在太平洋中游泳的水母, 格雷罗, 墨西哥 (© Christian Vizl/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

随波轻舞

世界水母日

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。

别被它们名字里的“鱼”骗了：水母其实属于无脊椎动物门中的刺胞动物类，体内约95%是水。钟形躯体配上拖曳的触手，它们更像海洋中的漂泊者，而非深海健将。有些水母会发光，比如图中拍摄于墨西哥格雷罗外海的这一只；有些则带有毒刺；还有极少数，如“永生水母”，甚至能重置生命循环，重新开始。

水母是食物链中至关重要的环节，它们为海龟、太阳鱼和海鸟提供食物。其种群数量的突然激增也如同警报，提醒我们海洋因水温升高和过度捕捞而发生的变化。所以，今天让我们给予这些“无脑软体”应有的赞赏——它们比恐龙活得更久，精通漂流的艺术，并证明了有时候“没有脊梁”反而是一种力量。

岚山缤纷的枫叶与竹林, 京都, 日本 Colorful maple leaves and bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan (© DoctorEgg/Getty Images)

竹林吐纳清气，枫叶绚烂如火 Where bamboo breathes and maples blaze

日本京都岚山地区的枫林与竹林

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。

嵯峨野竹林同样具有标志性，高耸的真竹和毛竹在微风中轻轻摇曳。几个世纪以来，竹子一直是日本人生活中不可或缺的一部分，从建筑、手工艺到传统仪式，竹子都得到广泛应用。竹子的快速生长和韧性象征着力量和柔韧性，历史上人们种植竹林是为了抵御自然灾害。

Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

Today, we travel to the Arashiyama district in Kyoto, renowned for its captivating seasonal landscapes. Here, vibrant Japanese maple trees and serene bamboo forests create a harmonious blend of color and tranquility. These maples, known for their delicate, deeply lobed leaves, turn fiery shades of red, orange, and gold during fall, attracting visitors from around the world. They are celebrated not only for their beauty but also for their cultural symbolism—representing elegance, peace, and the fleeting nature of life.

The Sagano Bamboo Forest is equally iconic, where towering stalks of madake and mosochiku varieties of bamboo sway gently in the breeze. Bamboo has been integral to Japanese life for centuries, used in everything from architecture and crafts to traditional ceremonies. Its rapid growth and resilience symbolize strength and flexibility, and bamboo groves were historically planted to protect against natural disasters.

野牛在温泉边吃草,  黄石国家公园, 怀俄明州, 美国 Bison grazing at thermal hot springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (© Cheryl Ramalho/Getty Images)

古老血脉的兽群 Herds of heritage

黄石公园的野牛

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2000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。

对于无数原住民来说，这些动物一直被尊崇为导师、供养者和精神上的亲人，它们的每一部分都被精心利用，被用作食物、衣物、工具和燃料。正因如此，部落社区带头努力恢复草原、湿地和森林栖息地，形成由母牛、争吵的公牛和好奇的幼牛领导的社会群体。

站在它们面前，感受古老、中断与复兴在一瞬间交汇。野牛的幸存提醒我们，遗产不仅被铭记，它还被传承，交织在崎岖的地貌和经久不衰的传统之中。

National Bison Day

The bison embodies a paradox: immense strength paired with quiet calm. Weighing up to 2,000 pounds and standing 6 feet tall, these giants roam North America's grasslands and river valleys in mobile herds. Photographed here in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, they once numbered in the tens of millions but were nearly eradicated in the 19th century—a loss that reshaped ecosystems and disrupted lifeways.

Today, on National Bison Day, observed each year in early November, we honor this iconic species' persistence and profound significance. It's only fitting that this celebration falls at the start of Native American Heritage Month: for countless Native Nations, these animals have been revered as teachers, providers, and spiritual relatives, with every part used thoughtfully for sustenance, clothing, tools, and fuel. That's why tribal communities lead efforts to help them reclaim prairie, wetland, and forest habitats, forming social herds led by matriarchs, sparring males, and curious calves.

布兰城堡入口, 布拉索夫, 罗马尼亚 Entrance of Bran Castle in Bran, Brașov, Romania (© blue sky in my pocket/Getty Images)

在万圣节的魔咒之下 Under the Halloween spell

万圣节快乐！

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。

故事书的篇章之外，布兰城堡还低语着许多幽灵传说。据当地传闻，哀伤的白衣女子在庭院中飘荡；被封墙困住的僧侣脚步声在墙后回响；看不见的孩子们嬉闹的笑声在走廊间流转。闪烁的幽光、骤起的寒意与无形之声的传闻，更添几分不安。值此万圣之夜，布兰城堡的灵魂已超越石砌的躯壳。记忆在此扭曲成神话，现实与超自然的界限变得惊心动魄地模糊。

Happy Halloween!

Tonight, Halloween casts its spell—and only a few places on Earth carry a mystery quite like Bran Castle in Romania. The fortress was built in the 14th century and has withstood wars, monarchs, and shifting empires. But here, legends speak louder than history. Perched between the regions of Transylvania—renowned for its chilling tales—and Wallachia, once ruled by Vlad III Dracula, the castle evokes a haunting legacy. Vlad's ruthless reputation inspired Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic novel 'Dracula.' Though the story is not set at Bran Castle, its looming form and persistent rumors of Vlad's presence blur fact and legend, forever linking it to one of humanity's most enduring tales.

Beyond the pages of storybooks, Bran Castle whispers many other haunted narratives. According to local accounts, the sorrowful White Lady drifts through the courtyard; a monk's muffled steps echo from behind the walls that sealed him in; and the playful laughter of unseen children carries through the corridors. Reports of flickering lights, sudden chills, and disembodied voices heighten the unease. On this Halloween, Bran Castle rises beyond the stones that shape it. Here, memory twists into myth, and the line between reality and the supernatural grows thrillingly thin.

杰伊瑟尔梅尔的骆驼, 拉贾斯坦邦, 印度 Camels at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India (© f9photos/Getty Images)

蹄声、色彩与传承 Hooves, hues, and heritage

普什卡骆驼节

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。

最初，这里是世界上最大的骆驼和牛只交易市场之一，而今已逐渐演变为文化与社区的盛大节日。除了牲畜交易，游客还能欣赏到趣味竞赛，如“打陶罐”、最长胡须比赛，甚至还有新娘秀。农村家庭在五彩缤纷的集市间穿梭，摊位上摆满了纺织品、衣物和闪亮的手镯。盛会以热闹的骆驼赛跑拉开帷幕，接着是传统歌曲、舞蹈和各类表演。最受瞩目的活动之一是骆驼展示，参与者依次骑上骆驼，热闹非凡，烘托出浓郁的节日氛围。近年来，集市还增添了新亮点，比如由当地普什卡俱乐部与外国游客组成球队进行的一场友谊足球赛，让节庆气氛更加多元。

Camels at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Every fall, the desert town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, India, comes alive with one of the most colorful gatherings—the Pushkar Camel Fair. Timed with the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, it usually takes place between late October and early November on the Gregorian calendar. This year, the celebrations stretch from today until November 5, marking the region's most anticipated season.

What began as one of the world's largest camel and cattle markets has gradually transformed into a grand celebration of culture and community. Alongside the trading of cattle and camels, visitors now enjoy quirky competitions like 'matka phod' (pot breaking), longest mustache contest, and even bridal shows. Rural families explore vibrant stalls overflowing with textiles, clothes, and glittering bracelets, while the fair itself kicks off with a high-spirited camel race, followed by traditional songs, dances, and lively performances. Among the highlights is the camel showcase, where participants take turns riding the animals in an animated display that adds to the festive charm. In recent years, the fair has introduced new attractions too, including a friendly football match between the local Pushkar Club and teams of foreign tourists.

法纳尔森林里的古老月桂树，马德拉群岛，葡萄牙 Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, island of Madeira, Portugal (© Lukas Jonaitis/Shutterstock)

时光扎根 Rooted in time

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。

在法纳尔，盘根错节、覆满苔藓的树干宛如守护者，守望着这片古老的遗产，数百年来自然的生机始终未曾消逝。除了蜿蜒的小径，这里还有静谧的角落供人驻足欣赏。在风景优美的观景点之间，有一片休闲区，并设有公共烧烤设施，甚至还有一个由远古火山口形成的冬季湖泊。这里既可以单纯地呼吸新鲜空气、放松身心，也能尽情嬉戏，让人流连忘返。

Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal

The Portuguese island of Madeira—about 600 miles southwest of mainland Portugal—hides a forest unlike any other. On its northern slopes lies Fanal Forest, where veils of mist drift through centuries-old til trees. These are part of the Laurissilva of Madeira—an outstanding relict of a once widespread laurel forest type. Laurissilva is the largest surviving area of its kind, with about 90% considered primary forest. Home to a unique array of plants and animals, including endemic species such as the Madeiran long-toed pigeon, it remains a living museum of natural history.

In Fanal, the gnarled, moss-draped trunks stand as guardians of this ancient heritage, where nature has preserved its vitality for centuries. Beyond the trails, these woods also offer quiet corners to pause and enjoy. Between scenic viewpoints, a leisure area with a public barbecue, and even a winter lake born from an ancient crater, this is a place to be dazzled, to wander, to play—or simply to breathe and relax.

安德尔施帕赫-特普利采岩石林的哥特式拱门, 捷克 The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia (© Kseniya_Milner/Getty Images)

通往石之奇境的大门 A gateway to stone wonders

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。

如今，这片自然保护区占地超过5平方英里，位于布罗乌莫夫斯科自然保护区之内。其中最引人注目的瑰宝之一便是建于1839年的哥特式大门。这座拱门由卢德维克·卡雷尔·纳德赫尔尼下令修建，与步道、桥梁和阶梯一同构成了进入“岩石之城”的标志性入口。哥特式大门不仅是历史的遗迹，如今仍作为迷宫的守护者，迎接着每一位踏入公园的游客。

The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia

From 18th-century visitors to fire-carved trails, this rock city tells a story of survival. Hidden in Czechia's Hradec Králové Region, the Adršpach–Teplice Rocks form Central Europe's largest sandstone labyrinth. For centuries, the cliffs and passages lay cloaked in forest, until a great fire stripped the land bare. Arches, towers, and winding corridors emerged out of the ashes, and the first hiking paths were carved into the rock. Soon after, explorers and poets left their marks with stone inscriptions that captured a destination both wild and enchanting.

Today, the reserve stretches over 5 square miles, preserved within the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area. Among its treasures stands the Gothic Gate, featured here, which was built in 1839. Commissioned by Ludvik Karel Nádherný along with a network of hiking paths, bridges, and stairways, this striking archway became the symbolic threshold to the City of Rocks. More than a relic of the past, the Gothic Gate still stands as guardian of the labyrinth, welcoming every visitor who steps into the park.

被胡杨树围绕着的湖, 金塔县, 酒泉, 甘肃, 中国 Lake surrounded by euphrates poplar trees, Jinta, Jiuquan, Gansu, China (© Feng Wei Photography/Getty images)

千年秘境 Thousand Years of Secret Realm

中国甘肃金塔胡杨林

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。

马蒂莫阿帕沼泽保护区泥炭地鸟瞰图, 芬兰 Aerial view of peatland in Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland (© romikatarina/Shutterstock)

芬兰的活泥炭地 Finland's living peatland

马蒂莫阿帕沼泽保护区，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。

这仅仅是个开始。考古学家在这里发现了曾用来储存肉类的半咸水坑，以及一个约33英尺宽的神秘石圈——仿佛源自北方神话。它的用途？至今仍是谜。更近代的历史则留存在萨乌纳萨里桑拿屋中，它曾是伐木工小屋的一部分，为在这片北方森林中劳作的男人们提供温暖、休息，以及烘干身体的地方。

在这里野生动物随处可见，为这片土地增添了生机。近百种鸟类在此筑巢，从天鹅、鹤到猫头鹰和红隼。保护区内设有多条长短不一的步道，长度从 1.9 英里到 8 英里不等，沿途散布着小屋与篝火点，邀请人们夏日徒步探索，或在冬季滑雪穿行。

Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland

Today, we step into the Martimoaapa Mire Reserve in Finland, where wide, cold-climate wetlands and peatlands stretch across a landscape shaped over thousands of years. This reserve is more than just mires—it carries layers of history. During Finland's Prohibition era (1919–1932), smugglers hauled sacks of liquor from Sweden across these bogs, following a 'spirits' route that passed through Martimoaapa. Parts of that path can still be traced today. Imagine trekking with a heavy pack over soggy ground—would you have made it?

This is just the beginning. Here, archaeologists have discovered brackish pits once used to store meat, and a mysterious stone circle about 33 feet wide—like something out of a northern myth. Its purpose? Still unknown. More recent history lives on in the Saunasaari sauna, once part of a logging cabin built for men who worked these boreal forests. It gave them warmth, rest, and a place to dry off.

Wildlife, ever-present, completes the picture. Nearly 100 bird species nest here, from swans and cranes to owls and kestrels. Trails ranging from 1.9 to 8 miles, dotted with huts and campfire sites, invite you to explore—on foot or on skis in winter.

玛丽皇后号邮轮的夜景, 长滩, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California (© Kit Leong/Shutterstock)

从“灰色幽灵”到幽灵传说 From 'Grey Ghost' to ghost stories

玛丽皇后号邮轮的夜景, 长滩, 加利福尼亚州

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。

但她的传说并未随锚链一同沉寂。多年来，游客与船员都声称曾在空荡的走廊里听到回声，在金属甲板上听见脚步回荡，甚至在荒废的泳池边传来孩童的笑声。如今的“鬼魂之旅”常常以这些诡异故事为卖点，但历史学家指出，船上所有死亡事件均因自然原因，从未有过谋杀记录。今天的“玛丽女王号”既是历史的地标，也是传说的舞台。那么，她真的闹鬼吗？没有任何档案能够证实，但那些低语般的传闻，依旧让她的故事历久弥新。

Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California

She was never meant to fade away. When the RMS Queen Mary sailed in 1936, she stole the spotlight across the Atlantic—an Art Deco liner that broke speed records and carried celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries. War transformed her from a floating palace into the 'Grey Ghost,' stripped of luxury and loaded with Allied troops. In 1967, after 30 years at sea, she retired to Long Beach, where her decks now serve as hotel corridors, guided exhibits, and a living monument to maritime history.

But her legend did not dock with her anchors. Over the years, guests and crew have spoken of echoes in empty corridors, footsteps reverberating on metal floors, and the laughter of a child near the deserted pool. Ghost tours highlight these eerie stories, though historians note that deaths aboard were due to natural causes, with no murders ever recorded. Today, the Queen Mary stands as both a heritage landmark and a stage for folklore. So, is she haunted? There are no records confirming it, yet the whispers keep her stories very much alive.