斯奈费尔斯山，里奇韦附近的圣胡安山脉，科罗拉多州，美国 Mount Sneffels in the San Juan Mountains near Ridgway, Colorado, USA (© lightphoto/Getty Images)

一窥科罗拉多群峰 'Peak' into Colorado

圣胡安山脉中的斯奈费尔斯山，科罗拉多州

有些山会让你付出一番努力才能欣赏到美景，而攀登斯奈费尔斯山，最考验人的则是最后几百英尺。它高耸于科罗拉多州的圣胡安山脉，海拔14,150英尺，是一座“十四峰”，在里奇韦、乌雷和特柳赖德一带十分醒目。它坐落在占地16,587英亩的斯奈费尔斯山荒野区内，这片保护区于1980年获指定。徒步者可以从多条路线登山，包括经扬基博伊盆地和蓝湖群地区的路线。

这座山本身在地质构造上独具特色：与附近许多山峰不同，斯奈费尔斯山主要由侵入较古老火山沉积层的火成岩体构成。山峰西侧下方，蓝湖群散布在一处深邃的高山盆地中，为人们体验这一地区提供了另一种方式。山峰还高出林线，那里的地貌明显更加开阔，岩石也更多。要留意天空，因为山区天气总爱上演意想不到的转折。请查看天气预报并尽早出发，同时携带保暖衣物、水和适合当时天气状况的装备。

Mount Sneffels in the San Juan Mountains near Ridgway, Colorado

Some mountains make you work for the view. Mount Sneffels makes you work for the last few hundred feet. Rising to 14,150 feet in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, this fourteener is a familiar sight around Ridgway, Ouray, and Telluride. It sits within the 16,587-acre Mount Sneffels Wilderness, a protected area designated in 1980. Hikers can reach the mountain from several approaches, including the Yankee Boy Basin and the Blue Lakes area.

The mountain itself is geologically distinctive: unlike many of its nearby peaks, Mount Sneffels is largely made of an intrusion of igneous rock that pushed into older volcanic deposits. Below its western flank, Blue Lakes fill a deep alpine basin and offer another way to experience the area. The peak also rises above the tree line, where the landscape becomes noticeably more exposed and rocky. Keep an eye on the sky because mountain weather loves a plot twist. Check the forecast and start early, and bring layers, water, and the right gear for the conditions.

弗罗茨瓦夫集市广场景观，摄自女巫桥，弗罗茨瓦夫，波兰 View of the Wroclaw Market Square from the Witches' Bridge in Wroclaw, Poland (© Piotr Mitelski/Shutterstock)

桥梁、屋顶与暮色 Bridges, rooftops, and twilight

从波兰弗罗茨瓦夫女巫桥看到的集市广场

暮色降临弗罗茨瓦夫，金色光芒洒满屋顶、教堂塔楼和中欧最引人注目的历史中心之一。这座位于波兰西南部的城市横跨多座岛屿和水道，由100多座桥梁连接，将中世纪建筑与充满活力的现代生活融为一体。城市中心是热闹的雷内克(Rynek)集市广场，该广场建于13世纪，哥特式老市政厅便坐落于此，它是弗罗茨瓦夫最易辨认的地标之一。

今日的景色拍摄于女巫桥，这座桥又称忏悔者之桥，是一座连接圣玛丽·抹大拉教堂双塔的人行桥。桥悬于距地面约148英尺的高处，从这里可以尽览老城区色彩缤纷的建筑立面、蜿蜒的街道和下方熙熙攘攘的集市广场。从拥有数百年历史的教堂和河畔步道，到博物馆与咖啡馆，弗罗茨瓦夫处处都能让游客有新发现。日落后，历史中心在夜空下熠熠生辉，这座城市显得格外迷人。

Market Square from the Witches' Bridge, Wroclaw, Poland

As twilight settles over Wroclaw, golden light spills across rooftops, church towers, and one of Central Europe's most striking historic centers. This southwestern Polish city spans islands and waterways linked by more than 100 bridges, blending medieval architecture with vibrant modern life. At its heart is Rynek, a lively Market Square established in the 13th century and home to the Gothic Old Town Hall, one of Wroclaw's most recognizable landmarks.

Today's view was captured from the Witches' Bridge, also known as the Bridge of the Penitents, a footbridge connecting the towers of St. Mary Magdalene Church. Suspended about 148 feet above the ground, it offers sweeping views of the Old Town's colorful facades, winding streets, and the bustling Market Square below. From centuries-old churches and riverside promenades to museums and cafés, Wroclaw rewards visitors with something new at every turn. After sunset, the city is especially enchanting as its historic center glows beneath the evening sky.

普利特维采湖群国家公园，克罗地亚 Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (© Jan Wlodarczyk/Alamy)

蓝与绿的交响曲 A symphony in blue and green

克罗地亚普利特维采湖群国家公园

在克罗地亚的普利特维采湖群国家公园，水似乎无处不在。十六个阶梯状湖泊由瀑布、溪流和层叠而下的水流组成的网络连接起来，蜿蜒穿过森林覆盖的石灰岩峡谷。湖水的颜色不断变化，从翠绿到深蓝不等，这是由矿物质、阳光和不断变化的倒影共同造就的。普利特维采湖群国家公园成立于1949年，是克罗地亚历史最悠久、面积最大的国家公园。这里以石灰华屏障闻名，这种天然石灰岩构造是富含矿物质的水在数百年间沉积碳酸钙形成的。这些屏障仍在继续生长和变化，逐渐改变着公园内的瀑布和湖泊。

普利特维采湖群国家公园于1979年被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录，保护着欧洲最非凡的淡水生态系统之一。木栈道在水面上纵横交错，让游客得以近距离观赏层叠的瀑布、宁静的水潭和森林覆盖的湖岸；在这里，大自然仍在不断重塑景观。湖泊、瀑布和林地在此汇聚成一幅近乎超凡脱俗的景象。

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Water seems to be everywhere at Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. Sixteen terraced lakes are linked by a network of waterfalls, streams, and cascades that wind through forested limestone canyons. The constantly changing colors of the water, ranging from emerald green to deep blue, are shaped by minerals, sunlight, and ever-changing reflections. Established in 1949, Plitvice Lakes is Croatia's oldest and largest national park. The landscape is famous for its tufa barriers, natural limestone formations created as mineral-rich water deposits calcium carbonate over centuries. These barriers continue to grow and change, gradually transforming the park's waterfalls and lakes.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Plitvice protects one of Europe's most remarkable freshwater ecosystems. Wooden walkways weave across the water, bringing visitors close to cascades, tranquil pools, and forested shores where nature continues to reshape the landscape. Here, lakes, waterfalls, and woodlands come together in a scene that feels almost otherworldly.

曼布尔斯码头，斯旺西，威尔士 Mumbles Pier, Swansea, Wales (© Helen Hotson/Shutterstock)

从铁轨到潮汐 From tracks to tides

曼布尔斯码头，斯旺西，威尔士

当铁路、救生艇站和海滨一日游在水边相遇，会得到什么？答案是曼布尔斯码头。这座维多利亚时代的地标向斯旺西湾延伸255米，于1898年5月10日开放，自此一直是威尔士海岸的一部分。

这座码头曾是斯旺西和曼布尔斯铁路的西端终点站，该铁路被誉为世界上第一条提供定期客运服务的铁路。如今，铁路已经消失，但这座被列为二级保护建筑的码头依然存在，是威尔士仅存的六座铁制海滨码头之一。它也是英国仍在运营的少数私人所有码头之一。附近还有一个苹果形状的售货亭“大苹果”，为当地增添了又一处别具一格的地标。

一个RNLI救生艇站已在这里运营了一个多世纪，而这一地区也铭记着1947年曼布尔斯救生艇灾难的悲剧。125年多过去了，曼布尔斯码头依然魅力十足。

格莱德溪磨坊，巴布科克州立公园，西弗吉尼亚州，美国 Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park, West Virginia, USA (© dszc/Getty Images)

秋色中转动的水轮 Where autumn turns the wheel

格莱德溪磨坊，巴布科克州立公园，美国

格莱德溪磨坊坐落在西弗吉尼亚州巴布科克州立公园内格莱德溪的岩石水域上方，周围红色、橙色和金色交错。尽管它看起来像是拓荒时代的遗迹，但这座磨坊实际上是为致敬阿巴拉契亚地区的磨坊传统而精心建造的。

这座磨坊于1976年建成，使用了从曾经散布在西弗吉尼亚州各地的数座历史悠久的谷物磨坊中抢救出来的部件，将该州乡村历史的片段汇聚在一座仍在运转的建筑中。格莱德溪的溪水至今仍推动水轮，并为传统谷物研磨演示提供动力，让游客得以一窥曾经遍及阿巴拉契亚山脉的一种生活方式。

这座磨坊或许是公园最具辨识度的地标，但它只是整个故事的一部分。每到秋季，巴布科克州立公园的森林便化作绚丽色彩的拼图，为瀑布、岩石遍布的溪床和绵延数英里的徒步小径勾勒出边框。这里的景观与磨坊共同构成了阿巴拉契亚历史、工艺和自然之美的恒久象征。

Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park, West Virginia

Surrounded by a patchwork of red, orange, and gold, Glade Creek Grist Mill stands above the rocky waters of Glade Creek in West Virginia's Babcock State Park. Although it looks like a relic from the pioneer era, the mill is actually a carefully crafted tribute to Appalachia's milling heritage.

Completed in 1976, the mill was built using parts salvaged from several historic gristmills once scattered across West Virginia, bringing together pieces of the state's rural past in a single working structure. Water from Glade Creek still turns the wheel and powers traditional grain-grinding demonstrations, offering visitors a glimpse into a way of life once common throughout the Appalachian Mountains.

The mill may be the park's most recognizable landmark, but it is only part of the story. Each autumn, Babcock State Park's forests transform into a mosaic of brilliant color, framing waterfalls, rocky streambeds, and miles of hiking trails. Together, the landscape and mill create an enduring symbol of Appalachian history, craftsmanship, and natural beauty.

蒙特雷湾上空的双冠鸬鹚，加利福尼亚州，美国 Double-crested cormorants over Monterey Bay, California, USA (© Hiroya Minakuchi/Minden Pictures)

迁飞路线上的生命 Life along the flyway

世界候鸟日

世界候鸟日旨在庆祝大自然最壮观的旅程之一。这项全球性活动于每年5月和10月举行，反映世界各地的迁徙模式，并强调保护鸟类赖以生存的栖息地和迁飞路线的重要性。“每一只鸟都很重要——您的观察至关重要！”是2026年的主题，着重说明个人和社区的观察可以如何为鸟类研究、监测和保护贡献力量，帮助科学家更好地了解迁徙。

今天的图片捕捉到了双冠鸬鹚飞越加利福尼亚州蒙特雷湾海浪上空的景象。这些适应力强的海鸟广泛分布于北美洲，可能迁徙，也可能全年留在原地，具体取决于种群。沿着加利福尼亚州海岸，海湾、湿地和河口为沿太平洋迁飞路线飞行的鸟类提供了重要栖息地。对许多物种而言，这些生态系统为跨越漫长距离的旅程提供支持。每一次目击都有助于揭示这些迁徙，并提醒我们，即使只是一只鸟，也可能是一个宏大得多的故事的一部分。

World Migratory Bird Day

World Migratory Bird Day celebrates one of nature's greatest journeys. Observed each year in May and October, the global campaign reflects migration patterns around the world and highlights the importance of protecting the habitats and flyways that birds depend on. 'Every Bird Counts—Your Observations Matter!' is the 2026 theme, emphasizing how observations by individuals and communities can contribute to bird research, monitoring, and conservation, helping scientists better understand migration.

Today's image captures double-crested cormorants flying above the waves of Monterey Bay, California. Widespread across North America, these adaptable seabirds may migrate or remain year-round, depending on the population. Along California's coast, bays, wetlands, and estuaries provide important habitat for birds traveling the Pacific Flyway. For many species, these ecosystems support journeys spanning vast distances. Each sighting helps reveal these migrations and reminds us that even a single bird can be part of a much larger story.

桑吉奈尔群岛景观，摄自科西嘉岛，法国 View of the Sanguinaires Islands from Corsica, France (© Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images)

科西嘉岛的岩石前哨 Corsica's rocky outposts

从法国科西嘉岛眺望桑吉奈尔群岛

桑吉奈尔群岛就在法国科西嘉岛近海，从地中海中拔地而起，是一个由四座崎岖岩石岛屿组成的小型群岛。从一座历史悠久的瞭望塔望去，它们坐落在阿雅克肖湾的入口处。陡峭的悬崖、历经数百年的地标和开阔的海景，世世代代吸引着游客来到这一地区。尽管最远的岛屿距离海岸仅约1.2英里，但这片群岛给人的感觉却出奇地偏远：它四周被开阔水域环绕，并受到风、海浪和盐雾的塑造。

游客可以搭乘获准运营的船只前往最大的岛屿梅祖马雷岛，并沿指定步道探索。其他地方的受保护栖息地则为筑巢的海鸟和适应干燥、多风环境的耐寒地中海植物提供庇护。梅祖马雷岛上的一座灯塔令人想起这片群岛悠久的航海历史，以及它位于海湾入口处的战略位置。如今，桑吉奈尔群岛拥有壮丽的景色、野生动物和丰富航海遗产的印记，共同构成了科西嘉岛最令人难忘的自然景观之一。

View of the Sanguinaires Islands from Corsica, France

Just off the coast of Corsica, France, the Sanguinaires Islands rise from the Mediterranean as a small archipelago of four rugged, rocky islands. Viewed from a historic watchtower, they sit at the entrance to the Gulf of Ajaccio. Steep cliffs, centuries-old landmarks, and sweeping sea views have drawn visitors to the area for generations. Though the farthest island lies only about 1.2 miles from shore, the archipelago feels surprisingly remote, surrounded by open water and shaped by wind, waves, and salt spray.

Visitors can reach Mezu Mare, the largest island, via authorized boat services and explore its designated footpaths. Elsewhere, protected habitats provide refuge for nesting seabirds and hardy Mediterranean plants adapted to dry, windswept conditions. A lighthouse on Mezu Mare stands as a reminder of the archipelago's long maritime history and strategic position at the entrance to the gulf. Today, the Sanguinaires Islands offer dramatic scenery, wildlife, and traces of a rich seafaring heritage, creating one of Corsica's most memorable natural landscapes.

覆满苔藓的岩石，英国格洛斯特郡谜林，迪恩森林，格洛斯特郡，英格兰 Moss-covered rocks in Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England (© Fulcanelli_AOS/Getty Images)

迷惑不解？沿着小径走 Puzzled? Follow the trail

英国格洛斯特郡谜林，英格兰格洛斯特郡迪恩森林

如果一片森林能让你每转一个弯都捉摸不透，会是什么样？英国格洛斯特郡谜林位于英格兰迪恩森林的科尔福德附近，蜿蜒的小径穿过扭曲的树木、覆满苔藓的岩石和幽深的石质沟壑。这里不同寻常的岩层被称为“斯科尔斯”，是一种天然地质特征，随着时间推移逐渐裸露并发生改变，后来在罗马时期、甚至可能在更早以前被人们开采铁矿石。1848年，一名工人在一个岩洞内的陶罐中发现了3,000多枚罗马时代的钱币，使这片林地变成了一场现实中的寻宝之旅。

约1.5英里长的小径、木桥和石砌步道引导游客穿行于崎岖的地貌之间。英国格洛斯特郡谜林也曾亮相荧屏，出现在《星球大战：原力觉醒》《神秘博士》《梅林传奇》和《天命之咒》中。当地传说认为，这里枝干扭曲的树木和神秘氛围与J.R.R.托尔金笔下中土世界的森林有关，不过并没有确凿证据。

Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England

What if a forest could keep you guessing at every turn? At Puzzlewood, near Coleford in the Forest of Dean, England, winding paths lead through twisted trees, moss-covered rocks, and deep stone ravines. Its unusual rock formations, known as scowles, are natural geological features that were exposed and modified over time and later exploited for iron ore mining during the Roman period and possibly earlier. In 1848, a worker discovered more than 3,000 Roman-era coins hidden in earthenware jars inside a rock cavity, turning the woodland into a real-life treasure hunt.

Around 1.5 miles of paths, wooden bridges, and stone walkways guide visitors through the rugged landscape. Puzzlewood has also starred on screen, appearing in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' 'Doctor Who,' 'Merlin,' and 'Cursed.' Local lore links its gnarled trees and mysterious atmosphere to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth forests, although there is no definitive proof.

丹霞地貌，张掖国家地质公园，甘肃省，中国 Danxia landform, Zhangye National Geopark, Gansu, China (© Weiquan Lin/Getty Images)

条纹中的地球故事 Earth's story in stripes

国际地质多样性日

如果一座山能用一道道条纹向你展示它的地质历史，会是什么样？在中国的张掖国家地质公园，岩石正是如此。红色、橙色、黄色、棕色以及其他大地色调的条带在山脊间绵延起伏。这种壮丽景观被称为丹霞地貌，由地质年代中沉积形成的多层沉积岩塑造而成。后来，构造力使岩石抬升并发生褶皱，而风化和侵蚀则将它们雕琢成山脊、峭壁、沟壑和山峰。

“丹霞”这个名称的字面意思是玫瑰色的云霞。这些颜色来自岩石本身，其中矿物质和化学过程造就了不同的色调。例如，氧化铁形成了其大部分标志性的红色，而矿物质和沉积物的差异则构成了更加丰富的色彩。

张掖于2020年被指定为联合国教科文组织世界地质公园，坐落在甘肃，这一地区与古丝绸之路有着密切联系。值此国际地质多样性日，它以斑斓的色彩提醒我们：地球最杰出的艺术作品坚如磐石。

International Geodiversity Day

What if a mountain range could show you its geological history in stripes? At Zhangye National Geopark in China, the rocks do exactly that. Ridges roll across the landscape in bands of red, orange, yellow, brown, and other earthy tones. Known as the Danxia landform, this striking landscape was shaped by layers of sedimentary rock deposited over geological time. Tectonic forces later uplifted and folded the rocks, while weathering and erosion carved them into ridges, cliffs, gullies, and peaks.

The name Danxia literally translates to rosy clouds. The colors come from the rocks themselves, with minerals and chemical processes contributing to the different shades. Iron oxides, for instance, are responsible for much of its characteristic red coloring, while variations in minerals and sediment create its broader palette.

Designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2020, Zhangye is located in Gansu, a region linked to the ancient Silk Road. For International Geodiversity Day, it is a colorful reminder that Earth's best artwork is rock-solid.

查图加河，阿巴拉契亚山脉，北卡罗来纳州，美国 Chattooga River in the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina, USA (© mtilghma/Getty Images)

一条值得保护的河流 A river worth protecting

查图加河，美国

长期以来，河流在美国各地的生活中发挥着重要作用，为社区、野生动物和工业提供支持。1968年10月2日，林登·B·约翰逊总统签署《野生与风景河流法》，使其成为法律。该法建立了一个国家体系，用于保护具有卓越景观、休闲、地质、鱼类和野生动物、历史或文化价值的河流及河段。该法使指定河流保持自由流动状态，保护其水质，并旨在守护使它们值得获此指定的特质。

今天的图片展示了查图加河。1974年，该河被纳入这一体系，横跨佐治亚州、北卡罗来纳州和南卡罗来纳州的近57英里河段获指定。查图加河流经阿巴拉契亚山脉，以其风景、激流休闲活动和野生动物而闻名。查图加河常被称为美国东南部的皇冠明珠，可供人们开展漂流、皮划艇和独木舟运动。它甚至还是詹姆斯·迪基1970年小说《Deliverance》中虚构的卡胡拉瓦西河的原型。

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Rivers have long played an important role in life across the United States, supporting communities, wildlife, and industry. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act into law on October 2, 1968. It created a national system to protect rivers and river segments with outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, or cultural values. The Act preserves designated rivers in a free-flowing condition, protects their water quality, and aims to safeguard the qualities that made them worthy of designation.

Featured in today's image, the Chattooga River became part of the system in 1974, with nearly 57 miles designated across Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Flowing through the Appalachian Mountains, the river is known for its scenery, whitewater recreation, and wildlife. Often called the crown jewel of the Southeast, the Chattooga offers opportunities for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. It even served as the model for the fictional Cahulawassee River in James Dickey's 1970 novel 'Deliverance.'