布恩迪国家公园，乌干达 Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, Uganda (© Art Wolfe/DanitaDelimont.com)

森林多美好呀！ Woodn't it be nice

国际森林日

今天是国际森林日，让我们走出家门，扎根林地吧！森林是地球上重要的生态系统之一，为了提高人们对保护森林和欣赏森林景观的意识，就在11年前的今天，联合国设立了国际森林日。据悉，世界各地的林地占地球陆地面积的30%以上，林地中的树木种类繁多，令人难以置信，据估计，全球共有超6万种不同种类的树。森林在提供食物、水和药物等基础资源方面发挥着至关重要的作用。今天的图片展示的是乌干达的布恩迪国家公园，这里有160种树木和100种蕨类植物，以及世界上50%的山地大猩猩种群。森林中的树木之间还生长着茂密的竹林，导致人们在这片森林中寸步难行，因此布恩迪国家公园又名“难以穿越的森林”。

International Day of Forests

Today we're rooting for woodlands worldwide as we celebrate the International Day of Forests. Established by the UN 11 years ago, the day draws attention to the need to preserve these essential ecosystems, which supply food, water, medicines, and other resources. Covering over 30% of land on Earth, it is thought that woodlands around the world contain more than 60,000 tree species. Featured here is the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest in Uganda, which is home to 160 species of trees and 100 species of ferns, as well as an extraordinary 50% of the world's mountain gorilla population. The forest has thickets of bamboo growing between the trees, making access on foot difficult, giving the Impenetrable Forest its name.

鸟瞰春日盛开的樱花，中国 Aerial view of cherry blossom in Spring, China (© outcast85/Getty images)

粉嫩的春日美景 Pink spring scenery

春分

春分时节，中国大部分地区已进入明媚的春天。此时，严寒已过，气温迅速回升。春分过后，人们开始陆续外出。在户外活动中，放风筝是一项重要的项目。古代还有春分戴花、饮酒的习俗。在这一天，无论男女老少都会在头发上戴花。

樱花原产北半球温带环喜马拉雅山地区，最初的这种樱花，就是山樱与野樱为代表的中华樱花。日本樱花大约在中国宋代时候开始引进栽培，当时也是野生的中华樱花。在当地一代代改良栽培下，进化为现在著名的日本樱花。武汉的清凉寨景区的中华樱花面积多达3200余亩，数量有11万余株，在武汉地乃至全国首屈一指。该地区的樱花分早中晚三期开放，早樱于每年3月10日前后、中樱3月25日前后，晚樱4月5日前后开放，花期均在15-20天左右。

盛开的扁桃树, 加利福尼亚州，美国 Almond trees in full bloom, California (© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

春日私语 Whispers of spring

盛开的扁桃树, 加利福尼亚州

在阳光普照的金州（加利福尼亚州的别称）果园中，扁桃仁享有崇高的地位，它以美味的果实诱惑着人们的味蕾，用漂亮的花朵装点着自然环境。而加利福尼亚州种植的扁桃仁占世界市场供应量的80%，占美国市场供应量的100%。据悉，扁桃仁中含有对心脏有益的单不饱和脂肪，还富含纤维、蛋白质以及大量的维生素和矿物质，是一种营养丰富的食物。二三月份，在加利福尼亚州的中央山谷中，这些扁桃树的种子会从娇嫩的花朵中孕育出来，然后在一种毛茸茸的、有着保护作用的外壳中生长，直至成熟。扁桃树属于蔷薇科，在花期会绽放出美丽的花朵，而这些芬芳的花朵会将果园涂染成白色和粉色色调。

大象岩，古城欧拉，沙特阿拉伯 Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia (© Lubo Ivanko/Shutterstock)

温柔的“沙丘巨人” Gentle giant of the dunes

大象岩，古城欧拉，沙特阿拉伯

经过数百万年的时间，大自然雕琢出了这片耀眼夺目的砂岩地貌，名为大象岩。该岩石高达117英尺，位于沙特阿拉伯古城欧拉附近，由于风水的侵蚀，它呈现出大象的形状，并成为了该地区的著名地标。日落时，夕阳洒在这片沙漠上，为红色的“猛犸象”及其周围金色的沙子镀上一层温暖的光辉。

古城欧拉距离大象岩约7英里，其历史可追溯到公元前6世纪，它见证了商人、朝圣者和商队穿越这片干旱的土地的历史。其周边地区的岩层和赫格拉纳巴泰古王国陵墓有着岩画和碑文，其中一些碑文的历史可以追溯到公元644年。

Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia

Over millions of years, the dazzling sandstone formation known as Elephant Rock was carved by nature. Thanks to the wind and water erosion, this 117-foot-high rock near the city of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia took on the shape of an elephant and has become a prominent landmark in the region. As the sun sets, it casts a warm glow upon the red-hued mammoth and the golden sand of the surrounding desert.

About 7 miles from the Elephant Rock, the city of Al-Ula traces its roots back to ancient civilizations and has witnessed the passage of traders, pilgrims, and caravans crossing its arid landscapes. The surrounding area, including rock formations and Hegra's Nabataean tombs, boasts petroglyphs and inscriptions, some dating as far back as 644 CE.

圣菲尼安湾，凯里郡，爱尔兰 St. Finian's Bay, County Kerry, Ireland (© Atlantide Phototravel/Getty Images)

今天，让我们穿绿衣裳吧！ Let's wear green today!

圣菲尼安湾，凯里郡，爱尔兰

今天，全球数百万具有爱尔兰血统的人都在庆祝圣帕特里克节。圣帕特里克是爱尔兰国家的守护神，大约在公元432年，他将基督教引入到爱尔兰。公元461年3月17日，圣帕特里克逝世，这一天成为了爱尔兰纪念他的日子。

而在美国，圣帕特里克节也具有重要的文化意义，那里有超过3000万人声称自己拥有爱尔兰血统，尤其是在波士顿、纽约和芝加哥等城市。美国第一次庆祝圣帕特里克节的活动是在1737年波士顿举办的，组织者是思乡的爱尔兰士兵，其目的是纪念和传承他们的爱尔兰文化。现代的庆祝活动通常包括游行、传统爱尔兰音乐和舞蹈表演、穿绿色的服装，享用爱尔兰美食和饮料。转眼又到了圣帕特里克节，喜欢爱尔兰文化的你，是否已在夹克上别上了三叶草？

St. Patrick's Day

Today, we're looking out to sea from the green pastures of St Finian's Bay in County Kerry, Ireland, to celebrate St Patrick's Day. The country's patron saint introduced Christianity to Ireland around the year 432, and his passing on March 17, 461, became a day of commemoration in his homeland.

The holiday holds cultural significance in the United States, where there are over 30 million people who claim Irish ancestry, specifically in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago. The first festivity in America took place in Boston in 1737, organized by homesick Irish soldiers to honor their heritage. The modern celebration typically includes parades, traditional Irish music, and dance performances, wearing green clothes, and indulging in Irish cuisine and beverages. Have you pinned a shamrock to your jacket yet?

安沙波利哥沙漠州立公园，美国加利福尼亚州 Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California (© Stephen Matera/Tandem Stills + Motion)

一抹春色 Where is this colorful desert?

安沙波利哥沙漠州立公园，美国加利福尼亚州

也许距离春天伊始还有好些天，但是加州最大的州立公园——安沙波利哥沙漠州立公园的野花已经在这里向你问好了！每年春天，这片贫瘠的沙漠都会经历一次戏剧性的改变。向日葵、沙漠菊和蒲公英等花朵竞相绽放，形成色彩斑斓的奇观。对于那些想要寻求更多冒险体验的游客来说，从半岛山脉仙人掌丛生的丘陵到峡谷、荒地和天然棕榈绿洲，这个公园有很多可供选择的地方。此外，作为指定的国际黑暗天空公园，这里还是绝佳的观星地点。除了自然奇观之外，占地超过60万英亩的公园还拥有丰富的文化和历史遗产，如古老的象形文字或岩画。

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

The first day of spring may be just days away, but the season's wildflowers at California's largest state park—Anza-Borrego Desert State Park—are already here to say hello! Every spring, this barren desert floor undergoes a dramatic makeover. Flowers like heliotrope, brittlebush, and desert dandelion burst into a riot of bloom, creating a spectacle of color. For those seeking a more adventurous experience, this park has a lot to offer—from the mountains of the Peninsular Ranges and cactus-studded hills to slot canyons, badlands, and natural palm oases. In addition, as a designated International Dark Sky Park, it is an exceptional spot for stargazing. Beyond its natural wonders, the park, spanning over 600,000 acres, is also home to a rich cultural and historical legacy, including ancient pictographs, or rock paintings, from the Native American tribes that once lived here.

Wat Phra Ngam，大城府历史公园，泰国 Wat Phra Ngam, Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand (© boonchai wedmakawand/Alamy Stock Photo)

一个π A piece of pi

圆周率日快乐!

有人这样说过，世界上唯一不变的是变化。然而，在数学里却有许多固定不变的常数，今天，我们要庆祝的也许是其中最著名的一个：π。圆周率是圆的周长与直径之比，约为3.14159。每年的3月14日，全世界的数学爱好者都会用烘焙来庆祝圆周率π日——这既是对数学常数π的庆祝，也是对其同音字，美味的“派”的庆祝。它始于1988年，当时物理学家拉里·肖将日期（3/14）与这个常数的前三位数联系起来。今天，数学家和爱好者们用吃派和背诵π来庆祝圆周率日。你知道吗，当你的时钟敲响1:59时，表示你离圆周率的实际值又近了三位小数。圆周率无处不在，甚至在大自然中也是如此。图中是泰国大城府寺庙的一棵菩提树，其形状就像圆周率的符号。无论你是数学怪才，还是只是为了享受美食，每个人都可以享受“派”节！

Happy Pi Day!

They say the only constant in life is change. In mathematics, however, there are many constants and today, we're celebrating perhaps the most famous of them all: pi. Represented by the symbol π, this tasty-sounding number is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159. Every March 14, mathematics fans across the world get baking to mark Pi Day with a pie. It began in 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw connected the date (3/14) with the first three digits of π. Today, mathematicians and enthusiasts celebrate Pi Day with pie eating and pi reciting. Did you know that when your clock strikes 1:59 today, you will be three decimal places closer to the real value of pi? Pi is everywhere, even in nature. Pictured here is a bodhi tree which has grown over an arch into the shape of the pi symbol at Wat Phra Ngam, a temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Whether you're a math geek or just in it for the treats, Pi Day is for everyone to enjoy!

小红鹳飞越马加迪湖,肯尼亚 Lesser flamingos flying over Lake Magadi, Kenya (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)

鸟瞰 Bird's-eye view

马加迪湖，肯尼亚

多么不可思议的景色啊！这张航拍照片展示了以肯尼亚马加迪湖为背景的小红鹳群。小红鹳是六种火烈鸟之一，以其鲜艳的粉红色羽毛和独特的觅食行为而闻名。由于喙的构造，这些鸟喜欢在水面附近进食。它们主要栖息在碳酸盐浓度较高的非洲苏打湖。马加迪湖就是这样一个充满蓝藻和海藻的苏打湖，为火烈鸟提供了充足的营养。成千上万只火烈鸟聚集在湖边的壮观景象揭示了这些独特生态系统的重要性。

Lake Magadi, Kenya

What an unearthly view! This aerial photograph shows a flamboyance of lesser flamingos against the backdrop of Lake Magadi in Kenya. The lesser flamingo is one of six species of flamingo, a bird known for its vibrant pink plumage and distinctive feeding behavior. They use their specialized beaks to filter algae near the water's surface and are often found in African soda lakes like Lake Magadi, which are brimming with cyanobacteria and algae for them to eat. The spectacle of thousands of these avian wonders congregating at the lake reveals the importance of these unique ecosystems.

布莱斯峡谷国家公园，犹他州，美国 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion)

峡谷的守护者 Guardians of the canyo

布莱斯峡谷国家公园，犹他州

徒步是游览犹他州布莱斯峡谷国家公园这些迷人的红色石柱的最佳选择！公园里的徒步小径可以引导您穿行于世界上最大的石柱岩群之间，这些石柱是由侵蚀作用形成的岩石尖顶。这些马蹄形的天然露天剧场会随着阳光的照射而变化，营造出了一种超现实的景观。该地区最初居住着美洲原住民部落，包括派尤特人。虽然没有证据表明他们曾在此长期居住，但派尤特族印第安人曾利用庞沙冈特高原进行季节性狩猎和采集。布莱斯峡谷于1928年被指定为国家公园，峡谷内分布着多个观景点，如灵感点、约文帕点和彩虹点，可将周围的景致尽收眼底。

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

These fascinating red hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah are best explored on foot! The park's hiking trails guide you among the world's largest collection of hoodoos, which are rock spires formed by erosion. The horseshoe-shaped natural amphitheaters create a surreal landscape that changes with the play of sunlight. The area was initially inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Paiute people. Although there is no evidence of them having lived there permanently, Paiute Indians used the Paunsaugunt Plateau for seasonal hunting and gathering. Designated a national park in 1928, Bryce Canyon is dotted with several viewpoints like Inspiration Point, Yovimpa Point, and Rainbow Point, which offer panoramic vistas of the surrounding topography.

Prosecco山丘，科内利亚诺和瓦尔多比亚德内，威内托大区，意大利 (© Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images)

醉人的山峦

Prosecco山丘，科内利亚诺和瓦尔多比亚德尼

科内利亚诺和瓦尔多比亚德内的Prosecco丘陵是大自然与人类智慧完美结合的地方。由于其独特性，这些山丘已被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产名录。特殊的丘陵地带给该地带来了由葡萄园和树林构成的有机环境。而在马赛克般的景观中脱颖而出的小村庄和葡萄园，却只是让这个地方显得独一无二的部分因素。

如果您想领略这迷人的景色，又想进行一次远足，您可以选择Prosecco丘陵之旅。这是一条长达50公里的小路，周围的景色堪比童话世界。一路上，您可以欣赏到位于狭长的草地梯田上的小葡萄园、壮丽的山脊和富有特色的村庄。此外，您还可以品尝到著名的Prosecco葡萄酒，并参观17世纪乡村建筑的经典之作：克罗达水磨坊。