分类必应美图下的文章

一场雷雨席卷西奥多·罗斯福国家公园，北达科他州 A thunderstorm rolls across the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota (© Judith Zimmerman/Danita Delimont)

Storm rolls over the Badlands

Today's image of a thunderstorm moving over grasslands in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park shows the power of nature and the power of conservation. In 1883, Teddy Roosevelt, then a New York State Assemblyman, traveled to the North Dakota Badlands to hunt bison. During this trip, Roosevelt fell in love with the cowboy lifestyle and the freedom he experienced. Before heading back east, he became part owner of the Maltese Cross Ranch. A year later he was back in North Dakota and had built Elkhorn Ranch. Life in the west inspired Roosevelt, who began writing books and articles about it. He would go on to establish six national parks and 18 national monuments, greatly increasing the size of the National Park System.

At the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the only US national park named after a person, you can see some of the places that helped inspire Roosevelt's conservation efforts. In the park's Elkhorn Ranch Unit, the location of his 'home ranch,' you can experience the same remoteness that he craved. At the South Unit Visitor Center you can see the cabin he used as his home during his first trips to the Badlands, now restored to its original state. And if that's not enough, hours of scenic drives, hiking trails with dramatic views, and wildlife watching are sure to make a visit to the area memorable for any visitor.

The Supertree Grove in Singapore's Gardens by the Bay (© John Warburton-Lee/Danita Delimont)

In the Supertree Grove

Every August 9, the streets of Singapore fill with revelers celebrating the anniversary of the city-state's independence from Malaysia. Like patriotic events in other nations, there are parades, speeches from political leaders, and fireworks. This year also marks the 200th anniversary of the first British colonial outpost in what would become modern-day Singapore.

We're joining in the fun by sharing this photo of the Supertree Grove—part of the Gardens by the Bay, one of Singapore's most ambitious and interesting public attractions. The entire park is designed to bring more nature into Singapore's dense, urban environment, and to show off some of the ecologically friendly construction ideas that concentrate on conservation and preservation. The 'supertree' structures in this grove collect rainwater, harness solar power, and even vent air into and out of nearby greenhouses.

伊莎贝尔二世桥，塞维利亚 Seville, Spain’s Guadalquivir River and Triana Bridge for the 500th anniversary of Magellan’s departure (© Zu Sanchez Photography/Getty Images)

Seville celebrates first world tour

Today in 1519, Ferdinand Magellan departed from Seville on his quest for a western passage to the Spice Islands. He sailed five ships and a crew of more than 230 men down the Guadalquivir, the river in today's image. The Triana Bridge, the oldest in Seville, was built 330 years after the expedition's return to the city in 1522. While successful in finding a western route to the Pacific Ocean and returning with valuable spices, it came at great cost. Only one ship, under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, and 17 other crew members completed the global circumnavigation. Magellan didn't. He was killed on April 27, 1521, at the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines.

Seville and other Andalusian cities will celebrate these milestone anniversaries as part of the 'V Centenario.' For the next three years—the same amount of time it took Magellan's fleet to sail around the world—there will be a slate of activities, including academic conferences, museum exhibits, nautical tours, educational events, and much more, to recognize, detail, and celebrate various aspects of this historic voyage.

Cape Neddick Light in York, Maine (© Haizhan Zheng/Getty Images)

Nubble Island's only industry

Cape Neddick Light sits on a tiny island called Nubble Island, or 'the Nub'—just 100 yards from the mainland of the cape. It's on Maine's southern shore and is one of just eight lighthouses in Maine that still use a Fresnel lens to amplify the light. The island isn't accessible to the public, but because it's so close, many visitors come to Sohier Park on the cape for the view of the lighthouse. Why August 7 for Lighthouse Day? Because it was this day in 1789 the US government placed all lighthouses under federal control to make sure these important safety signals were all built, supported, and maintained equally.

洛斯巴鲁埃科斯自然纪念碑上的白鹳，西班牙卡塞雷斯 White storks at Los Barruecos Natural Monument, Caceres, Spain (© Wild Wonders of Europe/Widstrand/Minden Pictures)

Storks ready for take-off

It's migration season for white storks, shown here tending to a nest at Los Barruecos Natural Monument in Central Spain. This destination is known for large, granite boulders intermixed with sculptures created by local artists—and it's a favorite stork nesting spot. In August and September, white storks depart their nests for a 25-day trip south to their African wintering grounds, where they gather in large flocks. The species returns to Europe again nine months later—hence its unique role in folklore, giving parents a low-stress way to answer the question ‘where do babies come from?'

威斯康星州贝菲尔德附近的阿波斯特尔群岛国家湖岸，一只皮划艇正在探索砂岩海蚀洞 Kayaker exploring sandstone sea caves in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore near Bayfield, Wisconsin (© Chuck Haney/Danita Delimont)

A ‘Superior' paddle

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore off the northern tip of Wisconsin is a paradise for kayakers and campers, and those who like to combine the two. The park includes 21 islands which, if you're willing to transport your own gear, offer uncrowded camp sites because, well, they're islands. Once you're in a kayak, you can explore some of the red sandstone sea caves, which are best appreciated from the water.

And yet, like many wild and rugged places that offer superlative views, be warned before venturing out. This is Lake Superior, the largest, deepest, roughest, and coldest of the five Great Lakes. Even on warm summer days, the water barely rises above 50 degrees, and the winds can be as fierce as any sea. So if you plan to kayak the Apostles, take care. Enjoy the adventure but make sure you check the weather report and prepare before paddling away.

克拉莫克湖上的倒影，英国坎布里亚湖区 Reflections on Crummock Water in the Lake District, Cumbria, England (© Damian Harrison/Alamy)

Reflected glory of the Lakes

Natural lakes reflect surrounding mountains, fells and forests here in Cumbria's Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose picturesque landscape has inspired writers from William Wordsworth to Beatrix Potter. Crummock Water and its neighbours, Buttermere and Loweswater sit in one of the prettiest parts of the Northern Lakes, the Vale of Lorton. Their chilly, clear waters make them an ideal home for the Arctic Charr as well as brown trout, sea trout and salmon. Also look out for Lakeland sheep wandering onto the roads and for red squirrels around Loweswater.

The Lake District gets busy during the summer, but Crummock Water is considered one of the quieter lakes. It is a favourite with swimmers however and going for a dip is a popular way to cool off after a walk around its shores. The lake itself is 2.5 miles long, about half-a-mile wide and, in parts, more than 140 feet deep. It's fed by streams, including one from Scale Force, the Lake District's tallest single-drop waterfall, at 170 feet high.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park turns 103

Let's light some candles today—103 of them—for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii. On this day in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill to establish the park in what was then the US Territory of Hawaii. (Hawaii wouldn't become a state until 1959.) The park contains a rich array of biodiversity, important historic sites of Native Hawaiians, and the glowing stars of the show—two of the world's most active volcanos, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea.

The massive Mauna Loa rises 56,000 feet from the sea floor, which means it's more than 27,000 feet taller than Everest. Kīlauea made headlines in 2018 for oozing lava for four months straight. This eruption destroyed over 700 homes and damaged roadways, park trails, buildings, and other infrastructure. Why did we call this place the land of laze and vog? You'll have to take today's quiz to find out.

Go climb a tree

This treetop trail in Germany's Bavarian Forest National Park is one of the world's longest canopy trails—and one of the most unique. Visitors to the egg-shaped trail can wind their way around the trees for almost a mile, reaching heights of 144 feet all while getting breathtaking views of firs, beeches, spruces, and more. Not only do canopy walkways like this one give visitors a bird's-eye view of the surrounding forests, they also allow people to experience nature without harming it.

Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland

Today we're visiting Carhenge, a popular roadside attraction in western Nebraska. Carhenge is the passion project of Jim Reinders, who came up with the idea to memorialize his father. Like Stonehenge, Carhenge is a glimpse of culture now past—the heyday of the American automobile. While living in England, Reinders studied Stonehenge's structure, which allowed him to replicate the formation using 39 vehicles, including cars, trucks, and even one Jeep. For the construction Reinders and about 35 family members helped build the attraction in June 1987. And with another nod to Stonehenge, they dedicated it on the summer solstice that same month. Since then, more than 60,000 people have visited the attraction and it's appeared in music videos, TV shows, commercials, and even on an album cover.

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