2023年1月

冰雪帆船欧洲锦标赛, 巴拉顿湖, 匈牙利 Ice and snow sailing European Championship on Lake Balaton in Hungary (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo)

风力冰上比赛 Wind-powered ice racing

冰雪帆船世界锦标赛

今天是今年在立陶宛举行的WISSA冰雪帆船世界锦标赛的开幕日。冰船，又称冰帆船，起源于17世纪的欧洲。旅行者们用装有叶片的船只穿越波罗的海结冰的里加湾和荷兰结冰的运河。如今，这项运动被视为一项娱乐和竞技活动，使用各种船、滑板、溜冰鞋和风筝。世界锦标赛自1980年开始举办，属于帆板比赛这一更广泛的范畴。祝所有在风吹雨打的冰面上争名夺利的人好运！

Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships

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!

卡纳塔克邦的纳加尔霍雷国家公园，印度 (© Vivek BR/Shutterstock)

一条安静的林间小路

纳加尔霍雷国家公园，印度

纳加尔霍雷老虎保护区以前被称为拉吉夫·甘地国家公园，位于卡纳塔克邦，是一个重点老虎保护区，也是老虎保护计划和大象保护计划下的一个主要保护中心。这个保护区生活着大量的食肉动物和食草动物，如老虎、豹子、豺、懒熊、亚洲象、野牛、黑鹿、印度白斑鹿、麂、四角羚、野猪、大鼷鹿和西南叶猴等。

这个国家公园里有美丽的自然景观，还有像蛇一样蜿蜒曲折的溪流，让野生动物爱好者和游客为之惊叹。它还被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产。

从国际空间站看到的巴哈马周围的蓝绿色水域 Blue-green waters around the Bahamas as seen from the International Space Station (© NASA)

像极了艺术画作的真实照片 When life imitates art

从国际空间站看到的巴哈马

对于国际空间站上的宇航员来说，巴哈马群岛是一个很容易拍照的地方。当从国际空间站地球上方的有利位置观看时，水面下的巨大山丘形成了引人注目的图像。这些海底山丘在这张海洋图像中呈现深蓝色，表明其深度可达13000英尺。

The Bahamas as seen from the ISS

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.

瓜纳阿卡维韦斯半岛国家公园的红树林，古巴 Red mangrove tree seedlings in Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba (© Claudio Contreras/Minden Pictures)

向伟大的红树林致敬！ All hail the mighty mangrove!

瓜纳阿卡维韦斯半岛国家公园，古巴

今天照片里的是古巴的瓜纳阿卡维韦斯半岛国家公园的红树林幼苗。红树林特别适合在淡盐水或盐水中生长，它们不仅能够保护海岸线，而且还是热带沿海生态系统的重要组成部分。这些顽强的树木可以承受巨浪和狂风，还能抵御海上风暴和海水侵蚀的破坏性影响。

在水面之下，红树林依然努力工作。它们复杂的根系可以过滤盐分，为海洋生物提供庇护和保护，促进生物多样性。瓜纳阿卡维韦斯有好几种海龟、红沼泽螯虾、以及大量的爬行动物和两栖动物。
向伟大的红树林致敬还有另外一个原因：它们从大气中捕获的二氧化碳比热带雨林多十倍。因此红树林也是优质碳汇，它们在根系里储存的二氧化碳远多于陆地植物。

Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba

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.

Below the surface, they work just as hard: Their complex root systems filter out salt and provide shelter and protection for marine life, encouraging biodiversity. Here in Guanahacabibes, that marine life includes several species of turtles as well as red swamp crayfish and a slew of reptiles and amphibians.

Another reason to tip our hats to the mighty mangroves? They capture up to 10 times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than tropical forests do. They're also incredible carbon sinks, storing much more carbon in their roots than their terrestrial counterparts.

天门洞，湖南天门山国家森林公园，中国 Heaven's Gate Cave in Tianmen Mountain National Park, China (© Shane P. White/Minden Pictures)

通往天门的阶梯 Stairway to heaven

天门洞，湖南天门山国家森林公园

这张照片所呈现的石拱就是天门洞，它是湖南省北部最受欢迎的标志性景点之一，位于湖南天门山国家森林公园内。要想到达天门洞，你要么选择乘坐缆车，要么乘坐公共汽车穿过有九十九道弯的公路。下车后，你还需要步行登上陡峭的九百九十九级天梯。天门洞海拔高度有4100英尺，整个洞高440英尺、宽180英尺。尽管到达天门洞并非易事，但这趟行程绝对物超所值。

Heaven's Gate Cave, Tianmen Mountain National Park, China

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.

位于阿伯费尔迪桦树林中的罗伯特·彭斯雕像, 苏格兰 Statue of Robert Burns in the Birks of Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland (© Dennis Barnes/Getty Images)

谁写下了友谊天长地久？ Celebrating the Scottish Bard

纪念这位苏格兰诗人

今天是罗伯特·彭斯的生日，让我们向他说一声“生日快乐”！罗伯特·彭斯是著名苏格兰诗人，被视为浪漫主义运动的先驱。今天照片中展示的是位于珀斯-金罗斯的阿伯费尔迪桦树林中的罗伯特·彭斯雕像。为了纪念这位诗人，今天还有一个庆祝活动——彭斯之夜。人们会在活动上享用丰盛的晚餐，品尝着羊肚脍的同时朗诵彭斯的诗歌《羊肚脍颂》。晚会通常会以大家合唱《友谊地久天长》而结束，这首诗歌由彭斯于1788年创作。

Burns Night

Today we're wishing a very happy birthday to the man regarded as Scotland's national poet and a pioneer of the Romantic movement, Robert Burns. Perhaps you can celebrate by visiting his statue at the Birks of Aberfeldy in Perth and Kinross, as seen in today's photo. The birch trees here ('birks' in the Scots language) and a local waterfall inspired him to write a song lyric, 'The Birks of Aberfeldy,' in 1787.

You might also take part in Burns Night, a worldwide celebration that involves a lavish, multicourse dinner, a recital of Burns' 'Address to a Haggis,' and a serving of that poem's titular dish. After much discussion and several poetry readings, the night traditionally ends with guests singing the New Year's standard, 'Auld Lang Syne,' with words written by Burns himself in 1788.

多洛米蒂山谷中的科莱圣卢恰小镇，意大利 Colle Santa Lucia in the Dolomites, Italy (© mauritius images GmbH/Alamy)

明信片和雪花球的取景地 The envy of postcards and snow globes

科莱圣卢恰小镇，多洛米蒂山，意大利

这个位于多洛米蒂山山坡上的小村庄风景如画，如果你把它误认为电影中的场景也不足为怪。科莱圣卢恰是一个意大利小镇，有着约400名居民。尽管科莱圣卢恰位于意大利北部，但这个小镇的风格更偏向奥地利。小镇距离奥地利边境的蒂罗尔州只有几步之遥。和它的奥地利邻居一样，科莱圣卢恰以壮美的山峰和滑雪场而闻名。相较于晴朗的威尼斯，科莱圣卢恰的气候更接近寒冷的因斯布鲁克，尽管威尼斯距离小镇南边仅60英里。

Colle Santa Lucia, Dolomites, Italy

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.

摩艾石像 Big rocks, big heads

摩艾石像，智利

今天，照片上呈现的是久负盛名的摩艾石像，它位于智利偏远的复活节岛上。这些巨人石像是由拉帕努伊人在1250年到1500年之间用岩石雕刻而成的，全岛共有近1000座石像。考古学家认为，拉帕努伊人用这些石像纪念他们的祖先，并将其视为权力和权威的象征。这些石像里有7座面朝大海，其余石像都是背对着太平洋，面朝内陆看着村庄，仿佛是在保护着拉帕努伊人。

Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile

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.

春节快乐，兔年大吉！ Happy the Year of Rabbit!

兔年的春节

兔年快乐！今天是农历新年的开始，我们迎来了兔年。兔子十二生肖中的第四种动物。中国的新年也称为春节，也是家庭团聚的传统日子。春节的起源蕴含着深邃的文化内涵，在传承发展中承载了丰厚的历史文化底蕴。在春节期间，全国各地均有举行各种庆贺新春活动，带有浓郁的各地地方特色。而从年初一开始便进入迎禧接福、拜祭神祖、祈求丰年主题。元日子时交年时刻，鞭炮齐响、烟花照天、辞旧岁、迎新年等各种庆贺新春活动达于高潮。年初一，人们都早早起来，穿上最漂亮的衣服，打扮得整整齐齐出门，恭祝新年大吉大利。

Mountain hare hopping into Lunar New Year

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.

爆竹声中一岁除 Happy Chinese New Year's Eve

阖家团圆迎新春

“除夕”是岁除之夜的意思，又称大年夜、除夕夜、除夜等，时值年尾的最后一个晚上。除夕自古就有守岁、团圆饭、贴年红、挂灯笼等习俗，经久不息。比如我们所熟知的贴年红年红，是春联、门神、窗花、年画、福字等过年时所贴的红色喜庆元素统称。过年贴年红（挥春），是中国民间由来已久的风俗，寄托了人们对幸福生活的向往，对美好未来的祝愿。除夕守岁也是年俗的重要活动之一，守岁之俗由来已久。守岁的民俗主要表现为所有房子都点燃岁火，合家欢聚，并守着“岁火”不让熄灭，等着辞旧迎新的时刻，迎接新年到来。

星空迷