neleman Initiative/Gallery Stock)


date: 2021-06-20
filename: FatherEagle_EN-US4516693152.jpg
title: Happy Father's Day
copyright:
Bald eagle pair with a chick in their nest near the Yukon River, Yukon, Canada (© Mark Newman/Minden Pictures)

story:
Bald eagle pair with a chick in their nest near the Yukon River, Yukon, Canada (© Mark Newman/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-06-26
filename: Shilinxia_EN-US5445196689.jpg
title: Spectacular views below!
copyright:
Glass sightseeing platform in Shilinxia Scenic Area, Pinggu District of Beijing, China (© STR/AFP via Getty Images)

story:
Glass sightseeing platform in Shilinxia Scenic Area, Pinggu District of Beijing, China (© STR/AFP via Getty Images)


date: 2021-06-27
filename: LCPAPride_EN-US5979726065.jpg
title: Bathing in the light of Pride
copyright:
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts lit in Pride colors on June 18, 2020 in New York City (© Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

story:
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts lit in Pride colors on June 18, 2020 in New York City (© Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)


date: 2021-06-30
filename: Manicouagan_EN-US7701393606.jpg
title: An impactful day
copyright:
Manicouagan Crater in Québec, Canada (© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

story:
Manicouagan Crater in Québec, Canada (© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


date: 2021-07-01
filename: HangingCanoes_EN-US0235160370.jpg
title: Celebrating migrations
copyright:
'Passage migratoire' ('Migratory Passage'), an art installation by Giorgia Volpe in Old Québec City, Québec, Canada (© Lucbouch/Getty Images)

story:
'Passage migratoire' ('Migratory Passage'), an art installation by Giorgia Volpe in Old Québec City, Québec, Canada (© Lucbouch/Getty Images)


date: 2021-07-05
filename: SerraMalagueta_EN-US4627693270.jpg
title: How green is my valley
copyright:
Serra da Malagueta mountains on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde (© Samuel Borges Photography/Shutterstock)

story:
Serra da Malagueta mountains on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde (© Samuel Borges Photography/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-07-10
filename: MonfragueNationalPark_EN-US6445504463.jpg
title: Celestial Spain
copyright:
Milky Way over the Tagus River in Monfragüe National Park, Spain (© Miguel Angel Muñoz Ruiz/Cavan Images)

story:
Milky Way over the Tagus River in Monfragüe National Park, Spain (© Miguel Angel Muñoz Ruiz/Cavan Images)


date: 2021-07-12
filename: LighthouseWave_EN-US6948276315.jpg
title: A lofty lighthouse and a little ocean spray
copyright:
Wave crashing on Farolim de Felgueiras, a lighthouse in Porto, Portugal (© Stephan Zirwes/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Wave crashing on Farolim de Felgueiras, a lighthouse in Porto, Portugal (© Stephan Zirwes/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-07-13
filename: MooseVelvet_EN-US7292213302.jpg
title: Through an artist's eyes
copyright:
Moose crossing a pond below Mount Moran, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (© Jim Stamates/Minden Pictures)

story:
Moose crossing a pond below Mount Moran, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (© Jim Stamates/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-07-15
filename: NgoDong_EN-US7569222084.jpg
title: A river runs through rice fields
copyright:
Boats float by rice fields on the Ngo Dong River in Ninh Bình province, Vietnam (© Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images)

story:
Boats float by rice fields on the Ngo Dong River in Ninh Bình province, Vietnam (© Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images)


date: 2021-07-18
filename: LouvreRiders_EN-US7293709223.jpg
title: Grand finish of Le Tour
copyright:
Tour de France riders in front of the Louvre Pyramid and Museum in Paris, France, during the 2020 race (© Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images)

story:
Tour de France riders in front of the Louvre Pyramid and Museum in Paris, France, during the 2020 race (© Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images)


date: 2021-07-22
filename: MinokakeRocks_EN-US9026307089.jpg
title: Singing praises of the oceans
copyright:
The Minokake-Iwa rocks off the coast of the Izu Peninsula, Japan (© Krzysztof Baranowski/Getty Images)

story:
The Minokake-Iwa rocks off the coast of the Izu Peninsula, Japan (© Krzysztof Baranowski/Getty Images)


date: 2021-07-27
filename: AdlerPlanetarium_EN-US9558785232.jpg
title: Maybe we should be looking up
copyright:
Adler Planetarium near Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Adler Planetarium near Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-07-28
filename: SeaGoldie_EN-US9625167980.jpg
title: A goldie gala
copyright:
School of sea goldies with feather stars, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia (© Gary Bell/Minden Pictures)

story:
School of sea goldies with feather stars, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia (© Gary Bell/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-07-31
filename: TanzaniaBeeEater_EN-US6785378427.jpg
title: Fashion models of the avian world
copyright:
Northern carmine and European bee-eaters in Mkomazi National Park, Tanzania (© webguzs/Getty Images)

story:
Northern carmine and European bee-eaters in Mkomazi National Park, Tanzania (© webguzs/Getty Images)


date: 2021-08-09
filename: MineBay_EN-US9163715590.jpg
title: A tribute to the ancestors
copyright:
Māori rock carving by Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell, Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand (© Evgueni Zverev/Alamy)

story:
Māori rock carving by Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell, Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand (© Evgueni Zverev/Alamy)


date: 2021-08-11
filename: DinoShower_EN-US8295174033.jpg
title: Everyone's watching the Perseids
copyright:
The Perseid meteor shower photographed at the Dinosaur Museum of Erenhot in Inner Mongolia, China (© bjdlzx/Getty Images)

story:
The Perseid meteor shower photographed at the Dinosaur Museum of Erenhot in Inner Mongolia, China (© bjdlzx/Getty Images)


date: 2021-08-15
filename: StrandbadTiefenbrunnen_EN-US6967556801.jpg
title: Swim city
copyright:
Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen, a public pool on the shore of Lake Zürich, Switzerland (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen, a public pool on the shore of Lake Zürich, Switzerland (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-08-16
filename: PortAventura_EN-US7476980187.jpg
title: Let's ride! It's Roller Coaster Day
copyright:
Silhouette of Shambhala roller coaster at sunset in PortAventura Park, Salou, Tarragona, Spain (© Joaquim F. P./Getty Images)

story:
Silhouette of Shambhala roller coaster at sunset in PortAventura Park, Salou, Tarragona, Spain (© Joaquim F. P./Getty Images)


date: 2021-08-20
filename: EmptyQuarter_EN-US0636903975.jpg
title: Signs of life in the 'Empty Quarter'
copyright:
Rub' al Khali desert on the border of Oman and the Emirate of Dubai (© Daniel Schoenen/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Rub' al Khali desert on the border of Oman and the Emirate of Dubai (© Daniel Schoenen/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-08-22
filename: OlympicCoast_EN-US0864284151.jpg
title: A wild, craggy corner of the United States
copyright:
The shoreline of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington state (© Chris Moore/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
The shoreline of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington state (© Chris Moore/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-08-24
filename: HippieTown_EN-US1026712176.jpg
title: Surf's always up in Paia
copyright:
Old surfboards lined up as a fence near Paia, Maui, Hawaii (© Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images)

story:
Old surfboards lined up as a fence near Paia, Maui, Hawaii (© Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images)


date: 2021-08-25
filename: WalhallaOverlook_EN-US3794328028.jpg
title: Happy anniversary to the National Park Service!
copyright:
Peekaboo view of Angels Window on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

story:
Peekaboo view of Angels Window on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-08-26
filename: SeaSwallow_EN-US1134590280.jpg
title: What are these creatures?
copyright:
A sea swallow feeding on the tentacles of a blue button in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia (© Gary Bell/Minden Pictures)

story:
A sea swallow feeding on the tentacles of a blue button in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia (© Gary Bell/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-08-29
filename: Ruskeala_EN-US2421855092.jpg
title: Notes from an underground lake
copyright:
Underground lake in Ruskeala Mountain Park, Karelia, Russia (© Konstantin Trubavin/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
Underground lake in Ruskeala Mountain Park, Karelia, Russia (© Konstantin Trubavin/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-09-03
filename: AlienEggs_EN-US2920727413.jpg
title: Welcome to the 'Alien Egg Hatchery'
copyright:
The 'Alien Egg Hatchery' in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico (© Ian Shive/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
The 'Alien Egg Hatchery' in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico (© Ian Shive/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-09-06
filename: MRInspection_EN-US3269447998.jpg
title: All in a day's work
copyright:
Park service employees inspecting Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota (© Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

story:
Park service employees inspecting Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota (© Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


date: 2021-09-11
filename: TwistedSteel_EN-US8897329336.jpg
title: 20 years later
copyright:
US flag on part of a 9/11 memorial overlooking the New York skyline from Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey (© Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

story:
US flag on part of a 9/11 memorial overlooking the New York skyline from Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey (© Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)


date: 2021-09-14
filename: Aldeyjarfoss_EN-US0170785343.jpg
title: Behold the mighty Aldeyjarfoss
copyright:
Aldeyjarfoss waterfall in northern Iceland's interior landscape (© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Aldeyjarfoss waterfall in northern Iceland's interior landscape (© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-09-15
filename: Fronterizos_EN-US7668377030.jpg
title: It's National Hispanic Heritage Month
copyright:
Artist Jesus 'CIMI' Alvarado painting his mural 'Fronterizos' on a wall of the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas (© Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images)

story:
Artist Jesus 'CIMI' Alvarado painting his mural 'Fronterizos' on a wall of the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas (© Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images)


date: 2021-09-21
filename: RisingMoon_EN-US3728383001.jpg
title: An old celebration for a new season
copyright:
'Rising Moon' lantern to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong's Victoria Park (© Bobby Yip/Reuters)

story:
'Rising Moon' lantern to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong's Victoria Park (© Bobby Yip/Reuters)


date: 2021-09-25
filename: PorkiesTrail_EN-US1052871697.jpg
title: Autumn comes to the Porcupines
copyright:
Escarpment Trail in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan (© Pat & Chuck Blackley/Alamy)

story:
Escarpment Trail in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan (© Pat & Chuck Blackley/Alamy)


date: 2021-09-26
filename: MackenzieRiver_EN-US1123729809.jpg
title: World Rivers Day
copyright:
The Mackenzie River in Canada emptying into the Beaufort Sea (© Norman Kuring, GSFC/NASA/USGS Landsat)

story:
The Mackenzie River in Canada emptying into the Beaufort Sea (© Norman Kuring, GSFC/NASA/USGS Landsat)


date: 2021-10-03
filename: Italica_EN-US1640838317.jpg
title: Birthplace of Roman emperors
copyright:
The Roman amphitheater of Itálica, near Seville, Spain (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)

story:
The Roman amphitheater of Itálica, near Seville, Spain (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Offset by Shutterstock)


date: 2021-10-05
filename: Kindergarteners_EN-US1789862407.jpg
title: A day to celebrate teachers
copyright:
Kindergarteners drawing on canvases in Nantong, Jiangsu province, China (© Xu Hui/VCG via Getty Images)

story:
Kindergarteners drawing on canvases in Nantong, Jiangsu province, China (© Xu Hui/VCG via Getty Images)


date: 2021-10-07
filename: HuayMaeKhamin_EN-US1949606808.jpg
title: Great on so many levels
copyright:
Huay Mae Khamin Waterfall in Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, Thailand (© Casper1774Studio/Getty Images)

story:
Huay Mae Khamin Waterfall in Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, Thailand (© Casper1774Studio/Getty Images)


date: 2021-10-09
filename: SandhillApache_EN-US7367797025.jpg
title: Birds of a feather
copyright:
Sandhill cranes and mallard ducks, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (© Cathy & Gordon Illg/Jaynes Gallery/DanitaDelimont.com)

story:
Sandhill cranes and mallard ducks, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (© Cathy & Gordon Illg/Jaynes Gallery/DanitaDelimont.com)


date: 2021-10-13
filename: IchthyosaurFossil_EN-US7828457812.jpg
title: Celebrating a young girl's age-old discovery
copyright:
An ichthyosaur fossil of the Jurassic period, Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, Lyme Regis, Dorset, England (© Christopher Jones/Alamy)

story:
An ichthyosaur fossil of the Jurassic period, Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, Lyme Regis, Dorset, England (© Christopher Jones/Alamy)


date: 2021-10-16
filename: Hatshepsut_EN-US8201096209.jpg
title: Unearthing a queen's lost tale
copyright:
Aerial view of the Temple of Hatshepsut near Luxor, Egypt (© Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost/Moment/Getty Images)

story:
Aerial view of the Temple of Hatshepsut near Luxor, Egypt (© Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost/Moment/Getty Images)


date: 2021-10-17
filename: Whakarewarewa_EN-US8308750685.jpg
title: A walk among the giants
copyright:
Redwood Memorial Grove in Whakarewarewa Forest, North Island, New Zealand (© Michael Breitung/Huber/eStock Photo)

story:
Redwood Memorial Grove in Whakarewarewa Forest, North Island, New Zealand (© Michael Breitung/Huber/eStock Photo)


date: 2021-10-20
filename: SmileySloth_EN-US8588687884.jpg
title: Feeling lazy? Today's your day.
copyright:
Brown-throated three-toed sloth in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica (© Lukas Kovarik/Shutterstock)

story:
Brown-throated three-toed sloth in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica (© Lukas Kovarik/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-10-21
filename: AtchafalayaMoss_EN-US8649119304.jpg
title: Here's looking Atchafalaya
copyright:
Bald cypress and Spanish moss in the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana (© Chris Moore/Exploring Light Photography/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Bald cypress and Spanish moss in the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana (© Chris Moore/Exploring Light Photography/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-10-22
filename: Neowise_EN-US4428390515.jpg
title: Take in the mesmerizing sky
copyright:
Comet NEOWISE streaks across the sky over Sunwapta Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada (© Stocktrek Images, Inc./Alamy)

story:
Comet NEOWISE streaks across the sky over Sunwapta Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada (© Stocktrek Images, Inc./Alamy)


date: 2021-11-01
filename: KindredSpirits_EN-US5529252474.jpg
title: Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
copyright:
The sculpture 'Kindred Spirits' by Alex Pentek in Bailick Park, Midleton, County Cork, Ireland (© David Creedon/Alamy Live News/Alamy)

story:
The sculpture 'Kindred Spirits' by Alex Pentek in Bailick Park, Midleton, County Cork, Ireland (© David Creedon/Alamy Live News/Alamy)


date: 2021-11-02
filename: MarigoldsLosMuertos_EN-US5597948262.jpg
title: A day to honor the ancestors
copyright:
Marigolds decorate a cemetery in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, for a Day of the Dead ceremony (© Daniel Elizalde S/Shutterstock)

story:
Marigolds decorate a cemetery in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, for a Day of the Dead ceremony (© Daniel Elizalde S/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-11-11
filename: Veterans2021_EN-US8913164564.jpg
title: Honoring our veterans
copyright:
Sailors on the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima on New York's Hudson River during Veterans Week, 2016 (© Apple White/Alamy)

story:
Sailors on the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima on New York's Hudson River during Veterans Week, 2016 (© Apple White/Alamy)


date: 2021-11-13
filename: ElTajo_EN-US9027914209.jpg
title: A gorge-ous town divided
copyright:
Aerial view of El Tajo gorge and the Puente Nuevo bridge in Ronda, Málaga, Spain (© Jude Newkirk/Amazing Aerial Agency)

story:
Aerial view of El Tajo gorge and the Puente Nuevo bridge in Ronda, Málaga, Spain (© Jude Newkirk/Amazing Aerial Agency)


date: 2021-11-16
filename: HogwartsExpress_EN-US9194653227.jpg
title: All aboard the Hogwarts Express
copyright:
The Jacobite steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Inverness-shire, Scotland (© The Escape of Malee/Shutterstock)

story:
The Jacobite steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Inverness-shire, Scotland (© The Escape of Malee/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-11-20
filename: NewBreath_EN-US9754279186.jpg
title: 'A New Breath'
copyright:
'A New Breath' by artist Saype in Moléson-sur-Gruyères, Switzerland (© Valentin Flauraud/Shutterstock)

story:
'A New Breath' by artist Saype in Moléson-sur-Gruyères, Switzerland (© Valentin Flauraud/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-11-25
filename: SquirrelsCairngorms_EN-US5854811896.jpg
title: Wee mascots for today's feast
copyright:
Red squirrels in Cairngorms National Park, Highlands, Scotland (© Scotland: The Big Picture/Minden Pictures)

story:
Red squirrels in Cairngorms National Park, Highlands, Scotland (© Scotland: The Big Picture/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-11-26
filename: ZuniOlla_EN-US6008756986.jpg
title: Preserving a 4,000-year-old culture
copyright:
Zuni Olla Maidens at the annual Inter-Tribal Ceremonial in Gallup, New Mexico (© Julien McRoberts/Danita Delimont)

story:
Zuni Olla Maidens at the annual Inter-Tribal Ceremonial in Gallup, New Mexico (© Julien McRoberts/Danita Delimont)


date: 2021-11-27
filename: PennStation_EN-US6091764013.jpg
title: A jewel glittering in the city
copyright:
Aerial view of Penn Station and the New York City skyline at night in the 1950s (© R. Gates -Staff/Getty Images)

story:
Aerial view of Penn Station and the New York City skyline at night in the 1950s (© R. Gates -Staff/Getty Images)


date: 2021-11-28
filename: CentennialBridge_EN-US6155436919.jpg
title: Bridge of the world, heart of the universe
copyright:
Centennial Bridge towering above Soberanía National Park, Panama (© David Tipling/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

story:
Centennial Bridge towering above Soberanía National Park, Panama (© David Tipling/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


date: 2021-11-29
filename: RainbowMountain_EN-US6261660627.jpg
title: Over the Rainbow Mountain
copyright:
Aerial view of snowy peaks of Vinicunca (aka Rainbow Mountain), Peru (© Jude Newkirk/Amazing Aerial Agency)

story:
Aerial view of snowy peaks of Vinicunca (aka Rainbow Mountain), Peru (© Jude Newkirk/Amazing Aerial Agency)


date: 2021-11-30
filename: ElephantGiving_EN-US6321886502.jpg
title: Lunch buddies
copyright:
African bush elephants at Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya (© Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott/Minden Pictures)

story:
African bush elephants at Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya (© Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott/Minden Pictures)


date: 2021-12-06
filename: DesignDrawing_EN-US9669742568.jpg
title: Visionary 19th-century technology
copyright:
An 1840 design for the Analytical Engine by Charles Babbage (© Science & Society Picture Library/Getty Images)

story:
An 1840 design for the Analytical Engine by Charles Babbage (© Science & Society Picture Library/Getty Images)


date: 2021-12-11
filename: ShadowEverest_EN-US0301475882.jpg
title: Summiting sustainably
copyright:
The shadow of Mount Everest over the western Himalayas in Nepal (© Kent Karvey/KH Films, Inc./Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
The shadow of Mount Everest over the western Himalayas in Nepal (© Kent Karvey/KH Films, Inc./Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2021-12-16
filename: ENBNutcracker_EN-US0826373363.jpg
title: A holiday tradition endures
copyright:
The English National Ballet's 2016 production of 'The Nutcracker' at the London Coliseum in London, England (© Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images)

story:
The English National Ballet's 2016 production of 'The Nutcracker' at the London Coliseum in London, England (© Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images)


date: 2021-12-25
filename: KhomyakMountain_EN-US1885920810.jpg
title: Not your average Christmas tree
copyright:
Trees on the northern slope of Mount Khomyak in the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine (© panaramka/Getty Images)

story:
Trees on the northern slope of Mount Khomyak in the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine (© panaramka/Getty Images)


date: 2021-12-21
filename: SiberianSunset_EN-US1546434644.jpg
title: A Siberian solstice
copyright:
Sunlight in the forest of Western Siberia, near the city of Raduzhny, Russia (© Leonid Ikan/Shutterstock)

story:
Sunlight in the forest of Western Siberia, near the city of Raduzhny, Russia (© Leonid Ikan/Shutterstock)


date: 2021-12-22
filename: AnnecyFrance_EN-US1633083371.jpg
title: Illuminating the Alps
copyright:
Winter scene illuminated on the Palais de l'Isle in Annecy, Haute Savoie, France (© blickwinkel/Alamy)

story:
Winter scene illuminated on the Palais de l'Isle in Annecy, Haute Savoie, France (© blickwinkel/Alamy)


date: 2022-01-01
filename: JonesBeachHarpSeal_EN-US0716413455.jpg
title: Napping away New Year's Day
copyright:
Harp seal sleeping at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)

story:
Harp seal sleeping at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)


date: 2022-01-03
filename: LickObservatory_EN-US1062377366.jpg
title: Legacy of light
copyright:
The Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California (© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
The Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California (© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-01-05
filename: MountainToucan_EN-US7120632569.jpg
title: A plate-billed mountain toucan
copyright:
Plate-billed mountain toucan in Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador (© Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures)

story:
Plate-billed mountain toucan in Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, Ecuador (© Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-01-07
filename: FortedeSao_EN-US1357701666.jpg
title: How do you say 'gnarly' in Nazaré?
copyright:
Nazaré Lighthouse atop Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, Nazaré, Portugal (© Richard A Lock/Getty Images)

story:
Nazaré Lighthouse atop Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, Nazaré, Portugal (© Richard A Lock/Getty Images)


date: 2022-01-14
filename: SaCalobra_EN-US0398649435.jpg
title: Majorca has its ups and downs
copyright:
The road leading to Sa Calobra on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca (© Tolo Balaguer/agefotostock)

story:
The road leading to Sa Calobra on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca (© Tolo Balaguer/agefotostock)


date: 2022-01-17
filename: TarrMemorial_EN-US1006824946.jpg
title: It's MLK Day
copyright:
MLK memorial sculpture by William Tarr outside of Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus in New York City (© Randy Duchaine/Alamy)

story:
MLK memorial sculpture by William Tarr outside of Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus in New York City (© Randy Duchaine/Alamy)


date: 2022-01-19
filename: SaintElias_EN-US1325738273.jpg
title: A grand view of the Great White North
copyright:
Saint Elias Mountains and Kaskawulsh Glacier in Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon, Canada (© Design Pics Inc/Alamy)

story:
Saint Elias Mountains and Kaskawulsh Glacier in Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon, Canada (© Design Pics Inc/Alamy)


date: 2022-01-23
filename: MeotoIwa_EN-US1871391855.jpg
title: Sacred stones
copyright:
Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks) off the coast of Futami, Mie Prefecture, Honshu, Japan (© Marco Gaiotti/plainpicture)

story:
Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks) off the coast of Futami, Mie Prefecture, Honshu, Japan (© Marco Gaiotti/plainpicture)


date: 2022-01-28
filename: WinteringFowl_EN-US1541559315.jpg
title: Winter birdwatching
copyright:
Short-eared owl hunting at dusk in Worlaby Carrs, Lincolnshire, England (© Ben Hall/Minden Pictures)

story:
Short-eared owl hunting at dusk in Worlaby Carrs, Lincolnshire, England (© Ben Hall/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-01-29
filename: BrainCoral_EN-US1756508308.jpg
title: This is your brain on puzzles
copyright:
Symmetrical brain coral on a reef in the Caribbean Sea near Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (© Alex Mustard/Minden Pictures)

story:
Symmetrical brain coral on a reef in the Caribbean Sea near Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (© Alex Mustard/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-01-31
filename: IncenseFieldVietnam_EN-US1945575858.jpg
title: Get set for Tết
copyright:
Workers sorting incense in the Huyện Ứng Hòa district of Hanoi, Vietnam (© Azim Khan Ronnie/Amazing Aerial Agency)

story:
Workers sorting incense in the Huyện Ứng Hòa district of Hanoi, Vietnam (© Azim Khan Ronnie/Amazing Aerial Agency)


date: 2022-02-05
filename: MexicoMonarchs_EN-US2528130763.jpg
title: King of the butterflies
copyright:
Monarch butterflies in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Angangueo, Mexico (© Sylvain Cordier/Minden Pictures)

story:
Monarch butterflies in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Angangueo, Mexico (© Sylvain Cordier/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-02-09
filename: JukkasjarviIcehotel_EN-US2915409149.jpg
title: Northern hospitality
copyright:
The Ceremony Hall of Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden (© Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

story:
The Ceremony Hall of Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden (© Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)


date: 2022-02-11
filename: TriptychGo_EN-US6716244048.jpg
title: Look up to Black pride
copyright:
'Go' by Kehinde Wiley, displayed inside Moynihan Train Hall at New York City's Penn Station (© Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

story:
'Go' by Kehinde Wiley, displayed inside Moynihan Train Hall at New York City's Penn Station (© Spencer Platt/Getty Images)


date: 2022-02-14
filename: MaldivesHeart_EN-US7219773610.jpg
title: A Valentine in the Arabian Sea
copyright:
Heart-shaped island with sandy beach, offshore coral reef, Indian Ocean, Maldives (© Willyam Bradberry/Shutterstock)

story:
Heart-shaped island with sandy beach, offshore coral reef, Indian Ocean, Maldives (© Willyam Bradberry/Shutterstock)


date: 2022-02-15
filename: ChengduLanterns_EN-US7601052983.jpg
title: A festival of lanterns
copyright:
Red lanterns hanging on trees during the Lantern Festival in Chengdu, Sichuan, China (© Philippe Lejeanvre/Getty Images)

story:
Red lanterns hanging on trees during the Lantern Festival in Chengdu, Sichuan, China (© Philippe Lejeanvre/Getty Images)


date: 2022-02-19
filename: LoganClouds_EN-US6578910655.jpg
title: Majestic Mount Logan
copyright:
Mount Logan in Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon, Canada (© plainpicture/Design Pics/Robert Postma)

story:
Mount Logan in Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon, Canada (© plainpicture/Design Pics/Robert Postma)


date: 2022-02-21
filename: PrezMonument_EN-US6640683728.jpg
title: Happy Presidents Day
copyright:
The Washington Monument seen from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC (© lucky-photographer/Getty Images)

story:
The Washington Monument seen from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC (© lucky-photographer/Getty Images)


date: 2022-02-25
filename: LegacyMural_EN-US8368318184.jpg
title: A beautiful day in the neighborhood…
copyright:
'Legacy' mural painted by Josh Sarantitis and Eric Okdeh within the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (© Vespasian/Alamy)

story:
'Legacy' mural painted by Josh Sarantitis and Eric Okdeh within the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (© Vespasian/Alamy)


date: 2022-02-27
filename: IPBDMom_EN-US5866127837.jpg
title: A day for those who rule the north
copyright:
Polar bear mother with cubs in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada (© Andre Gilden/Minden Pictures)

story:
Polar bear mother with cubs in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada (© Andre Gilden/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-03-02
filename: MoonlightRainier_EN-US6336057354.jpg
title: Happy 123rd birthday
copyright:
Moonlight and the Milky Way over Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington (© Brad Goldpaint/Cavan)

story:
Moonlight and the Milky Way over Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington (© Brad Goldpaint/Cavan)


date: 2022-03-03
filename: RhinocerosUnicornis_EN-US6415146430.jpg
title: Celebrating World Wildlife Day
copyright:
Greater one-horned rhinoceroses in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India (© Robert Harding World Imagery/Shutterstock)

story:
Greater one-horned rhinoceroses in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India (© Robert Harding World Imagery/Shutterstock)


date: 2022-03-07
filename: NZTekapo_EN-US6844591784.jpg
title: Blue Zealand
copyright:
Lake Tekapo with Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the background on New Zealand's South Island (© Sophie Dover/Getty Images)

story:
Lake Tekapo with Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the background on New Zealand's South Island (© Sophie Dover/Getty Images)


date: 2022-03-08
filename: BrokenGlass_EN-US4411138843.jpg
title: 'Fearless Girl' rules the Financial District
copyright:
The 'Fearless Girl' statue outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York City (© Brendan McDermid/Alamy)

story:
The 'Fearless Girl' statue outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York City (© Brendan McDermid/Alamy)


date: 2022-03-09
filename: FlowerofLife_EN-US7000703872.jpg
title: A flower blooms in winter
copyright:
The 'Flower of Life' symbol drawn in the snow by artist Michael Uy, Jacobsdorf, Brandenburg, Germany (© Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)

story:
The 'Flower of Life' symbol drawn in the snow by artist Michael Uy, Jacobsdorf, Brandenburg, Germany (© Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)


date: 2022-03-12
filename: GirlScouts_EN-US8024158740.jpg
title: Girl Scouting, more than just cookies
copyright:
Girl Scouts camping on the shore of Todd Lake in 1960, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon (© CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

story:
Girl Scouts camping on the shore of Todd Lake in 1960, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon (© CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)


date: 2022-03-17
filename: Shamrocks_EN-US9111259398.jpg
title: Any with four leaves?
copyright:
Coastal redwoods and wood sorrel, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)

story:
Coastal redwoods and wood sorrel, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-03-24
filename: SquirrelNesting_EN-US9878096346.jpg
title: Snug as a squirrel in its nest
copyright:
Red squirrel in a nest of lichen and pine needles, Scottish Highlands (© Neil Anderson/Minden Pictures)

story:
Red squirrel in a nest of lichen and pine needles, Scottish Highlands (© Neil Anderson/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-03-28
filename: Kawachi_EN-US0111381625.jpg
title: Japan's purple paradise
copyright:
Wisteria blooms at Kawachi Fuji Garden in Kitakyushu, Japan (© Steve Tan C K Photography/Getty Images)

story:
Wisteria blooms at Kawachi Fuji Garden in Kitakyushu, Japan (© Steve Tan C K Photography/Getty Images)


date: 2022-04-01
filename: FloatingPyramid_EN-US0665970384.jpg
title: Don't let appearances fool you today
copyright:
'Greetings from Giza,' an installation by the artist JR, Cairo, Egypt (© Ammar ABD RABBO/Abaca Press/Alamy)

story:
'Greetings from Giza,' an installation by the artist JR, Cairo, Egypt (© Ammar ABD RABBO/Abaca Press/Alamy)


date: 2022-04-02
filename: WhangareiFalls_EN-US0789271044.jpg
title: Pretty as a picnic
copyright:
Whangārei Falls near the city of Whangārei, North Island, New Zealand (© Nathan Kavumbura/Getty Images)

story:
Whangārei Falls near the city of Whangārei, North Island, New Zealand (© Nathan Kavumbura/Getty Images)


date: 2022-04-04
filename: NorwayBoulder_EN-US1049217849.jpg
title: Between a rock and a hard place
copyright:
The Kjeragbolten boulder on the mountain Kjerag in Rogaland county, Norway (© Angel FAyE/Getty Images)

story:
The Kjeragbolten boulder on the mountain Kjerag in Rogaland county, Norway (© Angel FAyE/Getty Images)


date: 2022-04-12
filename: WaningGibbous_EN-US4639615556.jpg
title: A view from space
copyright:
Waning gibbous moon above the Earth's horizon, photographed from the International Space Station (© NASA)

story:
Waning gibbous moon above the Earth's horizon, photographed from the International Space Station (© NASA)


date: 2022-04-15
filename: ChristoJeanneClaude_EN-US5281746588.jpg
title: An icon is 'Wrapped'
copyright:
'L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped,' an art installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude on September 24, 2021, in Paris, France (© Bruno de HOGUES/Getty Images)

story:
'L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped,' an art installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude on September 24, 2021, in Paris, France (© Bruno de HOGUES/Getty Images)


date: 2022-04-16
filename: Yellowstone150_EN-US5394661102.jpg
title: 'America's best idea' began here
copyright:
Aerial view of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (© AirPano LLC/Amazing Aerial Agency)

story:
Aerial view of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (© AirPano LLC/Amazing Aerial Agency)


date: 2022-04-20
filename: MuteSwan_EN-US6400507861.jpg
title: Beauties are born
copyright:
Mute swan chicks shelter under mom's tail feathers, Massapequa Preserve, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron/Getty Images)

story:
Mute swan chicks shelter under mom's tail feathers, Massapequa Preserve, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron/Getty Images)


date: 2022-04-24
filename: YosemiteNightSky_EN-US2099671650.jpg
title: Could you turn off the lights?
copyright:
Milky Way rising above Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California (© Cory Marshall/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Milky Way rising above Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California (© Cory Marshall/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-04-25
filename: ThreeKings_EN-US2202898186.jpg
title: King confab
copyright:
Three king penguins on the shore of St. Andrew's Bay, South Georgia Island (© Paul Souders/Getty Images)

story:
Three king penguins on the shore of St. Andrew's Bay, South Georgia Island (© Paul Souders/Getty Images)


date: 2022-04-29
filename: RedwoodSprout_EN-US2459675162.jpg
title: The sprout with amazing potential
copyright:
A young coast redwood sprouting out of an old log in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California (© Hutch Axilrod/Getty Images)

story:
A young coast redwood sprouting out of an old log in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California (© Hutch Axilrod/Getty Images)


date: 2022-04-30
filename: NorthBeachJazz_EN-US2507879013.jpg
title: Get in tune with International Jazz Day
copyright:
The North Beach Jazz Mural created by Bay Area artist Bill Weber in San Francisco (© Kosso/Getty Images)

story:
The North Beach Jazz Mural created by Bay Area artist Bill Weber in San Francisco (© Kosso/Getty Images)


date: 2022-05-01
filename: LeiDay_EN-US2557797109.jpg
title: Sunrise at the birthplace of hula
copyright:
Dancers on the site of a lele (altar) on Mount Maunaloa, Molokai, Hawaii (© Alvis Upitis/Getty Images)

story:
Dancers on the site of a lele (altar) on Mount Maunaloa, Molokai, Hawaii (© Alvis Upitis/Getty Images)


date: 2022-05-05
filename: JaliscoAgave_EN-US2800710188.jpg
title: This blue succulent is as good as gold here
copyright:
Tree in blue agave field in the tequila-producing region near Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco, Mexico (© Brian Overcast/Alamy)

story:
Tree in blue agave field in the tequila-producing region near Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco, Mexico (© Brian Overcast/Alamy)


date: 2022-05-06
filename: HertfordshireBluebells_EN-US4578338154.jpg
title: Dare to tread through the fairy flowers?
copyright:
A path winding through a forest carpeted with bluebells in Hertfordshire, England (© JayKay57/Getty Images)

story:
A path winding through a forest carpeted with bluebells in Hertfordshire, England (© JayKay57/Getty Images)


date: 2022-05-09
filename: GoremeNationalPark_EN-US4875441908.jpg
title: Living rock
copyright:
View of Göreme from an observation deck, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey (© Anton Petrus/Getty Images)

story:
View of Göreme from an observation deck, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey (© Anton Petrus/Getty Images)


date: 2022-05-10
filename: GiffordPinchot_EN-US4980175686.jpg
title: A large forest with 6,000 of years of history
copyright:
Panther Creek Falls in spring, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington (© Stephen Matera/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Panther Creek Falls in spring, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington (© Stephen Matera/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-05-12
filename: RedCross_EN-US5698722803.jpg
title: A proud nursing tradition
copyright:
Nurses serving with the American Red Cross in Paris, France, in May 1919 (© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

story:
Nurses serving with the American Red Cross in Paris, France, in May 1919 (© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


date: 2022-05-15
filename: BerninaBloodMoon_EN-US5538561384.jpg
title: Get ready for the blood moon
copyright:
Panoramic view of the Bernina Range with blood moon, Eastern Alps, Engadin, Switzerland (© Bernd Zoller/Shutterstock)

story:
Panoramic view of the Bernina Range with blood moon, Eastern Alps, Engadin, Switzerland (© Bernd Zoller/Shutterstock)


date: 2022-05-16
filename: PawneeOwls_EN-US5086668928.jpg
title: Owl be seeing you ... somewhere!
copyright:
Burrowing owl chicks gaze out from among flowers near the Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado (© Roberta Olenick/Alamy)

story:
Burrowing owl chicks gaze out from among flowers near the Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado (© Roberta Olenick/Alamy)


date: 2022-05-17
filename: SaltPondsMaras_EN-US5922073798.jpg
title: Incan ingenuity
copyright:
Salt ponds of Maras in Peru's Sacred Valley of the Incas (© Fotofeeling/Westend61 on Offset/Shutterstock)

story:
Salt ponds of Maras in Peru's Sacred Valley of the Incas (© Fotofeeling/Westend61 on Offset/Shutterstock)


date: 2022-05-18
filename: KansasPrairiefire_EN-US6008489579.jpg
title: This building sets the prairie on fire
copyright:
Museum at Prairiefire, Overland Park, Kansas (© Bernard P. Friel/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

story:
Museum at Prairiefire, Overland Park, Kansas (© Bernard P. Friel/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


date: 2022-05-22
filename: ZebraEgret_EN-US9268536963.jpg
title: We can all just get along
copyright:
A Burchell's zebra and a cattle egret at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)

story:
A Burchell's zebra and a cattle egret at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-05-23
filename: RedBellied_EN-US7363239921.jpg
title: Turtle-y nice day for a swim
copyright:
Florida red-bellied turtle in Rainbow Springs, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida (© Michel Roggo/Minden Pictures)

story:
Florida red-bellied turtle in Rainbow Springs, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida (© Michel Roggo/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-05-27
filename: MarinHeadlands_EN-US9564309974.jpg
title: Nothing says 'San Francisco' quite like...
copyright:
Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands photographed from Golden Gate Overlook in San Francisco, California (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands photographed from Golden Gate Overlook in San Francisco, California (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-05-28
filename: PurnululuNP_EN-US9646771554.jpg
title: Bungle beehives
copyright:
Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia (© Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images)

story:
Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia (© Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images)


date: 2022-05-30
filename: WW2Lincoln_EN-US6306243521.jpg
title: A day of remembrance
copyright:
Rainbow Pool and the field of stars in the World War II Memorial with the Lincoln Memorial in the background, Washington, DC (© Sean Pavone/Getty Images)

story:
Rainbow Pool and the field of stars in the World War II Memorial with the Lincoln Memorial in the background, Washington, DC (© Sean Pavone/Getty Images)


date: 2022-06-04
filename: BannerPeak_EN-US6694457913.jpg
title: Head for the hills, it's National Trails Day!
copyright:
Banner Peak and Thousand Island Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, California (© Michael DeYoung Photography/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Banner Peak and Thousand Island Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, California (© Michael DeYoung Photography/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-06-06
filename: IndigoBunting_EN-US6919965546.jpg
title: Singing the blues
copyright:
An indigo bunting at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania (© Vicki Jauron/Getty Images)

story:
An indigo bunting at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania (© Vicki Jauron/Getty Images)


date: 2022-06-08
filename: CommonDolphin_EN-US7311583363.jpg
title: The buffet is open
copyright:
Long-beaked common dolphin pod and diving Cape gannets hunting sardines off the Eastern Cape, South Africa (© Pete Oxford/Minden Pictures)

story:
Long-beaked common dolphin pod and diving Cape gannets hunting sardines off the Eastern Cape, South Africa (© Pete Oxford/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-06-11
filename: MisoolIsland_EN-US7672276436.jpg
title: An underwater paradise to explore
copyright:
Misool Island, one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua, Indonesia (© Elsy Saldek/Getty Images)

story:
Misool Island, one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua, Indonesia (© Elsy Saldek/Getty Images)


date: 2022-06-12
filename: SierraPonce_EN-US7735077868.jpg
title: A remote oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert
copyright:
Cliffs of the Sierra Ponce and Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park, Texas (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

story:
Cliffs of the Sierra Ponce and Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park, Texas (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-06-16
filename: SeonamTemple_EN-US8180397216.jpg
title: Bridging past and present
copyright:
Seungseon Bridge at Seonam Temple in Jogyesan Provincial Park, South Korea (© Aaron Choi/Getty Images)

story:
Seungseon Bridge at Seonam Temple in Jogyesan Provincial Park, South Korea (© Aaron Choi/Getty Images)


date: 2022-06-17
filename: Balsamroot_EN-US8641268598.jpg
title: A grand view
copyright:
Balsamroot wildflowers bloom below the Teton Mountains in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (© Mike Cavaroc/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Balsamroot wildflowers bloom below the Teton Mountains in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (© Mike Cavaroc/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-06-18
filename: CelebratingSurfing_EN-US8732112733.jpg
title: What waterborne wizardry is this?
copyright:
Surfers catching waves at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (© Darren Tierney/Getty Images)

story:
Surfers catching waves at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (© Darren Tierney/Getty Images)


date: 2022-06-19
filename: Cassowary_EN-US8797645265.jpg
title: Angry bird, doting dad
copyright:
Southern cassowary father with chicks, Kuranda, Queensland, Australia (© Martin Willis/Minden Pictures)

story:
Southern cassowary father with chicks, Kuranda, Queensland, Australia (© Martin Willis/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-06-24
filename: CenoteDiver_EN-US7458460864.jpg
title: Underwater underground
copyright:
Scuba diver exploring the underwater cenotes near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (© Extreme Photographer/Getty Images)

story:
Scuba diver exploring the underwater cenotes near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (© Extreme Photographer/Getty Images)


date: 2022-06-25
filename: BBMomCub_EN-US7553314922.jpg
title: The bears of summer
copyright:
Brown bear mother and cub in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska (© Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures)

story:
Brown bear mother and cub in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska (© Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-07-01
filename: WeatherGirls_EN-US6924387788.jpg
title: Perfect day for a ride
copyright:
'Vejrpigerne' ('The Weather Girls') sculpture on top of the Richshuset building in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (© Stig Alenas/Shutterstock)

story:
'Vejrpigerne' ('The Weather Girls') sculpture on top of the Richshuset building in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (© Stig Alenas/Shutterstock)


date: 2022-07-02
filename: HalfwayDay_EN-US6981774268.jpg
title: We've made it to Halfway Day!
copyright:
Aerial view of a road separating two lakes in the Scottish Highlands (© Abstract Aerial Art/Getty Images)

story:
Aerial view of a road separating two lakes in the Scottish Highlands (© Abstract Aerial Art/Getty Images)


date: 2022-07-04
filename: WHFireworks_EN-US7107173560.jpg
title: Happy birthday to us
copyright:
Fireworks explode during Independence Day celebrations on July 4, 2021, in Washington, DC (© White House Photo/Alamy)

story:
Fireworks explode during Independence Day celebrations on July 4, 2021, in Washington, DC (© White House Photo/Alamy)


date: 2022-07-05
filename: FannetteIsland_EN-US7369656560.jpg
title: This island is more than a mile high
copyright:
Fannette Island surrounded by Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California (© Rachid Dahnoun/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Fannette Island surrounded by Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California (© Rachid Dahnoun/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-07-10
filename: OludenizTurkey_EN-US7964154843.jpg
title: A beach of many colors
copyright:
Aerial view of colorful boats in the Mediterranean Sea in Ölüdeniz, Turkey (© den-belitsky/Getty Images)

story:
Aerial view of colorful boats in the Mediterranean Sea in Ölüdeniz, Turkey (© den-belitsky/Getty Images)


date: 2022-07-14
filename: BabyLemons_EN-US8232804860.jpg
title: Sharks, just living their lives
copyright:
Baby lemon sharks swimming among mangroves near Alice Town, Bimini, Bahamas (© Ken Kiefer 2/Getty Images)

story:
Baby lemon sharks swimming among mangroves near Alice Town, Bimini, Bahamas (© Ken Kiefer 2/Getty Images)


date: 2022-07-17
filename: CoyoteButtes_EN-US2729289736.jpg
title: Ride the wave
copyright:
The Wave sandstone formation in Coyote Buttes North, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona (© Dennis Frates/Alamy)

story:
The Wave sandstone formation in Coyote Buttes North, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona (© Dennis Frates/Alamy)


date: 2022-07-22
filename: SGIMontenegro_EN-US4280095085.jpg
title: An island made from a vow
copyright:
Our Lady of the Rocks and Saint George Island in the Bay of Kotor, Perast, Montenegro (© Dmitrii Sakharov/Shutterstock)

story:
Our Lady of the Rocks and Saint George Island in the Bay of Kotor, Perast, Montenegro (© Dmitrii Sakharov/Shutterstock)


date: 2022-07-25
filename: MGRBrighton_EN-US4452708176.jpg
title: Boardwalk nostalgia
copyright:
Golden Gallopers Carousel on the seafront in Brighton, East Sussex, England (© Graham Prentice/Alamy)

story:
Golden Gallopers Carousel on the seafront in Brighton, East Sussex, England (© Graham Prentice/Alamy)


date: 2022-07-30
filename: FiordlandRainforest_EN-US0539876428.jpg
title: The 'eighth wonder'?
copyright:
Rainforest hike near Milford Sound/Piopiotahi in New Zealand (© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Rainforest hike near Milford Sound/Piopiotahi in New Zealand (© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-08-01
filename: LavaTube_EN-US0984183891.jpg
title: The most active volcano in the world
copyright:
An active lava tube, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii (© Tom Schwabel/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
An active lava tube, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii (© Tom Schwabel/Tandem Stills + Motion)


date: 2022-08-04
filename: BangladeshWaterLilies_EN-US1994505786.jpg
title: Pastel perfection
copyright:
Farmers collecting water lilies in the Satla marshland near Bagdha, Barisal, Bangladesh (© Mustasinur Rahman Alvi/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

story:
Farmers collecting water lilies in the Satla marshland near Bagdha, Barisal, Bangladesh (© Mustasinur Rahman Alvi/Future Publishing via Getty Images)


date: 2022-08-08
filename: EsPantaleu_EN-US2555315913.jpg
title: Little island, big sea
copyright:
Aerial view of the island Pantaleu near Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain (© Dimitri Weber/Amazing Aerial Agency)

story:
Aerial view of the island Pantaleu near Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain (© Dimitri Weber/Amazing Aerial Agency)


date: 2022-08-13
filename: BoundaryWaters_EN-US1592534087.jpg
title: Canoeing in solitude
copyright:
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest, Minnesota (© Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

story:
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest, Minnesota (© Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)


date: 2022-08-17
filename: AquarioNatural_EN-US2602910599.jpg
title: So fresh, so clean
copyright:
Freshwater plants and tetra fish, Aquário Natural, Rio Baía Bonita, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (© Michel Roggo/Minden Pictures)

story:
Freshwater plants and tetra fish, Aquário Natural, Rio Baía Bonita, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (© Michel Roggo/Minden Pictures)


date: 2022-08-19
filename: SolarImpulse2_EN-US2864472613.jpg
title: A flight to remember
copyright:
Solar Impulse 2 flying over the pyramids in Giza, Egypt (© Jean Revillard/Solar Impulse2 via Getty Images)

story:
Solar Impulse 2 flying over the pyramids in Giza, Egypt (© Jean Revillard/Solar Impulse2 via Getty Images)


date: 2022-08-28
filename: BeardedTit_EN-US6692547915.jpg
title: More of a mustache than a beard?
copyright: Bearded reedlings at a wetland in Flevoland, Netherlands (© Gert-Jan IJzerman/Minden Pictures)
story:
Bearded reedlings in Flevoland
Flevoland, the 12th and newest province in the Netherlands, has only been around since 1986. Not only was it not established until this late date, but before the mid-20th century, much of the land here simply didn't exist. Flevoland was created through vast land reclamation projects in the 1950s and '60s. While the Dutch had been reforming their landscape to meet their changing needs for hundreds of years, the 20th century would see their most dramatic and ambitious projects realized. The province's anthem is the fitting 'Waar Wij Steden Doen Verrijzen' ('Where We Let Cities Arise'). It's an ode to pushing back the sea and creating a 'province that's not bad, youngest part of the Netherlands. Where it is nice to live, my beloved Flevoland!'
With its landscape of bogs, marshes, and swamps, Flevoland is a perfect nesting ground for these bearded reedlings. The reedlings are sometimes referred to as bearded tits, due to their passing resemblance to the long-tailed tit, but not only are they not tits, they don't really have beards either (though the males have something closer to a mustache). Found across Eurasia, the bearded reedling is considered a unique songbird, with no other living species closely related to it.
Quote of the day
Sorry I annoyed you with my friendship.
—
On this day: 1963 - 'I Have a Dream'
August 28 birthdays


date: 2022-08-29
filename: EstoniaBaltic_EN-US6923966670.jpg
title: The sea that acts like a lake
copyright: Baltic Sea in Estonia (© fotoman-kharkov/Getty Images)
story:
Baltic Sea, Estonia
The Baltic Sea in northeast Europe is a peculiar body of water, combining the characteristics of a sea with those of a lake and an estuary, too. Strictly speaking, it is in fact a sea and thus appropriately named, joined to the Atlantic Ocean through three straits in Denmark: the Öresund, Great Belt, and Little Belt. Technically, the Baltic is classified as a brackish sea, meaning it is not entirely fresh and not entirely saline. The Baltic Sea isn't landlocked, but it does border many countries, including Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—and it's the Estonian coast featured in today's image.
Like a lake, the Baltic is relatively shallow with an average depth of 150 feet. Its salinity is so low it nearly qualifies as a freshwater sea. That's because hundreds of rivers and streams empty into the sea, and more fresh water falls on the sea in the form of rain and snow than evaporates. The Baltic can also be described as a giant estuary, into which flow several major rivers. Sailors favor the Baltic because there is very little current and tide to contend with, and even when surface winds pick up, the seas remain relatively calm. Easy to navigate, gateway to so many lands, the Baltic has been integral to trade and commerce—and inevitable conflict—in the region for centuries. It has been known by many names, proof the Baltic is a true meeting place.
Quote of the day
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.
—
On this day: 2005 - Katrina slams Gulf Coast
August 29 birthdays
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date: 2022-08-30
filename: Migliarino_EN-US6999892958.jpg
title: There's more to Pisa than leaning towers
copyright: Regional Park of Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli, Italy (© Stefano Valeri/Alamy)
story:
Regional Park of Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli, Italy
This idyllic road is a path to one of Italy's magnificent natural gifts. Just outside of the ancient city of Pisa in Tuscany is the Regional Park of Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli. This immense and diverse park boasts numerous distinct environments. A visitor will discover, by turns, seaside sand dunes, marshlands, and vast forests of pine, oak, and elm. A wide array of birds can also be found in the park, along with ample wild boar, rabbits, red foxes, and the impressively antlered fallow deer. It's even been suggested that there are wolves living in the deep reaches of the woods.
While the park is popular for its beaches, forests, and wildlife, it offers cultural attractions as well. There are Roman ruins to be explored here, along with working farms, and environmental education opportunities. It's also home to the Villa del Gombo, once an official residence of the president of Italy. The villa was built in the 1950s on the site of a ruined old hunting lodge once owned by the Royal House of Savoy. Today the facility hosts conferences and tourists.
Quote of the day
People never believe in volcanoes until the lava actually overtakes them.


date: 2022-08-31
filename: BlueLinckia_EN-US7078787133.jpg
title: How sweet to be a star, floating in the blue
copyright: Blue linckia sea stars off New Ireland in Papua New Guinea (© Jurgen Freund/Minden Pictures)
story:
Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea
In shallow areas of the tropical Indo-Pacific, you'll come across the blue linckia sea star. Oftentimes it's found anchored to or hiding under rocks. This duo was spotted near the coast of New Ireland, an island in Papua New Guinea. Even though 'blue' is in the name, this species of sea star has also been observed in purple, pink, or orange. The vibrant colors make the linckia popular in the seashell trade, unfortunately, and intensive poaching has diminished their populations. But new research could lead to calls for their protection: Scientists have studied potential anti-tumor and antibacterial properties inherent to the blue linckia.
Quote of the day
Greatness is not measured by the walls we build but by the bridges.


date: 2022-09-01
filename: WildlifeCrossing_EN-US7691052130.jpg
title: Who uses this grassy bridge?
copyright: Wildlife crossing in Wierden, Netherlands (© Frans Lemmens/Alamy)
story:
Explore Overijssel
Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
It's not just chickens that cross the road. Wild creatures from frogs to elk roll the dice with death when they need to traverse the thousands of highways humans have threaded through wildlife habitat. Sadly, the dice don't fall favorably for millions of animals each year, and collisions with vehicles often cause fatalities for both them and the drivers who hit them.
Many countries now construct wildlife crossings—also called green bridges, ecoducts, natuurbrugs (like this one in Wierden in the Netherlands), and écoponts (in France). These can be either overpasses or underpasses, and they are an expensive venture. Are they worth it? Well, officials in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, would say categorically yes. Over 20 years they built 44 bridges and underpasses so wildlife could cross the Trans-Canada Highway, which divides the park; traffic accidents involving wildlife dropped by 80%.
France built the first overland wildlife crossings in the 1950s and continues to invest in many elaborate safe passageways. But the Netherlands leads the initiative, with an impressive 600-plus wildlife crossings, and counting. In fact, the Dutch can claim the honors for the world's longest animal crossing too—the Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailoo is an overpass that's half a mile long and 55 yards wide. Now chickens and their four-legged friends can cross the road anytime, no questions asked.
Quote of the day
I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.


date: 2022-09-02
filename: SeitanLimania_EN-US5452823219.jpg
title: This magical beach is worth the hike
copyright: Seitan Limania Beach in Crete, Greece (© Georgios Tsichlis/Alamy)
story:
Seitan Limania Beach, Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of all the Greek islands, and also the farthest from the mainland (in fact, it's just about halfway to Turkey). This big little island is small enough to drive across in a few hours but full of wonders, from mountain ranges to gorges to beautiful beaches. Take this jewel box of turquoise water near the port city of Chania, for example. Set on the easternmost of three peninsulas that stick out like horns from the northwest shoreline of Crete, Seitan Limania is one of the most photographed beaches on the island.
Seitan Limania is beautiful to behold from a distance but driving up close via the narrow switchback roads takes some nerve. And once you get to the parking lot, the rocky hike down is for only the most surefooted of beachgoers. On your way down, you'll likely meet some of the goats that populate the area. The narrow cove is flanked by steep rock walls that zig one way, then zag the other. When you reach the beach, you'll find yourself on one of the most beautiful spots on any coast—and a selfie here at Seitan Limania is hard to beat for bragging rights.
Quote of the day
Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career.


date: 2022-09-03
filename: MalaysiaTwinTowers_EN-US7848703415.jpg
title: A pair of high achievers
copyright: Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (© tampatra/Getty Images)
story:
Skyscraper Day
The Petronas Twin Towers are the unmistakable calling card of the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur, affectionately called KL. The 88-story, 1,483-foot cylindrical towers were the tallest buildings in the world when they were completed in 1996, until 2004 when Taiwan's Taipei 101 topped them by almost 200 feet. Still the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world, they're our perfect inspiration today on Skyscraper Day, set aside to appreciate such engineering and architectural feats.
The Petronas Towers, named for Malaysia's state-owned oil and gas company, were designed by the late Argentine American architect César Pelli, who incorporated motifs of Islamic art into his postmodern design. It remains his masterpiece, and a true standout in a country and continent full of skyscrapers. One of the most notable features of the buildings is a two-level skybridge that connects the towers at the 41st and 42nd floors. The bridge is not actually anchored to the main structure, but freely slides into each tower to accommodate any swaying caused by wind.
The preponderance of supertall structures in Asia isn't a coincidence. Skyscrapers spring up where populations are high, land is in short supply, and economies flourish. Plus, for an up-and-coming city, nothing says you've arrived like a gleaming skyscraper—or a pair of them. And why stop there? Even the Petronas Towers, though emblematic of the KL skyline, are no longer the tallest kids on the block in Malaysia: A new skyscraper, the 2,227-foot Merdeka 118, is expected to be completed in 2023 as the second-highest building in the world.
Quote of the day
Why fit in when you were born to stand out?


date: 2022-09-04
filename: ArambolBeach_EN-US7908449198.jpg
title: The Riviera of India
copyright: Arambol Beach in Goa, India (© Ben Pipe/Alamy)
story:
Explore Goa
Arambol Beach, Goa, India
Known for its immense, densely populated cities, India also has a seemingly endless coastline. And no part of it is more languid and lovely than Arambol, in the small and special state of Goa on the southwestern coast. Arambol is a popular holiday town with the vibe of a sleepy fishing village—which it was once was. Now visitors from around the world are drawn to its tropical climate, rainforest valleys, historic architecture, and sandy beaches.
Goa is distinct from much of India as it was colonized by Portugal while Great Britain occupied the rest. The Portuguese Empire conquered Goa in the early 1500s and ruled it until 1961, when it was annexed by India. The influence of the Portuguese can be seen in Goa's Catholic churches and convents, as well as in the name of the state's largest city: Vasco da Gama, after the explorer who once governed Goa.
If history isn't your thing, Arambol is famous for a drum circle and flea market held on the beach a few hours before sunset. It's just as much a beach party as a market. Craftspeople sell handmade wares while musicians join impromptu performances. There's no better way to end your day in Goa, land of sand and spice and sun.
Quote of the day
I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.


date: 2022-09-05
filename: GastoniaParade_EN-US8873564493.jpg
title: Celebrating workers' fights and rights
copyright: Labor Day parade in 1934, Gastonia, North Carolina (© Bettmann/Getty Images)
story:
Explore Gastonia
1934 Labor Day parade, Gastonia, North Carolina
Our historical Labor Day photo shows striking textile workers taking to the streets of Gastonia, North Carolina, voicing their grievances and seeking support for their cause. By the time of this 1934 strike, the textile industry had been struggling for years to keep pace with the economic times, and workers were struggling as their wages were cut while their workloads increased. Things came to a head after the National Industrial Recovery Act became law in 1933, leading to the formation of the Textile Industry Committee meant to represent the interests of business owners, consumers, and workers—but this only led to shortened workweeks, effectively reducing wages by 25%. Workers rushed to join the United Textile Workers union to get their voices heard and demand improved conditions.
On Sept. 1, 1934, some 65,000 North Carolina textile workers stayed home, shuttering the state's mills. When this photo was taken on Sept. 3, the workers were hopeful that they could achieve change. The governor called out the National Guard to protect the mills, and a couple of weeks later the strike effort crumbled due to lack of union resources and a surplus of fabric on the market. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt did go on to appoint a committee to mediate the situation, and the consensus was that the textile workers' grievances had substance and should be investigated further. Unfortunately, the actual investigation never happened.
Quote of the day
As we celebrate Labor Day, we honor the men and women who fought tirelessly for workers' rights, which are so critical to our strong and successful labor force.


date: 2022-09-06
filename: SquirrelMushroom_EN-US8955570535.jpg
title: A real fun guy…er, squirrel
copyright: Red squirrel carrying a mushroom (© Michael Quinton/Minden Pictures)
story:
National Mushroom Month
Oh, to be a squirrel with a feast such as this! It's National Mushroom Month, and it seems our red squirrel friend here in Alaska got a literal jump on celebrating. It might surprise you, but squirrels don't only eat nuts. They'll eat just about whatever's around and that includes big mushrooms. Though a small percentage of wild mushrooms can be poisonous to humans, squirrels can eat many of these frightening fungi without worry, thanks to special proteins in their guts. Nice to know someone's enjoying them.
Did you know the United States has a Mushroom Council? Since the early 1990s, the US Mushroom Council has worked as a Research and Promotion program of the Department of Agriculture. After an informal declaration during a Pennsylvania mushroom festival, the council proposed National Mushroom Month not just to highlight mushrooms as a culinary delicacy, but also showcase many other uses for the more than 900 million pounds of mushrooms the US produces each year. Believe it or not, we use mushrooms to build, clean, medicate, and even make leather—and so much more.
Quote of the day
Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.


date: 2022-09-07
filename: MuseudoAmanha_EN-US9576177041.jpg
title: Back to the future
copyright: Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (© Nido Huebl/Shutterstock)
story:
200th anniversary of Brazilian independence
Today we visit the Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate 200 years of Brazilian independence. Designed by Spanish neofuturist architect Santiago Calatrava, the unique structure was commissioned to showcase Rio's revitalized waterfront ahead of the 2016 Olympics. The museum comprises five main areas: Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene, Tomorrow, and Us, each inviting visitors to interact in different ways and learn about living in a sustainable world.
Brazil gained independence from Portugal just a few decades after the United States broke off from Great Britain, though it happened in a decidedly different way. Don Pedro I, first emperor of Brazil, was a member of the Portuguese ruling family (he would eventually briefly rule Portugal too). When Portugal threatened to take back the political autonomy Brazil had enjoyed since 1808, Pedro sided with his adopted homeland against the Portuguese. After a three-year war that was largely bloodless, the Empire of Brazil, which preceded the vibrantly diverse democracy we know today, was born on September 7, 1822.
Quote of the day
Stop telling such outlandish tales. Stop turning minnows into whales.


date: 2022-09-08
filename: CircumnavigationAnni_EN-US9635067459.jpg
title: 500th anniversary of the world getting smaller
copyright:
View of the city from the Setas de Sevilla (Metropol Parasol) in Seville, Spain (© LucVi/Shutterstock)

story:
Seville, Spain
The first recorded expedition to successfully circumnavigate the Earth returned here to Seville, Spain, 500 years ago today. This was the remnants of the Spanish fleet that had set sail under the command of Ferdinand Magellan almost exactly three years previously with the goal of finding a western sea route to the rich Spice Islands of Indonesia. While Magellan gets the glory as leader of the expedition, he didn't actually complete the marathon voyage—he had been killed in a skirmish in the Philippines in April 1521. In the end, his place as leader of the five-ship voyage was filled by Juan Sebastián Elcano, whose command ship, the 'Vittoria,' was the only one in the convoy that survived the trip. Harsh conditions, starvation, scurvy, hostile encounters, and other struggles had taken their toll: Of the roughly 270 crew members who set out, only 18 returned with the expedition.
Although he made only half of this globe-circling journey, Magellan is rightly honored as an outstanding navigator, especially given the rudimentary knowledge of world geography and relatively primitive navigational tools of the time. He was the first European to traverse the strait that now bears his name near the tip of South America, trailblazing the first known passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The eventual success of Magellan's expedition, however bedraggled its remaining crew, also offered the first practical proof of a notion many 16th-century people were still skeptical about: The Earth is round.
Quote of the day
Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.


date: 2022-09-09
filename: BHNMBelize_EN-US6404020386.jpg
title: The other great barrier reef
copyright: Lighthouse Reef, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Belize (© Tom Till/Alamy)
story:
Explore Honduras
Belize Barrier Reef
One of the greatest marvels of the marine world, the Belize Barrier Reef runs 190 miles along the Central American country's Caribbean coast. It's part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that stretches from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to Honduras and is the second-largest reef in the world behind the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef has remained relatively healthy even as many of the planet's reefs are threatened by climate change.
Featured here is a mangrove forest on Lighthouse Reef, one of three major atolls (above-water sections of reef that form ringlike, often lush island chains) in the reef system. It's the most visited of the atolls for one reason: Near its center is the Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole that's 1,043 feet across, 407 feet deep, and a bucket-list destination for serious scuba divers. Now protected within the Blue Hole Natural Monument, the hole was made famous when oceanographer Jacques Cousteau charted its depths in 1971.
The barrier reef is by far Belize's most popular tourist attraction, a destination for diving and fishing as well as sightseeing. An exceptionally diverse ecosystem, it includes more than 400 cays or islands, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, estuaries, and coral atolls. Think of it as a taste of the South Pacific, but a lot closer to home.
Quote of the day
Islands are reminders of arrivals and departures.


date: 2022-09-10
filename: KLMidAutumn_EN-US6642842911.jpg
title: Looking starry-eyed at the moon
copyright: Moon installation for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (© Lim Huey Teng/Reuters)
story:
Explore Kuala Lumpur
Mid-Autumn Festival
Many people in Asia celebrate the fall harvest season with the Mid-Autumn Festival—and since the moon is the, um, star of the show, it's also known as the Moon Festival. The holiday falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month each year and coincides with the full moon. Our photo features a moon installation from the festivities in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. The city is known for its colorful decorations and lively activities during the festival: Crowds flood the city to watch puppet shows, dragon dances, and parades lit by lanterns.
Of course, no festival is complete without food. Mooncakes are the most abundant treat at the Mid-Autumn Festival. These small, tasty pastries vary in style and flavor depending on the country where you're celebrating. Here in Kuala Lumpur, you can find traditional Chinese mooncakes but also unique local varieties, like some made with durian (a prickly tropical fruit known for both great flavor and ghastly smell) and cubilose (said to be delicious despite being made from dried bird spit).
But even if you're not keen to sample every kind of mooncake, you can come together with people of all races and creeds to celebrate Mid-Autumn. After all, the moon lights the way for us all.
Quote of the day
I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!


date: 2022-09-11
filename: SOLHalfStaff_EN-US6710129226.jpg
title: America remembers
copyright:
Statue of Liberty seen behind US flags at half-staff for the anniversary of September 11 in 2014, New York City (© Adam Parent/Shutterstock)

story:
Patriot Day
Patriot Day is held each September 11 to honor the people who were killed in the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. US government buildings throughout the world fly the American flag at half-staff on this day, as do many private homes and establishments. Although schools, government offices, and businesses typically remain open on Patriot Day, communities throughout the country hold remembrances and events to honor the 2,977 people who died.
Patriot Day is also a time to honor thousands of first responders who worked tirelessly and put themselves in harm's way in the horrific aftermath of the attacks. Tribute is also paid to the many men and women who fought in Afghanistan in the months following the attacks.
Quote of the day
You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.


date: 2022-09-12
filename: Aracari_EN-US6920359857.jpg
title: A different kind of toucan
copyright: Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal region of Brazil (© Ana Gram/Shutterstock)
story:
Explore Brazil
Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal, Brazil
Today we're following our nose to the Pantanal in Brazil to visit this member of the toucan family named for the brownish plumage around its ears. What, you've never heard of a chestnut-eared aracari? That could be because aracaris don't really stand out among toucans at a glance: They have long, colorful bills, and they mate for life, always laying eggs in the same nest year after year. But aracaris are much more social nesters: Up to six aracari adults and all their babies might live in one nest.
Toucans are found in tropical climates in Central and South America, mainly in rainforests—our chestnut-eared friend tends to live in the southern Amazon Basin. Known frugivores, or fruit eaters, toucans have also been spotted eating the occasional lizard or even rival bird. They tend to be friendly with humans and have been successfully kept as pets—but probably prefer the wild life.
Quote of the day
It is one of nature's ways that we often feel closer to distant generations than to the generation immediately preceding us.


date: 2022-09-13
filename: GSDNPest_EN-US6985335988.jpg
title: Like sands through the hourglass
copyright: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado (© Y Paudel/Getty Images)
story:
Explore Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Today we celebrate the birthday of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which boasts 750-foot (and higher) sand dunes that cover more than 30 square miles. But the towering hills of sand—the tallest in North America—are just one feature of an eye-popping Colorado landscape that includes conifer forests, alpine lakes, and wetlands. The 150,000-acre park and preserve even encompasses stretches of tundra at the higher elevations, where it edges up against the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Initially proclaimed a national monument in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover, the territory was redesignated as Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve on September 13, 2004, and the size of the park was quadrupled. The protected landscape provides ample opportunities for visitors to enjoy a wide range of activities, from sandboarding and sand sledding down the steep dunes to hiking, camping, horseback riding, and fat-tire biking.
Quote of the day
I won't quit skating until I am physically unable.


date: 2022-09-14
filename: MarbleCanyon_EN-US7056773172.jpg
title: Bridging the gap two ways
copyright:
Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in northern Arizona (© trekandshoot/Alamy)

story:
Explore Arizona
Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon
In the late 1800s, pioneers in Utah who wanted to expand their settlements south into Arizona were confronted by 600 miles of deep canyons carved by the Colorado River. By 1873 a ferry was established to cross the Colorado at the mouth of Glen Canyon—Lees Ferry, as it was called, remained vital to settlers in the area for more than 50 years, until authorities decided a bridge would provide more reliable and safer crossing. Construction began in 1927 of a span across the 834-foot gap of Marble Canyon, at the head of the Grand Canyon. When Grand Canyon Bridge opened to traffic in 1929 it was hailed as a 'modern marvel' and 'the biggest news in Southwest history.'
But as time passed, the bridge, which was officially renamed Navajo Bridge in 1934, saw heavier vehicles and more traffic. Debates raged over the traffic’s impact on Native land and endangered plants, and the likelihood of debris falling into the river below. The solution was a new, nearly identical but wider second bridge just downstream from the original bridge. It was dedicated on September 14, 1995, to much fanfare. Both bridges, collectively known as Navajo Bridge, are about 470 feet above the river below. The original span serves as a path for humans and horses while the new bridge carries vehicles.
Quote of the day
Geology, in the magnitude and sublimity of the objects of which it treats, undoubtedly ranks, in the scale of the sciences, next to astronomy.


date: 2022-09-15
filename: BuffaloMural_EN-US7123580117.jpg
title: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
copyright: Mural by Betsy Casañas in Buffalo, New York (© Tom Loonan)
story:
Explore Buffalo
Hispanic Heritage Month
We're kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with this beautiful mural celebrating the contributions made to the Buffalo, New York, region by the Hispanic and Latinx communities. Artist, community activist, and educator Betsy Casañas, with the assistance of many local artists, created this mural called 'Homeland, Perhaps It Is Because I Wish to See You Fly, That My Flight Continues to Be Yours.' Its subjects highlight local cultural heritage, including portrayals of agricultural production and industrial work. Through conversations with members of the community, Casañas incorporated symbolism inspired by the mixed and integrated Latinx community of Buffalo.
Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of Hispanic and Latinx contributions to the United States, takes place each year from September 15 to October 15. Why doesn't it start at the beginning of the month? Because September 15 and 16 are important dates for many Hispanic communities in the Americas. On September 15, 1821, five Central American nations (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) declared their independence from Spain, almost 11 years to the day (September 16, 1810) after Mexico had declared its independence. These countries were specifically mentioned when US President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the enactment of what was then Hispanic Heritage Week. In the 1980s, the week became a month, and Belize (which had declared independence from the UK on September 21, 1981) was added to the list of celebrated nations.
Quote of the day
The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.


date: 2022-09-16
filename: PianePuma_EN-US7221521942.jpg
title: Nimble and stealthy
copyright: Puma in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile (© Ingo Arndt/Minden Pictures)
story:
Explore Torres Del Paine National Park
Puma in Patagonia
Odds are this very focused puma has its eyes locked on a guanaco, a relative of the llama that's firmly at the top of its daily menu. In this case, dinner will be served in Torres del Paine National Park in the Patagonia region of Chile, the sprawling park recognized as one of the most famous places in the world to watch and photograph wild pumas. While tourists will sometimes see the big cats on their own, trained guides take visitors on hikes or all-terrain vehicle tours to look for the stealthy pumas. The wild cats have been officially protected for the last few years, bolstering their population, and there are abundant guanacos in the Patagonian steppes, which also helps.
The puma (which is the same big cat you might call a mountain lion or cougar) is the fourth-largest cat in the world, following the lion, tiger, and jaguar. Pumas don't roar like their large cousins—instead, they purr like house cats. That might explain why people in Patagonia simply call pumas gatos ('cats' in Spanish). With their characteristic slim build and impressive camouflage coloring, these canny hunters can live 10 years in their remote Patagonian home.
Quote of the day
Cuando el pueblo salta sus barreras, casi ningún esfuerzo es bastante poderoso para detenerlo. (When the people jump their barriers, almost no effort is powerful enough to stop it.)


date: 2022-09-17
filename: Wellenflug_EN-US7380614960.jpg
title: Swinging over Munich
copyright: Oktoberfest visitors in Munich, Germany (© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Getty Images)
story:
Explore Munich
Oktoberfest
Oom-pah, oom-pah… That sound can mean only one thing (at least that isn't chocolate factory-related). It's Oktoberfest season! Don't start the party too fast, though: You might want to ride the Wellenflug swing carousel seen in today's photo before you get too much of that distinctly German beer in your belly. And it is distinct: Due to strict Reinheitsgebot ('purity orders') regulations in place since 1516, real German beer can only be made with certain ingredients—originally just barley, hops, and water, though other additions have trickled in over time.
From today until October 3, brass bands will play traditional German folk music as festive crowds eat, drink, and generally be merry in Munich, Germany—and most everywhere, thanks to the many copycat fests now held around the world. But let's face it, the Germans have most of us beat for beer consumption, as each Munich Oktoberfest sees nearly 2 million gallons of the stuff quaffed by visitors.
Quote of the day
Oh salty sea, how much of your salt is tears from Portugal?


date: 2022-09-18
filename: ArashiyamaBamboo_EN-US7569665443.jpg
title: A grove glows green
copyright: Footpath in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto, Japan (© Razvan Ciuca/Getty Images)
story:
September 18, 2022
Explore Kyoto
World Bamboo Day
One of the most photographed places in Japan is this otherworldly grove of towering bamboo. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on the outskirts of Kyoto is surrounded by temples and shrines along the Katsura River. Rising as a manicured oasis of stories-high bamboo, the grove seems to turn the world green. The former villas and temples of the old noble class are located near the Arashiyama Grove, and its single 500-yard path is usually filled with visitors wielding cameras and selfie sticks, making this serene view a rare one.
World Bamboo Day, celebrated September 18, was created in 2009 to bring attention to this useful and versatile plant that flourishes in East Asia. Though the tallest bamboo can grow up to 100 feet, bamboo is not a tree but a grass. Known for its light weight, strength, and rapid growth, bamboo can be used to make almost anything, from clothing to building materials—and its shoots can even be consumed as food. Because it grows as much as 3 feet in a day, it's a highly renewable resource. For the same reason, it's also an invasive species in some places, as a small stand of bamboo can quickly become a large one. While bamboo grows best in tropical and warm climates, it adapts well to cool temperatures and high altitudes. And though it might have the most cultural value in Asia, it grows wild in Africa, the Americas, and Australia, too. Could there be bamboo growing near you?
One of the most photographed places in Japan is this otherworldly grove of towering bamboo. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on the outskirts of Kyoto is surrounded by temples and shrines along the Katsura River. Rising as a manicured oasis of stories-high bamboo, the grove seems to turn the world green. The former villas and temples of the old noble class are located near the Arashiyama Grove, and its single 500-yard path is usually filled with visitors wielding cameras and selfie sticks, making this serene view a rare one.
One of the basic steps in saving a threatened species is to learn more about it: its diet, its mating and reproductive processes, its range patterns, its social behavior.


date: 2022-09-19
filename: QueenFuneral_EN-US7710269016.jpg
title: Farewell, Ma'am
copyright:
Floral tributes left in London, England, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II (© Maja Smiejkowska/Reuters)

story:
September 19, 2022
State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Britain bids farewell to Queen Elizabeth II today, as her state funeral takes place in London's historic Westminster Abbey. Crowds are lining the streets to pay their final respects to the queen, who died peacefully at her Scottish residence, Balmoral, at age 96 on September 8, after more than 70 years on the throne. The royal family, world leaders, and senior UK politicians are attending the funeral, which is being broadcast across the world. After the service, the queen will be laid to rest in St. George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, alongside Prince Philip, her beloved husband of 73 years, whom she described as her "strength and stay."
Queen Elizabeth II is Britain's longest-reigning monarch, and she dedicated her life to public service through turbulent times in the nation and beyond. From jubilees and celebrations to tragedy and political upheaval, she remained a constant, steady force, balancing duty and family responsibilities in her role as the country's head of state.
While Britons are sharing their loss and memories of the queen, some see it as a time to question the very existence of the monarchy, wishing to break with their colonial past by removing the British monarch as head of state and becoming a republic. All eyes are on her son King Charles III as he begins his reign, wondering whether he will follow closely in his mother's footsteps or forge a royal path of his own.
Britain bids farewell to Queen Elizabeth II today, as her state funeral takes place in London's historic Westminster Abbey. Crowds are lining the streets to pay their final respects to the queen, who died peacefully at her Scottish residence, Balmoral, at age 96 on September 8, after more than 70 years on the throne. The royal family, world leaders, and senior UK politicians are attending the funeral, which is being broadcast across the world. After the service, the queen will be laid to rest in St. George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, alongside Prince Philip, her beloved husband of 73 years, whom she described as her "strength and stay."
Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.


date: 2022-09-20
filename: SitkaOtters_EN-US7714053956.jpg
title: Teddy bears of the sea
copyright: Raft of sea otters in Sitka Sound, near Sitka, Alaska (© Robert Harding/Offset/Shutterstock)
story:
September 20, 2022
Explore Alaska
Sea Otter Awareness Week
Officially called Enhydra lutris, and unofficially known as the cutest creatures that float, these sea otters in Sitka Sound, Alaska, are doing what otters do, showing us that it truly does take a village, in this case a flotilla. Groups of either males or females (sometimes with pups), are appropriately named rafts. Male rafts tend to be larger and can number more than 1,000 individuals. Sea otters' buoyant bodies indeed work like literal rafts, standing in as cradles, dinner tables, or any kind of solid surface. That's handy because otters spend the vast majority of their lives in the water, even giving birth in the sea. Although they seem to live carefree lives, frolicking and grooming and diving, they also serve an important role in keeping their aquatic ecosystems healthy, something to remember this week as we mark Sea Otter Awareness Week, observed every year during the last week of September.
Otters keep the giant kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean healthy by eating sea urchins, which would otherwise decimate kelp, an important habitat for many fish and other sea creatures. Otters also eat crabs, shellfish, squid, and other invertebrates. They've learned to crack the shells of some of their shellfish prey by smashing the crustaceans and mollusks against a rock (fetched from the sea floor of course) lodged on their bellies. An otter's caloric needs are huge. It must eat a quarter of its body weight each day to keep up with its cold-water metabolism.
The key to an otter's aquatic lifestyle is its fur, the thickest of any mammal, with about 1 million hairs per square inch, so dense its skin never actually gets wet. Otters need all those gazillion hairs to stay warm as they don't have a layer of blubber like other marine mammals. Their luxuriant coats made them favorite targets for 18th- and 19th-century trappers who hunted otters to near extinction before they were protected by law. Although sea otter populations have rebounded, they are still considered endangered. Otters live along the Pacific Coast of North America, from California up to Alaska. Although they can walk on land, they almost never find the need or desire to, even when it's nap time. When they're ready for a snooze, they'll raft up, wrap themselves in a strand of kelp to keep them from drifting away, and recline on the world's biggest waterbed.
Officially called Enhydra lutris, and unofficially known as the cutest creatures that float, these sea otters in Sitka Sound, Alaska, are doing what otters do, showing us that it truly does take a village, in this case a flotilla. Groups of either males or females (sometimes with pups), are appropriately named rafts. Male rafts tend to be larger and can number more than 1,000 individuals. Sea otters' buoyant bodies indeed work like literal rafts, standing in as cradles, dinner tables, or any kind of solid surface. That's handy because otters spend the vast majority of their lives in the water, even giving birth in the sea. Although they seem to live carefree lives, frolicking and grooming and diving, they also serve an important role in keeping their aquatic ecosystems healthy, something to remember this week as we mark Sea Otter Awareness Week, observed every year during the last week of September.
You cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.


date: 2022-09-21
filename: PWPeaceDoves_EN-US7797522376.jpg
title: A dramatic celebration of peace
copyright:
'Peace Doves' by artist Peter Walker in Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, England (© PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

story:
September 21, 2022
Explore Liverpool
International Day of Peace
Today we're marking the International Day of Peace, first commemorated in 1981, when the United Nations dedicated the day to 'strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of nonviolence and ceasefire.' This year's theme is 'End racism, build peace.' As the UN says, 'Achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.'
Our photo today shows a striking symbolic artwork that seems as if it were commissioned to commemorate the International Day of Peace. Thousands of hands helped create 'Peace Doves,' an artwork installation from 2021 by sculptor Peter Walker that pulled together children and community groups in Liverpool, England. People wrote personal messages of peace on 18,000 paper doves, then those birds joined a dramatic heavenward flight of doves suspended on 15.5 miles of ribbon from the ceiling of Liverpool Cathedral. The lighting drew the focus to the powerful art installation, and if you stood inside the canopy of doves, you could look up and see where the strings of birds converged into starry points of light. Composer David Harper's musical soundscape added yet another layer to the artwork, which people flocked to—60,000 visitors marveled at the 'Peace Doves' in the first month. The main impressions noted? 'Beautiful' and 'moving.'
Today we're marking the International Day of Peace, first commemorated in 1981, when the United Nations dedicated the day to 'strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of nonviolence and ceasefire.' This year's theme is 'End racism, build peace.' As the UN says, 'Achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.'
Peace begins with a smile.


date: 2022-09-22
filename: LastDollarRoad_EN-US7923638318.jpg
title: Quaking with autumn color
copyright:
The aspen canopy along the Last Dollar Road near Telluride, Colorado (© Grant Ordelheide/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
September 22, 2022
Explore Telluride
First day of autumn
There's a chance this dazzling, ground-up view of fall foliage is not where you think it is. While New England garners most of the leaf-peeping attention in the US this time of year, the high country of Colorado puts on a spectacular show out West. The aspens of the Centennial State turn shades of gold and orange in autumn, which officially starts today. Fall typically marks the end of vacations, the beginning of school, the arrival of chilly nights, and, if you're lucky, a display of leaves turned brilliant shades of gold and red.
This thicket of aspen trees is on the Last Dollar Road, an 18-mile scenic drive in southwest Colorado that is as dramatic as its name suggests, with switchbacks and stunning views of peaks and meadows and of course the aspen trees that paint the land come September. Aspens thrive in the cold winters and cool summers of western North America, where they grow at altitudes between 5,000 to 11,000 feet. Their distinct, round leaves quake in the wind, making it appear as if the trees are glittering in the sunlight. Aspens generally grow on west-facing slopes, gorging on the afternoon sun. They're among the world's largest living organisms because aspen groves share a single root system. They're also the state's only native deciduous tree and cover about a fifth of its forested land.
There are many places to see them, but none better than the Last Dollar Road. It's unique among scenic byways in the US. For one, it's not a highway at all, but a road, and a dirt road at that. It joins the towns of Ridgway in the north and Telluride in the south, but this bumpy path twists and turns in every direction as well as up and down. The road is never plowed, so when the first snow falls, the road closes and stays closed until spring arrives. That makes this the last time of year you can take this drive, and it happens to be the most beautiful. Just make sure your tires have plenty of tread and your shock absorbers are ready for a workout.
There's a chance this dazzling, ground-up view of fall foliage is not where you think it is. While New England garners most of the leaf-peeping attention in the US this time of year, the high country of Colorado puts on a spectacular show out West. The aspens of the Centennial State turn shades of gold and orange in autumn, which officially starts today. Fall typically marks the end of vacations, the beginning of school, the arrival of chilly nights, and, if you're lucky, a display of leaves turned brilliant shades of gold and red.
Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.


date: 2022-09-23
filename: GoldenJellyfish_EN-US6743816471.jpg
title: In a world all their own
copyright:
Golden jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake on the island of Eil Malk, Palau (© Nature Picture Library/Alamy)

story:
September 23, 2022
Explore Palau
Golden jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake, Palau
If you're lucky enough to see this view through the lens of your diving mask, you must be snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake on the island of Eil Malk in the Pacific island nation of Palau. Golden jellyfish are a subspecies unique to this small lake, on this small island—they're found nowhere else on the planet. Millions of teacup-sized golden jellies inhabit the lake, following the sunlight that nourishes them. Symbiotic algae live inside the jellyfish and provide their hosts with energy as a byproduct of photosynthesis. The more sun the jellies get, the more energy they derive from their hitchhikers. The jellies start the day at the east end of the lake and drift westward until dusk, following the arc of the sun.
The saltwater marine lake they live in is one of dozens in the Rock Islands, which Eil Malk is part of. The Rock Islands, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, is a scattering of hundreds of very small, mostly unpopulated limestone islands and islets characterized by their mushroom-like shapes. On Eil Malk, Jellyfish Lake appears to be landlocked, but it's connected to the ocean by three shallow tunnels that bring water into and out of the lake with the tides. Nevertheless, the lake is so isolated from the nearby lagoon that the golden jellies evolved in this micro universe mostly cut off from other food sources and predators. As a result, they've lost their ability to sting. So, if you take a dip—snorkeling is allowed, but not scuba diving—there's no need to keep a polite distance.
If you're lucky enough to see this view through the lens of your diving mask, you must be snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake on the island of Eil Malk in the Pacific island nation of Palau. Golden jellyfish are a subspecies unique to this small lake, on this small island—they're found nowhere else on the planet. Millions of teacup-sized golden jellies inhabit the lake, following the sunlight that nourishes them. Symbiotic algae live inside the jellyfish and provide their hosts with energy as a byproduct of photosynthesis. The more sun the jellies get, the more energy they derive from their hitchhikers. The jellies start the day at the east end of the lake and drift westward until dusk, following the arc of the sun.
The solar system should be viewed as our backyard, not as some sequence of destinations that we do one at a time.


date: 2022-09-24
filename: DarkSkyAcadia_EN-US6966527964.jpg
title: Starry, starry night
copyright: Milky Way over Acadia National Park, Maine (© Harry Collins/Getty Images)
story:
September 24, 2022
Explore Acadia National Park
National Public Lands Day
This striking photo lets us showcase two noteworthy events in one day, at no extra charge. (You're welcome.) National Public Lands Day is observed on the fourth Saturday in September, and today's also part of the Acadia Night Sky Festival, which celebrates the starlit skies over Maine's gem of a national park.
It's easy to take our national parks for granted. We certainly appreciate them and enjoy visiting, but today's commemoration reminds us that they also need our help. National Public Lands Day turns the spotlight on parks and other public lands, inviting everyone to explore but also to volunteer to plant trees, work on trail-maintenance projects, and more. As a bonus: Admission is free today at national parks, monuments, and other participating federal sites.
Acadia is one of the smallest of the nation's 63 national parks, but it's attracted an impressive 4 million visitors annually in recent years. Aside from its natural beauty, Acadia has some of the most spectacular star-filled night skies in the eastern United States. The natural darkness is protected, with restrictions on outdoor lighting in the park and surrounding areas. The Acadia Night Sky Festival, which started on September 21 and continues through tomorrow, celebrates the natural darkness and the celestial star show. A favorite way to mark the occasion is by kayaking in Castine Harbor, where bioluminescent phytoplankton illuminate the water with a swirling, unearthly glow. With sparkling waters below and out-of-this-world stargazing above, it's been called Acadia's 'Floating Planetarium.'
This striking photo lets us showcase two noteworthy events in one day, at no extra charge. (You're welcome.) National Public Lands Day is observed on the fourth Saturday in September, and today's also part of the Acadia Night Sky Festival, which celebrates the starlit skies over Maine's gem of a national park.
Does travel bring wisdom? I think there is probably no better place to find out than Peru.


date: 2022-09-25
filename: AmazonMangroves_EN-US7068770726.jpg
title: The rivers run through us
copyright: Aerial view of the Amazon River in Brazil (© Curioso.Photography/Shutterstock)
story:
September 25, 2022
World Rivers Day
On World Rivers Day, we honor what may be thought of as the queen of them all—the Amazon, which flows more than 4,000 miles mostly through the South American countries of Peru and Brazil. The Amazon discharges a whopping 58 million gallons of fresh water into the ocean every second, enough to fill 83 Olympic-sized swimming pools, far more water than any other river in the world. It accounts for 20% of all fresh water that flows into the world's seas and oceans. It's also the vital heart of the largest and most diverse rainforest in the world. The Amazon rainforest is home to a third of the world's animal species and its trees and plants pull billions of tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, making it one of the Earth's best defenses against climate change.
Mark Angelo, a river conservationist from British Columbia, launched World Rivers Day in 2005 to recognize the importance of rivers to the survival of humanity and millions of species all over the world. Rivers are our best source of fresh water, they can be an important energy source, they're the foundations of complex ecosystems, and they provide crucial sources of irrigation for our crops, among other contributions to our way of life. Besides, who doesn't love a float down a lazy river?
On World Rivers Day, we honor what may be thought of as the queen of them all—the Amazon, which flows more than 4,000 miles mostly through the South American countries of Peru and Brazil. The Amazon discharges a whopping 58 million gallons of fresh water into the ocean every second, enough to fill 83 Olympic-sized swimming pools, far more water than any other river in the world. It accounts for 20% of all fresh water that flows into the world's seas and oceans. It's also the vital heart of the largest and most diverse rainforest in the world. The Amazon rainforest is home to a third of the world's animal species and its trees and plants pull billions of tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, making it one of the Earth's best defenses against climate change.
Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense.


date: 2022-09-26
filename: SusitnaRiver_EN-US7154675950.jpg
title: Time to make an impression
copyright: Caribou crossing the Susitna River during autumn, Alaska (© Tim Plowden/Alamy)
story:
September 26, 2022
Explore Alaska
Autumn in Alaska
It's that time of year when Alaskan caribou are beginning to feel a little frisky. From late September until early November, males will be strutting their stuff, locking antlers with one another, and competing for the attention of females in hopes of furthering the species. Successful males will mate with 15-20 females a season. After the rutting season males will shed their antlers while females keep theirs until spring. In today's photo we're looking at some caribou in southcentral Alaska crossing the Susitna River.
Alaska has 32 distinct caribou herds. It's likely today's caribou are members of the Nelchina herd, which roams across about 20,000 square miles in the high basin surrounded by the Talkeetna, Chugach, Wrangell, and Alaska ranges. The Nelchina herd is among the most studied and recognized of Alaskan caribou partly because their range is relatively close to the major human population centers of the state. The herd has provided food for Alaskans for hundreds of years and its population is maintained through carefully monitored hunting regulations. But caribou populations can fluctuate from one year to the next depending on the availability of food and severity of the weather.
It's that time of year when Alaskan caribou are beginning to feel a little frisky. From late September until early November, males will be strutting their stuff, locking antlers with one another, and competing for the attention of females in hopes of furthering the species. Successful males will mate with 15-20 females a season. After the rutting season males will shed their antlers while females keep theirs until spring. In today's photo we're looking at some caribou in southcentral Alaska crossing the Susitna River.
There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!


date: 2022-09-27
filename: YellowstoneUGB_EN-US7573964019.jpg
title: Where fire and water meet
copyright: Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (© Ray Urner/Tandem Stills + Motion)
story:
September 27, 2022
Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
The highest concentration of geysers in the world is found here in this corner of Yellowstone National Park, called the Upper Geyser Basin. They include what is perhaps the most famous geyser of them all: Old Faithful. But the Upper Basin contains many other geysers as well, including the tallest predictable geyser (Grand Geyser) and the most voluminous geyser (Giant Geyser). Yellowstone contains about 500 geysers, roughly two-thirds the number in the entire world.
Geysers are essentially a rare form of hot spring—a water-filled tube that extends thousands of feet into the Earth's crust, so deep it makes contact with molten rock called magma. The magma is so hot that the water boils, builds to an extreme pressure, then shoots into the air, emptying the tube. After some time, more groundwater seeps into the tube, filling it, and starting the process over again. That's why geysers erupt at somewhat regular intervals. The bigger the tube, the more water, and the longer the eruption. Yellowstone is one of the few places in the world where you can safely walk among so many geysers and superheated springs, and view them close up. Trails and boardwalks guide the way, making the Upper Geyser Basin one of the star attractions of this famous national park.
The highest concentration of geysers in the world is found here in this corner of Yellowstone National Park, called the Upper Geyser Basin. They include what is perhaps the most famous geyser of them all: Old Faithful. But the Upper Basin contains many other geysers as well, including the tallest predictable geyser (Grand Geyser) and the most voluminous geyser (Giant Geyser). Yellowstone contains about 500 geysers, roughly two-thirds the number in the entire world.
Truths and roses have thorns about them.


date: 2022-09-28
filename: FosterCoveredBridge_EN-US7763700078.jpg
title: A modern recreation
copyright: A. M. Foster Bridge in Cabot, Vermont (© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images)
story:
September 28, 2022
A. M. Foster Bridge in Cabot, Vermont
At one point in history, the United States had upwards of 14,000 wooden covered bridges. Most of them were built between 1825 and 1875 to cross a stream or river and were intended to withstand the elements. An uncovered wooden bridge may have a life span of only about 20 years while a covered bridge could stand for more than 100. Even still, they don't fare well without upkeep and restoration costs can be high. That's why iron replaced wood as the preferred bridge-building material in the mid-1800s. These days, fewer than 900 of the original wooden covered bridges are believed to still be standing. The A. M. Foster Bridge, seen in today's photo, can be found in Cabot, Vermont.
Named after Alonzo Merrill Foster, the inventor of a type of spout for collecting maple tree sap to be made into syrup, the bridge is located on Spaulding Farm. Don't be deceived—the Foster Bridge is actually a 1990s replica of a 'farm bridge' that was built in 1890 and known as the Orton Bridge. Despite being a replica, the Foster Bridge was authentically constructed by hand, in collaboration with Foster's great-grandson, with spruce lumber and salvaged granite. Spanning 45 feet across a pond and literally bridging the gap between two farms, it took less than six weeks to complete. Unfortunately, the bridge was found to be too narrow for modern farm equipment, a miscalculation that its constructors found amusing. Still, it works well as a photo opportunity and frequent venue for weddings.
At one point in history, the United States had upwards of 14,000 wooden covered bridges. Most of them were built between 1825 and 1875 to cross a stream or river and were intended to withstand the elements. An uncovered wooden bridge may have a life span of only about 20 years while a covered bridge could stand for more than 100. Even still, they don't fare well without upkeep and restoration costs can be high. That's why iron replaced wood as the preferred bridge-building material in the mid-1800s. These days, fewer than 900 of the original wooden covered bridges are believed to still be standing. The A. M. Foster Bridge, seen in today's photo, can be found in Cabot, Vermont.
A wise person climbs Mount Fuji once, but only a fool does it twice.


date: 2022-09-29
filename: InfiniD_EN-US7855471603.jpg
title: Blurring the lines with wearable art
copyright:
Infini-D, modeled during the World of WearableArt Awards in 2019 in Wellington, New Zealand (© Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt)

story:
September 29, 2022
Explore Wellington
World of WearableArt Awards
Clothes used to be animal hides and fur. Art used to be stick figures painted on cave walls. Times have changed. Now fashion is a major industry and art can be a lucrative field, too. Today we're celebrating 'wearable art,' which blurs genres and has passionate devotees. Curious? Well, check out the World of WearableArt (WOW), which is WOW-ing (sorry) fashion and art fans with its awards show in New Zealand right now. The competition runs till October 16 and features work by global designers, artists, and costumers—it's New Zealand's largest theatrical production. The competition is just part of the event, though—there are dancers, musicians, and aerialists, too.
Our photo shows Infini-D, a 2019 winner that is, according to a press release, 'a homage to Yayoi Kusama—a meditation on geometry, dimensionality, and cinematic postmodern gothic,' by Australian designers Tara Morelos, Ahmad Mollahassani, and Nelia Justo. It's not just the look that's unconventional: The outfit was created using electronics, acrylic, cardboard, and fabric. We suspect it's not designed to be worn in the rain.
WOW is the brainchild of Dame Suzie Moncrieff, a sculptor who envisioned art displayed on the moving human body rather than static, dull gallery walls. She organized the first event in 1987, in the rural New Zealand area of Nelson, where she lived. Now it's held in New Zealand's capital, Wellington, and it's become a worldwide phenomenon, with 103 designers from around the globe delighting audiences this year.
Clothes used to be animal hides and fur. Art used to be stick figures painted on cave walls. Times have changed. Now fashion is a major industry and art can be a lucrative field, too. Today we're celebrating 'wearable art,' which blurs genres and has passionate devotees. Curious? Well, check out the World of WearableArt (WOW), which is WOW-ing (sorry) fashion and art fans with its awards show in New Zealand right now. The competition runs till October 16 and features work by global designers, artists, and costumers—it's New Zealand's largest theatrical production. The competition is just part of the event, though—there are dancers, musicians, and aerialists, too.
Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.


date: 2022-09-30
filename: EubalaenaAustralis_EN-US7949014397.jpg
title: Giants of the Southern Ocean
copyright:
Southern right whale diving in the Golfo Nuevo near the Valdes Peninsula, Argentina (© Gabriel Rojo/Minden Pictures)

story:
September 30, 2022
Explore Chubut Province
Southern right whale
The end of September in the Southern Hemisphere means warming weather and the nearing of summer. For southern right whales like this one off the coast of Argentina, it's time to migrate southward toward Antarctica and rich feeding grounds. Southern right whales are a subspecies of right whale that inhabit the oceans below the equator. They feed on krill at the surface of the water, holding their mouths open as they swim through clouds of the tiny crustaceans.
Right whales got their name because they were the 'right' whale to hunt, desirable to whalers because they were relatively slow and floated when they died. Right whales are easily identifiable by the thick white calluses on their heads. They tend to be social and curious creatures and sometimes have close encounters with humans. They spend the southern winter in warmer waters closer to the equator. The whale featured today surfaced off the Valdes Peninsula, home to the largest breeding population in the world, and a fitting location for the Southern Whale Natural Monument, created in 1984. In these protected waters, thousands of whales will mate and give birth, staying until October or November, when they will begin their great migration south.
The end of September in the Southern Hemisphere means warming weather and the nearing of summer. For southern right whales like this one off the coast of Argentina, it's time to migrate southward toward Antarctica and rich feeding grounds. Southern right whales are a subspecies of right whale that inhabit the oceans below the equator. They feed on krill at the surface of the water, holding their mouths open as they swim through clouds of the tiny crustaceans.
One sailor will do us more good than two soldiers.


date: 2022-10-01
filename: BridalVeilFalls_EN-US8055892423.jpg
title: Spirit of the Puffing Wind
copyright: Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, California (© Jeff Foott/Minden Pictures)
story:
October 1, 2022
Explore Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park turns 132
There are thousands of waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, but perhaps none are as well known as Bridalveil Fall. First things first: Don't call it 'falls' because then someone may think you were in Utah where another waterfall bears the surprisingly similar name, Bridal Veil Falls. Bridalveil, as seen in the photo, is often the first waterfall visitors to Yosemite encounter. It plunges 617 feet and flows year-round, fed with water from Ostrander Lake nearly 10 miles away. When the flow is light, brisk winds blow the water sideways. That's why the Ahwahneechee Native Americans, who have lived in the Yosemite Valley for centuries, traditionally called the waterfall Pohono, or 'Spirit of the Puffing Wind.'
When Yosemite was made a national park on this date in 1890, it not only preserved this jewel of the Sierra Nevada from being turned over to sheep grazing, it was also pivotal to the continued idea of protecting natural areas for the future. Scottish American environmentalist John Muir is credited with convincing President Benjamin Harrison to preserve the Yosemite Valley, and that success kicked off a string of conservation efforts that would eventually lead to the creation of the National Park System. Today, Yosemite's pristine wilderness is internationally known for mountains, granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, and, of course, waterfalls.
There are thousands of waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, but perhaps none are as well known as Bridalveil Fall. First things first: Don't call it 'falls' because then someone may think you were in Utah where another waterfall bears the surprisingly similar name, Bridal Veil Falls. Bridalveil, as seen in the photo, is often the first waterfall visitors to Yosemite encounter. It plunges 617 feet and flows year-round, fed with water from Ostrander Lake nearly 10 miles away. When the flow is light, brisk winds blow the water sideways. That's why the Ahwahneechee Native Americans, who have lived in the Yosemite Valley for centuries, traditionally called the waterfall Pohono, or 'Spirit of the Puffing Wind.'
Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.


date: 2022-10-02
filename: LotsOBalloons_EN-US8236203600.jpg
title: The oldest way to fly
copyright:
Hot air balloons at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico (© gmeland/Shutterstock)

story:
October 2, 2022
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
October means pumpkin fields, Halloween, leaf-peeping, and the World Series. But in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the beginning of October means a skyful of hot air balloons. The 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest gathering of balloonists in the world, with more than 500 hot air balloons going aloft this week. The now nine-day event got its start by launching 13 balloons from a shopping mall parking lot in 1972 to celebrate the birthday of a local radio station. It has easily become the biggest event of the year in Albuquerque, whose entire populace can view balloons in flight simply by stepping outside their homes and looking up.
The event is staged from the 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park, on the northern outskirts of Albuquerque with the Sandia Mountains a few miles away. The Balloon Fiesta claims to be the most photographed event in the world, and it's easy to understand why. The highlight of the week is a mass ascension, in two waves, of all the balloons, decorated with every color and some shaped like animals or cartoon characters. In the age of jets and helicopters and rockets, this mass celebration of nearly silent flight reminds us that the magic of flying is not about speed, but simply reaching the sky.
October means pumpkin fields, Halloween, leaf-peeping, and the World Series. But in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the beginning of October means a skyful of hot air balloons. The 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest gathering of balloonists in the world, with more than 500 hot air balloons going aloft this week. The now nine-day event got its start by launching 13 balloons from a shopping mall parking lot in 1972 to celebrate the birthday of a local radio station. It has easily become the biggest event of the year in Albuquerque, whose entire populace can view balloons in flight simply by stepping outside their homes and looking up.
The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane.


date: 2022-10-03
filename: Porthuis_EN-US8462686696.jpg
title: A future built on the past
copyright: The Port House, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Antwerp, Belgium (© Dmitry Rukhlenko/Alamy)
story:
October 3, 2022
Explore Antwerp
World Architecture Day
In Belgium's largest city, the Antwerp Port Authority is housed in a century-old building that sports a gleaming new addition. The update to the building, known as the Port House, was the vision that Zaha Hadid created with her team at Zaha Hadid Architects, which won a 2009 competition to build the new structure around a 1911 firehouse. Work was completed in 2016, the same year the famed architect died. The expansion is intended to resemble the hull of a sailing ship with a protruding bow glimmering with diamonds, recalling Antwerp's longtime trade in precious stones.
Today we celebrate World Architecture Day and its 2022 theme of 'Architecture for well-being.' Architecture that preserves historic buildings by combining them with modern structures is becoming more prevalent as cities seek to retain the spirit of their earlier incarnations while creating new, modern spaces and never-before-seen constructions. Some famous examples of this style include the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, the Museum of Military History in Dresden, Germany, and another Hadid design, St. Antony's College in Oxford, England.
In Belgium's largest city, the Antwerp Port Authority is housed in a century-old building that sports a gleaming new addition. The update to the building, known as the Port House, was the vision that Zaha Hadid created with her team at Zaha Hadid Architects, which won a 2009 competition to build the new structure around a 1911 firehouse. Work was completed in 2016, the same year the famed architect died. The expansion is intended to resemble the hull of a sailing ship with a protruding bow glimmering with diamonds, recalling Antwerp's longtime trade in precious stones.
Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?


date: 2022-10-04
filename: CosmicCliffs_EN-US8727581889.jpg
title: Golden cliffs of deep space
copyright: Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula (© NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI)
story:
October 4, 2022
World Space Week
Since the first pictures arrived from the James Webb Space Telescope this July, the world has been mesmerized by the vividness, resolution, and literally otherworldly nature of the telescope's infrared images. The JWST's technology will revolutionize the fields of astronomy and cosmology, allowing observation of the first stars in the universe and the formation of the first galaxies. The telescope's high infrared resolution and sensitivity may even allow it to reveal potentially habitable exoplanets.
Today marks the first day of World Space Week, a UN-recognized event that runs each year from October 4, the anniversary of the launch of Sputnik in 1957, to October 10, the anniversary of the Outer Space Treaty going into effect in 1967. We're celebrating with this iridescent image of an early star-forming region called the Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula, captured in infrared.
Since the first pictures arrived from the James Webb Space Telescope this July, the world has been mesmerized by the vividness, resolution, and literally otherworldly nature of the telescope's infrared images. The JWST's technology will revolutionize the fields of astronomy and cosmology, allowing observation of the first stars in the universe and the formation of the first galaxies. The telescope's high infrared resolution and sensitivity may even allow it to reveal potentially habitable exoplanets.
What if every world leader saw Earth from space? It might be a more gentle, kind planet.


date: 2022-10-05
filename: FlamingoTeacher_EN-US8819896781.jpg
title: Single file, now!
copyright:
Caribbean flamingos, Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (© Claudio Contreras/Minden Pictures)

story:
October 5, 2022
Explore Yucatán
World Teachers' Day
Class trip? Looks like this teacher has their youngsters in line. If only it were always this easy.... Today is World Teachers' Day, and we're celebrating educators of all kinds. This year's theme is 'Teachers at the heart of educational renewal,' and it highlights the remarkable efforts of teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. They've had to balance health and safety concerns with an abrupt switch to remote learning or partial in-person classes, all while focusing on the education and well-being of their students.
Our flamingo teacher here may not have had to worry about COVID, but they certainly have their wings full. Though their gray charges don't look flamingo-y yet, they will. Flamingo youngsters, like those here at the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, develop the coloration of adults at around 1 to 2 years of age, so those trademark pink feathers will soon start to appear. The hot-pink coloring comes from the flamingo diet: They eat food that contains a lot of alpha and beta carotenoid pigments, such as algae, bugs, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Class trip? Looks like this teacher has their youngsters in line. If only it were always this easy.... Today is World Teachers' Day, and we're celebrating educators of all kinds. This year's theme is 'Teachers at the heart of educational renewal,' and it highlights the remarkable efforts of teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. They've had to balance health and safety concerns with an abrupt switch to remote learning or partial in-person classes, all while focusing on the education and well-being of their students.
The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves.


date: 2022-10-06
filename: BayofBiscay_EN-US8933430968.jpg
title: Dragon tails trail to the sea
copyright: Basque Coast Geopark in the Bay of Biscay near Bilbao, Spain (© Olimpio Fantuz/eStock Photo)
story:
October 6, 2022
International Geodiversity Day
These dragon tail-like structures that stretch into the Bay of Biscay are part of one of the most unique and remarkable geologic formations on the planet. The Basque Coast of northern Spain is a wonderland for geologists and for people who just like looking at cool rocks. Guided tours of the Basque Coast Geopark allow visitors to discover 60 million years of uninterrupted geologic history.
Today is International Geodiversity Day, an observance introduced by the United Nations in 2021 to bring awareness to the many aspects of nature that aren't alive but are so crucial to our planet nonetheless, from rocks and soils, to landscapes, fossils, and glaciers.
These dragon tail-like structures that stretch into the Bay of Biscay are part of one of the most unique and remarkable geologic formations on the planet. The Basque Coast of northern Spain is a wonderland for geologists and for people who just like looking at cool rocks. Guided tours of the Basque Coast Geopark allow visitors to discover 60 million years of uninterrupted geologic history.
I can resist everything except temptation.


date: 2022-10-07
filename: OberbaumBridge_EN-US6324390642.jpg
title: An old bridge in a new light
copyright:
Designs projected on the Oberbaum Bridge during the yearly Festival of Lights in Berlin, Germany (© John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images)

story:
The double-decker Oberbaum Bridge is one of Berlin's most beloved and iconic landmarks. For centuries the Oberbaum Bridge connected the two districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg until they were separated by the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989. The first bridge at this spot was built in the 1700s, although the current road-and-rail Oberbaum was constructed at the end of the 19th century.


date: 2022-10-08
filename: GlassOctopus_EN-US6394802515.jpg
title: See-through cephalopod
copyright: Glass octopus in the Atlantic Ocean off Cabo Verde (© Solvin Zankl/Minden Pictures)
story:
One of the least understood of sea creatures, this glass octopus lives in the depths of the ocean where sunlight can't reach, about 3,000 feet down. Glass octopuses are rarely seen and difficult to observe, but they're a great example of the diversity of the order Octopoda, which we're celebrating today on World Octopus Day. The observance comes around, appropriately, every Oct 8.


date: 2022-10-09
filename: ChukchiSea_EN-US6494940864.jpg
title: What's blooming so brightly?
copyright:
Phytoplankton blooming in the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska (© Norman Kuring/Kathryn Hansen/U.S. Geological Survey/NASA)

story:
Hundreds of shades of blue are marbled together in this cool shot. No, it's not a work of modern art, it's right off the brush of nature. This is a satellite photo of phytoplankton blooming near Alaska as the cool, salty Chukchi Sea mingles with warmer, fresher water closer to shore.


date: 2022-10-10
filename: SacredSmoke_EN-US7047459944.jpg
title: 'Circle of Sacred Smoke'
copyright:
The 'Circle of Sacred Smoke' sculpture by Junkyu Muto frames Devils Tower in Wyoming (© Nagel Photography/Shutterstock)

story:
We're celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day by peering through the sculpture called 'Circle of Sacred Smoke' aka 'Wind Circle' or 'Circle Wind' at Devils Tower, one of the most famous rock monoliths in the US. The 'Circle,' sculpted by Japanese artist Junkyu Muto and installed in 2008, is the third of seven 'peace sculptures' placed around the world. Twelve feet high and made of white marble, it's intended to evoke a puff of smoke from a Native American ceremonial pipe.


date: 2022-10-11
filename: TortulaMoss_EN-US7128071079.jpg
title: Magnified moss
copyright: Wall screw-moss glistening with water droplets, Netherlands (© Arjan Troost/Minden Pictures)
story:
You may be surprised to learn that this elegant plant dappled with water droplets is a variety of moss: Tortula muralis, better known as wall screw-moss. It's found all over the world, even in urban areas where more sensitive mosses have a hard time thriving because of dry soil and air pollution. Mosses in general are accurate monitors of air pollution—they absorb air and water, so contaminants can also be measured in their cells.


date: 2022-10-12
filename: AmmoniteGraveyard_EN-US7510840532.jpg
title: Stepping back in time
copyright:
Ammonite Pavement at Monmouth Beach, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, Dorset, England (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)

story:
Travel back 199 million years with a trip to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, a 95-mile-long stretch of coastline in southern England. This stunning fossil display is known as the Ammonite Pavement, where thousands of ammonite fossils are embedded in a limestone ledge at the west end of Monmouth Beach in Dorset. Although the ammonites look rather like snail shells, these are fossils of extinct sea creatures that are more closely related to today's octopus or squid. Britain's Natural History Museum notes that the fossil-filled ledge is unique in the world because of the sheer number and size of the ammonites: The fossils reach up to 27 inches in diameter. If you want to check them out, timing is everything—the ledge emerges at low tide, and there are more ammonites in large rocks nearby, too.


date: 2022-10-13
filename: AlaskaMoose_EN-US7632880778.jpg
title: When being in a rut is OK
copyright:
Bull and female moose in Denali National Park, Alaska (© Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott/Minden Pictures)

story:
After months of eating, roaming, and avoiding predators, Alaska moose spend autumn trying to propagate the species during what is called the rutting season, which runs from late September to early October. Males, called bulls, will mark their scent on trees to attract females. They’ll also fight other bulls for access to females, called cows.


date: 2022-10-14
filename: RioArazas_EN-US7767502808.jpg
title: Gateway to Iberia
copyright:
Waterfall on the Río Arazas in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Pyrenees, Spain (© David Santiago Garcia/Cavan Images)

story:
Striking in any season, but particularly beautiful in years when the warmth of summer stretches into fall, the Pyrenees have served as a natural border between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe since the earliest civilizations took root there. Located in the center of the range, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park was created in 1918 and expanded in 1982. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


date: 2022-10-15
filename: NaqsheRustam_EN-US7919143366.jpg
title: Final resting place of kings
copyright: Naqsh-e Rostam archaeological site near Persepolis, Iran (© mshirani/Shutterstock)
story:
Naqsh-e Rostam is an ancient necropolis carved into the mountains of southwestern Iran, a porthole into one of the earliest civilizations to flourish in ancient Persia. The tombs of four Achaemenid kings (you can see three of them here) are marked by rock reliefs carved high above the ground into the cliff face. This site and the area around it are of huge significance to the history of Iran and its people. They're also a shining example of the role archaeology plays in understanding our past. On the third Saturday of every October, we pause to celebrate and recognize the contributions of archaeologists as interpreters of human history.


date: 2022-10-16
filename: PrinceChristianSound_EN-US8033823843.jpg
title: Southern tip of a northern isle
copyright: Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland (© Posnov/Getty Images)
story:
The sheer size of Greenland is hard to put in perspective. The world's largest island is more than 836,000 square miles—that's more than three times the size of Texas and 170,000 square miles larger than Alaska. It is a land of deep fjords and thick ice that must have made the Norse explorers feel right at home when they landed there a thousand years ago.


date: 2022-10-17
filename: SwedenOwl_EN-US8107135630.jpg
title: Widespread and long-eared
copyright: Long-eared owl in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands of the Czech Republic (© Ondrej Prosicky/Alamy)
story:
Whooo is that up in that tree? Why, that's just a typical long-eared owl, sometimes called the lesser horned owl or cat owl. It's one of the most numerous owl species in the world with an estimated population between 2 million and 5.5 million long-eared owls widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Our featured friend today was found in the Czech Republic, but they'll adapt to several kinds of habitats.


date: 2022-10-18
filename: GB25Anni_EN-US8198972228.jpg
title: Night outside the museum
copyright: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain (© Jeremy Horner/Getty Images)
story:
Considered one of the world's most important architectural works of the past few decades, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao celebrates its 25th anniversary today. To commemorate the event, the museum has unveiled a slogan: 'Art Inspires Future.' The museum has also released a special edition of its logo in which the characteristic Gs of the Guggenheim brand move like gears to shape the number 25. Perhaps they'll serve cake as well?


date: 2022-10-19
filename: WartburgCastle_EN-US8283353282.jpg
title: 'Wait, mountain—you shall bear my castle!'
copyright: Thuringian Forest in autumn with Wartburg Castle, Germany (© ezypix/Getty Images)
story:
As you glance over today's photo of the trees changing color in the Thuringian Forest in Germany, make note of the castle in the distance. That's Wartburg, a castle built in the Middle Ages that holds significance to Christians. It was the home of St. Elizabeth of Thuringia (aka St. Elizabeth of Hungary), and later, where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German while in exile. Wartburg is the area's most popular tourist attraction and has been recognized for its quintessential medieval architecture.


date: 2022-10-20
filename: SlothDay_EN-US8418438094.jpg
title: Hangin' around
copyright:
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth mother and young, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica (© Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures)

story:
Is there another animal that has as coveted a life as the sloth? Your answer depends on how highly you rate the ability to just laze around all day, but in honor of International Sloth Day, let's all just embrace slothfulness. If you want to live the sloth life, head outside and hang upside down in the nearest tree. You won't be able to dangle there as long as a sloth though, because they spend most of their lives doing it. Their arms, legs, hands, and feet evolved for literally 'hanging around' like the pair of Hoffmann's two-toed sloths in today's photo.


date: 2022-10-21
filename: GeorgiaCypress_EN-US2966839861.jpg
title: Leaf-peeping, Southern style
copyright: Cypress trees in autumn, Georgia (© Chris Moore/Tandem Stills + Motion)
story:
Fall foliage is the hallmark of autumn, when thoughts turn to flannel and corduroy, pumpkin spice and s'mores. Sunny days and crisp nights invite us to step outside to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves. While some may consider the maples of New England the leaf-peeping gold standard, others would give the prize to the aspens of the Rocky Mountains or the cypress trees of the South.


date: 2022-10-22
filename: KarstMountains_EN-US4446699673.jpg
title: Misty mountain hop
copyright: Karst mountains in Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China (© Sean Pavone/Alamy)
story:
Mountains pierce the mist like dragon's teeth in this enchanting location. Though it may look like the setting of a fantasy story or science fiction epic, the remarkable Guilin and Lijiang River National Park is quite real.


date: 2022-10-23
filename: Knobbelzwaan_EN-US4809716001.jpg
title: An ugly duckling no more
copyright:
Mute swan in Valkenhorst Nature Reserve, near Valkenswaard, the Netherlands (© David Pattyn/Minden Pictures)

story:
The mute swan is a symbol of beauty and elegance, thanks in no small part to the beloved fairy tale 'The Ugly Duckling,' about an awkward and unsightly duckling who upon growing up discovers he is actually a swan. The proverbial story is often used as a lesson in transformation and the relative nature of beauty. One glance at this swan, seen here holding a feather in a nature preserve in the Netherlands, and it's easy to see how the idiom 'graceful as a swan' came about.


date: 2022-10-24
filename: GuwahatiDiwali_EN-US3454357880.jpg
title: Lighting the world
copyright: Oil lamps arranged on a rangoli to celebrate Diwali in Guwahati, India (© Biju Boro/Getty Images)
story:
The oil lamps called 'diyas' have been lit for Diwali, the Festival of Lights, in Guwahati, India. Diwali is a five-day celebration of the symbolic victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Diyas are a traditional symbol of the festival, and they are arranged on a rangoli, a colorful pattern made on the floor using dried rice flour, colored powdered stone, flower petals, or other colorings. Rangoli designs are more than just attractive—they're believed to attract Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Each day of the festival has its own significance, but day three—called Lakshmi Puja—is considered the main event. To prepare for Lakshmi Puja, people clean their homes to welcome Lakshmi's blessings of prosperity and happiness. A rangoli design is created near the entrance to a home or building, and families pass down traditional designs from generation to generation.


date: 2022-10-25
filename: OrcusMouth_EN-US5010597701.jpg
title: Park of the Monsters
copyright: Orcus sculpture in the Gardens of Bomarzo in Bomarzo, Italy (© Scott Wilson/Alamy)
story:
Join us for a pre-Halloween trip to a small Italian town about 60 miles northwest of Rome. We're taking you to Bomarzo, where a once-forgotten 16th-century garden holds monstrous sculptures that are meant to evoke anything but pleasure. In our photo, 'The Mouth of Orcus,' a Roman god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths, gives visitors the feeling of being swallowed into the abyss. During a visit to the Parco dei Mostri (Park of the Monsters), as it's known, you'll come across other grotesque sights such as a dragon being attacked by lions, a giant shredding a man, and Hannibal's elephant snatching a Roman soldier.


date: 2022-10-26
filename: BrockenSpecter_EN-US5247366251.jpg
title: A ghost on the mountain
copyright: Brocken spectre in Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria (© Maya Karkalicheva/Getty Images)
story:
With Halloween around the corner, we present the ghostly image of a Brocken spectre. Despite appearances and the season, there's nothing paranormal about a Brocken spectre. It's the magnified shadow of an observer cast in midair upon a cloud opposite a strong light source. Brocken spectres are rare but climb a mountain at dawn up to the misty slopes and you may be fortunate enough to witness the effect. The spectre, also known as a Brocken bow, mountain spectre, or spectre of the Brocken, can appear anywhere in which conditions are right—like here in the Balkans of Bulgaria. But it's the thick fogs of the Brocken, a peak in the Harz Mountains in Germany, from which the phenomenon draws its name.


date: 2022-10-27
filename: BridgeofSighs_EN-US5335369208.jpg
title: A kiss and a sigh
copyright: Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy (© Doug Pearson/Alamy)
story:
Beneath Venice's Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) is a popular place to kiss your beloved as a gondolier guides you through the city's canals. But the sighs that the name refers to aren't from staring into your darling's eyes. The enclosed bridge, completed in 1600, connects the Prigioni Nuove (New Prison) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace, and it is said that a prisoner's last look at beautiful Venice would be from that bridge. And that's reason enough to sigh indeed.


date: 2022-10-28
filename: FrankensteinFriday_EN-US3119113489.jpg
title: On a dark and stormy night...
copyright: Stormy sky over Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland (© Suradech Singhanat/Shutterstock)
story:
If the sight of storm clouds gathering over Lake Geneva puts you in a dark mood, then you have an idea of Mary Shelley's frame of mind when she conceived the story that would become her seminal work. While Shelley wrote several historical novels and travel books, it was this macabre story of a grotesque creature that made her legacy.


date: 2022-10-30
filename: SealRiver_EN-US6267835630.jpg
title: Hunters of the North
copyright: Polar bear at the edge of Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada (© Sean Crane/Minden Pictures)
story:
The largest carnivore on land roams the icy north. Polar bears like this one spend much of their lives on sea ice rather than terra firma, stalking their favorite prey: seals. Superbly insulated against the cold, polar bears are uniquely suited for life on the ice—so they're especially vulnerable to a warming planet. Their plight is the focus of Polar Bear Week, observed the first week of every November, bringing attention to these creatures who live far out of sight of most humans.


date: 2022-10-31
filename: WychwoodForest_EN-US6378774990.jpg
title: Who's in this creepy copse?
copyright:
Trees in Wychwood Forest near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England (© Frederick Ardley/Getty Images)

story:
What better way to spend Halloween than with a ghostly apparition in a scary haunted forest? Today we've (ill-advisedly?) wandered into Wychwood, an English forest with more than its share of spooky backstory. Many people walking in these woods have reported unexplained phenomena, such as feeling a hand on their shoulder and turning to find…no one. Or hearing children wailing as they're driven through the forest in a ghostly horse-drawn carriage.


date: 2022-11-01
filename: Calacas_EN-US6430903741.jpg
title: What are they celebrating?
copyright:
Skeleton figures (calacas) dressed up for Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico (© Amelia Fuentes Marin/Getty Images)

story:
It may seem odd to celebrate death—after all, it's the end of our personal era. But tell that to people who celebrate the Day of the Dead, or el Día de los Muertos, and they'll smile. They may explain that death is part of the circle of life, and as natural as any other human milestone. As our photo shows, the Day of the Dead is a big holiday in Mexico, where calacas—skeleton figures of musicians, workers, and other folks in merry scenes of everyday 'life'—lurk everywhere for weeks before the main event. Of course, living people also play dead for the day, donning skeleton outfits, masks, and grotesque makeup. Music, processions, and food add to the quirky, fun carnival atmosphere.


date: 2022-11-02
filename: SpruceGoose_EN-US0021752220.jpg
title: 'If it's a failure, I'll probably leave this country'
copyright:
The Hughes H-4 Hercules, aka the Spruce Goose, November 1947, Long Beach Harbor, California (© J R Eyerman/Shutterstock)

story:
Today we're looking back to a time when an eccentric billionaire's dream of reaching new heights was still a novel idea. It was 75 years ago today that Howard Hughes' 'flying boat,' dubbed the 'Spruce Goose,' made its one and only flight. Officially named the Hughes H-4 Hercules, the press persisted in calling it the 'Spruce Goose' even though it was constructed almost entirely of birch wood. The plane was commissioned in 1942 by American industrialist Henry Kaiser, who supplied ships to the US during World War II. Kaiser recruited Hughes—the film producer turned pilot, engineer, and business magnate—to build a flying cargo ship that could avoid German submarines while transporting troops and war supplies across the Atlantic. The contract called for three of the planes to be built within two years. Hughes was still working on the design when the war ended—in the end, he delivered only the one in our photo, two years after V-E Day.


date: 2022-11-03
filename: AmboseliBioshere_EN-US9391999022.jpg
title: An experiment in sustainability
copyright:
Mount Kilimanjaro with Cape buffaloes in foreground, Amboseli Biosphere Reserve, Kenya (© RealityImages/Shutterstock)

story:
UNESCO designated November 3, 2022, the first annual International Day for Biosphere Reserves. Biosphere reserves are vast areas around the world used to promote biodiversity, cultural diversity, environmentally sustainable economic development, and research and education on how humans can coexist with nature.


date: 2022-11-04
filename: Deities_EN-US8555427337.jpg
title: Tomb of the Golden Pharaoh
copyright:
Depiction of deities from the Tomb of Tutankhamun at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt (© Stefan Lippmann/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

story:
A hundred years ago today, British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun, better known as King Tut, in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. Though they first uncovered the tomb of the 'boy king' on November 4, 1922, Carter and crew took years to excavate the burial site. What they found astonished the world. It was loaded with more than 5,000 artifacts, including a solid gold coffin, face mask, thrones, archery bows, trumpets, a lotus chalice, furniture, food, wine, sandals, gold caps to protect Tut's toes, and fresh linen underwear. Because you should always bring clean undies, even when you're crossing into the realm of the dead.


date: 2022-11-05
filename: Trossachs_EN-US0183507678.jpg
title: Reflecting its stylish past today
copyright: Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland (© Fortunato Gatto/eStock Photo)
story:
Fairy-tale castle? Check. Stunning Scottish backdrop? Check. Calm, tranquil loch? Check. If Tigh Mor looks idyllic to you, you're not alone. Queen Victoria spent time here in its heyday, and though the old hotel (it was built in 1849) declined over the years, a multimillion-dollar restoration has brought it right back to its former glory.


date: 2022-11-06
filename: MarathonSunday_EN-US0342685769.jpg
title: Racing through the five boroughs
copyright:
Runners in the 1990 New York City Marathon crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (© David Madison/Getty Images)

story:
The route for the 2022 New York City Marathon starts right here at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, crossing from Staten Island into Brooklyn and eventually coursing through all five boroughs of New York. This photo gives you an idea just how many people will be running today. Because the race starts early on a November morning, many runners show up in layered clothing to beat the typical chill. But once they heat up from running, those layers come off and are often discarded on sidewalks. Race organizers collect the activewear left behind by 50,000 runners, about 26 tons a year, and donate it to charity.


date: 2022-11-07
filename: CrestedButteEclispe_EN-US0408360129.jpg
title: Blood moon
copyright: Lunar eclipse above Mount Crested Butte, Colorado (© Mengzhonghua Photography/Getty Images)
story:
If you missed the first full lunar eclipse of the year back in May, you'll get another chance tonight as the second blood moon (as lunar eclipses are often called) of 2022 takes to the sky over the Pacific region. Tonight's display can be seen from Asia, Australia, North America, and parts of northern Europe and South America. If you're lucky enough to find yourself under a clear sky, the view might look something like this image, taken over Mount Crested Butte, Colorado, during the lunar eclipse of September 27, 2015.


date: 2022-11-09
filename: HedgehogNest_EN-US0590169065.jpg
title: Look, but don't touch
copyright: European hedgehog in Sussex, England (© Jules Cox/Minden Pictures)
story:
Join us for a trip across the pond as we take a moment to examine the prickly European hedgehog. Our friend in today's photo is in Sussex, England, but European hedgehogs are widespread across the continent. They're thought to be the largest and heaviest of the hedgehog family. A nocturnal creature, the hedgehog can often be found in gardens snacking on its preferred diet of insects.


date: 2022-11-10
filename: BadLightning_EN-US0865590962.jpg
title: Happy birthday, Badlands National Park
copyright:
Rock formations in Badlands National Park during a lightning storm, South Dakota (© DEEPOL by plainpicture)

story:
Forty-four years ago today, a rugged, inhospitable area of South Dakota was designated a national park to protect the many fossils found there. The region has a 12,000-year history as hunting grounds for Native Americans. In fact, the name we know it by today, Badlands, comes from the Lakota phrase 'mako sica,' which literally translates to 'bad lands.' Covering nearly 380 square miles, its harshly eroded rock formations make it one of the most distinct landscapes in the United States.


date: 2022-11-11
filename: WomensMemorialMall_EN-US1199151625.jpg
title: Honoring those who served
copyright: The Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, DC (© Cvandyke/Shutterstock)
story:
On the National Mall in Washington, DC, just north of the Reflecting Pool, is a sculpture honoring the women who served during the Vietnam War. The military efforts of women, less visible than those of men, are commemorated by the Vietnam Women's Memorial, featured today on Veterans Day. While Memorial Day honors those who died during military service, Veterans Day recognizes the service of all veterans, whether or not they served during a war. Veterans Day, a federal holiday, was originally known as Armistice Day and coincides with the anniversary of the end of World War I. For this reason, other countries also observe today as a holiday.


date: 2022-11-12
filename: HainesEagle_EN-US1470582706.jpg
title: A convocation of eagles assembles
copyright: Bald eagles near Haines, Alaska (© Marion Vollborn/Minden Pictures)
story:
Each November as many as 4,000 bald eagles descend on the Chilkat River near Haines, Alaska, to feed on the late run of chum and coho salmon that have returned to spawn in the river flats. It's a feast for birds and birders alike, as the raptors tear into a never-ending supply of tasty fish. The largest congregation of eagles in the world, it's celebrated by the annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival in the second week of November. The event features live raptor demonstrations, educational programs, guided hikes, and live music.


date: 2022-11-13
filename: PunchBowl_EN-US0351920520.jpg
title: Take a sip from the Punch Bowl
copyright:
The Punch Bowl on the River Quoich in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (© AWL Images/Danita Delimont)

story:
In the eastern Highlands of Scotland, tucked into the forested plateaus of the Cairngorms mountain range, is a small but beloved river that runs through a ravine. The River Quoich is frequented by nature lovers, hikers, and intrepid paddlers willing to brave its surprisingly swift currents and its several waterfalls, including the one featured here, the Linn of Quoich. This spot is famous for the bowl-shaped cavity in the rock that you see on the left.


date: 2022-11-14
filename: SanGiovanni_EN-US1675492729.jpg
title: High above the Aegean Sea
copyright:
Ruins of the medieval castle of the Knights of St. John above the village of Chorio, Halki Island, Greece (© Massimo Ripani/eStock Photo)

story:
Halki, a tiny Greek island in the Aegean Sea, is the type of place you go to when you need a getaway from your getaway. Off the beaten path, Halki is quiet and sleepy when other Greek islands are flush with visitors. The only way to arrive is by ferry. Halki, with a total area of just 11 sun-kissed square miles, is the smallest inhabited island in the Dodecanese island group.


date: 2022-11-15
filename: LontraCanadensis_EN-US1791102347.jpg
title: You 'otter' check this out
copyright:
North American river otters swimming in Acadia National Park, Maine (© George Sanker/Minden Pictures)

story:
You 'otter' know something about the creatures in today's photo. They're a pair of North American river otters swimming in Maine's Acadia National Park. Technically members of the weasel family, these 'water dogs' aren't just locked into rivers. They can be found in other waterways and along the coasts of North America. A myopic animal with eyesight adapted to help with swimming, river otters will come right up on humans or boats, usually within a few feet.


date: 2022-11-16
filename: Unesco50_EN-US1537915198.jpg
title: A 50-year balancing act
copyright: Cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado (© Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images)
story:
At its World Heritage Convention on November 16, 1972, UNESCO adopted an international treaty that for the first time linked the concepts of nature conservation and preservation of cultural properties. The World Heritage Sites program was sparked by Egypt's plans to construct the Aswan High Dam. UNESCO helped save thousands of antiquities that would have been lost as a result of the dam, which flooded a large swath of the Nile Valley.


date: 2022-11-17
filename: McKenzieRiverTrail_EN-US2967958579.jpg
title: Take a hike!
copyright:
Bridge on the McKenzie River Trail, Willamette National Forest, Oregon (© Don Paulson/Danita Delimont)

story:
It's National Take a Hike Day, so what better time to lace up those boots and head out on a trail to pay homage to John Muir, the patron saint (not really) of US hiking. Muir was instrumental in persuading the government that enjoying nature is the right of every American and that there should be an official national park system. He saw the spectacular beauty of the American West when he walked through the Sierra Nevada in California, and was passionate about preserving the country's national wonders. In 1892, Muir founded the Sierra Club, an environmental organization that protects wild lands to this day.


date: 2022-11-18
filename: IslamicArt_EN-US8618450174.jpg
title: Keyholes to the kingdom
copyright: The gates of the Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) in Fez, Morocco (© Adam Smigielski/Getty Images)
story:
The International Day of Islamic Art, proclaimed by UNESCO in 2019, occurs every November 18 to celebrate past and contemporary artistic expressions of Islam, and to highlight Islamic artists' contributions to world civilization. November 18 also marks Morocco's independence day, commemorating Sultan Muhammad V's return to Morocco from exile in November 1955.


date: 2022-11-19
filename: ZNPVR_EN-US8821805600.jpg
title: 103 years of Zion
copyright: Virgin River in Zion National Park, Utah (© Jonathan Ross/Getty Images)
story:
Our photo brings us to a 16-mile stretch of the Virgin River where it cuts a spectacular thousand-foot-deep gorge through the upper reaches of Utah's Zion Canyon. Flowing through Zion National Park (which turns 103 today!), the Virgin River is home to unique plants and animals that aren't found anywhere else, due to the unique intersection of biomes found where the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert all meet. Without the water of the Virgin River system, creatures like the woundfin minnow, one of rarest species on the planet, couldn't exist.


date: 2022-11-20
filename: LandartPainting_EN-US8910164390.jpg
title: Creating a better world
copyright:
'World in Progress II,' a land art painting by Saype, United Nations Headquarters, New York City (© Valentin Flauraud/Shutterstock)

story:
Color, creativity, and fun are three things that go along with being a kid, so what better way to illustrate World Children's Day than with this huge (we're talking more than 100,000 square feet!) piece of 'land art' in New York City, painted by the French-Swiss artist known as Saype. Gifted to the United Nations by Switzerland in honor of the UN's 75th anniversary, 'World in Progress II,' shows two children busily drawing and using origami to create their ideal world.


date: 2022-11-21
filename: FIFA2022_EN-US9006895256.jpg
title: Kickoff in Qatar
copyright: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar (© Qatar 2022/Supreme Committee via Getty Images)
story:
Finally, after years of planning, building, and controversy, the 2022 World Cup is kicking off in Qatar. It's the biggest event on the international soccer calendar, bringing together the globe's top teams to proudly represent their countries. The prestigious World Cup tournament has been held every four years since 1930, except when WWII derailed it in 1942 and 1946. There will be fierce competition in Qatar as the champion French team seeks to defend their title, with the final scheduled for Qatar National Day, December 18. This is the first World Cup hosted by a country in the Middle East, and it's later in the year than usual due to the hot weather in Qatar.


date: 2022-11-22
filename: Waterleidingduinen_EN-US9090200846.jpg
title: A fox in the dunes
copyright:
Red fox in Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen Nature Reserve, Netherlands (© Edwin Giesbers/Minden Pictures)

story:
Today we're heading to the Netherlands to visit the red foxes at the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen Nature Reserve. This protected area about 8 miles west of Amsterdam is host to not only a diverse assortment of plants and animals, but also hundreds of specially designed sand dunes that help filter rainwater. The Waterleidingduinen ('water supply dunes') have been the source of the city's drinking water since the 19th century.


date: 2022-11-23
filename: HelianthusAnnuus_EN-US9168789034.jpg
title: Nature, art, and...math?
copyright: Sunflower (© Dileep Chandran/Alamy)
story:
The sunflower is an eye-catcher, growing to the sky and brightly singing of summer no matter the time of year. Helianthus annuus is native to the Americas, and its flowering head is actually made up of more tiny flowers that mature into seeds (and, of course, get eaten around the world). But did you know that sunflowers also bring one of nature's mathematical wonders to life?


date: 2022-11-24
filename: CranberryBog_EN-US4145520322.jpg
title: A crimson quagmire
copyright: Cranberry bog (© SHSPhotography/Getty Images)
story:
Whether made from scratch or plopped out of a can, your cranberry sauce started in a bog like the one seen here. Cranberry shrubs are planted in beds surrounded by dikes. Once the fruit ripens in the fall, the beds are flooded with water, creating bogs full of submerged shrubs. A harvester machine dislodges the berries, which float to the top of the water. Then they're easily corralled on the surface with flexible booms.


date: 2022-11-25
filename: MonksMound_EN-US9323884241.jpg
title: Pyramid built by Native Americans
copyright:
Monks Mound at the Cahokia Mounds UNESCO World Heritage Site near Collinsville, Illinois (© Matthew Gush/Alamy)

story:
Today we mark Native American Heritage Day and Month with the imposing pyramid now known as Monks Mound, once the center of a city that rivaled any European city of the age in population. Built by people of the Mississippian culture, construction of Monks Mound began early in the 900s CE in present day southern Illinois. By around 1050 the area had grown into a major hub of commerce and agriculture now known as Cahokia. With a population that may have exceeded 40,000 at its peak, Cahokia was the largest urban center north of the great Mesoamerican cities of Mexico and Central America. In the 13th century, for reasons still debated by scholars, the city began to decline, and it was abandoned around 1350. Excavations in the 19th and 20th century revealed a society far more sophisticated and complex than many had believed existed north of Mesoamerica previously.


date: 2022-11-26
filename: OliveTreeDay_EN-US9460125670.jpg
title: A symbol of peace
copyright:
An olive tree in front of the Temple of Concordia on the island of Sicily, Italy (© Alfio Finocchiaro/Shutterstock)

story:
While not everyone would recognize this as an olive tree, most of us understand the meaning of the phrase 'extending an olive branch,' long known as a gesture of peace and friendship. That sentiment of compassion, harmony, and wisdom is at the heart of UNESCO's World Olive Tree Day, created in 2019 and observed every November 26. The intent of the day is to bring attention to the resolution of conflict worldwide and to the preservation of the olive tree itself, like this one standing in front of the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento, Italy. The well-preserved, Greek Doric temple was built on what is now the south shore of Sicily, around 440 BCE. Olive trees are native to the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and are cultivated today in places with similar climates, like parts of California and Israel. About 90% of harvested olives are used to make olive oil, the quintessential ingredient in Mediterranean cooking.


date: 2022-11-27
filename: Cecropia_EN-US9602789937.jpg
title: Unbe-leaf-able
copyright: Cecropia leaf atop lobster claw petals, Mexico (© Gerry Ellis/Minden Pictures)
story:
No doubt your eyes are drawn to the large, silver-bluish leaf in today's photo, but there's a little more to this colorful display. We're on the floor of a Mexican rainforest to examine a large Cecropia leaf and some lobster claw petals. The genus called Cecropia contains some of the most recognizable neotropical trees anywhere, but the roughly 60 different species can be hard to tell apart. All Cecropias grow fast, by tree standards anyway. On average, they'll climb about 2.5 feet per year and under perfect conditions can grow as much as 10 feet in that time, eventually reaching around 60 feet tall. When dried, Cecropia leaves shrivel into a fist-like form which displays interesting patterns and shapes. Not only are Cecropias very popular with animals like sloths, monkeys, and toucans for their fruit and leaves, many species have a symbiotic relationship with Azteca ants. Cecropias provide shelter and food for ants, and the ants in turn defend the trees from plant-eating predators.


date: 2022-11-28
filename: RedPlanetDay_EN-US9693219784.jpg
title: Fourth rock from the sun
copyright: Mars (© NASA/Alamy)
story:
About 140 million miles away from Earth, the most relatable planet in the solar system orbits the sun. Mars, popularly known as the Red Planet, is the fourth planet from the sun, after Mercury, Venus, and Earth. We know more about Mars than any other planet but our own. That knowledge has been gained over centuries and has grown exponentially in recent years with the successful landings on Mars of the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers in 2012 and 2021 respectively. Today we celebrate those and other accomplishments on Red Planet Day, which coincides with the launch of Mariner 4, the first probe sent to Mars, on this day in 1964.


date: 2022-11-29
filename: HeronGiving_EN-US9774285216.jpg
title: A day for giving
copyright:
Great blue herons building a nest in Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida (© Imagebroker/Alamy)

story:
The largest heron in North America, the great blue heron makes its nest in a 'basket' made from twigs, usually placed high in a tree. The herons line the interior with moss, leaves, grass, and other softer materials, and tend to return to the same nesting site each year, though not the same nest. The male heron finds building materials while the female assembles the nest, then both birds maintain and add to it. The helpful male heron shown here is presenting his mate with nesting material—he seems an apt mascot for this year's Giving Tuesday.


date: 2022-12-01
filename: AntarcticaDay_EN-US9921573438.jpg
title: The other continent down under
copyright: Paradise Harbour, Antarctica (© SinghaphanAllB/Getty Images)
story:
The most isolated continent in the world is hands down the polar desert that is Antarctica, the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth. Inhospitable as it sounds, Antarctica, which lies almost completely below the Antarctic Circle, is also a place of stunning beauty as evidenced by this image of Paradise Harbour, aka Paradise Bay, near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctica is also extraordinarily vulnerable to the effects of climate change, worth remembering today on Antarctica Day, which marks the anniversary of the signing of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. The international agreement protects Antarctica as a scientific preserve.


date: 2022-12-02
filename: BraidedRiverDelta_EN-US0693594934.jpg
title: Preserving Alaska's natural beauty
copyright: Tlikakila River Delta in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska (© Dawn Wilson Photography/Getty Images)
story:
On this day in 1980, the single largest expansion of protected lands in history doubled the size of the US National Park System. As a result, Alaska now has eight national parks, plus numerous monuments and preserves that protect more than 157 million total acres. When President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the public was granted the right to appreciate stunning locations like the one in today's photo: the braided river delta of the 51-mile-long Tlikakila River in Lake Clark National Park.


date: 2022-12-03
filename: MiamiDT_EN-US0878462019.jpg
title: Chasing summer in the art world
copyright: Miami Beach, Florida (© Matteo Colombo/Getty Images)
story:
Every December the center of the art world convenes not in New York, Tokyo, or London, but in a town known more for its wide sandy beaches, café Cubano, and conga rhythms. Art Basel Miami Beach, which wraps up its three-day run today, is the American leg of an international art fair also staged in Basel, Switzerland (where the festival started in 1970), Hong Kong, and Paris. The event, now 20 years old, is the most comprehensive contemporary art fair in North America, attracting thousands of artists, dealers, collectors, appreciators, and just fun-seeking tourists for this annual burst of creativity steps from the sand.


date: 2022-12-04
filename: KilimanjaroElephants_EN-US1249382486.jpg
title: Trunks packed for the road
copyright:
Elephants near Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park, Kenya (© Diana Robinson Photography/Getty Images)

story:
We're taking a walk with these beautiful beasts for World Wildlife Conservation Day. Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, known as the Great White Mountain to local tribes, stands sentinel as these African bush elephants cross the vast savannahs of Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Habitat loss and poaching for ivory have decimated the populations of the bush elephant and its cousin the forest elephant, which roams the nearby foothills of Kilimanjaro.


date: 2022-12-05
filename: StNick_EN-US1370158441.jpg
title: Santa slalom
copyright: Saint Nicholas Day in Verbier, Switzerland (© Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
story:
We're used to Santa Claus sliding down chimneys, but who knew he could ski? Thousands of Santa Clauses make a stunning downhill display to open the ski season in Verbier, Switzerland, each year. Why the costumes? Their annual descent also celebrates the feast day of Saint Nicholas, observed in Europe on December 5 and in the US on December 6.


date: 2022-12-06
filename: GreatEgret_EN-US1489292796.jpg
title: Stretching out in the Everglades
copyright: A great egret in Everglades National Park, Florida (© Troy Harrison/Getty Images)
story:
We're heading down to Florida today to celebrate the 75th year of Everglades National Park, the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. The park was established in 1947 to defend a fragile ecosystem and covers about 20% of the entire Everglades wetland. But even with the park service's protection, the Everglades' features, primarily shallow freshwater pools, have suffered significantly due to human activity.


date: 2022-12-07
filename: KaneoheHI_EN-US1621373073.jpg
title: Where the battle began
copyright:
Mokoli'I Island in Kaneohe Bay, seen from Kualoa Regional Park, Oahu, Hawaii (© Riddhish Chakraborty/Getty Images)

story:
While most know the US entered World War II after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, fewer know that the battle on December 7, 1941, actually started here on Oahu's eastern shore at the old Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station. Now a Marine Corps airfield, the base lies beyond the small, cone-shaped Mokoli'I Island in the background of this image.


date: 2022-12-08
filename: FlorenceAerial_EN-US1751882328.jpg
title: Birthplace of the Renaissance
copyright: The Cathedral of Florence, Italy (© Alexander Baert/Amazing Aerial Agency)
story:
Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence helped lead Europe out of the Middle Ages as a center of politics, finance, art, and culture. Seven-odd centuries later, it's a snap to get aerial views of that era's marvels, like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (known more simply as the Cathedral of Florence). A crowning achievement in a city of crowning achievements, the complex includes a campanile, or bell tower, and a white-roofed baptistery in addition to the cathedral with its grand dome.


date: 2022-12-09
filename: NorwayMuskox_EN-US1914627688.jpg
title: What are these ancient animals?
copyright:
Muskox mother and calf in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway (© Robert Haasmann/Minden Pictures)

story:
These handsome beasts are a living legacy of primeval times—they've watched history unfold around them from the era of the woolly mammoth.  The cow and calf in our photo belong to Norway's only herd of muskoxen, and you can visit them in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park. If you feel like roaming by yourself, follow the signposted Musk Ox Trail; just be aware that the massive animals are known to attack if they feel threatened, so give them a wide berth. That sound too scary? Jump on a park safari with an experienced guide who can keep you safe and help you see the muskox in all its hairy glory.


date: 2022-12-10
filename: SaltDesert_EN-US2123050087.jpg
title: When just a pinch of salt won't do
copyright: Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia (© Theo Allofs/Minden Pictures)
story:
More than 2 miles above sea level, near the crest of the Andes, is an anomaly of the natural world, a salt flat bigger than many countries. The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the largest salt flat in the world at about 4,000 square miles. The salt flat is the remains of an ancient lake that evaporated long ago leaving behind a thick mineral crust that is both a source of edible salt and a critical breeding ground for, of all things, flamingos. But for a battery-hungry world, the greatest riches might lie below the crust—a vast brine rich in lithium.


date: 2022-12-11
filename: TangleCreekFalls_EN-US2231198096.jpg
title: Rocky Mountain runoff
copyright: Tangle Creek Falls in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada (© Jeff Foott/Minden Pictures)
story:
Jasper National Park boasts numerous breathtaking waterfalls, but the multi-tiered cascade of Tangle Creek Falls makes for a must-see spectacle. Located off the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) in Alberta, the falls are easily accessed. Tangle Creek Falls' misty spray can be felt out on the highway itself. If you're looking to capture some breathtaking shots, it may be worth getting off the highway and going closer to the falls to truly soak in its beauty.


date: 2022-12-12
filename: PoinsettiaDay_EN-US2361694439.jpg
title: Holiday hues
copyright: Poinsettia plants (© Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images)
story:
It's been almost 200 years since poinsettias were first brought to the US from their native Mexico, where the Aztecs used the leaves to make dye and the sap to treat fevers. American botanist and government representative Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the scarlet foliage to the U.S. in 1828. Flash forward to the 1960s, when a breeding program resulted in hardier, fuller plants and many variations. The booming poinsettia wholesale trade in the US brings in a whopping $250 million a year. The House of designated December 12 as Poinsettia Day in 2002. Poinsettias are the top-selling potted plant in the US and Canada, brightening holiday tables every December.


date: 2022-12-13
filename: InstagramHallstatt_EN-US2608371794.jpg
title: A city so nice they made it twice
copyright: Hallstatt, Austria (© Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alamy)
story:
This tiny, snow-dusted village is Hallstatt, in Austria's mountainous Salzkammergut region, sandwiched between the shore of Lake Hallstatt and the slopes of the Dachstein Mountains. The salt mines here are thought to be among the oldest in the world and were once the backbone of Hallstatt's economy. Today they're a popular tourist attraction—this little village draws in so many visitors that it is considered an area of over-tourism. Hallstatt has sought to limit the number of people who can visit each day.


date: 2022-12-14
filename: GildedFlicker_EN-US2911251361.jpg
title: Counting crows...and every other bird
copyright:
Great horned owls and a gilded flicker on a saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona (© John Cancalosi/Minden Pictures)

story:
It's that time again! Grab your binoculars and bird guide and head outside to start counting. The National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count starts on December 14 annually and runs until January 5. Originating as an actual hunt in the 19th century, on Christmas Day in 1900 someone had the bright idea to stop killing the birds and instead just observe them.


date: 2022-12-15
filename: Borovets_EN-US3037571286.jpg
title: Winter wonderland for your wallet
copyright: Borovets, Bulgaria (© Grigor Ivanov/Cavan Images)
story:
This frosty scene shows Borovets, Bulgaria's oldest winter resort, established in 1896. It's a budget-friendly skiing alternative to the more expensive resorts in the Alps, especially for beginners and those looking for fun on the slopes without shelling out the big bucks.


date: 2022-12-16
filename: AtlantaLights_EN-US5495340965.jpg
title: Let there be lights!
copyright: Holiday lights in the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Georgia (© Natalia Kuzmina/Alamy)
story:
Winter comes alive at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Georgia for two months every year with a dazzling holiday light display, 'Garden Lights, Holiday Nights,' which began in 2011 and has become a tradition for local families and many tourists. Behind the shimmering lights, the garden staff has decades of experience in plant conservation and species recovery through the Southeastern Center for Conservation. The center works locally and globally to help efforts to preserve and proliferate a variety of plant species.


date: 2022-12-17
filename: GlacierGoats_EN-US5564943350.jpg
title: As curious about you as you are about them
copyright: Mountain goats at Glacier National Park in Montana (© Sumio Harada/Minden Pictures)
story:
You're maybe more likely to see a mountain goat in Montana's Glacier National Park than anywhere else in the lower 48 states. And you may not just see the goats from afar—they are accustomed to humans and will saunter right up to visitors. You're going to want to keep your distance, though: Mountain goats can deliver forceful headbutts.


date: 2022-12-18
filename: SouthBeach_EN-US5638482869.jpg
title: Gateway to Latin America
copyright: South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida (© Claudia Uripos/eStock Photo)
story:
The seaside resort of Miami Beach is perhaps best captured here by the surf at South Beach, its most famous neighborhood. Cosmopolitan Miami Beach is perpetually fixed inside the lens of the world as a playground for the wealthy, glamorous, and aesthetically advantaged set. You're likely to hear many languages spoken while strolling the sidewalks of Miami Beach. It's home to the music academy known as the New World Symphony, and host to the visual arts festival, Art Basel. Miami Beach also boasts the world's largest array of preserved Art Deco structures. It's a favorite haunt of celebrities—none of whom can outshine the real star, this beach of endless sand.


date: 2022-12-19
filename: WinterberryBush_EN-US5722169778.jpg
title: A splash of color
copyright:
A northern cardinal perched in a common winterberry bush in Marion County, Illinois (© Richard and Susan Day/Danita Delimont)

story:
This scarlet winterberry shrub is the perfect hiding place for the northern cardinal. What better spot for singing in the winter holidays? Winterberry is a deciduous holly that's native to North America and can be a modest shrub or a tree reaching up to 15 feet. The yellow and green flower clusters that bloom in spring give way to bright red berries in winter.


date: 2022-12-20
filename: PalaceBelvedere_EN-US5817237970.jpg
title: Reflecting on Christmas
copyright: Christmas market at Belvedere in Vienna, Austria (© Diyana Dimitrova/Alamy)
story:
Christmas markets win the holiday trifecta: You can buy interesting, often handcrafted gifts, they are set in picturesque, romantic towns and villages in Europe, and they tempt you with mulled wine and local delicacies. What's not to like? Christmas markets, or 'Weihnachtsmärkt,' are one of Europe's oldest Advent events.


date: 2022-12-21
filename: SolarHalo_EN-US5994527098.jpg
title: Rainbow around the sun
copyright: Sun halo over Lake Antermoia in the Dolomite Mountains of Italy (© Walter Donega/Getty Images)
story:
The days only get longer from here! The Northern Hemisphere marks the beginning of winter today, but the winter solstice is also the shortest day of the year. The rainbow that encircles the sun in our image, a sun halo, is above Lake Antermoia, in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy. Sun halos form when sun or moon light shines through ice crystals suspended in the upper atmosphere. When the light of the sun hits the crystals they serve as a prism, separating the light into individual colors of the spectrum, the same way rainbows occur after a rain shower.


date: 2022-12-22
filename: TreeGaleriesLafayette_EN-US9731347729.jpg
title: Season of light in the City of Light
copyright:
Christmas tree of the Galeries Lafayette in Paris, France (© Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images)

story:
Surely one of the grandest stores found in any city is the Galeries Lafayette in Paris. It's not just a place to shop but a destination as popular as any in the City of Light. At a time when department stores are fading and the entire retail industry is shifting, the Galeries Lafayette holds fast. It has survived financial crises, wars, and now the internet, remaining a celebrated part of life in Paris. Like Macy's or Rockefeller Center in New York, the Galeries Lafayette is synonymous with the holidays. A giant fir is decorated every holiday season under the store's signature stained glass dome—a ritual of Christmas cheer that Parisians have embraced for generations.


date: 2022-12-24
filename: AmalgaTree_EN-US6271369167.jpg
title: All is calm
copyright: Amalga Harbor, Alaska (© Mark Kelley/Tandem Stills + Motion)
story:
This isolated cove on 'the Last Frontier' is the least likely place you'd expect to find a Christmas tree decorated from head to toe with lights aglow. Amalga Harbor lies about 15 miles north of Juneau (one of the few coastal state capitals in the US) and shows that the public expression of Christmas cheer knows few limitations–and may include use of a small barge. This photograph was taken from nearby Ernest Gruening State Historical Park, which was named for the former governor of the Alaska Territory. Gruening led the territory from 1939 to 1953 before becoming one of the state's first US senators when Alaska became a state in 1959. After his political career ended, he and his wife lived in a cabin that was preserved as part of this historic site.


date: 2022-12-26
filename: BeverleyWestwood_EN-US6464100653.jpg
title: Giddy family fun
copyright: Beverley Westwood Common, East Yorkshire, England (© Les Gibbon/Alamy)
story:
The sledders in our photo are enjoying Boxing Day in England, bundled up and hurtling down a hill at Beverley Westwood Common near Black Mill in East Yorkshire. Traditionally, Boxing Day is a day off to relax after the excitement of Christmas. What's behind the name? There are a few theories, but the most widely accepted one is that the name derives from the giving of 'boxes' (of gifts) to the poor the day after Christmas. Perhaps we should all follow that example today, as we eat Christmas leftovers and listen to lingering carols. How can we give a little Christmas to those who are less fortunate?


date: 2022-12-27
filename: BlueLagoon_EN-US6577382520.jpg
title: The healing powers of wastewater
copyright: Blue Lagoon, Grindavík, Iceland (© Westend61/Getty Images)
story:
Let's be frank here, the origin of today's beautiful picture is a pool of wastewater from a nearby geothermal plant. While that may not sound enticing, Iceland's Blue Lagoon is one of the country's most-visited attractions. The trick is to not get stuck on the 'waste' part of wastewater. The water here is clean, always hovers around 100° F, and is enriched with tons of silica—which is what makes it blue—and sulfur, thanks to the plant's processes. Those minerals, along with a little algae, are believed to combine into a highly beneficial tonic for skin and overall well-being.


date: 2022-12-28
filename: ChiesaBianca_EN-US6649530996.jpg
title: A life-size snow globe
copyright: Maloja, Switzerland (© Roberto Moiola/Getty)
story:
The word 'picturesque' is an understatement when taking in today's image of Maloja, Switzerland. This Alpine village in the canton of Grisons is surely the envy and inspiration of snow globes the world over! Located just a few miles from the Italian border, the impossibly perfect winter scenes found here have inspired painters and artists for centuries. Majola is near Lake Sils, which makes this area a recreational destination in both summer and winter. At the center of our image is the crown jewel of Maloja, the Chiesa Bianca, a church built in the 1880s by a Belgian count. Today, the once solemn space is used to stage exhibitions and concerts.


date: 2022-12-29
filename: ButterflyEffect_EN-US4238684091.jpg
title: The butterfly effect
copyright: A pair of silver-studded blue butterflies (© Misja Smits/Minden Pictures)
story:
The butterfly effect is a scientific concept coined 50 years ago today, and it has become a literary and metaphorical term to describe the idea that the smallest change may have massive, worldwide implications. It is often associated with chaos theory. American mathematician and meteorologist Edward Norton Lorenz theorized that the flapping of a butterfly's wings, like those of the silver-studded blue butterflies you see in today's image, could weeks later influence the formation of a tornado.


date: 2022-12-30
filename: ChalkRock_EN-US3353441410.jpg
title: This snow will never melt
copyright: Rock formations in the White Desert, Egypt (© Anton Petrus/Getty Images)
story:
Snow, in the desert? Not quite. Today we're in Egypt's White Desert, which gets its colorful name from an abundance of chalk, limestone, and quartz rock formations that give the sand its special hue. Tourists flock to this place to see these naturally occurring structures, honed over thousands of years into unique shapes through a process known as differential weathering. Located about five hours to the southwest of Cairo, White Desert National Park is a lot more than just deteriorating rocks—it's also a protected refuge for several endangered animal species.


date: 2022-12-31
filename: SydneyNYE_EN-US3807524923.jpg
title: Happy New Year's Eve from Down Under
copyright: New Year's Eve fireworks, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia (© Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
story:
With New Year's Eve landing in midsummer, many Aussies choose to usher in the new year with a boat trip around beautiful Sydney Harbour to take in the annual fireworks display. With the Sydney Harbour Bridge and world-famous Sydney Opera House as a dramatic backdrop, the first fireworks show will fire off this year at 9 PM local time, followed by a second show at midnight. Australia is one of the first nations to greet the new year, and more than 1.5 million people are typically in attendance for this spectacular celebration in Sydney.


date: 2023-01-01
filename: NorwayNYD_EN-US3880728634.jpg
title: Napping near the North Pole
copyright: Polar bear in Svalbard, Norway (© Dennis Stogsdill/Getty Images)
story:
If your first scheduled activity of the day has ever involved intentionally jumping into an icy lake or a frigid bay, then you understand the relevance of today's image from the Svalbard Islands of Norway. Polar bear plunges, as these swims have come to be known, take place all over the world, often on New Year's Day. Whether people take the plunge for charity, penance, or shock value, there's no better way to put an exclamation point on the first day of the year. Of course, for actual polar bears, ice cold plunges are an everyday occurrence and won't elicit much more than a yawn.


date: 2023-01-02
filename: HohenzollernBurg_EN-US3949412118.jpg
title: Fit for a fairy tale
copyright: Hohenzollern Castle, Germany (© Sahara Prince/Shutterstock)
story:
For the charming Hohenzollern Castle, the third time really was the charm. Constructed on the top of Hohenzollern Mountain in the 11th century, the castle was largely ruined by a 10-month siege in 1423, only to be rebuilt a few decades later. It then served as an important strategic stronghold before again falling into disrepair. In the 19th century, King Frederick William IV of Prussia, best remembered for his commitment to building great works across Germany, had a new castle built on the grounds, replacing almost all the 15th-century construction. Today, Hohenzollern Castle is an open-air museum that hosts more than 350,000 visitors per year, making it one of the most-visited castles in Germany.


date: 2023-01-03
filename: SandhillSleeping_EN-US4023790571.jpg
title: Who's snoozing?
copyright:
Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (© Jay Goodrich/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Hey, don't judge. Migrating takes it out of you! Yes, these sandhill cranes are sleeping on their feet in the waters of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in southern New Mexico. The birds start arriving around Halloween each year, and as many as 10,000 of them will stay to rest and feed in local fields until February. What's on the menu? Well, sandhill cranes aren't picky; they'll eat whatever's available, from plants and grains, to insects, snails, and even snakes. And they have plenty of avian company at this beautiful refuge each winter—whooping cranes, ducks, and snow geese from as far away as Alaska and Siberia also count Bosque del Apache as a favorite resting spot before heading north to their breeding grounds when the days get warmer. Thankfully, there's plenty of room to spread their wings at the 57,000-acre refuge.


date: 2023-01-04
filename: Perihelion_EN-US4106263162.jpg
title: So close, yet so far
copyright: Earth as seen from the International Space Station (© JSC/NASA)
story:
We've reached perihelion! Two weeks after winter solstice the Earth's orbit is closer to the sun than at any other time of year—a result of the Earth's elliptical orbit. You may think, 'If we're so close to the sun, why can't I feel the heat?' Well, that's because we're only receiving about 7% more solar energy than normal, which doesn't really have much impact on the weather.


date: 2023-01-05
filename: HIISSF_EN-US4182845947.jpg
title: City of ice
copyright: Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China (© STR/AFP via Getty Images)
story:
The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, in China's Heilongjiang province, begins today with all the spectacle and fanfare you'd expect from the world's largest festival of its kind. Big, bold, and beautiful, the event features more than 2,000 ice sculptures made from 240,000 cubic yards of ice collected by nearly a thousand workers from the nearby Songhua River. Many of the sculptures are illuminated with colored lights, creating a vibrant, glowing world of ice. It's estimated the colorful sights attract more than 18 million visitors each year. The event, which runs through late February, also features alpine skiing, cold water swimming in the aforementioned Songhua, as well as a festive ice lantern show.


date: 2023-01-06
filename: BlackFell_EN-US4276698070.jpg
title: 'The hills have a power to soothe and heal...'
copyright: Black Fell, Lake District, England (© Daniel Kay/Shutterstock)
story:
Today's lovely landscape requires a slight bit of explanation. We're at Black Fell, which can be found in the Lake District of England. The term 'fell' originates from the Old Norse term for mountain, but it mostly applies to high, barren areas and, in the Lake District specifically, the area was usually uncultivated and used for grazing. Black Fell, which is a little over 1,000 feet high, has some acclaim, having been mentioned in Alfred Wainwright's 'Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells' as a prime viewing area. No matter which direction you gaze, you're sure to see something wonderful.


date: 2023-01-07
filename: Mohair_EN-US4379797092.jpg
title: What the heck is a distaff?
copyright: Wool and mohair yarn (© Jurate Buiviene/Alamy)
story:
We're showcasing gorgeous soft wool and mohair yarn because today is Distaff Day, a celebration that dates back to medieval times. Truth be told, we're not convinced that it's really cause for celebration, since it marked women's return to spinning work after Christmas, following 12 blissful, chore-free days.


date: 2023-01-08
filename: Breckenridge_EN-US4460042968.jpg
title: Where we go to play
copyright: Breckenridge, Colorado (© Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)
story:
Gold mining put this Rocky Mountain town on the map in the 1860s, but today the real gold is the powdery snow that falls liberally on the slopes that surround the town. Breckenridge is one of Colorado's premier ski and snowboard destinations. The resort has 35 lifts servicing five peaks and 2,900 acres of terrain. The visitors—who also arrive in the summer to fish, cycle, and paddle—easily outnumber the 5,000 residents of this quaint village. The gold mines have long shut down, apart from hosting visits from tourists. The enduring value of Breckenridge is its natural beauty.


date: 2023-01-09
filename: BisonWindCave_EN-US4537340482.jpg
title: Where buffalo roam
copyright: Bison in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota (© Charlie Summers/Minden Pictures)
story:
Between the more famous national parks of Yellowstone and the Badlands lies Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Established 120 years ago, this national park is home to one of only four wild herds of genetically pure bison in North America. The two in our image are the descendants of 20 bison saved from slaughter by conservationists in the early 1900s. At the time, fewer than 1,000 wild bison were left alive out of a population that once numbered 50 million. Above ground, the park is the largest grass prairie in the country. Below ground lies one of the most extensive cave systems in the world. As the weather above changes, air flows into and out of the caves creating the wind for which the park was named.


date: 2023-01-10
filename: HummockIce_EN-US4606231645.jpg
title: When ice imitates art
copyright: Hummock ice on Lake Peipus in Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Minden Pictures)
story:
Lake Peipus, the fifth-largest lake in Europe, dates back hundreds of millions of years to the Paleozoic Era and is known for its sand dunes, which can 'sing' when the wind blows just right. In the winter the frozen lake surface may feature ice hummocks, as seen in this image. The hummocks are caused by slow, uneven pressure in the ice pack.


date: 2023-01-11
filename: Umschreibung_EN-US4693850900.jpg
title: Stairway to where?
copyright: 'Umschreibung,' a sculpture by artist Olafur Eliasson in Munich, Germany (© Manfred Bail/Alamy)
story:
Making a New Year's resolution to boost your fitness? Let us present National Take the Stairs Day. (You're welcome.) The annual event began informally in 2016 and was later adopted by the American Lung Association. It's an ingenious way to nudge people to exercise—most of us encounter stairs during our day, so there's really no excuse. Climbing stairs is a low-impact activity that raises your heart rate and burns calories.


date: 2023-01-12
filename: RumeliHisari_EN-US4800002879.jpg
title: Where two continents meet
copyright:
Rumelihisarı on the Bosporus Strait at Istanbul, Türkiye (© Drone in Wonderland/Amazing Aerial Agency)

story:
Though Türkiye usually lives up to expectations as a warm Mediterranean country, snow occasionally falls here. This winter dusting of Istanbul, Türkiye's largest city, brings into sharper focus the lines of Rumelihisarı in the center of our image. The structure, also known as Rumeli Fortress, was built in the 15th century by an Ottoman sultan as a way to choke naval traffic through the narrow Bosporus Strait. The Bosporus connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea, separating Istanbul into what are often referred to as its 'European side' and 'Asian side.' Today, the fortress isn't used to fire upon ships but serves as a museum and concert venue. While the place has changed over the centuries, the killer view hasn't.


date: 2023-01-13
filename: Pneumatocysts_EN-US1065729036.jpg
title: Sequoias of the sea
copyright:
Giant kelp in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California (© Brandon Cole Images/Shutterstock)

story:
All along the Pacific Coast of North America, giant stands of kelp up to 100 feet high, like this one in California's Channel Islands, provide habitat for a vast number of fish, invertebrates, and sea mammals. Giant kelp, technically a type of brown algae, is the largest of all seaweed and one of the fastest-growing of any organism—as much as 2 feet per day! The gas-filled pods you see in this image help the kelp float. Like the trees in the Amazon, the kelp forests of our oceans are key to the health of marine life.


date: 2023-01-14
filename: DonkeyFeast_EN-US1153850805.jpg
title: A delightful day for donkeys
copyright: Domestic donkey feeding on cherry twigs (© Juniors Bildarchiv GmbH/Alamy)
story:
This fuzzy donkey feeding on the leaves of a cherry tree probably doesn't know that today was once celebrated as the Feast of the Donkey. We think any day is a good day to celebrate donkeys. They've carried the load for humans for more than 7,000 years, so let's give them some love. More than 40 million donkeys do the heavy lifting around the world today, with 11 million in China alone.


date: 2023-01-15
filename: Turku_EN-US1258814703.jpg
title: Frosty Finland
copyright: Aura River in Turku, Finland (© Jarmo Piironen/Alamy)
story:
The Turku Cathedral rises above the frosted forests near the mouth of the Aura River, which runs through the middle of Turku, Finland.


date: 2023-01-16
filename: InscriptionWall_EN-US1392173431.jpg
title: Words of wisdom
copyright: Inscription Wall at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC (© Ken Howard/Alamy)
story:
This striking memorial to Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., displays 14 powerful quotes from his speeches and writings. The Inscription Wall, in Washington DC, lets the visitor browse the quotes without the structure of a timeline—the earliest quote dates to 1956 and the Montgomery Bus Boycott; the most recent is taken from Dr. King's sermon at the National Cathedral in Washington just four days before he was assassinated.


date: 2023-01-17
filename: SessileOaks_EN-US1487454928.jpg
title: From little acorns…
copyright: Muniellos Nature Reserve in Asturias, Spain (© Andres M. Dominguez/Minden Pictures)
story:
The Muniellos Nature Reserve is one of Spain's best-preserved forests of Quercus robur, otherwise known as common oak, European oak, or English oak. The 13,560-acre reserve in Asturias province also includes sessile oaks, seen in our photo alongside beech trees.


date: 2023-01-18
filename: WhiteSands_EN-US1584863251.jpg
title: Happy birthday, White Sands!
copyright: White Sands National Park, New Mexico (© Andrea Harrell/Tandem Stills + Motion)
story:
If today's photo evokes some chilly feelings inside of you, surprise! That's not snow, but part of the largest gypsum dune field on the planet. We're at White Sands National Park in New Mexico, which was first established as a monument on this date in 1933 and then became a national park in 2019. Roughly 4.5 billion tons of gypsum sand has massed in the Tularosa Basin over the past 12,000 years, having worn off the surrounding mountains. Thousands of species live in the park, many of which have evolved to have white coloration, allowing them to blend into the environment.


date: 2023-01-19
filename: SFFParkCity_EN-US1872185938.jpg
title: Clouds dance above Sundance
copyright: Park City, Utah (© Kruck20/Getty Images)
story:
As beautiful as this vista is, most of today's visitors to Park City are there to spend the day inside. Sundance Film Festival, the nation's biggest celebration of independent cinema, opens today and runs through January 29. The careers of Hollywood directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh were launched here, and every year a new crop of greenhorns arrives in this mountain enclave with the dream that they'll leave with a distribution deal.


date: 2023-01-20
filename: FalklandKings_EN-US1992849422.jpg
title: 'Come on, guys, this way!'
copyright: King penguins in the Falkland Islands (© Elmar Weiss/Getty Images)
story:
We're celebrating Penguin Awareness Day in the Falkland Islands, taking a stroll with some king penguins. Kings are the second-largest penguin species, only outranked in stature by their emperor penguin cousins. And while the kings' tuxedo coloring gives them a dash of the debonair, it also provides an important and more practical purpose: camouflage. When the birds dive deep into the ocean looking for food, their black feathers disguise the birds from predators above, while their white undersides do the reverse. Kings are legendary for their diving prowess—in their quest for tasty squid and lanternfish, they can dive to depths of 300 feet, and some have even been spotted nearly 1,000 feet beneath the surface. Underwater, these flightless birds are the epitome of grace. On land, however, they are not so graceful, and waddle or 'toboggan' on their bellies to get around.


date: 2023-01-21
filename: HuggingKanga_EN-US2086666028.jpg
title: When only a hug will do
copyright: Kangaroo mother and baby (© Belle Ciezak/Shutterstock)
story:
Whether you call it a hug or an embrace, there is something about the power of touch that all mammals can relate to. Take this mommy kangaroo and her joey for example—no words are needed to convey what is going on in this image. Not only does this cute pair give us the warm and fuzzies, it's also a perfect visual for National Hugging Day, which we are celebrating today. This warm-hearted occasion was created in 1986 by a man named Kevin Zaborney, who chose Jan 21 because it fell after the run of year-end holidays, landing right in the middle of winter when spirits tend to be low. That makes perfect sense to us! After all, hugging has been an essential part of the human experience for thousands of years. And studies have shown that it reduces stress, too. So find yourself a willing partner today and hug it out. You'll feel better, we promise.


date: 2023-01-22
filename: YearRabbit_EN-US2153925391.jpg
title: Hop into Lunar New Year
copyright: Mountain hare in Derbyshire, England (© Ben Hall/Minden Pictures)
story:
Today is the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Rabbit. Those born under the sign of the rabbit are believed to be ingenious, sweet, happy, quiet, and persistent. Famous rabbits include Albert Einstein, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Messi, and Ingrid Bergman. The Lunar New Year celebration starts with the first new moon in January and goes for the next 15 days, until the year's first full moon lights up the night sky. Historically it has been an occasion for feasting and honoring deities as well as ancestors. We're doing our part by sharing this lovely winter image of a mountain hare in Derbyshire, England.


date: 2023-01-23
filename: SunriseMoai_EN-US2278287529.jpg
title: Stony sentinels
copyright: Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile (© Karine Aigner/Tandem Stills + Motion)
story:
Today we're looking at something you may have heard about before—the famous Moai statues on Chile's remote Easter Island. These big-headed statues were carved out of solidified volcanic ash by the Rapa Nui people between 1250 and 1500, and there are nearly 1,000 of them on the island. Archaeologists believe they were meant to honor Rapa Nui ancestors and were revered as symbols of power and authority. All but seven of the statues face away from the surrounding Pacific Ocean, and instead look inward toward the villages, as if positioned to watch protectively over the Rapa Nui.


date: 2023-01-24
filename: ColleSantaLucia_EN-US2362622808.jpg
title: The envy of postcards and snow globes
copyright: Colle Santa Lucia in the Dolomites, Italy (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy)
story:
This tiny hamlet on the slopes of the Dolomite Mountains is so picturesque, we'd understand if you mistook it for a movie set. But Colle Santa Lucia is a real village in Italy with about 400 residents. Despite its location in Italy's northern reaches, the village is more culturally Austrian than Italian, and is only a stone's throw from the Austrian border state of Tyrol. And like its Austrian neighbors, Colle Santa Lucia is known for its peaks and ski resorts. It has more in common with wintry Innsbruck than sunny Venice, which is less than 100 miles away to the south.


date: 2023-01-26
filename: HighArchChina_EN-US3519227219.jpg
title: A heavenly view
copyright: Heaven's Gate Cave in Tianmen Mountain National Park, China (© Shane P. White/Minden Pictures)
story:
The rock arch formation you're looking at today is Heaven's Gate Cave, a popular landmark in Hunan province, China. This busy tourist destination is located on Tianmen (Heaven's Gate) Mountain in Tianmen Mountain National Park. To reach the arch, you must either ride a cable car or take a bus up a twisty, winding road with 99 turns. (The number 9 represents eternity in Chinese numerology.) Once off the bus, you'll need to walk 999 steps up a 45-degree incline—a stairway to the heavens. It's no easy feat, but this is no ordinary cave. At an elevation of 4,100 feet, the arch is 440 feet high and 180 feet wide.


date: 2023-01-27
filename: RedMangrove_EN-US2559915803.jpg
title: All hail the mighty mangrove!
copyright:
Red mangrove tree seedlings in Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba (© Claudio Contreras/Minden Pictures)

story:
Today we're admiring red mangrove seedlings at Guanahacabibes National Park in Cuba. Mangrove forests not only protect coastlines but are a crucial component of tropical coastal ecosystems and are uniquely suited to thrive in brackish or salty water. These hardy trees can withstand the force of tremendous waves and ferocious winds, fending off the damaging effects of storms and erosion.


date: 2023-01-28
filename: BlueBahamas_EN-US2634514272.jpg
title: When life imitates art
copyright: Blue-green waters around the Bahamas as seen from the International Space Station (© NASA)
story:
The islands of the Bahamas are an easy photo op for astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The massive hills under the water's surface make for striking images when seen from the ISS's vantage point high above Earth. These undersea hills, which appear dark blue in this ocean image, indicate depths that can reach 13,000 feet.


date: 2023-01-29
filename: BlackbirdDay_EN-US2693700478.jpg
title: Days of the blackbird
copyright: Blackbird in Essex, England (© Bill Coster/Alamy)
story:
The end of January in the Northern Hemisphere can be quite cold, as it is near the midpoint of winter. According to Italian folklore, the last three days of January are the coldest of the year and are referred to as the 'days of the blackbird.' One local legend gives a fun take on how blackbirds got their dark feathers: To protect her young chicks from the cold Northern Italian winter, a mother bird with white feathers built her nest in a chimney. After her white chicks emerged from their eggs, their feathers turned black from the chimney's soot, and from that day on, all such birds were born as 'blackbirds.'


date: 2023-01-30
filename: IceSailingBalaton_EN-US2751943390.jpg
title: Wind-powered ice racing
copyright:
Ice and Snow Sailing European Championships on Lake Balaton in Hungary (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo)

story:
Today is the opening day of the WISSA Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships, which take place this year in Lithuania. Iceboating, also known as ice sailing, began in 17th-century Europe. Travelers used vessels on blades to traverse the frozen Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea and the iced-over canals of the Netherlands. These days, the sport is enjoyed as a recreational and competitive activity using a variety of boats, boards, skates, and kites. The world championships, which fall under the broader umbrella of windsurfing competitions, have been held since 1980. Good luck to all those out there competing for fame and glory on the windswept ice!


date: 2023-01-31
filename: ZebraTrio_EN-US4742257683.jpg
title: A dazzling sight
copyright: Burchell's zebras, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa (© Richard Du Toit/Minden Pictures)
story:
It's International Zebra Day, and we're giving a shout-out to the flashiest animal on the African savanna. It's a day to raise awareness of these distinctive creatures and encourage measures to protect them and their habitat. This group of Burchell's zebras is hanging out at Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa.


date: 2023-02-01
filename: LittleRockNine_EN-US4940477720.jpg
title: Courage and conviction
copyright: 'Testament: The Little Rock Nine Monument,' Little Rock, Arkansas (© Rex Lisman/Getty Images)
story:
They were just high school kids, named Ernest, Elizabeth, Jefferson, Terrence, Carlotta, Minnijean, Gloria, Thelma, and Melba, who made history in 1957 when they became the first Black pupils at their school, in the face of fierce opposition. We start Black History Month here in Little Rock, the state capital of Arkansas, at the Little Rock Nine Monument, named for that group of kids who played an important role in desegregating public schools. Their contributions to the civil rights movement are a moving reminder of how far we've come as a nation, and of how very different life was for Black Americans not so long ago.


date: 2023-02-02
filename: GroundhogThree_EN-US2975789647.jpg
title: Signs of spring?
copyright: Alpine marmots in Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria (© Michaela Walch/Alamy)
story:
Groundhog Day is a North American tradition with roots in the February 2 Candlemas observance practiced by German immigrants. The most well-known Groundhog Day celebration, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, was first promoted by a local newspaper editor in 1886. Thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney each year to witness the groundhog emerge from its burrow, and more importantly, to see if the critter spots its shadow. If it does, winter will go on for six weeks, according to tradition. If it does not, spring-like conditions are said to be coming. Studies have yet to prove any link between the two events, but that hasn’t cast a shadow over this unusual tradition, which remains as popular as ever in the 21st century.


date: 2023-02-03
filename: QuebecFrontenac_EN-US3034032069.jpg
title: Warmly embracing winter
copyright: Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada (© Romiana Lee/Shutterstock)
story:
Among all the pre-Lenten celebrations that take place around the world in February, the most famous are associated with warm-weather cities like Rio and New Orleans, where revelers party in elaborate costumes during the run-up to Ash Wednesday. It's a different affair in Quebec City, Canada, pictured here, where participants in the Quebec Winter Carnival enjoy all things winter, from snow sculptures to sleigh races. This former frontier outpost, and little sister to Montreal, is known for its spirited embrace of the coldest, darkest season. So, it's no surprise that its winter festival is the biggest in the Western Hemisphere. Our homepage image shows the grandiose Château Frontenac hotel, which opened in 1893, towering over the city's historic Old Quebec neighborhood, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


date: 2023-02-04
filename: RosaParksBus_EN-US3109740887.jpg
title: Remembering Rosa Parks
copyright:
Rosa Parks sits in the front of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, Dec 21, 1956 (© Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

story:
On Dec 1, 1955, Alabama native Rosa Parks took a stand when she refused to stand. Parks rejected bus driver James F. Blake's order to vacate a seat on a Mongomery bus in favor of a white passenger and was arrested and fined for this act of civil disobedience. Parks then helped lead a boycott of Montgomery buses that lasted for over a year. The year-long protest finally ended when the US Supreme Court ruled that Alabama’s laws enforcing segregation on city buses and other modes of transportation were unconstitutional.


date: 2023-02-05
filename: MonarchPismo_EN-US3162751009.jpg
title: Migration of the monarchs
copyright: Monarch butterflies at Pismo Beach, California (© Mimi Ditchie/Getty Images)
story:
Today we're in Pismo Beach, California, to celebrate one of the best-known species of butterflies—the monarch. Western Monarch Day marks their seasonal migration to California's Central Coast from cold northern locations west of the Rocky Mountains.


date: 2023-02-06
filename: WaitangiFjordlandNP_EN-US6375624505.jpg
title: Where fiords meet forests
copyright: Fiordland National Park in South Island, New Zealand (© WitR/Adobe Stock)
story:
For Waitangi Day, we're visiting the spectacular landscape of Fiordland National Park on New Zealand's South Island. Waitangi Day is New Zealand's national day, established to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840. The document was signed by representatives of the British Crown and some 500 Māori chiefs to establish British law on the islands. The treaty also created the framework for political relations between New Zealand's government and the Indigenous Māori people. It's considered New Zealand's founding document and a cornerstone in the country's history.


date: 2023-02-07
filename: MedievalLabro_EN-US3411281136.jpg
title: History on the hill
copyright: Village of Labro, Rieti Province, Italy (© Marco Ilari/Shutterstock)
story:
Join us for a journey to a tiny Italian village about 40 miles northeast of Rome. Labro, which covers about 4.4 square miles, was founded sometime between the 9th and 10th centuries and was assigned to a powerful aristocratic family by Emperor Otto the Great. Perched atop a wooded hill, the Nobili-Vitelleschi castle originally served to secure the border and control communication routes in the valley below.


date: 2023-02-08
filename: NorwayRestArea_EN-US3474268008.jpg
title: A place to pause
copyright: Ureddplassen, a rest area on the Helgelandskysten scenic route, Norway (© Eyesite/Alamy)
story:
With sweeping views of fjords, mountains, and the sea, this is possibly one of the most beautiful places in the world to rest when you are on the road. Ureddplassen, also known as Uredd Rest Area, provides a place for respite to travelers on a section of the Helgelandskysten national scenic route in Norway. It also serves as a WWII memorial, sharing its name with a Norwegian submarine which was lost when it hit a German mine in February 1943.


date: 2023-02-09
filename: LowerAntelopeAZ_EN-US3547494170.jpg
title: Waves of stone
copyright: Lower Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona (© AZCat/Getty Images)
story:
Today we're peering up from the depths of Lower Antelope Canyon, located in Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park near Page, Arizona. This tall, narrow channel is an entry point into Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon that was created over millions of years by flash floods carving away at the soft Navajo sandstone.


date: 2023-02-10
filename: EpidaurusGreece_EN-US0957261511.jpg
title: Built to last
copyright: Ancient theater of Epidaurus in Argolis province, Greece (© George Pachantouris/Getty Images)
story:
Hidden in the eastern hills of Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, about 100 miles from Athens, lies the ancient theater of Epidaurus. Built in the 4th century BCE, this massive open-air venue, which could hold about 14,000 spectators, is known for its perfect architectural proportions. It sits alongside several ancient Greek monuments in the wider Sanctuary of Asclepius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


date: 2023-02-11
filename: DarkSkiesDV_EN-US5129041284.jpg
title: Death Valley's star appeal
copyright:
The Milky Way over Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, California (© Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images)

story:
This iconic view of the Milky Way from Zabriskie Point in California will draw crowds of photographers and tourists this weekend, as the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival begins. Death Valley National Park offers some of the best stargazing in the US and has been awarded the highest ‘gold tier’ rating by the International Dark-Sky Association.


date: 2023-02-12
filename: BoobyDarwinDay_EN-US7558308740.jpg
title: Coming in for a smooth landing?
copyright: Blue-footed booby, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador (© Tui De Roy/Minden Pictures)
story:
Today we're celebrating Darwin Day with this blue-footed booby on the shores of the Galápagos Islands, where the famous naturalist observed wildlife and collected specimens that would inform his theory of evolution.


date: 2023-02-13
filename: MoonValley_EN-US1284273095.jpg
title: In the Valley of the Moon
copyright: Achaches lookout, El Valle de la Luna, Chile (© Ignacio Palacios/Getty Images)
story:
El Valle de la Luna (the Valley of the Moon) is located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The Achaches Lookout, seen here, offers breathtaking views of volcanoes in the distance. In 1982, El Valle de la Luna was declared a nature sanctuary for its stunning, untouched habitat and its peculiar lunar-like terrain.


date: 2023-02-14
filename: OtaruIgloo_EN-US1380797135.jpg
title: Love is in the snow
copyright: Igloo at Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, Hokkaido, Japan (© T Photography/Shutterstock)
story:
Valentine's Day is here! A day to celebrate love and tell your significant other how much they mean to you, Valentine's Day is perhaps one of the most popular holidays around the world. Although its exact origins are not known, it is associated with the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia and the Christian feast day of Saint Valentine. But today, Valentine's Day has evolved into a huge cultural and commercial celebration of romantic love.


date: 2023-02-15
filename: HippoDayChobe_EN-US1475666654.jpg
title: World Hippo Day, a giant celebration
copyright: Hippopotamus mother and baby, Chobe National Park, Botswana (© jacobeukman/Getty Images)
story:
It's World Hippo Day, time to celebrate one of Earth's heaviest land animals! These African herbivores are scattered across the continent south of the Sahara Desert but, despite their wide range, hippos are listed as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss. While they spend their lives in and around water, hippos aren't good swimmers and can't float. They move about in deep water by bouncing off the bottom. Hippos can live up to 40 years in the wild and possess the largest mouth of any land animal in the world, so smiling for the camera comes naturally.


date: 2023-02-16
filename: FireFallYosemite_EN-US1696286356.jpg
title: Why is El Capitan ablaze?
copyright:
'Firefall' on Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

story:
Illuminated by the setting sun on Yosemite's famous El Capitan is a rare natural phenomenon known as the 'Firefall,' which appears for just a few weeks a year. From mid to late February, the sun is at just the right angle to set Horsetail Fall aglow, but only if sufficient water is flowing and the sky is clear. Even then, the Firefall only lasts for about 10 minutes in the evening, so vantage points can be very crowded.


date: 2023-02-17
filename: BirdcountAllen_EN-US1766542066.jpg
title: Let the Great Backyard Bird Count begin!
copyright: Allen's hummingbird perched on a red kangaroo paw plant (© GypsyPictureShow/Shutterstock)
story:
The Great Backyard Bird Count has begun! Time to pay more attention to our feathered friends and help scientists learn about wild bird populations. The event runs over four days and will see people using apps and websites to identify local birds and share their sightings from their backyards, or other favorite spots, for as little as 15 minutes a day.


date: 2023-02-18
filename: EbenIceCave_EN-US1839710567.jpg
title: It's cold inside!
copyright: Eben Ice Caves, Upper Peninsula, Michigan (© Dean Pennala/Shutterstock)
story:
The Eben Ice Caves only exist during the freezing winters of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For the rest of the year, there are only sandstone cliffs and cedar trees here. But when temperatures drop, water flows over the canyon cliffs and turns into these beautiful, colorful ice formations.


date: 2023-02-19
filename: MauiWhale_EN-US1928366389.jpg
title: Migrating giants
copyright: Humpback whales, Maui, Hawaii (© Flip Nicklin/Minden Pictures)
story:
If you ever want to feel insignificant, just think about the sheer size of a humpback whale. With adults growing up to 56 feet long, humpback whales are one of the biggest mammals on Earth. In February, Hawaii celebrates the return of these migrating giants with its Maui Whale Festival. This month-long event encourages people to get involved in conservation efforts and includes whale-watching tours, allowing closer views of these beautiful creatures.


date: 2023-02-20
filename: PresDayDC_EN-US2054662773.jpg
title: Happy Presidents Day!
copyright:
Washington Monument and Capitol Building on the National Mall, Washington, DC (© AevanStock/Shutterstock)

story:
Celebrated on the third Monday of February each year, Presidents Day honors and commemorates US presidents past and present.


date: 2023-02-21
filename: MardiGrasNOLA_EN-US2138635038.jpg
title: Happy Mardi Gras!
copyright: French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana (© f11photo/Getty Images)
story:
Welcome to Mardi Gras, the festivity celebrated before the start of Lent in Roman Catholic countries around the world and in many parts of the US. Mardi Gras is especially big here in New Orleans, where celebrations date back to sometime in the mid-18th century.


date: 2023-02-22
filename: FreedomRallyChi_EN-US2565810173.jpg
title: Milestone in Black history
copyright: Freedom Sunday rally, Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, July 10, 1966 (© Bettmann/Getty Images)
story:
February is Black History Month. History writer Carter G. Woodson worked with passion to organize the event with the aim of providing education about the origins, struggles, and achievements of African Americans. The United States memorializes Black history in February. However, in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, they honor it throughout the month of October.


date: 2023-02-23
filename: BlueWinterParis_EN-US2358774284.jpg
title: Night falls on the City of Light
copyright: Paris, France (© somchaij/Shutterstock)
story:
As twilight turns to night, the city of Paris lights up. Streets and buildings are bathed in light, alongside grand monuments such as the Hôtel National des Invalides, whose famous dome shines out in our homepage image. It was built during the 17th century under Louis XIV, as a hospital and home for army veterans. It was also Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, who ordered streetlights to be erected throughout the city to light up dark alleys where lawbreakers might lurk. Parisians were also asked to put up lanterns and oil lamps, and place lit candles in their windows.


date: 2023-02-24
filename: RichmondParkDuck_EN-US9381974155.jpg
title: Who’s this colorful character?
copyright: Mandarin duck, Richmond Park, London, England (© Oscar Dewhurst/Minden Pictures)
story:
The cold, dreary backdrop of winter can be the perfect time to show off a little color. This male mandarin duck is doing just that with his handsome crest and vibrant plumage. Come molting season, he will look more like his brown-and-white female counterpart, except for his brightly colored beak.


date: 2023-02-25
filename: BryceAnniv_EN-US9498074213.jpg
title: A huddle of hoodoos
copyright: Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (© Piriya Photography/Getty Images)
story:
As the sun rises on Bryce Canyon, its snow-capped red rock formations start to glow. These slender towers are called hoodoos, and Bryce Canyon National Park has the highest concentration of them anywhere on Earth.


date: 2023-02-26
filename: CanopyPeru_EN-US9715922202.jpg
title: A walk in the trees
copyright: Suspension bridge in Tambopata National Reserve, Amazon Basin, Peru (© Pere Rubi/Getty Images)
story:
Those brave enough to step out over this suspension bridge will be treated to a macaw's-eye view of the Amazon rainforest, on which the survival of life on Earth depends. The vast Amazon biome, which spans 2.6 million square miles—an area twice the size of India—stores enormous amounts of carbon and supports approximately 10% of all known animal and plant species on Earth.


date: 2023-02-27
filename: PolarBearFrost_EN-US9888741440.jpg
title: A warm hug in the icy North
copyright: Polar bears asleep in Canada (© David Pike/Minden Pictures)
story:
February 27 marks International Polar Bear Day—an effort to raise awareness of the enormous threats polar bears face due to climate change. Polar bears need Arctic pack ice to hunt on, but that ice is shrinking as the planet warms. While polar bears are excellent swimmers—so much so that they're classified as marine mammals—the Arctic ice is still a crucial part of their survival. Let's take this day to think about what we can do to help reduce climate change and protect polar bear habitats.


date: 2023-02-28
filename: AtraniAmalfi_EN-US0095082556.jpg
title: Allure of the Amalfi Coast
copyright: Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy (© Amazing Aerial/Shutterstock)
story:
With its red clay roofs and pastel buildings Atrani shines above a sparkling sea on the Amalfi Coast in southwest Italy. Just 800 people get to call Atrani home, the rest of us can only hope to visit one of the country's smallest towns, walking its narrow roads as we admire the small houses perched above the beach. The traditional fishing village is part of the Costiera Amalfitana UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it has kept its traditional characteristics alive. It is a perfect Mediterranean getaway to soak up the sun and enjoy local seafood at a waterfront cafe.


date: 2023-03-01
filename: SuffrageMonumentDC_EN-US0188045009.jpg
title: Women's History Month begins
copyright:
Portrait Monument of women's suffrage pioneers, Capitol Rotunda, Washington, DC (© Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

story:
For the first day of Women's History Month, we've come to the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, to view the Portrait Monument, which depicts three founding mothers of the 19th-century women's rights movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony are particularly known for their efforts to gain American women the right to vote.


date: 2023-03-02
filename: NegratinSpain_EN-US0285047102.jpg
title: Glorious Granada
copyright: Negratín Reservoir, Granada, Spain (© Andres Martinez Olmedo/Getty Images)
story:
Step into serenity at one of the largest freshwater lakes in the southern Spanish province of Granada, in Andalusia. The Negratín Reservoir, created by a dam on the Guadiana Menor River, sits the heart of the Granada Geopark, a unique, semi-desert landscape surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.


date: 2023-03-03
filename: OrcaNorway_EN-US0377841310.jpg
title: Pod predators
copyright: Killer whales in the waters off Spildra, Norway (© Alex Mustard/Minden Pictures)
story:
On World Wildlife Day, we're in the ice-cold waters around the Norwegian island of Spildra with a pod of orcas, also known as killer whales. These apex predators are at the top of the food chain with a diet that includes a smorgasbord of sea creatures including fish, penguins, and even sharks and whales. They hunt in pods, family groups of up to 40 individuals that work together using special hunting techniques sometimes likened to packs of wolves. Despite their scary name, they almost never attack humans and there are no documented cases of wild orcas killing anyone. The name 'killer whale' is thought to come from Spanish sailors who saw groups of them hunting big whales. Orcas are also the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family, Delphinidae.


date: 2023-03-04
filename: PicoVolcano_EN-US0491099827.jpg
title: The road less taken
copyright: Road to Mount Pico, Portugal (© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images)
story:
At almost 8,000 feet above sea level, Mount Pico is the highest point in the Azores, a collection of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean that are an autonomous region of Portugal. Back in 1562, an eruption here on Pico Island lasted for more than two years, but this stratovolcano has been lying dormant since 1720.


date: 2023-03-05
filename: TokyoMoat_EN-US9901957262.jpg
title: Spring blossoms in Tokyo
copyright:
Cherry trees in full bloom near the Imperial Palace with Tokyo Tower in the background, Tokyo, Japan (© Jon Arnold/Danita Delimont)

story:
Each spring, folks across Japan observe 'hanami,' a treasured tradition of viewing nature's breathtaking display of cherry blossoms. Japanese cherry trees, known as 'sakura,' reach full bloom in March in the south of the country. Our homepage picture shows cherry blossoms cascading over the moats which surround the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.


date: 2023-03-06
filename: IcelandHorses_EN-US0725710929.jpg
title: Norse horses
copyright: Icelandic horses standing in a field, Iceland (© Rodrigo Lourezini/Shutterstock)
story:
The Icelandic horse is a small, unique breed that arrived alongside the first Norse settlers in this island country sometime between 860 and 935 CE. More than 1,000 years later, they remain purebred thanks to strict regulations prohibiting the importation of horses. And once exported, they can never come back—rules designed to stop the spread of disease.


date: 2023-03-07
filename: YuanyangChina_EN-US0997293657.jpg
title: Shining through the centuries
copyright: Aerial view of terraced rice fields, Yuanyang County, China (© AlexGcs/Getty Images)
story:
Reflecting the colors of the sky, this spectacular hillside in Yuanyang County, China, is just a small part of the vast Honghe Hani Rice Terraces UNESCO World Heritage Site. For 1,300 years, the local Hani people have carved thousands of these asymmetrical terraces around the contours of the Ailao Mountains in Yunnan province.


date: 2023-03-08
filename: IntlWomensDayChange_EN-US1089722389.jpg
title: Celebrating women
copyright:
Cibeles Fountain and Madrid City Hall lit for International Women's Day, Madrid, Spain (© dpa picture alliance/Alamy)

story:
On International Women's Day, we're at Madrid's iconic Cibeles Fountain and City Hall, which have been lit up in purple—one of the day's official colors, representing justice and dignity. Each year, marchers pass by the Great Mother of the Gods on her chariot drawn by lions, as they turn out in their thousands to campaign for gender equality in Spain's capital city.


