张掖国家地质公园，甘肃，中国 Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, Gansu, China (© TONNAJA/Getty Images)

行走在彩虹岩石上 Walking a rocky rainbow

国际岩石日

7月13日是国际岩石日。为什么要给岩石设立一个节日呢？因为自石器时代以来，岩石就在人类历史中扮演着重要角色。它们是人类最早的工具，也是自然的记录，包裹着古代生物的化石，也留下了地质变化的印记。中国张掖丹霞国家地质公园的彩虹山就是一个很好的例子。这里的沉积岩经过数百万年的风化和侵蚀，最终形成了这片色彩斑斓的风景，红、橙、黄、紫各色疏密相生，组合有序。变质岩、沉积岩、火成岩等等各种各样的岩石帮助形成了我们今天所生活的世界。

International Rock Day

International Rock Day, on July 13, celebrates these hardy heroes, which have played a big part in human history since at least the Stone Age. They served as humanity's first tools and as nature's journals, protecting ancient fossils and documenting changes caused by geological processes.

Our homepage image shows Zhangye National Geopark's Rainbow Mountains in China, an incredible landscape created over millions of years. Those colorful layers are formed of sedimentary sandstone rock. Iron oxide gave the rock its predominately rusty hue, while other oxides tinted the various layers brown, yellow, and green. Sandstone and minerals that were once layered on top of each other were lifted and distorted by tectonic movement, revealing those colorful stripes. And that is not the end of this geological tale. This unique landscape continues to change, as wind and water erosion sculpts new pillars and ravines. No matter what your favorite category of rock is—metamorphic, sedimentary, or igneous—rocks of every kind helped build the world we live in today.

“我爱你”海滩自然保护区的沙洲，桑给巴尔，坦桑尼亚 Sand bar in Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve, Zanzibar, Tanzania (© Lubos Paukeje/Alamy)

世界上最独特的海滩？ The world's most exclusive beach?

“我爱你”沙滩，桑给巴尔，坦桑尼亚

Nakupenda 海滩自然保护区位于桑给巴尔西海岸外的一个小沙岛上。 这个沙洲被印度洋碧绿的海水所环绕，是游客沐浴阳光和享受金色沙滩的热门目的地。 在海浪之下，海洋生物创造了一个充满活力的海底世界，非常适合浮潜。 坦桑尼亚的岛屿是奔巴角鸮和非洲鱼雕等一系列野生动物的家园。 在 Nakupenda 以北，您可以在 Changuu 岛上遇到一个乌龟保护区，而他们的海龟表亲则在周围水域游泳。

Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Off the west coast of Zanzibar, the Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve sits on a small, sandy island. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, this sand bar is a popular destination with tourists looking to soak up the sun's rays on its white sands. Plentiful marine life here creates a vibrant underwater world that is perfect for snorkeling. The islands of Tanzania are home to an array of wildlife like the Pemba scops owl and the African fish eagle. To the north of Nakupenda, there is a giant tortoise sanctuary on Changuu Island, while their sea turtle cousins swim in the surrounding waters.

香港特别行政区 Hong Kong SAR (© leungchopan/Getty Images)

万家灯火 A sea of humanity

香港特别行政区

三十六年前的今天，世界迎来了第 50 亿人口。 现在地球人口已经达到 80 亿，而且还在不断增加，这个问题继续存在：我们会用完空间、食物和其他必要的资源吗？ 在今天，我们可以反思地球能够维持多少生命，以及我们个人和集体的生活如何影响我们的地方、国家和全球环境。

World Population Day

On July 11, 1987, the world is thought to have welcomed its 5-billionth person. Thirty-six years later, our population has reached 8 billion and is still rising. World Population Day, established by the UN, is a day to reflect on how much life Earth can sustain, and how our lives impact our environment.

Pictured here is Hong Kong, a city recognized as one of the world's most densely populated areas, with approximately 17,582 people per square mile. Though Hong Kong has a low birth rate, the density remains high as people live longer thanks to improvements in healthcare, a contributing factor to population increases worldwide. While this colorful night scene might appear glamorous, it is also an example of light pollution, which can disrupt ecosystems and affect our health—one of humanity's many impacts on the world around us.

萨默塞特郡的薰衣草田，英国 Field of lavender, Somerset, England (© Doug Chinnery/Getty Images)

飘着香气的紫色海洋 A scented sea of purple

萨默塞特郡的薰衣草田，英国

英国西南部风景如画的萨默塞特郡以其迷人的薰衣草田而闻名。这些薰衣草田动人的色彩和迷人的花香令人神魂颠倒。2000年前，罗马人将薰衣草带到英国。薰衣草除了好看，对于罗马人来说还有很多实用用途，包括烹饪、驱虫和抗菌。自古以来，很多香水都会采用薰衣草，相传伊丽莎白一世女王就曾用过薰衣草香水。在今天的英国，薰衣草田依旧常见，让人见之忘俗。

A field of English lavender

Delighting the senses with its vibrant hues and fragrant blooms, lavender is thought to have arrived in England with the Romans, around 2,000 years ago. While it’s nice to look at, the Romans likely brought it with them for its many practical uses, including cooking, repelling insects, and as an antiseptic. Many perfumes, modern and historical, have featured lavender, and Queen Elizabeth I is purported to have used lavender scent. You’ll find lavender fields scattered across the country. This one is a typical example, a quintessential summer sight here in the picturesque county of Somerset, in southwest England.

克罗夫附近的摩泽尔河，德国 Moselle River loop near Kröv, Germany (© Jorg Greuel/Getty Images)

河湾 Staying in the loop

克罗夫附近的摩泽尔河，德国

摩泽尔河是奔腾的莱茵河的一条支流，贯穿欧洲迷人的土地，流经法国、卢森堡和德国。河流雕刻出令人惊叹的山谷，两岸点缀着城镇和历史建筑。郁郁葱葱、沐浴阳光的葡萄藤爬满河流两岸的山坡，这里出产一些世界上最优质的葡萄酒，包括雷司令、白皮诺、灰皮诺。缓缓流动、波光粼粼的河水造就了宁静的氛围，吸引游客来此游船休闲或在岸边漫步。摩泽尔河是自然爱好者、葡萄酒爱好者和历史爱好者共同的圣地。

Moselle River loop near Kröv, Germany

The Moselle River, a tributary of the powerful Rhine, meanders through the landscapes of France, Luxembourg, and Germany. Along the way, it carves out valleys of breathtaking natural beauty, dotted with towns and historic landmarks. Lush, sun-drenched vineyards cling to the steep slopes overlooking the river, producing some of the finest wines in the world, including riesling, pinot blanc, and pinot gris, to name a few. The river's gentle flow and sparkling waters invite visitors to embark on leisurely cruises or peaceful walks along its shores. The Moselle creates a haven for nature lovers, wine enthusiasts, and history buffs alike.

米尔德里德-B-库珀纪念教堂，贝拉维斯塔，阿肯色州 (© Eddie Brady/Getty Images)

树林中的避难所

阿肯色州的米尔德里德-B-库珀纪念教堂

位于阿肯色州贝拉维斯塔的米尔德里德-B-库珀纪念教堂是该国最迷人的建筑之一。这座教堂建于1988年，以一位受人爱戴的社区成员的名字命名，由E.Fay

Jones设计，其特点是独特的设计理念，将现代主义原则与大自然的壮丽完美融合。这一设计理念的结果是为人们缔造了一个和谐的空间，其木制建筑与自然环境融为一体。小教堂被郁郁葱葱的树木所包围，阳光透过彩色玻璃照射进来，成为沉思和祈祷的完美圣地。它也是建筑激发和提升人类精神能力的一个有力证明。

蒂莫尼港海滩，科孚岛，希腊 Porto Timoni beach, Corfu, Greece (© nantonov/Getty Images)

挑选你的乐园 Pick your paradise

蒂莫尼港海滩，希腊

蒂莫尼港海滩位于希腊科孚岛的西北部海岸，是一个具有自然魅力的迷人目的地。从历史悠久的阿菲奥纳斯村出发，通过风景优美的徒步旅行路线或乘船前往，这个隐藏着的如宝石般的海岛拥有两个令人惊叹的海湾，形成了独特的双重海滩体验。蒂莫尼港拥有晶莹剔透的绿松石水域和引人注目的悬崖，呈现出如画的海岸全景。在海滩周围，郁郁葱葱的橄榄树和柏树为这里增添了迷人的氛围。尽管像科孚岛这样的希腊岛屿似乎是永恒的、古老的，但它们在地球的历史上相对较新。一个主要的理论是，大约在530万年前，一场大洪水从大西洋涌入非洲和欧洲之间，这一事件被称为赞克尔期洪水。湖泊变成了海洋，以前的山顶变成了岛屿。

Porto Timoni beach, Greece

Porto Timoni beach, in Corfu, Greece, is a hidden gem reached either by boat, or by hiking from the historic village of Afionas. Those who make the journey are rewarded with two stunning coves, offering a unique double-beach experience. With clear turquoise waters and dramatic cliffs, Porto Timoni presents a picturesque coastal panorama. Surrounding the beach, lush olive groves and cypress trees add to its charm. Greek islands like Corfu may seem timeless and ancient but they are relatively new in the history of Earth. A leading theory is that around 5.3 million years ago, a great flood poured in between Africa and Europe from the Atlantic Ocean, an event called the Zanclean flood. Lakes became oceans and what were previously mountaintops became islands.

草原国家公园，萨斯喀彻温省，加拿大 Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada (© Robert Postma/Getty Images)

体验孤独与奇迹 Experience the solitude and wonder

草原国家公园，加拿大

萨斯喀彻温省位于加拿大中心地带，是加拿大仅有的两个内陆省份之一。

该公园有着丰富的历史和文化，曾经是黑脚人以及苏族人的家园，也是加拿大西部首次发现恐龙的地方。黑脚人是一个北美土著群体，19世纪初他们的势力达到鼎盛时期，疆土辽阔，北起萨斯喀彻温，南达密苏里河源头。

Happy Independence Day!

Break out the BBQ and unfurl your flags, Independence Day is here! Founding Father John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that he believed the holiday would be celebrated with parades, sports, shows, and illuminations. After 247 years, Americans are keeping those traditions alive, though not on the date that Adams anticipated. The Second Continental Congress voted to approve the independence of the United States of America on July 2, 1776, but formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4. That date, enshrined on the Declaration document, became the one we observe today. If you're looking for a grand way to celebrate, journey to New York City for views of their annual fireworks show and the Empire State Building lit up to match in red, white, and blue.

费吕沃湖水道桥，荷兰 Veluwemeer Aqueduct, Netherlands (© Frolova_Elena/Shutterstock)

一年已过半 We're halfway there

一年已过半

平年有365天，今天恰好是中间日，也就是平年的中间点。中间日，在平年的7月2日的中午开始，在闰年的7月2日的午夜开始。2023年是平年，所以你去吃午饭的时候正好是一年的中间点哦。

图上是荷兰的费吕沃湖水道桥。这座水道桥于2002年完工，采用了一种与众不同的设计：它没有让车辆直接横穿费吕沃湖，而是修建了一条水下隧道供汽车从水下通行，这样船只也可以自由地在水面通行了。这条隧道的两边都有人行横道，连接着大陆和世界上最大的人工岛弗莱福兰岛。工程师们本可以建造出一个只满足部分行人需求的东西，但是他们却找到了一个适用于所有人的解决方案。

It's Halfway Day!

Today is Halfway Day, which means we are halfway through 2023! Halfway Day begins at noon on July 2 during a regular 365-day year, and at midnight on July 2 during a leap year—so this year, we're celebrating at lunchtime.

Dutch engineers don’t do things by halves. Pictured here is the Veluwemeer Aqueduct in the Netherlands. The project, completed in 2002, used an unusual engineering approach. Rather than a drawbridge or ferry to get cars over Lake Veluwemeer, engineers instead built this 'water bridge' to carry boats across the road. The N302 is a busy highway connecting the mainland to the province of Flevoland, and thanks to this design, both road and waterborne traffic can keep flowing freely. The aqueduct also has pedestrian crossings on both sides, so everyone benefits. No half measures were taken in designing an eye-catching transport solution that works for everyone.

从意大利圣天使城堡俯瞰罗马 (© sborisov/Getty Images)

超凡脱俗的风景

罗马，意大利

今天的照片是从圣天使堡（又称哈德良陵墓）拍下的罗马美景。圣天使堡是由罗马帝国皇帝哈德良所修建，用作自己和后代的陵墓。除他之外，还有许多皇帝被葬在这里，公元217年的卡拉卡拉是最后一位。

从中世纪到19世纪，这座建筑被改造成了保卫罗马的堡垒，梵蒂冈也因此没有落入西哥特人和汪达尔人手中。1365年左右，圣天使堡成为了教会的财产。而在意大利统一后，这座建筑最终成为了博物馆，教会也就随之失去了它的所有权。

即使在今天，这座雄伟的建筑仍然吸引着数百万来自世界各地的游客，一直是罗马游客最多的博物馆之一。