2021年7月

乌鲁米耶湖中的岩层，伊朗 Kazem Dashi rock formation in Lake Urmia, Iran (© Ali/Adobe Stock)

Back on the rise

This beautiful lake in northwestern Iran has had a rough couple of decades. Until around 1995, Lake Urmia was one of the top-ten largest saltwater lakes on Earth, and the center of a thriving resort scene. Then drought, rising temperatures, water overuse, and the building of a causeway across the lake reduced it to less than 10% of its size by the 2010s.

Now this salty lake (currently eight times saltier than the ocean) may be ready for a comeback. Over the last decade, multinational efforts to restore Lake Urmia have improved irrigation systems, reduced water usage, and diverted water from other sources. So, for the last few years, these salt flats have slowly given ground to rising waters. It's still not quite a lake-half-full situation, but the upward trends have revived hopes that Lake Urmia's glory days will return.

重新崛起

这个位于伊朗西北部的美丽湖泊经历了几十年的坎坷。直到1995年左右，乌尔米亚湖一直是地球上最大的十大咸水湖之一，也是一个欣欣向荣的度假胜地的中心。到了2010年，干旱、气温上升、用水过度，以及在湖面上修建堤道，使湖面面积缩小到10%以下。

现在这个咸水湖（目前比海洋咸8倍）可能会卷土重来。在过去的十年里，多国努力恢复乌尔米亚湖改善了灌溉系统，减少了水的使用，并从其他来源引水。因此，在过去的几年里，这些盐滩慢慢地让上升的海水占据了一席之地。现在还不是湖水半满的情况，但是上升的趋势让人们重新燃起了希望，乌尔米亚湖的辉煌时光将会重现。

Serra da Malagueta山脉，佛得角圣地亚哥岛 Serra da Malagueta mountains on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde (© Samuel Borges Photography/Shutterstock)

How green is my valley

Cabo Verde ('Green Cape') celebrates its independence today. Located about 350 miles off the western coast of Africa, the country consists of 10 volcanic islands. We're looking at the Serra da Malagueta mountain range in the northern part of the island of Santiago, which is protected as a national park. At nearly 3,500 feet, it's the highest point of northern Santiago and offers views of nearby Fogo and Maio islands, as well as diverse plants and wildlife.

The islands that make up Cabo Verde were uninhabited by people until they were colonized by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. They remained in Portuguese control until gaining independence on July 5, 1975. Since the 1990s, Cabo Verde has been regarded as one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has steadily developed an economy based largely on tourism.

我的山谷有多绿

佛得角今天庆祝独立。这个国家位于非洲西海岸350英里外，由10个火山岛组成。我们看到的是圣地亚哥岛北部的塞拉-达-马拉盖塔山脉，它被保护为国家公园。在接近3500英尺的地方，它是圣地亚哥北部的最高点，可以看到附近的福戈岛和迈奥岛，以及各种各样的植物和野生动物。

构成佛得角的岛屿在15世纪被葡萄牙探险家殖民之前，一直无人居住。自1990年代以来，佛得角一直被视为非洲最稳定的民主国家之一，并稳步发展了以旅游业为主的经济。

阿尔高阿尔卑斯山脉的Schrecksee 湖，德国巴伐利亚 Lake Schrecksee in the Allgäu Alps, Bavaria, Germany (© Andreas Hagspiel/EyeEm/Getty Images)

The picturesque lake in the Allgäu high Alps

The Schrecksee in the Allgäu High Alps has the reputation among mountain hikers as being the most beautiful mountain lake in the Alps. We don't want to commit ourselves, but given this magnificent record, it's undeniable that he's definitely making it into the top 10. The picturesque mountain lake lies at 1,813 metres in a cauldron-like high valley, surrounded by six Allgäu mountain peaks called Knappenkopf, Kirchendach, Kälbelespitze, Kastenkopf, Lahnerkopf and Älpelekopf.

The ascent to the Schrecksee takes about three hours from Bad Hindelang in the Oberallgäu. A good basic level of fitness is a prerequisite for almost 1,000 meters of altitude. There is a good chance of encountering marmots and eagles along the way. And those who are not sensitive to the cold can take a refreshing swim in the idyllic lake after the strenuous ascent. This is probably why the Schrecksee got its name because its water is still shockingly cold even in midsummer.

阿尔高阿尔卑斯 山风景如画的山湖

阿尔高阿尔卑斯山的Schrecksee湖被登山者誉为阿尔卑斯山上最美丽的山湖。我们不想作出承诺，但鉴于这一辉煌的记录，不可否认的是，他肯定会进入前10名。风景如画的山湖位于1813米处，坐落在一个像釜一样的高山谷中，周围环绕着六个山谷Knappenkopf, Kirchendach, Kälbelespitze, Kastenkopf, Lahnerkopf和Älpelekopf。

从奥伯拉格的巴德后德兰到施雷克西大约需要三个小时，良好的基本身体素质是海拔近1000米的先决条件。沿途很有可能遇到土拨鼠和老鹰。而那些对寒冷不敏感的人，可以在艰苦的攀登之后，在田园诗般的湖中畅游一番。这可能就是为什么Schrecksee的名字，因为它的水仍然令人震惊的冷，即使在仲夏。

瓦卡托比国家公园，印度尼西亚 Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia (© Fabio Lamanna/Alamy)

Diving into the 'underwater nirvana'

Indonesia's Wakatobi National Park protects one of the most diverse underwater environments in the world. Around 400 species of coral are found in these pristine waters, and they're home to a staggering variety of marine life, including dolphins, whales, turtles, and hundreds of species of fish. The park was established in 2002, preserving more than 5,000 square miles, most of which is covered by coral reefs. In fact, the barrier reef here is second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef and is so full of life that famed oceanographer and explorer Jacques Cousteau is said to have called it an 'underwater nirvana.' Many others have followed in Cousteau's wake, and Wakatobi has become a preeminent destination for diving and snorkeling.

潜入“水下涅盘”

印尼的瓦卡托比国家公园保护着世界上最多样化的水下环境之一。在这些原始水域中发现了大约400种珊瑚，它们是各种海洋生物的家园，包括海豚、鲸鱼、海龟和数百种鱼类。该公园成立于2002年，保护面积超过5000平方英里，其中大部分被珊瑚礁覆盖。事实上，这里的大堡礁面积仅次于大堡礁，充满了生命，据说著名的海洋学家和探险家雅克·库斯托（Jacques Cousteau）将其称为“水下涅磐”。许多其他人跟随库斯托，瓦卡托比已成为潜水和浮潜的卓越目的地。

《迁徙通道》乔治亚·沃尔佩的一个艺术装置, 魁北克市加拿大 'Passage migratoire' ('Migratory Passage'), an art installation by Giorgia Volpe in Old Québec City, Québec, Canada (© Lucbouch/Getty Images)

Celebrating migrations on Canada's national day

For Canada Day, we're peering up at 'Passage migratoire' ('Migratory Passage'), an art installation of hanging braided canoes in Old Québec City. It was part of the 2016 edition of Passages Insolites (Unusual Passages), an annual public art exhibition in the historic Petit Champlain and Saint-Roch districts of the city. The canoe has long been associated with Canada's national history, linked with early explorers, fur traders, Indigenous peoples, and colonists who ventured out into the wilderness of the great north. The artist behind this installation, Giorgia Volpe, was inspired by 'the idea of migration and its influence on the formation of our society and our territory.' Canada welcomes on average about 200,000 immigrants each year, many of whom will become Canadian citizens.

在加拿大国庆日庆祝移民

为了庆祝加拿大日，我们要去参观“迁徙通道”（passion migratoire），这是一个古老的曲城悬挂编织独木舟的艺术装置é贝克市。这是2016年版的“圣殿圣殿（不寻常的圣殿）”的一部分，这是一个在历史悠久的小尚普兰和圣罗什地区举办的年度公共艺术展。独木舟长期以来一直与加拿大的国家历史联系在一起，与早期探险家、毛皮商人、土著人民和冒险进入大北方荒野的殖民者联系在一起。这套装置背后的艺术家乔治·沃尔佩（Giorgia Volpe）的灵感来自“移民的理念及其对我们社会和领土形成的影响”。加拿大平均每年欢迎约20万移民，其中许多人将成为加拿大公民。

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