2023年8月

巨人柱，铁木森林国家纪念地，亚利桑那州，美国 Saguaro cacti, Ironwood National Monument, Arizona (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)

你今天过得怎么样？ 'Saguaro' you today?

巨人柱，铁木森林国家纪念地，亚利桑那州，美国

在亚利桑那州阳光普照的天空下，大片的仙人掌在群山的映衬下格外显眼。照片上的是巨人柱仙人掌，拍摄于铁木森林国家纪念地。即使你没有亲眼见过巨人柱仙人掌，但当你听到“巨人柱”这个名字时，也能联想到它们的样子：苍绿高大的圆柱形仙人掌，直指天空。虽然巨人柱生长缓慢，但它们的寿命超过200年，有足够的时间慢慢生长，创纪录的一株巨人柱仙人掌甚至高达78英尺。曾有一株被称为“老爷爷”的仙人掌存活了约有300年，最终在20世纪90年代寿终正寝。

Saguaro cacti, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona

Massive succulents against a mountainous backdrop, underneath the sun-kissed Arizona sky—it's prickly perfection. Pictured here are saguaro (pronounced 'sah-wah-roh') cacti at the Ironwood Forest National Monument in the Sonoran Desert. Even if you haven't seen one in person, when you hear the word cactus, you're probably thinking of saguaro—tall, green, cylindrical, with arms pointing upward. From tattoos to coffee cups, you'll find this iconic symbol of Arizona on almost everything. Though they are slow growers, these plants have been known to live over 200 years and reach enormous heights, with a 78-footer setting the record. Another cactus, known as 'Grandaddy,' survived in the sweltering desert for about 300 years, eventually succumbing to old age in the early 1990s. Cacti may not be for everyone, but they tend to grow on you (figuratively, of course)!

洛夫里耶纳克堡，西港，杜布罗夫尼克，克罗地亚 Fort Lovrijenac, West Harbor, Dubrovnik, Croatia (© Benny Marty/Shutterstock)

小心龙出没！ Watch out for dragons!

杜布罗夫尼克，克罗地亚

来到克罗地亚的杜布罗夫尼克，你可能会本能地警惕入侵的舰队或空中的巨龙，不过放心，你更有可能遇到的是游客，而不是兰尼斯特家族。美剧《权力的游戏》经常在这里取景拍摄，因为杜布罗夫尼克老城是世界上保存最完好的中世纪城市之一。历史上，杜布罗夫尼克曾以“拉古萨共和国”的身份蓬勃发展了数百年，通过灵活的外交和强大的航海贸易保持独立。这颗“亚得里亚海的明珠”也经历过炮火和大地震，但重建后的城市依然充满生机。古城墙、教堂、博物馆和艺术等文化遗产都是吸引游客前往杜布罗夫尼克的原因，最近的一份报告显示，2019年，杜布罗夫尼克平均每位居民接待了36名游客。

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Though you might instinctively watch out for invading fleets or dragons overhead, you're more likely to encounter a tourist than a Lannister in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. As you may know, 'Game of Thrones' filmed here frequently throughout the run of the show, and you can scarcely blame them; Dubrovnik's Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. For centuries it flourished as the Republic of Ragusa, maintaining independence through diplomacy and robust trade networks. This 'Pearl of the Adriatic' has withstood military bombardments and devastating earthquakes, yet the city has always rebuilt and persevered. While pop culture, history, and UNESCO World Heritage Site status are all big draws, they might be too effective: A recent report estimated that in 2019 there were 36 tourists for every resident.

城山日出峰，济州岛上的凝灰岩锥，韩国 Seongsan Ilchulbong, a tuff cone on Jeju Island, South Korea (© Quynh Anh Nguyen/Getty Images)

一个酷炫的凝灰岩火山口 A 'tuff'-tastic crater

济州岛，韩国

济州岛上充满奇观，火山、古老石像、瀑布和岩石海岸，还有今天图片中的主角，城山日出峰，是岛上罕见的凝灰岩锥，由5000年前的一次海底火山喷发而形成。城山日出峰于2007年被列入联合国教科文组织世界自然遗产名录。

Jeju Island, South Korea

The South Korean island of Jeju is full of wonders. If you don't have a chance to visit its volcanic landscape, ancient stone statues, waterfalls, and rocky coastline, you can dive into the island's fascinating chronicles from the comfort of your computer. The star of today's image, Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), is the island's rare tuff cone formation, created by an underwater volcanic eruption about 5,000 years ago. Tuff cones are also called ash cones, referring to the accumulated ash settling in a cone formation after the lava's forceful explosion. Seongsan Ilchulbong was added to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in 2007.

柏林大教堂和博物馆岛，柏林，德国 Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island, Berlin, Germany (© Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock)

博物馆之夜 A night at the museums

柏林博物馆长夜

随着夏天渐渐消逝，我们开始怀念愉快的假期和多彩的夜生活。别急着回忆，欢乐的时光还没有结束！如果你在柏林，还有很多事情值得期待。比如一年一度的“博物馆长夜”活动，自1997年以来，每年八月的最后一个星期六都会举办，早已成为柏林最受欢迎的活动之一。在这个“长夜”中，博物馆的开放时间从18点直到次日凌晨，你不仅可以穿梭于各个博物馆之间欣赏世界文物，还可以喝酒跳舞，聆听音乐、参加讲座等。今天图片中的博物馆岛于1999年被列入世界文化遗产名录，岛上有柏林老博物馆、柏林新博物馆、国家美术馆、博德博物馆和佩加蒙博物馆。施普雷河环绕整座岛屿，使博物馆岛的气势更加宏伟磅礴。

Museum Night in Berlin

As the summer is fading away, we find ourselves reminiscing about vacations and long hours of lively evenings. But let's not bury the picnic days just yet! There is plenty to look forward to, especially if you are in Berlin. The Long Night of Museums only happens once a year—on the last Saturday of August since 1997—but it shakes up Museum Island and the rest of the German capital. The event series is more than a peaceful appreciation of artifacts—quite the opposite—you can expect music, talks, workshops, cocktails, dance, and more from 6 PM into the small hours of the morning. Featured in today's image, Museum Island—embraced by the Spree River—is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is home to a museum quintet: Altes, Bode, Pergamon, and Neues Museums, and Alte Nationalgalerie.

黄石下瀑布，黄石国家公园，怀俄明州，美国 Lower Yellowstone Falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

这是你的土地 This land is your land

黄石下瀑布，怀俄明州，美国

虽然夏天即将结束，但现在收拾好装备，去户外探险还为时不晚。不知道该去哪里？那就去美国看看63个国家公园吧！1916年的今天，时任美国总统伍德罗·威尔逊签署《国家公园管理局组织法》，正式成立国家公园管理局，旨在“保护自然景观、野生动植物和历史遗迹，在供人们休闲娱乐的同时，不得破坏这些场所，并将之传诸后代”。无论是哪里的美景，只有小心呵护才能让这份美丽得以延续。

National Park Service anniversary

Though summer is winding down, it's not too late to pack some gear and head into the great outdoors. Unsure where to go? Look no further than our 63 national parks, which exist thanks to the National Park Service, created on this day in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. He ordered the service to preserve the landscape, wildlife, and history of the parks 'in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.' In other words, the park service was established for all of us! Just make sure that whether you're visiting the islands of American Samoa, the glaciers of the North Cascades, the waterways of the Everglades, or the 308-foot Lower Falls of Yellowstone in today's image, that you explore them with care and appreciation so that they can be preserved for centuries to come.

鲨鱼鳍湾，达文波特，加利福尼亚州，美国 Shark Fin Cove, Davenport, California (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

自然“鳍”观 What a fin-tastic view!

鲨鱼鳍湾，加利福尼亚州，美国

鲨鱼鳍湾依偎在加州中部海岸小城达文波特附近海湾一隅。这个海湾中有一个形似鲨鱼鳍的海蚀柱，海湾也因此得名“鲨鱼鳍湾”。这个鲨鱼鳍状的海蚀柱曾是包围海滩的泥岩悬崖的一部分，在长年累月的海浪和大风的侵蚀作用下，最终形成了这个“鲨鱼鳍”。从一号公路上可以看到鲨鱼鳍湾，旅行者可以在此停留，一览无垠的太平洋。

Shark Fin Cove, California

Shark Fin Cove, also known as Shark Tooth Beach, is nestled in a cove in the tiny town of Davenport on California's Central Coast. The cove is a coastal gem known for its stunning sea stack—a vertical rock formation that resembles a shark's fin. The fin used to be connected to the mudstone cliff that surrounds the beach. Over time, the relentless crashing waves and strong winds slowly eroded the rock formation. Shark Fin Cove is visible from Highway 1, where travelers can stop and look at the expansive Pacific Ocean views.

斯科加瀑布，冰岛 Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland (© Maridav/Shutterstock)

溅起一潭水花 Making a splash

斯科加瀑布，冰 岛

今天照片里的是冰岛的斯科加瀑布，它是冰岛最大的瀑布之一，有82英尺宽，垂直落差约200英尺。游客经常能在这里看到彩虹，甚至是双彩虹。传说，第一个踏足冰岛的维京人曾把一个宝箱藏在了斯科加瀑布后面，这又为这个瀑布增添了一丝神秘色彩。

这个瀑布在很多热门影视作品中都出现过，比如《雷神：黑暗世界》《慷慨的心》《权力的游戏》等等。瀑布附近还有一个斯科加博物馆，可以让人们了解冰岛的文化遗产。

Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland

Behold Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls. This powerful cascade measures 82 feet across and drops 200 feet over what were once the sea cliffs of the country’s southern coast. The coastline receded seaward, but the cliffs remained, leaving behind this natural wonder, powered by water from two glaciers. Skógafoss, which translates as 'forest waterfall,' is frequently graced with single or double rainbows, formed by the refraction of sunlight through the mist. Legend has it that a treasure chest is hidden behind Skógafoss, left there by a Viking settler named Prasi Porolfsson.

The waterfall has appeared on the big screen, in 'Thor: The Dark World' and the Bollywood movie 'Dilwale,' as well as on TV in the final season of 'Game of Thrones.' The Skógar Museum, which offers insights into Iceland's cultural heritage, sits near the waterfall in Skógar village.

埃尔杰姆露天剧场，突尼斯 Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia (© Westend61/Getty Images)

为罗马建筑“起立欢呼” A 'standing ovation' to Roman architecture

埃尔杰姆露天剧场，突尼斯

埃尔杰姆露天剧场位于突尼斯东部小城镇艾尔杰姆，始建于公元3世纪的罗马帝国时期，以其令人惊叹的建筑设计闻名。它由巨石砌成，可以容纳35000名观众，至今仍然是世界上最大的露天剧场之一。这座露天剧场自1979年就被列为联合国教科文组织世界遗产地，被认为是世界上保存最完好的罗马建筑之一，在体量和设计上几乎可以和罗马竞技场比肩。

剧场地下有着复杂的隧道系统，对游客开放参观。尽管历史悠久，剧场的地面仍然保存完好，游客还可以在上面行走，代入一下古代表演者的体验。

Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia

This impressive structure is the Amphitheatre of El Jem, in the Tunisian town of the same name. Made entirely from stone blocks, it was built in the 3rd century CE, when this area was Thysdrus, a city of ancient Rome. Once capable of seating up to 35,000 spectators, it is the largest colosseum in North Africa and one of the largest in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, it is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres, almost equal in grandeur to the Colosseum in Rome.

Beneath the arena, there is an extensive underground network of tunnels and chambers, which are open to visitors. Despite its age, the arena floor is still preserved, and visitors can walk on it, following in the footsteps of gladiators and others who stepped out before huge crowds, nearly 2,000 years ago.

自内而外的光彩 Glowing from within

加拿大的发现日

发现日是加拿大育空地区的一个年度节日，用来纪念1896年在富矿溪发现金矿，这个发现开启了克朗代克淘金热，进而推动了育空领地的建立。淘金热吸引了数以千计的淘金者来此寻找财富，推动了重大的经济和社会变革。

发现日是一个纪念和回顾育空地区丰富的遗产、历史和自然资源的好机会，我们今天在照片中看到的美丽的翡翠湖就是其中之一。发现日也是一个用来纪念参与了克朗代克淘金热的淘金者们的冒险精神和坚毅品格的日子。整个育空地区会在这天举办各式节庆活动，包括游行、历史情景重现、淘金比赛、演唱会等等。政府办公室、学校和很多商业机构也会在这一天关闭，以便居民们可以参与到节日活动中来。

Discovery Day in Yukon, Canada

It's Discovery Day in Yukon, Canada, a day to commemorate the 1896 discovery of gold at Bonanza Creek. The event set off the Klondike Gold Rush, which attracted thousands of prospectors to the region in search of gold, leading to significant economic and social changes. The population increase led to Yukon separating from the Northwest Territories and the formation of Yukon Territory in 1898.

Discovery Day celebrates Yukon's rich heritage, history, and natural resources—like Emerald Lake, seen in today's image, known for its deep green hues. You'll find it on the Klondike Highway, which roughly follows the route used by the prospectors more than a century ago. It is also a day to honor the spirit of adventure exhibited during the gold rush. Government offices, schools, and many businesses close to allow people to participate in the festivities, including parades, historical reenactments, gold panning competitions, and concerts.

海上哨兵 Sentinel of the sea

国际灯塔周

每年8月的第三个周末，世界各地的灯塔爱好者和航海历史爱好者都会聚在一起庆祝国际灯塔周，纪念这些标志性建筑的悠久历史和关键作用。人们可以走进这些灯塔，亲眼见证这些巨大的灯塔通过将灯光、仪器和精密的工程技术巧妙地结合在一起来发挥作用。

起点灯塔就是这些灯塔中的一座，它高高地矗立在英国德文郡崎岖的悬崖上，俯瞰着英吉利海峡。这座优雅的灯塔建于1836年，由英国土木工程师詹姆斯·沃克设计，其明亮的光束指引着船只安全通行。这个日子也提醒着我们，灯塔在航海历史中起到的重要作用。

International Lighthouse Weekend

To mark International Lighthouse Weekend, we're on England's southwest coast, where Start Point Lighthouse looks out over the turbulent waters of the English Channel. The lighthouse is perched upon a rugged cliff on one of the country's most exposed peninsulas, which stretches nearly a mile into the sea in the county of Devon. Built in 1836, the elegant lighthouse was designed by civil engineer James Walker in the Gothic style, as seen in its castle-like parapet. It has undergone many changes since then and more accommodation was added in the 1870s, but no lighthouse keepers live there now—it has been automated since 1993.

星空迷