2019年9月

在犹他州峡谷地国家公园中看到的银河 The Milky Way seen from Canyonlands National Park in Utah (© Cavan Images/Offset)

Astrotourism at its finest

Stay in Canyonlands National Park until after sundown so you can appreciate one of the park's most distinct features—a night sky so free of human-generated light that it's been designated a Gold-Tier International Dark Sky park. Here's another way of understanding what that means: When you're in the city you may see up to 500 stars in a moonless night sky, but here in Utah's Canyonlands, you can see more than 15,000. Many of the stars (and planets) sparkle in the Milky Way, our galactic home in the universe. It's a big reason why astrotourists and photographers visit at night, to see the light show above. But for those who follow the sun, daytime is perfect for hiking and camping, wildlife viewing, and discovering rock drawings and peckings left behind by prehistoric peoples.

Today we celebrate 55 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson made Canyonlands a national park—the largest park in all of Utah. Maybe it's coincidence, but as a native-born son of the Lone Star State of Texas, perhaps President Johnson might have had an affinity for a place big enough to see the sprawling night sky.

鸟瞰雨林和丹特里河，澳大利亚 Aerial view of rainforest and Daintree River, Australia (© Peter Adams/Offset)

An Attenborough-approved stunner

With the country having now officially welcomed back the springtime, landscapes abundant with gorgeous greenery, like today's image of the World-Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, will become more commonplace. A two-hour drive north of Cairns, the Daintree is positively ripe with adventure. Adrenaline junkies, for example, can zipline through the rainforest canopy, while those with a keen eye can cruise the waterways on the lookout for saltwater crocodiles. Regardless, covering 1200 square kilometres, the forest is said to present one of the most complex ecosystems on our planet. In fact, the scenery here is so beautiful that James Cameron reportedly drew inspiration from it for his hit movie ‘Avatar', while Sir David Attenborough called it “the most extraordinary place on earth.” That's good enough for us!

中部海岸的葡萄园，加利福尼亚大阿罗约 Central Coast vineyards in Arroyo Grande, California (© Ian Shive/Tandem Motion + Stills)

A toast to California!

Today we're celebrating the 169th anniversary of the golden state's admission into the Union with an appropriately golden image of a central coast winery and landscape. In 1850, just 14 months after the peace treaty to end the Mexican-American War ceded California, along with a large portion of western territory, to the US, this former self-proclaimed Republic became the 31st state. California is one of only six states admitted to the Union without first being recognized as a US territory. Some link this to the Gold Rush which began in January 1848 and increased the population by more than 1,000% in that same time frame.

武陵山脉的最高峰梵净山，中国西南 Mount Fanjing, the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains, in southwest China (© Keitma/Alamy)

Cloudy with a chance of enlightenment

While it didn't become a UNESCO World Heritage Site until 2018, Mount Fanjing (also known as Fanjingshan) has been a sacred and tranquil site for Buddhists for centuries. At 8,430 feet, Mount Fanjing is the highest peak of the Wuling mountain range in southwest China's Guizhou province. The mountain is believed to be a place in which one can reach their spiritual enlightenment. While many of the Buddhist temples built here have been destroyed, several remain, including the Temple of the Buddha and the Temple of Maitreya. Those two temples, linked by a small bridge, are located on top of Red Cloud Golden Peak, the rocky 'thumb' we're looking at here. In addition to the area's history, the mix of cloud, fog, and light, create a calming atmosphere and an air of mystery.

旧圣胡安的圣费利佩海角城堡，波多黎各 Castillo del Morro in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (© grandriver/Getty Images)

The old guard at Old San Juan

This photo shows a different side of Castillo San Felipe del Morro on the coast of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. Spanish colonists had the fortress built to control entry to the harbor of the settlement they called 'Ciudad de Puerto Rico’'—which, translated to English, means 'rich port city.' Castillo del Morro was held by Spain from 1539 to 1898, when the United States seized control after the Spanish-American War. Today it's a World Heritage Site and a major attraction for visitors to this, the oldest part of one of North America's oldest capital cities.

In September 2017, Puerto Rico was devasted by the landfall of Hurricane Maria, which wreaked havoc the landscape, people, and livelihoods of this US territory. One thing the people of Puerto Rico have encouraged since that terrible natural disaster is to come visit. With an economy based heavily on tourism, it's a way to rebuild the island's economy and to see some amazing colonial sites, as well as the bounty of its tropical Caribbean environment.

Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia (© gorgeoussab/Shutterstock)

A lush, green escape

With the tourist season winding down and rainy season still forthcoming, September is an ideal time to visit Bali. If you’re lucky enough to go, plan a daytrip to the Tegallalang farming terraces in Ubud, where visitors can capture gorgeous photos of the landscape and get a unique glimpse into Balinese culture. The island of Bali has a rich tradition of agriculture, with an especially unique method of water management for rice farming. The irrigation system here, known as Subak, is recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance. Water flows through temples and into the rice paddies, carved into the hillsides like steps. It's a tradition that dates back thousands of years, based on the Balinese philosophical principle of Tri Hita Karana, which refers to a relationship between humans, the earth, and the gods.

'Vessel' at Hudson Yards in New York City (© Paparacy/Shutterstock)

Social climbing

March 2019 saw the opening of a structure called 'Vessel' that overlooks the Hudson River in New York. 'Vessel' is a 16-story, honeycomb-looking staircase that's meant to be climbed. Its 154 flights of stairs are interconnected, much like Indian stepwells, which lent inspiration to designer Thomas Heatherwick. Not to worry. For those who would rather skip the 2,500 steps, they can reach the top via elevator.

We're looking at this ultra-modern landmark to acknowledge how much has changed in the 410 years that have passed since 17th century English explorer Henry Hudson first 'discovered' Manhattan. In early September 1609, Hudson guided the Dutch ship Half Moon up into the 'north river' from New York Bay at Manhattan Island, looking for a passage to the Pacific Ocean. He ended up at modern day Albany, but the river that's such an essential part of Manhattan's identity, now bears his name.

In the 'Most Serene Republic'

Though some of the details of the founding of San Marino vary depending on who is telling the story, what's certain is that in the 4th century CE, a stone mason built a Christian chapel on a hill near the Mediterranean coast and founded the settlement that would share a name with Saint Marinus. Over the centuries European nations grew, shrank, and changed—but San Marino remained, ultimately bordered on all sides by Italy. Today, this tiny nation, sometimes called the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, celebrates 1,718 years of existence and its continued status as the world's smallest republic—24 square miles of quaint European charm embedded in Italy's northeastern region.

At the foot of the Watzmann

The gorge is a particularly narrow, deeply cut gorge with partly overhanging rock walls in the mountains. Today's homepage picture shows the Wimbachklamm near Ramsau. It is located in the heart of the Berchtesgaden National Park, nestled between the mountains Watzmann and Hochkalter. The Wimbach torrent has left a deep cut in the rock over the past 50 million years.The Wimbachklamm is open from May to October and can be passed over wooden bridges over a length of 200 meters. Only a few meters below the path the Wimbach roars, and the rock walls throw back the sounds of the water masses many times.

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