星空迷

托雷维耶哈潟湖，阿利坎特，西班牙 Laguna de Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain (© Juan Maria Coy Vergara/Getty Images)

粉红色，很好看 Pretty in pink

托雷维耶哈潟湖，阿利坎特，西班牙

大自然中的水是什么颜色？我们的第一反应通常是蓝色或绿色。但是你见过粉色的水吗？这片粉红湖泊就是西班牙阿利坎特的托雷维耶哈潟湖。这个湖泊的含盐度非常高，湖面上还有自然形成的盐结晶团，使它成为富含胡萝卜素的微生物藻类繁殖的完美家园，因此才形成了这片粉红的水域。这里的甲壳类动物吃掉这些藻类后，也会变成粉色，进而又被火烈鸟吃掉，最终让火烈鸟也变成了粉色。

Laguna de Torrevieja, Spain

When we encounter bodies of water in nature, we might expect hues of blue, from the pale cyan shade of lagoons to the navy blue of deep lakes. But pink water—where on Earth could that be found? At (deep breath) El Parque Natural de Las Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja in Alicante, Spain. Here, there are two lakes: one green and one pink, and it is the latter that you see on our homepage. The highly saline water, dotted with clusters of salt crystals, is the perfect environment for microscopic algae, which are rich in carotenes. This results in the rosy tinge that protects the algae from solar radiation. And the pink is just getting started, as the algae are eaten by tiny crustaceans, which turn pink and are then eaten by flamingos, which acquire the rosy hue as well.

爱丁堡茶园, 努沃勒埃利耶, 斯里兰卡 Edinburgh Tea Estate, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka (© Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images)

你好，你在找“茶”吗? Hello, is it 'tea' you're looking for?

努沃勒埃利耶, 斯里兰卡

从中国的功夫茶到英国的红茶，世界各地的茶文化丰富而迷人。近年来，茶叶旅游越来越受欢迎，人们参观茶庄和茶园，体验茶文化，并了解茶叶的历史。这张照片里的爱丁堡茶园就是这样的一个地方。凭借其殖民时代的建筑和薄雾笼罩的茶园，这片坐落于斯里兰卡的努沃勒埃利耶的高地赢得了“小英格兰”的称号。这个地方也因出产部分世界上最精良的橙白毫（一种红茶）而闻名天下。

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Legend has it that tea was first brewed accidentally around 2737 BC in China thanks to a strong wind and some loose leaves. If you find that hard to swallow, there are other origin stories to choose from. However, one thing is certain—the feeling it stirs in tea drinkers worldwide. From gongfu tea practice in China to darye in Korea, there are plenty of fascinating tea cultures to savor. Tea tourism has gained popularity, with visitors to tea plantations and estates learning all about their history. Our homepage image shows one such place, Nuwara Eliya's Edinburgh Estate in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya's colonial-era buildings and mist-shrouded tea gardens have earned it the name 'Little England.' The area is known for producing some of the world's finest orange pekoe tea. So, for your next trip, are you willing to 'chai' something new?

在一棵秃柏树上吊床露营，佛罗里达州，美国 Hammock camping in a bald cypress tree, Florida (© Mac Stone/Tandem Stills + Motion)

想出去玩吗？ Want to hang out?

在一棵秃柏树上吊床露营，佛罗里达州

传统的吊床是由中美洲人发明的，最初是用来在睡觉时保护自己免受危险的昆虫和动物的袭击。如今，吊床是一个用来增添乐趣的工具。由布料、网或绳子等各种各样的材料制作而成的吊床，是旅行者最好的伙伴。在佛罗里达州，秃柏树就是一个挂吊床的绝佳去处。

National Hammock Day

It’s National Hammock Day! A day to slowly unwind while rocking gently from side to side. These days, hammocks are associated with summer relaxation, but they were originally developed by Central Americans to protect them from dangerous insects and animals. Today the hammock is a traveler's best buddy, made from a variety of materials like fabric, netting, or rope. But where best to hang it? Florida boasts some beautiful hammock hang-out spots, like the bald cypress tree pictured on our homepage. Have hammock, will travel and relax. It's just that simple.

斯托尔桑德特大桥，挪威 Storseisundet Bridge, Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway (© Morten Falch Sortland/Getty Images)

将散落的岛屿连接在一起 Connecting the dots

斯托尔桑德特大桥，挪威

挪威的大西洋海滨公路连接了一系列大大小小的岛屿，一路上风景如画，设置有8座桥梁，其中最长的桥梁就是图上的这座斯托尔桑德特大桥。这座被自然美景环绕的桥梁，也是一个建筑奇迹。当地天气变幻莫测，这座桥在建设过程中就历经了12次飓风，最终奇迹般地建成了。斯托尔桑德特大桥有一个突兀的陡坡和急转弯，会给人造成一种大桥突然消失在海洋中的错觉，令司机们瞠目结舌，心如擂鼓。挪威斯托尔桑德特大桥与周围的天然美景融合得天衣无缝，很好地展示了挪威建筑工程的辉煌成就。

Storseisundet Bridge, Norway

Norway's picturesque Atlantic Ocean Road crosses eight bridges as it makes its way across islands, islets, and reefs to link the island of Averøya with the Romsdal Peninsula on the mainland. The longest of them, pictured here, is the Storseisundet Bridge. This bridge, surrounded by ample natural beauty, was tough to build. It took six years, and during construction workers were pelted by the region's unpredictable weather, including 12 hurricanes. It opened in 1989 and remains a popular visitor attraction. With its dramatic curve and sudden incline, Storseisundet Bridge creates the illusion of suddenly disappearing into the ocean, making drivers skip a heartbeat. Its construction showcases the brilliance of Norwegian engineering, blending seamlessly with the landscape.

从美国宇航局猎户座飞船上看到的月球 The moon seen from the Orion spacecraft of NASA's Artemis mission (© NASA)

为我们的近邻月球而庆祝 Celebrating our looming lunar neighbor

国际月球日

为了纪念1969年7月20日人类首次成功登陆月球，7月20日被定为国际月球日。这个节日不仅让人们回顾我们过去在月球探索上取得的卓越成就，也让人们关注我们如今在月球探索方面的获得的进步。图片上的美国宇航局研制的猎户座飞船正是这种进步的一个实证。这座飞船是为深空探索而设计的，它在2022年执行了一次无人绕月飞行，将在2024年进行一次载人绕月飞行，并计划在2025年载宇航员重返月球。这个节日的意义还在于让大家意识到月球的重要性，并了解人类未来在太空探索和太空殖民方面的潜力。

International Moon Day

International Moon Day is celebrated on July 20, the day humans first set foot on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. It recognizes our lunar achievements and highlights scientific and technological advancements, like NASA's Orion spacecraft, seen here. Designed for deep space exploration, Orion completed a test flight to the moon without astronauts in 2022 and will carry out a crewed orbit in 2024. The plan is to return astronauts to the moon's surface in 2025. NASA hopes that these flights, along with events like International Moon Day, will encourage public engagement and education about the moon and its influence on Earth, as well as the potential for future space exploration and colonization.

敦煌月牙泉，甘肃省，中国 Crescent Lake near Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China (© R7 Photo/Shutterstock)

这片湖泊可不是海市蜃楼 This lake is no mirage

敦煌月牙泉，中国

月牙泉位于中国甘肃省敦煌市附近，是隐藏在广袤戈壁滩上的一个摄人心魄的自然奇观。数百年来，这片因独特的月牙形状而闻名的绿洲，一直是一个重要的水源地。人们认为，月牙泉是风蚀形成的，其水源是地下泉水。由于附近有山脉遮挡，月牙泉才不会被该地的风沙所淹没。当地采取了许多保护措施，确保月牙泉不会干涸。游客不仅可以在湖上划船、骑骆驼在沙漠徜徉，还可以在附近的莫高窟欣赏古代佛教壁画及雕塑。

Crescent Lake near Dunhuang, China

Crescent Lake is a captivating natural wonder hidden in the vast Gobi Desert near the city of Dunhuang in China's Gansu province. This oasis, named for its unusual shape, has been a vital water source here for centuries. The lake is thought to have formed in a valley carved by wind and been fed by an underground spring. It sits amid Dunhuang's 'singing' sand dunes, which make a noise when the wind blows. The sand dunes also help stop the lake from being swallowed by sand and conservation efforts have ensured that it doesn't dry out. Visitors enjoy boating on the lake, camel rides through the surrounding dunes, and seeing ancient Buddhist art and murals in the nearby Mogao Caves.

乌特湖的克拉夫特城堡，卡文郡，爱尔兰 Cloughoughter Castle in Lough Oughter, County Cavan, Ireland (© 4H4 PH/Shutterstock)

古老的中世纪奇迹 A time-worn medieval marvel

克拉夫特城堡，卡文郡，爱尔兰

克拉夫特城堡位于爱尔兰卡文郡，坐落在一个湖中小岛上。据说，这座城堡起初是由盎格鲁-诺曼人在13世纪初建造的。城堡的圆柱形结构美观且实用，既能控制水道，又能为周围区域提供防御。在接下来的几个世纪里，这座城堡和周围的土地几经易主，直到1653年被炸毁遗弃，只剩断壁残垣。克拉夫特城堡是爱尔兰中世纪遗产的象征，对于历史爱好者和城堡爱好者来说是必看之地。

Cloughoughter Castle, County Cavan, Ireland

Cloughoughter Castle sits on a small island in the middle of Lough Oughter, a huge complex of lakes and waterways in County Cavan in Ireland. Its first stones are thought to have been laid in the early 13th century by the Anglo-Norman de Lacy family, but the O'Reilly clan took possession of the area in 1233 and completed the castle's construction. They retained control of Cloughoughter Castle for centuries, but by 1653, it had been bombed and abandoned. Since then, it has been in ruins, resplendent in a sort of tattered grandeur. It can only be visited by boat but, as a symbol of Ireland's medieval heritage, it is a must-see for history and castle enthusiasts alike.

溪水潺潺 Babbling on and on

熊洞溪，卡茨基尔山脉，纽约

卡茨基尔山脉坐落在纽约州北部，面积超过4000平方英里，以令人惊叹的美景闻名。连绵不绝的山峰和古老的森林勾勒出迷人的背景，山谷孕育着蜿蜒流动的小溪，就像我们今天看到的熊洞溪。该地区拥有众多迂回曲折的徒步旅行路线，穿越茂密的林地，通向令人敬畏的壮丽景色。卡茨基尔在文化史上也占有重要地位，多年来一直吸引着世界各地的艺术家和梦想家。从标志性的度假胜地到迷人的小村庄，这里独特的魅力一直吸引着源源不断的游客到访。

Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York

Stretched over 4,000 square miles in upstate New York, the Catskill Mountains captivate visitors with their breathtaking beauty. Towering peaks cloaked in forests surround valleys filled with meandering streams like Bear Hole Brook, seen in today's image. The region boasts hiking trails that wind through enchanting woodlands, past waterfalls and lakes while motorists can enjoy scenic drives and spot the region's covered bridges, dating from the 1800s. The Catskills also hold a place in cultural history, attracting artists and dreamers and as the fictional setting for the movie 'Dirty Dancing'—which was actually filmed in Pembroke, Virginia. With other attractions including ski resorts and picturesque small towns and hamlets, visitors continue to flock to the Catskills, a huge wilderness within driving distance of more than 20 million Americans.

明信片般完美的风景 A postcard-perfect landscape

卡斯泰尔梅扎诺，意大利

坐落在多洛米蒂山脉的崎岖峭壁上，意大利古老的村庄卡斯泰尔梅扎诺散发着迷人的魅力。这座村庄已被列为世界遗产，它历经过封建领主的统治和大大小小的战争，狭窄的小巷和古老的建筑里都有历史故事。据说，公元11世纪左右诺曼人定居于此，并建造了一座城堡，该村庄由此得名。此外，卡斯泰尔梅扎诺还有各种冒险活动，你可以来一次“天使飞行”，在山脉之间感受高空滑索。不过，感受这个小村庄的惬意的最佳方式，可能只需一杯咖啡：喝着咖啡看着太阳从雄伟的山峰后冉冉升起，与街灯一同照亮傍山而建的一排排房屋。

Castelmezzano, Italy

Embraced by the rugged peaks of the Lucanian Dolomites, the ancient village of Castelmezzano in southern Italy glows with charm. Its narrow alleys and cobblestone streets pass buildings that cling to the mountainside. This picturesque destination is brimming with history; from its rule by feudal lords to battles long forgotten. It's believed that the Normans settled here around the 11th century AD and constructed a castle, from which the village gets its name. Castelmezzano isn't just a sleepy portrait of the past, it also offers adventure activities for the brave, including a high-altitude zip line between mountains on the Volo dell'Angelo (Flight of the Angel). Yet the finest pleasure the small village offers might just be grabbing a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise behind the majestic mountain peaks, illuminating those huddled houses as the streetlamps go out.

一群鲨鱼正在狩猎 A shiver of sharks on the hunt

鲨鱼保护日

今天是鲨鱼保护日。据化石记录显示，鲨鱼已经在海洋中繁衍生息了至少4.2亿年。世界上有500多种鲨鱼，其中三分之一面临灭绝风险。每一种鲨鱼都有一套适应其所在环境的独特方法：锤头鲨拥有360度视野，光滑的灰鲭鲨是所有鲨鱼中游速最快的，黑尖礁鲨可以伪装成珊瑚礁……这些生物展示了惊人的多样性。在大多数人的印象中，鲨鱼性情凶猛和攻击力强，是无情的“海洋杀手”。但其实也有性情温和的鲨鱼，比如护士鲨。今天，让我们行动起来，共同倡导保护这些被人们误解的海洋生物！

Shark Awareness Day

Today, on Shark Awareness Day, let's dive into the ocean's depths to meet our finned friends. It's believed that sharks have been cruising the oceans for at least 420 million years. Today’s homepage shows blacktip reef sharks, hunting in a group in the waters around the Maldives, one of more than 500 species of shark, each uniquely adapted to its habitat. From the graceful hammerhead with its panoramic vision to the fastest species, the sleek mako, shark species are diverse, but a third face extinction. Among threats are unregulated fishing and abandoned nets as well as demand for shark fins. They have a fearsome reputation but are the victims of myths and misconceptions that paint them as mindless killing machines. Today, let's celebrate these magnificent creatures, a key part of healthy marine ecosystems, by advocating for their conservation.

星空迷