幽灵森林，宁哈根，梅克伦堡-西波美拉尼亚，德国 Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo)

海边的神秘树林 Mysterious woods by the sea

幽灵森林，宁哈根，德国

在德国的梅克伦堡-西波美拉尼亚沿海地区坐落着“幽灵森林”，也就是今天图片中的森林。这片令人毛骨悚然的森林占地约445英亩，其中有多节的山毛榉、鹅耳枥、白蜡树和橡树，它们扭曲着向天空伸展。来自波罗的海的咸味海风和潮湿的气候造就了树木扭曲的形状，使这片森林有了“闹鬼”的名声。游客们会体验到与超自然现象的接触，比如枯叶的嘎吱声、远处挥手打招呼的友好精灵，或者从树后窥探的淘气鬼。精心布置的灯光可以投射出幽灵般的阴影，以及沿路摆放的雕塑和装饰品，这些都是增强森林全年鬼魅气息的元素。要想了解更多信息，可以报名参加讲故事环节，演员们会穿上幽灵服装，让当地传说和民间故事生动起来。摄影师和自然爱好者都会从映刻在天空中的怪异剪影汲取灵感，这些剪影被无数照片永恒地记录下来。

Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany

On Germany's Baltic coast lies the Gespensterwald, which means 'Ghost Forest,' seen in today's image. This spine-tingling forest covers about 445 acres, with its gnarled beech, hornbeam, ash, and oak trees twisting toward the sky. The salty sea air, wind, and the moist climate helped mold the trees' distorted shapes, which look particularly haunting at night. Visitors to this forest in the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania region can brave the trails alone or sign up for a storytelling session where actors dressed as ghosts bring local legends and folktales to life. Photographers and nature enthusiasts alike find inspiration in the eerie silhouettes etched against the sky, immortalized in countless pictures.

沙莫尼的勃朗峰，法国 Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France (© Simon Schöpf/Getty Images)

恐怖的高度 The heights of horror

弗兰肯斯坦星期五

想象自己站在阿尔卑斯山的最高峰，那里空气清新，景色令人叹为观止。勃朗峰巍峨的存在，在文学史上留下了不可磨灭的印记，其中最著名的当属玛丽·雪莱的《弗兰肯斯坦》。每年十月的最后一个星期五是“弗兰肯斯坦星期五”，以纪念玛丽·雪莱的文学天赋和在她想象中诞生的迷人生物。《弗兰肯斯坦》是在一次鬼故事挑战赛中构思出来的。1816年，18岁的玛丽·雪莱与珀西·比希·雪莱、约翰·波利多里和拜伦勋爵一起，在瑞士度过了一个风雨交加的夏天。在那里，她写了《维克多·弗兰肯斯坦与怪物》的故事。小说中的一个关键场景发生在勃朗峰附近的冰川上，维克多在那里与他创造的怪物面对面。险峻的地形让这一场景具有超现实的美感，同时完美捕捉到敬畏和恐怖的双重感觉。

《弗兰肯斯坦》又名《弗兰肯斯坦——现代普罗米修斯的故事》，于1818年首次匿名出版。玛丽·雪莱运用书信体小说的形式将哥特式和早期科幻小说融为一体，使《弗兰肯斯坦》成为永恒的经典。

Frankenstein Friday

Picture yourself at the highest peak in the Alps, where the air is crisp and the views are breathtaking. The towering presence of Mont Blanc has left an indelible mark on literature, most notably on Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein.' The last Friday of October is Frankenstein Friday, honoring Shelley's literary genius and the fascinating creature born from her imagination. 'Frankenstein' was conceived during a ghost story challenge. In 1816, an 18-year-old Shelley, along with fellow writers Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Polidori, and Lord Byron, spent a stormy summer in Switzerland. Forced inside by incessant rain, she penned the tale of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. A pivotal scene in the novel takes place on a glacier near Mont Blanc, where Victor is confronted by his monstrous creation. This setting, with its surreal beauty and treacherous terrain, perfectly captures a sense of awe and terror.

'Frankenstein,' also known as 'Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,' was first published anonymously in 1818. Shelley's use of the epistolary form—a novel told through letters—and her blend of Gothic and early science fiction made 'Frankenstein' a timeless classic.

博迪州立历史公园，莫诺县，加利福尼亚州，美国 Bodie State Historic Park, Mono County, California (© Julien McRoberts/Tetra Images, LLC/Alamy Stock Photo)

“淘金热”后的鬼城 Ghosts of the gold rush

博迪州立历史公园，加利福尼亚州

在加利福尼亚州博迪鬼魅般的寂静中，时间仿佛都静止了。这个曾经繁荣一时的淘金小镇始建于1860年。博迪以W.S.博迪的名字命名，他是一位发现了黄金的探矿者，但在目睹小镇崛起之前不幸死于一场暴风雪。当地发现大量金矿后，居民增加到近1万人，酒吧、舞厅和酿酒厂鳞次栉比。但随着金矿枯竭，小镇的财富也随之消失。矿场关闭，人口减少，到1915年，这个地方被遗弃了。现在，博迪的街道已经空无一人，木质建筑也已破败不堪。

如今，这里已成为美国保存最完好的鬼城之一。漫步在街道上，你可以窥探尘封的房屋和店面，甚至还能发现辉煌时期的瓷器碎片和方形钉子等小物件。传说中，博迪的鬼魂守卫着这个小镇，那些带走纪念品的人可能会被诅咒。如果这还吓不倒你，那你亦会被告知：把纪念品带回家也是违反公园规定的。因此，如果哪天真的来到博迪，请务必只带着回忆离开，以免镇上的鬼魂跟着你回家。

Bodie State Historic Park, California

In the ghostly silence of Bodie, California, it feels like time stands still. This mining camp became a booming gold rush town in the 1870s, after a cave-in revealed a rich vein of gold. Bodie was named after W.S. Bodey, a prospector who died in a blizzard before seeing the town's rise. When large deposits were found there, it grew to nearly 10,000 residents, with saloons, dance halls, and breweries lining its streets. But as the gold ran dry, so did the town's fortunes. The mines closed, the population dwindled, and by 1915, the place was abandoned. Bodie's streets are now empty, its wooden buildings frozen in decay.

Today, Bodie is one of America's best-preserved ghost towns. Wandering through the streets, you can peer into dusty homes and storefronts, and even find small artifacts like shards of china and square nails from the glory days. Legend has it that Bodie's ghosts fiercely guard the town, and those who take souvenirs risk being cursed with bad luck. Taking items home is also strictly against the park's rules. So, be sure to leave with nothing but memories—lest the town's spirits follow you home.

雪莉夫人森林和古堡遗迹，新罕布什尔州，美国 Madame Sherri Forest and the remnant of an old castle, New Hampshire (© yggdrasill/Shutterstock)

无处可去的阶梯 Stairway to nowhere

雪莉夫人森林

位于新罕布什尔州切斯特菲尔德的雪莉夫人森林是一个充满历史和自然美景的迷人景点。这里曾是安托瓦内特·雪莉夫人在20世纪30年代建造的奢华住宅所在地。雪莉夫人是一位20年代的华丽服装设计师，以举办奢华派对而闻名，她高调地来到镇上后，经常乘坐司机驾驶的帕卡德轿车，身披皮草，成为了当地人的谈资。随着财富的减少，她的“城堡”年久失修，遭到了破坏。1959年，雪莉夫人返回时发现自己的房产已成废墟，从此再也没有回来过。1963年的一场大火烧毁了这座房子，只留下了石头地基、标志性的阶梯和一个通向孤零零烟囱的大壁炉。

如今，雪莉夫人故居所在的森林占地500多英亩，有风景优美的徒步小径，穿过林地、铁杉树林，绕过宁静的小溪，为户外运动爱好者提供了如诗如画的环境。这片区域由新罕布什尔州森林保护协会管理，是为了纪念雪莉夫人而命名的，其中还包括通往雪莉夫人故居废墟的小径。因此，虽然房子与森林原本是分开的，但现在它们已经紧密地交织在一起。

Madame Sherri Forest, New Hampshire

Madame Sherri Forest in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, is a captivating destination steeped in history and natural beauty. It was once the site of an extravagant house built in the 1930s by Madame Antoinette Sherri, a flamboyant 1920s costume designer known for her lavish parties. Madame Sherri's dramatic arrivals in town, often in a chauffeur-driven Packard, draped in furs, became the talk of the locals. As her fortune declined, her 'castle' fell into disrepair and was vandalized. In 1959, she returned to find her property in ruins and never came back. A fire destroyed the house in 1963, leaving behind only the stone foundation, an iconic staircase, and a large fireplace leading to a lone chimney.

Today, the forest where her house once stood spans over 500 acres and offers scenic hiking trails through woodlands, hemlock groves, and around peaceful brooks, a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts. Managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, this area was named in honor of Madame Sherri, and it also includes trails that lead to the ruins of her former estate. So, while the house was originally separate from the forest, the two are now intricately entwined.

祖卡里宫，罗马，意大利 Palazzo Zuccari, Rome, Italy (© Photon-Photos/Getty Images)

可怕的外墙 Fearsome façade

祖卡里宫，罗马

在罗马西班牙阶梯的顶端，从宏伟的天主教堂下面左转，沿着一条不起眼的小街走下去，有一个惊喜在等着你：一座怪兽之屋。欢迎来到祖卡里宫！这是一座16世纪的宫殿，在它的外墙上，神话似乎栩栩如生，怪诞的面孔吞没了宫殿的门窗。建造这座宫殿的费德里科·祖卡里对怪兽非常精通，他在佛罗伦萨大教堂绘制的《最后的审判》和但丁《地狱篇》的插图满是神话人物。怪兽门最初通向宫殿的花园，因为祖卡里喜欢通过这种方式让客人体验从恐怖入口到美丽花园之间的强烈对比。如今，这扇门通向赫尔奇阿娜图书馆，这是一家专门研究意大利艺术史（从中世纪到现代）的图书馆，自1912年以来一直占据着花园的原址。如果你想在罗马寻找更多的怪嘴，离祖卡里宫不远处就是古罗马面具——“真理之口”，据说它会咬掉任何说谎者的手。

Palazzo Zuccari, Rome

At the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome, take a left underneath the imposing Catholic church. Down an unassuming side street, there's a surprise waiting for you: a house of monsters. Welcome to the Palazzo Zuccari, a 16th-century palace where myths seem to come to life on its façade—grotesque faces swallow up its doors and windows. Federico Zuccari, who built the palace, was well-versed in monsters. His painting of the Last Judgment in Florence Cathedral and his illustrations of Dante's Inferno are replete with mythical beings. The monster door originally led to the palazzo's garden because Zuccari enjoyed making his guests experience the contrast between the scary entrance and the beautiful serenity of the garden. These days, the door leads to the Bibliotheca Hertziana, a library specializing in Italian art history, from the Middle Ages to the modern day, which has occupied the site of the garden since 1912.

If you're looking for more monstrous mouths in Rome, not far from the Palazzo Zuccari is the Bocca della Verità, an ancient Roman mask. According to legend, it will bite off any liar's hand that's placed in its mouth.

乔治·史密斯州立公园的柏树，佐治亚州，美国 Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia (© Chris Moore/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

在秋天里傲然挺立 Standing tall in fall

乔治·史密斯州立公园的柏树，佐治亚州，美国

你见过坚韧、喜欢沼泽环境且总是很时髦的柏树吗？这些树可以长到100多英尺高，幼时通常呈金字塔状。在今天的图片中，我们来到了乔治·史密斯州立公园，该公园位于乔治亚州伊曼纽尔县，占地1634英亩。从今天的图片中可以看到，该公园的中心是一个占地412英亩的磨坊池塘，这里是钓鱼和划独木舟的好去处。池塘里生长着池柏和秃柏树，这两种树是美国的原生树种。公园内有长达7英里的蜿蜒小径，带领游客穿过沙地，经过鸟类保护区和龟类栖息地。这里的硬木树是啄木鸟和其他鸟类的天堂，而松软的土壤则为陆龟提供了理想的穴居地。无论在哪个季节，这座公园都能为所有人提供一个宁静的休闲场所。

Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia

The sturdy, swamp-loving, cypress trees pictured in the mist on our homepage can grow over 100 feet tall. These towering specimens are found in George L. Smith State Park, which spans 1,634 acres in Emanuel County, Georgia. The park's centerpiece is a 412-acre mill pond, a favorite spot for fishing and canoeing. Out of its waters grow pond cypress and bald cypress trees, two varieties that are native to the southeastern US. Winding through the park are over 7 miles of nature trails, leading visitors through sandy landscapes past a bird sanctuary and tortoise habitat. The hardwood trees here are a haven for woodpeckers and other birds, while the soft soil provides ideal burrowing ground for tortoises. No matter the season, this park promises a peaceful retreat for all.

哈索尔神庙，邓德拉神庙群，基纳，埃及 Temple of Hathor, Dendera Temple Complex, Qena, Egypt (© Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images)

立足现在，发掘过去 Uncovering the past for the present

国际考古日

今天，在国际考古日，深入挖掘你内心的印第安纳·琼斯或劳拉·克劳馥吧！该节日始于2011年，于每年10月的第三个星期六举办庆祝活动，旨在庆祝考古学对当今社会做出的贡献。其全球性的活动包括举办展览和动手挖掘遗迹，有些活动还会持续一个月。此外，许多美国国家公园、州立公园、历史地标和当地博物馆也会举办相关活动。

埃及是较早开展国际考古日活动的国家之一，从今天的图片中可以看到埃及哈索尔神庙的天花板。哈索尔神庙是丹德拉神庙群的一部分，也是保存最完好的古埃及神庙之一。虽然目前的神庙可以追溯到托勒密十二世和克利奥帕特拉七世（约公元前 50 年），但有证据表明，以前供奉埃及爱情和生育女神哈索尔的神庙可以追溯到数千年前。

International Archaeology Day

Today, dig deep and unearth your inner Indiana Jones or Lara Croft on International Archaeology Day. The event celebrates archaeology's benefits for society, and includes exhibits and hands-on excavations, some of which run throughout the month. Many US national and state parks, historic landmarks, and local museums also hold events.

Egypt is steeped in ancient history and home to many internationally renowned archaeological sites, including the Temple of Hathor, the ceiling of which can be seen in today's image. Part of the Dendera Temple Complex in Qena, Hathor is one of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian temples. While the current temple dates to Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra VII (around 50 BCE), evidence suggests that previous temples dedicated to Hathor, an Egyptian goddess of love and fertility, go back thousands of years earlier.

曼哈顿中央公园的秋天，纽约，美国 Autumn in Central Park, Manhattan, New York (© mapman/Shutterstock)

邂逅秋日的林荫道 Fall in the Mall

曼哈顿中央公园的秋天，纽约

每年秋天，纽约中央公园18000棵树木中的许多树，都会染上黄色、红色和橙色的色调。秋天是中央公园出镜率最高的季节之一，它为《当哈利遇见莎莉》和《头发》等电影提供了标志性的拍摄背景。树木不仅通过温度来感知冬天的到来，还通过日出和日落时光线照射到树叶上的角度来感知。由于纽约高楼林立，光线、阴影和温度的独特相互作用往往导致公园里的秋叶比城市里的其他地方来得晚。

今天的图片展示的是中央公园林荫大道的秋天，这是一条于19世纪中期设计和建造的人行道。林荫道的两侧是长椅和美国榆树，道路上方的树冠恰似弧形拱门，让人仿佛置身于大教堂中。这条长达四分之一英里的长廊是公园里唯一一条笔直的道路，旨在为不同阶层和背景的纽约人提供一个聚集、漫步、休憩的场所，或许还能让他们在这里思考四季的变化。

Autumn in Central Park, New York

Every autumn, many of the 18,000 trees in Central Park, New York, are painted in shades of yellow, red, and orange. It's one of Central Park's most photographed seasons, and fall in the park has provided iconic backdrops for movies like 'When Harry Met Sally…' and 'Hair.' Trees sense the coming of winter not only by temperature, but by the angle at which sunlight hits their leaves. Because of New York's buildings, the unique interaction of light, shadows, and temperatures often results in fall foliage occurring later in the park than the rest of the city.

Today's image features fall in the Mall, a pedestrian walkway designed and built in the mid-1800s. Flanked by benches and American elm trees, the Mall's canopy was meant to evoke an architectural space like a cathedral. The quarter-mile promenade is the park's only straight path, and it was intended to be a place for New Yorkers of all classes and backgrounds to gather, stroll, sit, and perhaps ponder the passing seasons.

地肤草，茨城县，日本 Kochia, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan (© DigiPub/Getty Images)

随风摆动，进入秋天 Rolling into fall

地肤草，日立海滨公园，茨城县，日本

如果您曾经见过照片中那像火一样的一望无际的红色田野，那您肯定见过地肤草。在春季和夏季，这种一年生草本植物开始呈现出嫩绿色，就像一个蓬松的绿球。随着季节的转换，它的颜色也在变化，会变成红色、橙色甚至粉红色。

地肤草也被称为地肤，原产于欧洲和亚洲的部分地区，如今已遍布世界各地，并且在日本的日立海滨公园找到了一个特殊的家，如今天图片所示。公园里每年种植约3万至4万株地夫草灌木丛，漫步其间，仿佛置身奇异世界。这些观赏植物在日本文化中还具有重要意义。过去，它们被晒干制作成扫帚。不过，也不是所有的部位都注定沦为清扫工具，地肤草还有一些部分可以用在食物中。这种植物的干果——地肤子，又被称为“田野鱼子酱”，是一种珍贵的配菜。

可可海滩上的渔船，果阿邦，印度 Fishing boats at Coco Beach in Goa, India (© Abhinav Sah/Shutterstock)

沙滩的秘密和日落 Sandy secrets and sunsets

可可海滩上的渔船，果阿邦，印度

欢迎来到海滩爱好者的梦想之地：果阿邦。这个印度邦以金色海岸而闻名，吸引着来自世界各地的游客。旅游业是当地经济的核心产业，125公里的海岸线被沙滩覆盖，沙滩上热闹非凡。今天的照片展示了可可海滩，这是一个隐藏在尼鲁尔村庄的明珠，该村庄位于果阿邦的北部地区。这里气氛宁静，却有许多有趣的娱乐项目。您可以一边晒日光浴，体验钓鱼、划船、观赏海豚和游泳等冒险活动，一边沉浸在当地的文化氛围中。独特的历史意义使这个海滩更加与众不同。它在20世纪50年代至60年代的果阿邦解放运动中发挥了重要作用。这是当地人为结束葡萄牙统治，将果阿邦与印度统一而进行斗争的地方之一。所以，可可海滩才不是一个普通的海滩，这是一个有故事的地方，历史与大海在这里交汇。