2024年8月 - 星空迷

薰衣草田，赫特福德郡，英格兰，英国 Lavender field, Hertfordshire, England (© George W Johnson/Getty Images)

一片紫色的海洋 A sea of purple

薰衣草田，赫特福德郡，英格兰

当你漫步在英格兰赫特福德郡的自然风景中时，会看到美丽的薰衣草田，正如今天的图片所展示的那样。作为薄荷科的一员，薰衣草起源于地中海、印度和中东地区。这种紫色的植物在不同的文明中生长蔓延，埃及人曾用它制作木乃伊，在图坦卡蒙的墓穴中便有薰衣草的遗迹，罗马人也将其视若珍宝，因其具有治疗和清洁的特性。

薰衣草在春季种植，7月达到盛花期。它不仅外观迷人，闻起来也很棒，其香味据说能帮助人们放松。用薰衣草制作的芳香油常被用在保健养生中，例如在芳香疗法中，它被用来缓解压力，除此之外，它还是香水行业中的重要成分。这种植物也会被用在厨房中，给菜肴和饮料增添香味。所以，下次当你感到压力大时，不妨滴几滴薰衣草精油让自己平静下来。

Lavender field, Hertfordshire, England

This lavender landscape stretching over fields in the English county of Hertfordshire is the quintessential summer scene. A member of the mint family, lavender has been popular through various civilizations. It was used by the Egyptians for mummification; traces of lavender were discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun. It was also treasured by the Romans for its healing and cleansing properties.

Lavender is planted during the spring season, reaching its peak bloom in July. It doesn't just look good, it smells great too, and the scent is said to help people relax. The fragrant oil is a staple in wellness practices, including aromatherapy, where it's used for stress relief, and is a valued ingredient in the perfume industry. This plant is also used in the kitchen, adding a floral touch to dishes and drinks. So, next time you feel stressed let a few drops of lavender essential oil calm you down.

天生三桥，重庆武隆岩溶国家地质公园，中国 Three Natural Bridges, Wulong Karst National Geology Park, China (© Pav-Pro Photography Ltd/Shutterstock)

武隆景区的“三生三世” Wulong's scenic trio

天生三桥，重庆武隆岩溶国家地质公园，中国

中国武隆喀斯特“天生三桥”是大自然历经数百年雕琢而成的地质奇观。这些石灰岩桥耸立在幽深的峡谷中，以三条龙的名字命名：天龙、青龙和黑龙。天龙桥高771英尺，桥墩上有一个迷宫般的洞穴。青龙桥高922英尺，在太阳出来的时候可以欣赏到壮丽的景色。黑龙桥是三座桥中最宽的一座，长633英尺，高732英尺。游客可以游览武隆喀斯特国家地质公园，参观芙蓉洞等景点。芙蓉洞高9337英尺，洞内有巨大的石灰岩钟乳石，这些钟乳石是悬挂在洞顶的矿物。站在这些壮观的天生桥下，你不禁会对时间和自然的巨大力量而肃然起敬。

Three Natural Bridges, Wulong Karst, China

Carved by nature over centuries, the Three Natural Bridges tower over a deep gorge in Wulong Karst. This part of China is known for its karst landscape, which includes towering arches, extensive caves, and other rock formations. These limestone bridges are named after three dragons: Tianlong (Sky Dragon), Heilong (Black Dragon), and Qinglong (Azure Dragon), which is the tallest at 922 feet. Visitors can explore the mossy gorge beneath and the wider Wulong Karst National Geology Park, including the 9,337-foot Furong Cave with its huge limestone stalactites. Standing beneath these magnificent natural bridges, you can't help but be humbled by the sheer power of time and nature.

象鼻湾，维尔京群岛国家公园，圣约翰岛 Trunk Bay, St. John, Virgin Islands National Park (© wheatley/Getty Images)

彩虹之下的某个地方 Somewhere under the rainbow

维尔京群岛国家公园成立

1956年，商人兼自然保护主义者劳伦斯·洛克菲勒看到了加勒比海美属维尔京群岛之一圣约翰岛的美景，并意识到必须保护它。时间快进到今天，我们正在庆祝维尔京群岛国家公园成立68周年。这座公园占地约60%的岛屿和5,650英亩的水下土地，是一个活生生的保护范例，这还要归功于洛克菲勒向美国政府捐赠了5,000多英亩的土地。即使在2017年飓风“厄玛”和“玛丽亚”造成破坏之后，公园仍然强势回归，仅2018年就接待了超过10万名游客。公园里有800多种植物，如野生罗望子和世纪树，140种鸟类，如绿颈鹑鸠和绿喉蜂鸟，以及大约50种珊瑚。在礁湾小径上，徒步旅行者可以看到古老的泰诺岩画和甘蔗种植园遗址，展示了该岛的殖民历史。从图中树干湾的水下浮潜小径到马霍湾满是海龟的水域，公园提供了各种各样的海洋冒险活动。

Virgin Islands National Park established

In 1956, businessman and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller saw the beauty of St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, and knew it had to be preserved. He donated more than 5,000 acres of land to the National Park Service, and today we're marking the 68th anniversary of Virgin Islands National Park. Covering about 60% of St. John and 5,650 acres of submerged lands, the park boasts stunning white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and historic sites.

On the Reef Bay Trail, hikers can see ancient Taino petroglyphs and old sugar plantation ruins, showcasing the island's colonial past. From an underwater snorkeling trail in Trunk Bay, pictured here, to Maho Bay's turtle-filled waters, the park offers a diverse array of marine adventures.

物价喜人 There's a boatload of bargains here

卡普泰湖水上市场，兰加马蒂，孟加拉

每周六，孟加拉国最大的人工湖都会变得五彩缤纷、生机勃勃。兰加马蒂区的卡普泰湖是今天画面中时令水果水上市场的所在地。然而，卡普泰湖自身的魅力更为深远。该湖建于1961年，用于水力发电，不仅淹没了土地和查克马斯国王的宫殿，还导致10万人流离失所。然而，顽强的生命力战胜了这一切，当地社区进行了调整。现在，繁荣的集市已成为人们的生计。在这里，农民们沿着河岸驾着木船与热心的买家打交道。在这里，你既可以带着满满一袋新鲜水果离开，也可以带着难忘的回忆离开，选择你喜欢的方式就好。

Floating market, Kaptai Lake, Bangladesh

Every Saturday, the largest artificial lake in Bangladesh comes to life with colors and flavors. Kaptai Lake in Rangamati District is home to the floating market of seasonal fruit seen in today's image. The lake was created in the early 1960s to generate hydropower, submerging not just land and the palace of the king of the Chakmas, Bangladesh's largest ethnic minority group, but a way of life, displacing 100,000 people. Sixty years on and the landscape has changed. This buoyant bazaar has become a livelihood, as farmers navigate their wooden vessels along the bank to engage with eager buyers. You leave with a bag full of fresh fruit or just a bunch of unforgettable memories, whatever floats your boat.

薰衣草田，赫特福德郡 ，英格兰