分类必应美图下的文章

塔菲拉勒地区的一座古老古堡, 摩洛哥 An old kasbah in the Tafilalet region, Morocco (© José Antonio Moreno/agefotostock)

沙海中的绿洲 An oasis in a sea of sand

Tafilalet oasis in Morocco

Tafilalet means 'jug' in the language of the ancient Amazigh people (aka Berbers), and that's surely an appropriate moniker for the largest oasis in Morocco. After the first permanent settlement of the region, Sijilmassa, was founded in 757 CE, Tafilalet became a stopping point for caravans traveling from the Niger River to Tangier on the northern tip of Morocco and the gateway to Europe.

The oasis here at Tafilalet thrives thanks to underground springs and wells, which are supplied by sandstone aquifers that can be hundreds of miles away. Surrounded by the dry sands of the Sahara, the lifegiving waters here at Tafilalet support miles of date palm groves, a major industry in North Africa. Over the centuries, several villages have sprung up in this oasis, some of them with fortified kasbahs like this one, to withstand attacks from invaders.

摩洛哥塔菲拉莱绿洲

Tafilalet在古代亚马齐格人（又名柏柏柏尔人）的语言中是“jug”的意思，这无疑是摩洛哥最大绿洲的恰当称呼。公元757年，该地区建立了第一个永久定居点Sijilmassa，塔菲拉莱成为商队从尼日尔河前往摩洛哥北端丹吉尔的停靠点，也是通往欧洲的门户。

塔菲拉勒的绿洲因地下泉水和水井而繁荣，这些泉水和水井由数百英里以外的砂岩含水层提供。塔菲拉莱的生命之水被撒哈拉沙漠的干沙所包围，支撑着数英里的椰枣林，这是北非的一个主要产业。几个世纪以来，这片绿洲中涌现出了几个村庄，其中一些村庄有像这样的设防卡斯巴，以抵御入侵者的袭击。

普罗旺斯瓦朗索勒高原上的薰衣草田，法国 Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France (© Shutterstock)

一望无际的田野 Fragrant fields as far as the eye can see

Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France

We're sorry. The scratch 'n' sniff option was not ready in time for this photo, so you'll have to imagine the intoxicating fragrance wafting over you…. Today we're in the lavender fields that carpet the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France. A rolling 300 square miles of flowers color the landscape as far as the eye can see. Vincent van Gogh spent time here, and featured lavender in some of his paintings. June is the start of the lavender season, and though it runs till August, peak viewing (and smelling) time varies a little with fluctuations in temperature and rainfall. There are lovely villages that you can meander while visiting the lavender fields, stopping for a pastry or crunchy-soft baguette at an outdoor cafe.

Hot, dry summers and plenty of sun help lavender thrive in the South of France and other countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. While we think the sight of lavender fields is relaxing in itself, the herb is always in demand for its essential oil, which lends a soothing scent to cosmetics, cleaning products, and even food. Some studies suggest that lavender can improve your sleep, reduce pain and inflammation, and improve anxiety and depression. The powerful plant was also used as an antiseptic in days gone by, as it has antimicrobial and antiviral properties.

法国普罗旺斯瓦伦索高原上的薰衣草田

我们很抱歉。抓挠和嗅嗅选项没有及时为这张照片做好准备，所以你必须想象那令人陶醉的香味飘荡在你身上…。今天，我们来到了覆盖法国普罗旺斯瓦伦索高原的薰衣草田。绵延300平方英里的花朵为眼前的风景增添了色彩。文森特·梵高在这里度过了一段时间，在他的一些画作中以薰衣草为特色。6月是薰衣草季节的开始，虽然一直持续到8月，但观赏（和闻）的高峰期会随着温度和降雨量的波动而略有变化。这里有一些可爱的村庄，你可以一边漫步，一边参观薰衣草田，一边在户外咖啡馆吃糕点或松脆柔软的法式面包。

炎热干燥的夏季和充足的阳光有助于薰衣草在法国南部和其他地中海沿岸国家茁壮成长。虽然我们认为看到薰衣草田本身就很轻松，但这种草本植物总是需要它的精油，它能给化妆品、清洁产品甚至食物带来舒缓的香味。一些研究表明，薰衣草可以改善睡眠，减轻疼痛和炎症，改善焦虑和抑郁。这种强大的植物在过去的几天里也被用作防腐剂，因为它具有抗菌和抗病毒的特性。

潜水员探索文图拉斯港附近的水下天然井，墨西哥 Scuba diver exploring the underwater cenotes near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (© Extreme Photographer/Getty Images)

地面之下的水中世界 Underwater underground

Cenote near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Like a giant block of Swiss cheese, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is riddled with holes called cenotes. Cenotes form when subterranean limestone dissolves, allowing underground water to penetrate. The rock above may cave in, forming a pit and revealing the cool, often crystal-clear water, while other cenotes may remain hidden and unexplored. Cenotes vary in size from very small to several dozen yards across, and recent discoveries have shown that cenotes lead to a series of underground cave systems that can span several miles in length.

In a region with little rainfall and no rivers or streams, the Yucatan's 6,000 cenotes were vital to the many cities of the Mayan civilization that used them as a primary source of fresh water. While some of the peninsula's cenotes have a mix of salt water and fresh water, many of the holes have remarkably clean fresh water that has slowly filtered through rock. The diffuse light that reaches into the underground chambers creates a magical effect. It makes for fantastic swimming and diving opportunities. Many of the larger cenotes feature platforms and ropes to jump off, and they are often located near historically significant Mayan ruins.

墨西哥Aventuras港附近的Cenote

墨西哥的尤卡坦半岛就像一块巨大的瑞士奶酪，布满了被称为洞穴的洞。当地下石灰岩溶解时，会形成洞穴，使地下水渗入。上面的岩石可能会塌陷，形成一个坑，露出凉爽的，通常是水晶般清澈的水，而其他的洞穴可能仍然隐藏着，未经勘探。洞穴的大小从很小到几十码不等，最近的发现表明，洞穴形成了一系列地下洞穴系统，其长度可以跨越几英里。

在一个降雨量少、没有河流或溪流的地区，尤卡坦人的6000个纪念碑对玛雅文明的许多城市至关重要，玛雅文明将其作为淡水的主要来源。虽然半岛上的一些洞穴混合了咸水和淡水，但许多洞穴都有非常干净的淡水，这些淡水已经慢慢渗透到岩石中。进入地下室的漫射光创造了一种神奇的效果。它提供了绝佳的游泳和跳水机会。许多较大的纪念碑都有跳台和绳索，它们通常位于历史上重要的玛雅遗址附近。

莫斯塔尔古桥，波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那 Stari Most in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (© Ayhan Altun/Getty Images)

“古桥”的新生 The 'Old Bridge,' reborn

Stari Most in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

For 427 years the Mostar Bridge stood strong, despite the belief that its original mortar was composed of egg whites. Truth is, not much is known about the 16th-century construction of this bridge in what is now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina. All that remains in historical records are memories and legends and the name of the bridge's builder, Mimar Hayruddin. He was charged by Suleiman the Magnificent to build an unprecedentedly wide arch, and threatened with death if the structure failed. Hayruddin is said to have been so unsure of his creation that he had made funeral preparations before the scaffolding was removed. Luckily (and much to the builder's probable relief), the arch remained intact. Suspended nearly 80 feet above the Neretva River, the highest point of the bridge's arch rises an additional 39.5 feet. Upon its completion in 1566, it was the widest manmade arch ever built and was compared by one explorer to 'a rainbow arch soaring up to the skies.'

Also known as Stari Most, or 'Old Bridge,' it was finally brought down in November 1993 after being hit by a barrage of shells in a targeted attack during the Bosnian War. Considered a treasure of Bosnian Islamic architecture, its destruction by Croatian forces was condemned around the world. Scholars referred to the act as an attempt at 'killing memory.' Due to its importance in the Mostar region, plans to rebuild the bridge as accurately as possible began at the war's end. The reconstructed bridge was unveiled to the public in 2004. Used for normal daily activities, the bridge also has history as a popular spot for annual diving competitions.

波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那莫斯塔尔的Stari Most

427年来，莫斯塔尔大桥一直屹立不倒，尽管人们相信它最初的砂浆是由蛋白组成的。事实是，关于16世纪在现在被称为波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那的地方修建这座桥，人们所知不多。历史记录中只剩下记忆和传说，还有大桥建造者米马尔·海鲁丁的名字。宏伟的苏莱曼（Suleiman the Magnium）要求他建造一座空前宽阔的拱门，并威胁说，如果拱门倒塌，他将面临死亡。据说，海鲁丁对自己的创作非常不确定，以至于在拆除脚手架之前，他就已经为葬礼做了准备。幸运的是（建筑商可能松了一口气），拱门仍然完好无损。悬挂在内雷特瓦河上方近80英尺的地方，桥拱的最高点再高出39.5英尺。1566年建成后，这是有史以来建造的最宽的人造拱门，一位探险家将其比作“一座翱翔天空的彩虹拱门”

它也被称为“Stari Most”，或“Old Bridge”，1993年11月，在波斯尼亚战争期间，在一次有针对性的袭击中，它被一连串炮弹击中，最终被拆毁。被认为是波斯尼亚伊斯兰建筑的瑰宝，克罗地亚军队对其的破坏受到全世界的谴责。学者们把这一行为称为试图“扼杀记忆”由于该桥在莫斯塔尔地区的重要性，在战争结束时就开始了尽可能准确地重建该桥的计划。重建后的大桥于2004年向公众公布。该桥用于正常的日常活动，历史上也是年度跳水比赛的热门场地。

亚苏尼国家公园，厄瓜多尔 Yasuní National Park in Amazonian Ecuador (© Paul Bertner/Minden Pictures)

地球之肺 The lungs of Earth

World Rainforest Day

Perhaps no other place on Earth plays a more crucial role in sustaining life as we know it than the Amazon rainforest, the largest in the world. The Amazon spans nine countries in South America including Ecuador, where this pristine ecoregion is protected by the Yasuní National Park, shown here. Today is set aside as World Rainforest Day, to remember the vital role of this and other rainforests and to champion efforts to protect them. The world's rainforests are under threat like never before from deforestation driven by agriculture and cattle ranching. Some studies have indicated humans have degraded or destroyed more than half of the world's rainforests. Fewer trees mean warmer temperatures, which increases the risk of drought and wildfire and compounds the damage of deforestation.

The Amazon has been called the lungs of the planet because the estimated 390 billion trees here convert much of the oxygen humans and other animals need to survive. The Amazon also cools our planet by capturing and storing carbon. It is as much the planet's air conditioner as it is its lungs. For that reason, the health of rainforests is crucial to arresting climate change.

The other gift of rainforests, and of the Amazon in particular, is biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and insects in the Amazon is not in the thousands, but in the millions. Scientists estimate half of the planet's biodiversity exists in the Amazon. In fact, many of our modern pharmaceuticals are derived from Amazon plants. That makes the Amazon not just the Earth's lungs and air conditioning, but also its medicine cabinet.

世界雨林日

也许地球上没有其他地方比世界上最大的亚马逊雨林在维持生命方面发挥着更重要的作用。亚马逊河横跨包括厄瓜多尔在内的南美洲九个国家，这里的亚苏尼国家公园保护着这个原始的生态区。今天被定为世界雨林日，以纪念这片和其他雨林的重要作用，并支持保护它们的努力。由于农业和畜牧业造成的森林砍伐，世界雨林受到前所未有的威胁。一些研究表明，人类已经退化或破坏了世界上一半以上的雨林。树木减少意味着气温升高，这增加了干旱和野火的风险，并加剧了毁林的破坏。

亚马逊河被称为地球的肺，因为这里估计有3900亿棵树转化了人类和其他动物生存所需的大部分氧气。亚马逊还通过捕获和储存碳来冷却我们的地球。它既是地球的空调，也是地球的肺。因此，雨林的健康对于遏制气候变化至关重要。

热带雨林，尤其是亚马逊的另一个礼物是生物多样性。亚马逊河流域的植物、动物和昆虫种类不是数千种，而是数百万种。科学家估计，地球上一半的生物多样性存在于亚马逊地区。事实上，我们的许多现代药物都来自亚马逊植物。这使得亚马逊不仅是地球的肺和空调，而且还是它的药柜。

格拉斯顿伯里山丘上的日出，英格兰 View of Glastonbury Tor from Walton Hill, Somerset, England (© Guy Edwardes/Minden Pictures)

夏季来临 Summer a-rising

Summer solstice

The summer solstice, also known as an estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky (for areas outside of the tropics) and is the day with the longest period of daylight. Within the Arctic circle (for the northern hemisphere) or the Antarctic circle (for the southern hemisphere), there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice. On the summer solstice, Earth's maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.44°. Likewise, the Sun's declination from the celestial equator is 23.44°.

Since prehistory, the summer solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rituals. Traditionally, in many temperate regions (especially in Europe), the summer solstice is seen as the middle of summer and referred to as "midsummer". Today, however, in some countries and calendars it is seen as the beginning of summer.

夏至

夏至，也被称为夏至或仲夏，发生在地球的两极之一最大程度地向太阳倾斜的时候。每年发生两次，每个半球（北半球和南半球）一次。对于那个半球来说，夏至是太阳在天空中达到最高位置（对于热带以外的地区）的时候，也是日照时间最长的一天。在北极圈（北半球）或南极圈（南半球）内，夏至前后有连续的白天。夏至，地球对太阳的最大轴向倾斜为23.44°。同样，太阳从天球赤道的赤纬为23.44°。

自史前以来，在许多文化中，夏至一直被视为一年中重要的时间，并以节日和仪式为标志。传统上，在许多温带地区（尤其是欧洲），夏至被视为仲夏，被称为“仲夏”。然而，今天，在一些国家和日历中，这被视为夏季的开始。

黄金海岸上的冲浪者，澳大利亚 Surfers catching waves at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (© Darren Tierney/Getty Images)

这是什么水上魔法？ What waterborne wizardry is this?

International Surfing Day

Of all the tricks humans have taught themselves, few delight and impress more than surfing. A sport, a pastime, an art, a philosophy of life, surfing is as close to magic as a person can perform on the untamed ocean. Today, the sport of wave riding gets its well-earned due with International Surfing Day, a time each year to honor the sport, the lifestyle of surfing, and the ocean itself, whose good health is vital to the sport and so much else. Surfers have a special connection to the ocean and the waves it produces. A surfable wave relies on so much: The winds hundreds or thousands of miles away that produced the energy to set the swells in motion—those swells might take days to arrive at the shoreline; and then the reef or point of land or underwater boulder upon which a swell will break into a perfectly shaped wave. Wind and timing are everything, and devoted surfers know the weather and the shore intimately.

Surfing can be done anywhere waves break, from Iceland to Ireland, Brazil to Senegal. But there are a handful of spots renowned for their waves, such as Hawaii, Tahiti, California, and the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, pictured here. As the sport has evolved, surfers have taken on bigger waves, giants that exceed 50 feet in height at now-famous surf breaks like Jaws, Mavericks, and the latest in Nazare, Portugal.

Surfing is believed to have originated in Polynesia more than 1,500 years ago, most likely in Tahiti and was observed by Westerners as early as the 1700s in Hawaii. Native Hawaiians are credited for creating the sport as we know it today. Duke Kahanamoku, Olympic swimmer, great waterman, and one of Hawaii's earliest celebrities, helped spread surfing's popularity to California and Australia in the early 1900s. Today, surfing is an Olympic sport, has a professional tour for both men and women, and is an integral part of popular culture. But for the lucky souls who know how to ride a wave, it's simply the best way to spend a day at the beach.

国际冲浪日

在人类自学的所有技巧中，很少有比冲浪更让人愉悦和印象深刻的了。冲浪是一项运动，一种消遣，一门艺术，一种人生哲学，就像一个人在未驯服的海洋上所能表演的一样，它离魔法很近。今天，冲浪运动因国际冲浪日而备受青睐，每年的国际冲浪日都是纪念这项运动、冲浪生活方式和海洋本身的日子，海洋本身的健康对这项运动和其他许多运动都至关重要。冲浪者与海洋及其产生的波浪有着特殊的联系。冲浪的波浪依赖于这么多：数百或数千英里以外的风产生的能量使涌浪运动，这些涌浪可能需要几天才能到达海岸线；然后是礁石或陆地或水下巨砾的点，在其上，涌浪将变成完美形状的波浪。风和时间是一切，热衷于冲浪的人对天气和海岸了如指掌。

从冰岛到爱尔兰，从巴西到塞内加尔，冲浪可以在任何波涛汹涌的地方进行。但也有一些以海浪闻名的景点，如夏威夷、塔希提、加利福尼亚和澳大利亚昆士兰的黄金海岸，如图所示。随着这项运动的发展，冲浪者们已经开始接受更大的海浪，在如今著名的冲浪休息处，身高超过50英尺的巨人，如大白鲨、小牛队，以及最近在葡萄牙的纳粹队。

据信，冲浪运动起源于1500多年前的波利尼西亚，最有可能发生在塔希提岛，早在17世纪，西方人就在夏威夷观察到了冲浪运动。据我们今天所知，夏威夷土著人创造了这项运动。20世纪初，奥林匹克游泳运动员、伟大的沃特曼、夏威夷最早的名人之一杜克·卡哈纳莫库（DukeKahanamoku）帮助将冲浪运动普及到加利福尼亚和澳大利亚。今天，冲浪是一项奥林匹克运动，男女都有专业的巡回赛，是流行文化的一个组成部分。但对于那些懂得乘风破浪的幸运儿来说，这是在海滩度过一天的最佳方式。

山下盛开的箭叶脂根菊，美国大提顿国家公园 Balsamroot wildflowers bloom below the Teton Mountains in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (© Mike Cavaroc/Tandem Stills + Motion)

壮丽的景色 A grand view

Grand Teton National Park

These arrowleaf balsamroot wildflowers, commonly known as Oregon sunflowers, have a grand view of the Grand Tetons from the valley below the towering range. The region's harsh weather means that only the hardiest of wildflowers can survive, and the bright yellow arrowheads fit the bill. The plants are drought tolerant, winter hardy, tenacious against trampling, and even fire resistant, with a taproot which regenerates leaves and flowers after the top has burned.

Located just 10 miles from Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and the surrounding national forests constitute the almost 18-million-acre (28,000-square-mile) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the world's largest intact mid-latitude temperate ecosystems. There's something for every lover of the outdoors here, and the park is a popular destination for mountaineering, hiking, fishing, and other forms of recreation, with more than 1,000 drive-in campsites and over 200 miles of hiking trails that provide access to backcountry camping areas. Grand Teton National Park is one of the 10 most popular parks in the United States.

大提顿国家公园

这些箭叶香根野花，俗称俄勒冈州向日葵，从高耸山脉下方的山谷中可以俯瞰大提顿。该地区恶劣的天气意味着只有最顽强的野花才能生存，而明亮的黄色箭头正好符合这一要求。这些植物耐旱、耐寒、抗践踏、甚至耐火，主根在顶部燃烧后再生叶子和花朵。

大提顿国家公园距离黄石国家公园仅10英里，它和周围的国家森林构成了近1800万英亩（28000平方英里）的大黄石生态系统，是世界上最大的完整中纬度温带生态系统之一。这里有适合每一位户外爱好者的东西，公园是登山、徒步旅行、垂钓和其他娱乐形式的热门目的地，有1000多个免下车露营地和200多英里的徒步小道，可以进入偏远的露营区。大提顿国家公园是美国十大最受欢迎的公园之一。

仙岩寺中的升仙桥，韩国曹溪山道立公园 Seungseon Bridge at Seonam Temple in Jogyesan Provincial Park, South Korea (© Aaron Choi/Getty Images)

连接过去和现在 Bridging past and present

Seonam Temple, South Korea

The Seonam Temple, or Seonamsa, in Jogyesan Provincial Park, South Korea, is famed for expressing calm serenity. Just downstream, Buddhist monks built this gently arched bridge by hand centuries ago. Stones around the base record the names of visitors for posterity. Called the Seungseon Bridge ('the Ascending Immortals'), it's fitting to approach the temple itself on foot, at one with nature. The site is hidden away in ancient trees, with tranquil ponds and streams, gentle hiking trails, and gorgeous pagodas. The temple still ekes out its day in the traditional way, with mellow bells and meditation. The monks also cultivate wild tea plants and are happy to share the benefits of the harvest. You are at peace as soon as you arrive at Seonamsa, and there's little to distract you from the present moment.

The original temple is believed to have been built in the 9th century, but over the years war and a major fire caused extensive damage, and it had to be rebuilt in the 19th century. Now the Seonam Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with six other 'sansa,' or Buddhist monasteries, dotted in the mountains throughout the southern provinces of the Korean Peninsula. Visitors are invited to stay overnight at the temple and follow the monks' daily practice, but you can also dip in for a day to absorb the peace and tranquility. Flowers in spring and colorful leaf displays in fall make those the most popular times to visit.

韩国色南寺

位于韩国Jogyesan省立公园的Seonam庙（Seonamsa）以表达平静而闻名。就在下游，佛教僧侣在几个世纪前手工建造了这座轻轻的拱桥。基地周围的石头为后人记录了游客的名字。这座名为Seungseon Bridge（“升天神仙”）的桥适合步行接近寺庙本身，与大自然融为一体。该遗址隐藏在古树丛中，有宁静的池塘和溪流，温和的徒步小道，还有华丽的宝塔。这座寺庙仍然以传统的方式，用柔和的钟声和冥想来维持它的一天。僧侣们还种植野生茶树，并乐于分享收获的好处。你一到达梭南沙就很平静，没有什么可以分散你对当下的注意力。

据信，原来的寺庙建于9世纪，但多年来，战争和一场大火造成了巨大的破坏，不得不在19世纪重建。现在，色南寺与其他六座“三萨”或佛教寺院一起被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产，分布在朝鲜半岛南部各省的山区。游客被邀请在寺庙过夜，并遵循僧侣们的日常修行，但你也可以泡一天来吸收和平与宁静。春天的鲜花和秋天五颜六色的树叶展览使这些地方成为最受欢迎的游览时间。

田纳西之巅 The top of Tennessee

Nature Photography Day in the Smokies

If you're celebrating Nature Photography Day today, then Great Smoky Mountains National Park would be an excellent place to snap your own shots of sylvan splendor like this one. That's because you'd have two reasons to celebrate—the park turns 88 today. These misty peaks and valleys along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina were established as a national park on this day in 1934. All these years later, it may not be the most famous national park in the US, but it is by far the most popular. With more than 14 million visitors per year, it draws more people than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite combined.

True to its name, the park is known for its persistent haze. Native Americans–the region is the ancestral home of the Cherokee people–gave the place a name that translates to 'place of the blue smoke.' The smoke is actually a fog created in part by the native vegetation. It owes its blueish appearance to humidity and stagnant air. Almost all of the park is covered in deciduous and coniferous forest, a third of it old-growth trees that predate European settlement. The thick forests, range of elevations, and abundant rainfall support a stunning variety of wildlife. There are so many black bears that about two live in every square mile of the park. Bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and 200 species of birds also call this place home. The park is most notable for its salamanders. In fact, it's known as the Salamander Capital of the World, with 30 species living here.

But the real stars of the park are the mountains. For panoramic vistas, this vantage point—Clingman's Dome on the Tennessee side of the park—is hard to beat. At 6,643 feet, it's also the highest point in the state. To take your own version of this shot, you don't even have to hike. Simply drive to the parking lot. But after you've got your pics, keep the camera handy. If the parking lot looks this good, imagine what photos you can take in the rest of the park.

烟雾中的自然摄影日

如果你今天要庆祝自然摄影日，那么大烟山国家公园将是一个很好的地方，你可以在这里拍摄自己的森林美景。那是因为今天你有两个理由庆祝公园88岁生日。1934年的今天，沿着田纳西州和北卡罗来纳州边界的这些雾蒙蒙的山峰和山谷被建成了国家公园。多年后，它可能不是美国最著名的国家公园，但它是迄今为止最受欢迎的国家公园。它每年吸引的游客超过1400万，超过了大峡谷、黄石公园和约塞米蒂的总和。

不折不扣地说，这个公园以其持续的阴霾而闻名。印第安人——该地区是切罗基人的祖籍——给这个地方起了一个翻译成“蓝烟之地”的名字烟雾实际上是一种雾，部分是由当地植被造成的。它的蓝色外观归因于潮湿和停滞的空气。几乎整个公园都覆盖着落叶和针叶林，其中三分之一是欧洲殖民地之前的老树。茂密的森林、广阔的海拔和充足的降雨量支撑着种类繁多的野生动物。公园里有很多黑熊，每平方英里大约有两只。蝙蝠、狐狸、臭鼬、水獭、山猫和200种鸟类也把这里称为家。该公园以其蝾螈最为著名。事实上，这里被称为世界蝾螈之都，有30种蝾螈生活在这里。

但公园里真正的明星是山。从全景来看，这个位于公园田纳西州一侧的有利位置克林曼圆顶（Clingman's Dome）是无与伦比的。海拔6643英尺，也是该州的最高点。要拍摄你自己的照片，你甚至不需要徒步旅行。只需开车去停车场。但是在你拿到照片后，把相机放在手边。如果停车场看起来这么好，想象一下你可以在公园的其他地方拍些什么照片。

星空迷