大运河与安康圣母大教堂，威尼斯，意大利 Grand Canal with Santa Maria della Salute Basilica, Venice, Italy (© Rudy Balasko/Getty Images)

伪装的日子 Days of disguises

威尼斯狂欢节

戴上精美的面具，穿上华丽的服饰，隐入威尼斯狂欢节的无边人群去狂欢吧！这是一个拥有数百年历史的节日，充满了神秘和美丽。这个一年一度的冬季庆典将狂欢与匿名结合在一起，这要归功于面具，而且这些面具通常会遵循特定的人物原型。在节日期间，成千上万的人身着仿17世纪威尼斯传统服饰的精美华服走上街头。狂欢节期间，游行派对活动层出不穷，还有音乐会和街头表演，这些活动一直持续到今年2月13日的“忏悔星期二”。在街上狂欢时，你可能会路过圣玛丽亚德拉安康教堂，在今天图片展示的远处可以看到，这是一座巴洛克式的大教堂，供奉的是圣母玛利亚——威尼斯共和国的保护神。

Carnival of Venice

Don your tricorn hat and gilded disguise, it's time to visit the Carnival of Venice. This centuries-old festival combines revelry with anonymity, thanks to the masks traditionally worn by attendees, from the classic square-jawed Bauta mask to the Colombina eye mask, with roots in Italian theater. Costumed rowers take part in a parade of traditional boats on Venice's famous Grand Canal while thousands of people wearing elaborate costumes enjoy the carnival atmosphere. Parades, parties, concerts, and performances will fill the streets until festivities end on Shrove Tuesday, which falls on February 13 this year. Visitors might pass by the Santa Maria della Salute, seen toward the back of today's image, a baroque basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is considered to be the protector of the city.

吕根岛的萨斯尼茨灯塔，德国 Sassnitz lighthouse on Rügen island, Germany (© Christian Back/eStock)

发光的雪塔 Glowing snow tower

萨斯尼茨灯塔，吕根岛，梅克伦堡-前波美拉尼亚州

吕根岛是德国最大的岛屿，当如诗如画的景色被皑皑白雪覆盖时，这里就会变成一个冬日仙境。如果您想远离城市的喧嚣，吕根岛是理想的度假胜地。过去，许多艺术家都曾来到这里尽情挥洒他们的创造力，巍峨的白垩悬崖就曾激发了历史上著名的德国画家卡斯帕·大卫·弗里德里希的创作灵感。

萨斯尼茨灯塔是这片冬日绝景的见证者和守护者。这座灯塔建于19世纪，巍然屹立在岛上，帮助水手们在波涛汹涌的海面，以及大雾暴雨和其他恶劣天气条件下安全航行。仔细看一看，你不觉得灯塔很浪漫吗？它们威严地矗立在那里，知晓数百年来关于海洋的秘密，虽然它们是没有生命的建筑物，但却是人类最忠实的朋友和守护者。

你了解集邮吗？如果你有集邮的经历，可能知道我们在说什么。如果不知道，那这里有一个鲜为人知的事实想说与你听。这座灯塔于1975年5月13日首次出现在东德邮票上，不过它并不是唯一的一个，你还知道其他的灯塔吗？

艾纳, 塞古拉山脉, 阿尔瓦塞特, 西班牙 Ayna, Sierra del Segura, Albacete, Spain (© Juan Maria Coy Vergara/Getty Images)

西班牙的小瑞士 Spain's little Switzerland

艾纳，阿尔瓦塞特， 西班牙

说起西班牙，你脑海中首先浮现的可能不是雪，但从高耸入云的山峰到阳光温暖的海滩，西班牙拥有各种地貌。图片中的小村庄艾纳坐落于由蒙多河冲刷而成的陡峭山谷中，周围环绕着塞古拉山脉，人口不足1000人。冬季，这里白雪皑皑，因此人们常把这个小镇称为 “曼切根瑞士”。而这个名称中的“曼切根”则指的是艾纳所属的卡斯蒂利亚-拉曼恰自治区。艾纳距离西班牙首都马德里以南约150英里，是西班牙乡村生活的独特一瞥。

Aýna, Albacete, Spain

Welcome to the tiny Spanish village of Aýna, in a steep valley carved by the River Mundo in the Sierra del Segura range. This part of the Castile-La Mancha region is sometimes called Manchegan Switzerland, thanks to those snow-capped peaks during the winter months. The steep, rocky terrain here means the villagers, of whom there are less than 1,000, cultivate the land on terraces dug into the mountainside. To see Aýna from this perspective, you'll need to visit the Mirador del Diablo, or Devil's Viewpoint, one of several viewing areas dotted around this picturesque valley.

戈林格瀑布，泰嫩高，萨尔茨堡，奥地利 Gollinger Waterfalls, Tennengau, Salzburg, Austria (© Frank Fischbach/Alamy Stock Photo)

缓缓下降 A gentle descent

戈林格瀑布，萨尔茨堡，奥地利

从桀骜不驯的萨尔扎霍芬峡谷到世界上最古老的哈莱因盐矿，再到世界上最大的冰洞埃斯瑞森韦尔特，奥地利拥有众多奇观。萨尔茨堡州的戈林格瀑布无疑也是其中之一，这条平缓温和的瀑布，高249英尺，包含两条大瀑布，其中一条从施瓦茨巴赫瀑布洞口倾泻而下，汇入宁静如画的水潭。在这里，一年四季都能见到极致的美景，春日绿树成荫，冬日白雪皑皑。自1985年以来，该地区就被列为奥地利的自然保护区，无论你是喜欢徒步旅行、摄影，还是想拥抱大自然，这里都是一个绝佳的旅游目的地。

Golling Waterfall, Salzburg, Austria

This chilly scene captures Austria's stunning Golling Waterfall, less than 20 miles south of the city of Salzburg. Tumbling down in two stages from the mouth of the Schwarzbachfall cave, the 249-foot fall is a sight to behold in every season—whether it's framed by the lush greenery of spring or the icy embrace of winter. This region is known for its natural wonders and is also home to the world’s biggest ice cave, Eisriesenwelt, and the narrow Salzachöfen Gorge, considered to be the birthplace of white-water kayaking. Whether you are into hiking, photography, or just looking to spend some quality time in nature, this is a great Austrian destination.

昆士兰州内陆海峡地区，澳大利亚 Channel Country, Outback Queensland, Australia (© Southern Lightscapes-Australia/Getty Images)

从干涸的沙漠变成田园 From parched to pastoral

昆士兰州内陆海峡地区，澳大利亚

这里不仅有大地色调的“拼布被子”，还有狭窄的水道像静脉一样贯穿澳大利亚内陆的海峡地区。这片幅员辽阔的地区因其纵横交错的河道而闻名。当雨量充沛时，这里就会从干涸的沙漠变成野花盛开的生机勃勃的锦绣之地。数万年来，澳大利亚原住民一直在这片土地上生活，该地区的一些地方还提供旅游服务和课程，教游客如何在内陆地区生存。这个未受破坏的地区也是野生动物的家园，袋鼠在平原上蹦蹦跳跳，鸸鹋大摇大摆地走来走去，紫冠细尾鹩莺也在翩翩起舞。如果运气好的话，你甚至还能看到兔耳袋狸（一种夜间有袋动物，长着像兔子一样的长耳）。那么，你准备好去这个地方探险了吗？

Channel Country, Australia

Narrow waterways run like veins through the Australian Outback's Channel Country, a sprawling, ancient flood plain named after its crisscrossing river channels. The huge flat area is transformed from a parched desert canvas to a vibrant tapestry of wildflowers when rainfall is abundant. Indigenous Australians have lived off this land for tens of thousands of years and some offer tours and classes about how to survive in the Outback. This unspoiled region is also home to a bonanza of wildlife—kangaroos that bounce along the plains, strutting emus, and preening purple-crowned fairywrens. If you're lucky, you might even spot a bilby—a nocturnal marsupial with rabbit-like ears. So, are you ready to 'channel' your inner explorer?

圣德温教堂的废墟，莫纳岛，威尔士，英国 Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom (© Photos by R A Kearton/Getty Images)

通往过去的入口 A portal to the past

圣德温节

兰德温岛是英国威尔士安格尔西岛（又名莫纳岛）西海岸外的一个田园诗歌般的小岛。该岛与恋人的守护神圣德温有着深厚的渊源，这一点从岛名上便可窥见一斑：“兰德温”的意思是 “德温的教堂”。据说在五世纪时，德温公主在经历了一段悲惨的恋情后，来到这座岛上寻求慰藉，随后便隐居于此。当时这位年轻的公主爱上了一位平民，但由于她的国王父亲禁止他们在一起，德温公主便暂时将她的爱人变成了一块冰，然后搬到了这座岛上，并建立了一个修道院。她毕生致力于修行，过着隐士般的生活，帮助人们解决情感问题。德温教堂的遗迹、一口水井和修道院的废墟都是德温公主在这座岛上生活过的证明。1月25日圣德温节被视为威尔士最浪漫的日子，因为它是威尔士的情人节。

Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales

Ynys Llanddwyn is a tiny tidal island which, at low tide, is attached to the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. Ynys means 'island' in Welsh and Llanddwyn means 'the church of Dwynwen,' the country's patron saint of lovers.

Legend has it that Dwynwen, a 5th-century Welsh princess, sought solace on this island after a tragic love story. The young woman fell in love with a commoner, but because her royal father forbade the union—and briefly turned her beloved into a block of ice—she moved to the island and set up a convent. She dedicated her life to spirituality, living as a hermit and helping others with matters of the heart. The ruins of Dwynwen's church, a well, and a convent remain on Ynys Llanddwyn and St. Dwynwen's Day, on January 25, is the most romantic day in Wales—the country's very own Valentine's Day.

钻石冰沙滩，冰岛 Diamond Beach, Iceland (© Rachid Dahnoun/Tandem Stills + Motion)

撒了一地的“钻石” Iced out, literally

钻石冰沙滩，冰岛

从峡湾和熔岩荒原到冰洞和黑沙滩，就像我们今天在图片中看到的那样，冰岛是一个自然奇观的宝库。钻石冰沙滩是冰岛最受欢迎的自然地标之一。这个独特的沙滩位于杰古沙龙冰河湖附近，其名字源于从冰川上脱落的冰山碎片，当这些冰山碎片被冲到岸上后，在黑色沙子上就像一颗颗闪闪发光的钻石，而这些黑色沙子则是来自被侵蚀的火山岩。清澈的冰块与黑色的沙子形成鲜明对比，尤其是当阳光照射在冰面上时，会产生一种超现实的景象，因此这里是冰岛南海岸的必游之地。

Diamond Beach, Iceland

From fjords and lava fields to ice caves and black sand beaches, Iceland is a treasure trove of natural wonders. The volcanic black sand of Diamond Beach, pictured in today's image, sparkles with pieces of iceberg washed ashore from the nearby Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. The contrast between the clear ice and black sand looks particularly surreal when sunlight hits the ice, making it a must-visit destination on Iceland's south coast.

印度洋的环礁，马尔代夫 Atolls in Indian Ocean, Maldives (© Amazing Aerial Premium/Shutterstock)

印度洋之眼 Eyes of the Indian Ocean

马尔代夫

马尔代夫位于斯里兰卡和印度的西南部，拥有宁静的沙滩和清澈的海水，并以海鲜、环礁湖和无数的椰子树而闻名。马尔代夫群岛约有1200个岛屿，这些岛屿是由26个环礁链组成的。环礁是环形的岛屿，边缘是珊瑚，中间是礁湖。马尔代夫还是芭环礁生物圈保护区的所在地，该保护区已于2011年6月被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产。在那里，游客可以观赏蝠鲼和鲸鲨，还可以享受潜水、冲浪等有趣的活动

Atolls in the Maldives

With nearly 1,200 islands spread over a chain of 26 atolls, the Maldives are popular with tourists seeking serene beaches, scuba diving, and surf in the Indian Ocean. The atolls, like those pictured on our homepage, are made up of coral reefs that formed around the top of now-sunken volcanoes. Some are single, ring-shaped islands enclosing lagoons while other atolls are a series of small, connected islets, many of which are uninhabited.

The country is also home to Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve whose numerous coral reefs, islands, and mangroves make it a globally important habitat for species including whale sharks, manta rays, and marine turtles. The Maldives archipelago is rich in biodiversity but faces an existential threat from climate change. As lowest-lying country in the world, much of which is less than 4 feet above sea level, it is extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels. By the end of the century, it is thought that the islands could disappear altogether.

冬季日出，沃尔顿灯塔，圣克鲁斯, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Winter sunrise, Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

魔幻时刻 A magic hour indeed

沃尔顿灯塔，圣克鲁斯，加利福尼亚州

走进美国西部边缘，这里是沃尔顿灯塔的所在地。沃尔顿灯塔又名圣克鲁斯防波堤灯塔，是过往船只的指路明灯。2002年，这座40英尺高的现代海上建筑物在加利福尼亚州圣克鲁斯建成完工，取代了之前那座朴素简陋的灯塔。沃尔顿灯塔得名于商人查尔斯·沃尔顿，为了纪念自己的兄弟德里克·沃尔顿，他慷慨地捐赠了这座灯塔的建设费用。

自1800年代中期以来，圣克鲁斯一直是一座繁忙的港口城市，当时的船只会在这里卸下石灰、红木及其他农产品等货物。如今，圣克鲁斯港是商业捕鱼船队的所在地，也是出租皮划艇、小船和冲浪板的热门地点。

Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California

Step to the western edge of America, where the Walton Lighthouse, also known as the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse, is a beacon for passing ships. Built in 2002, this 40-foot-tall building replaced a more modest light. The Walton Lighthouse got its name from Charles Walton, a businessman who helped fund its construction in memory of his brother Derek, a merchant seaman who died at sea during World War II.

Santa Cruz has been a busy port city since the mid-1800s, when ships would unload lime, redwood, and other agricultural products. These days, Santa Cruz Harbor is home to a commercial fishing fleet, as well as a popular place to rent kayaks, boats, and paddleboards.

马可罗尼企鹅，德雷克海峡，智利 Macaroni penguins, Drake Passage, Chile (© Paul Souders/Getty Images)

冰雪极地的马可罗尼企鹅 Macaroni and freeze

企鹅意识日

让我们行动起来，一起投入到企鹅意识日的活动中去吧！你能说出多少种企鹅的名字？今天的照片展示的是敏捷的马可罗尼企鹅在智利德雷克海峡浮游生物丰富的水域中畅游的场景。这些迷人的生物只是在南半球发现的18种企鹅中的一种，可以通过它们奇特的橘色装饰性羽毛和突出的橙色喙来识别。马可罗尼企鹅成群结队地觅食，但雄性企鹅之间会相互攻击。为了表现出和气和避免打斗，个体通常会把头缩在胸前，这样就可以轻松地穿过企鹅群。尽管企鹅深受人类的喜爱，但近年来食物的减少、渔网的误捕，以及气候变化对其栖息地海冰的深刻影响，都对企鹅的生存构成不小威胁。

Penguin Awareness Day

Let's flap our flippers and dive into Penguin Awareness Day! Today's image features macaroni penguins swimming in the plankton-rich waters of the Drake Passage off the coast of Chile. These charming creatures, one of 18 different species of penguin in the Southern Hemisphere, can be recognized by their flashy amber crests and orange beaks. The name is said to have been coined by English sailors, derived from a term used to describe flamboyant dressers in the late 18th century.

Macaroni penguins can be a bad-tempered bunch who get into noisy fights. To avoid this, males often ease their way through crowded colonies with their heads tucked down to their chests. The main threats though, are not their fellow penguins. Reduced food availability, fishing nets, and the impact of climate change on sea ice are among challenges faced by this species, which has been classified as vulnerable due to population decline.