科法国家野生动物保护区，亚利桑那州，美国 Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, USA (© Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images)

广袤铺展的沙漠 Desert, drawn wide

科法国家野生动物保护区

横跨美国西南部亚利桑那州索诺兰沙漠的科法国家野生动物保护区，是一片由峭壁山峰、开阔天空与顽强生命共同构成的独特荒野。

“科法”（Kofa）这一名称源自附近群山中的一座历史金矿——“亚利桑那之王金矿”。这座矿场曾一度繁荣兴盛，其名称后来被简化并缩写，最终演变为如今简洁而易记的“科法”。

如今，科法国家野生动物保护区覆盖面积达665,400英亩，是一片广袤的开放沙漠。高大的巨柱仙人掌从岩石沟谷中拔地而起，幽静的峡谷中则隐藏着罕见的棕榈林。在这片辽阔的土地上，沙漠大角羊与沙漠陆龟、郊狼以及仙人掌鹪鹩等动物共同栖息，它们都适应了高温、干旱与广阔空间的生存环境。徒步路线和荒野小径带领人们穿越古老的火山岩地貌，欣赏雨后短暂绽放的花海，以及似乎没有尽头的地平线。当黄昏降临，光线变得柔和，沙漠逐渐降温，野生动物也开始活跃。这片偏远而少有人为开发的区域，以宁静、辽阔与原始荒野的魅力，回馈每一位探索者。

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Stretching across the Sonoran Desert in southwestern Arizona, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is a land of sharp peaks, wide skies, and surprising life. The refuge was established in 1939 to protect desert bighorn sheep, whose sure-footed silhouettes still define the rugged landscape.

The name 'Kofa' comes from the historic King of Arizona gold mine, once a booming operation in the nearby mountains—its title shortened into a single, memorable word.

Today, Kofa spans 665,400 acres of open desert, where saguaros rise from rocky washes and quiet canyons shelter rare palm groves. Bighorn sheep share this vast terrain with desert tortoises, coyotes, and cactus wrens—each adapted to heat, scarcity, and space. Hiking routes and backcountry tracks reveal ancient volcanic rock, sudden blooms after rain, and seemingly endless horizons. At dusk, light softens the desert, and wildlife stirs beneath the cooling air. Remote and largely undeveloped, Kofa rewards curiosity with silence, scale, and the thrill of true desert wilderness.

平原上空的雷暴，保加利亚 Thunderstorm above the plains, Bulgaria (© Revolu7ion93/Getty Images)

承受压力之下的平原 Plains under pressure

保加利亚，多瑙河平原

在壮阔的天幕下，保加利亚的两大平原展现了国家的农业核心。多瑙河平原横跨北部，起伏的田野与河谷受温带大陆性气候影响，炎热的夏季常催生强烈的雷暴。再往南是上色雷斯平原，地势更低且更温暖，受大陆系统及从爱琴海地区涌入的地中海气流共同影响。在这里，酷暑与马里查河流域的水汽交织，使该地区极易发生剧烈的夏季风暴——正如此刻在图像中平原上空上演的景象。

这两大平原共同构成了保加利亚粮食生产的支柱，映射出一片天气、地理与人类历史紧密相连的土地。

Thunderstorm above the plains, Bulgaria

Located on the eastern Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, where ancient cultures, fertile landscapes, and shifting climates converge.

Under dramatic skies, Bulgaria's two great plains reveal the country's agricultural heart. The Danubian Plain spreads across the north, a rolling landscape of fields and river valleys shaped by a temperate continental climate, where warm summers often fuel powerful thunderstorms. Farther south lies the Upper Thracian Plain, lower and warmer, influenced by continental systems and Mediterranean air masses flowing inward from the Aegean region. Here, hot summers and moisture from the Maritsa River basin combine to make the region especially prone to intense summer storms—like the one unfolding above the plains in this image.

Together, these plains anchor Bulgaria's food production and reflect a land where weather, geography, and human history remain closely linked.

乌莱德·索尔坦克萨尔，塔塔温区，突尼斯南部 Ksar Ouled Soltane, Tataouine district in southern Tunisia (© Dark_Eni/Getty Images Plus)

科幻源于现实 Sci‑Fi, Earth‑made

星球大战日

“愿原力与你同在！”在星球大战日这一天，现实仿佛披上科幻的外衣，让人一时难以分辨虚实。画面将我们带到突尼斯南部塔塔温地区的乌莱德·索尔坦克萨尔，这里层层堆叠的土坯粮仓宛如沙色堡垒，充满异域与未来感。这座建筑群始建于 15 世纪，由当地柏柏尔人修建，用于保护粮食免受高温、盗窃和时间侵蚀。它的设计首先服务于实用功能，而独特的美感则在不经意间自然呈现——仿佛现实中的“科幻场景”。

几个世纪之后，电影制作人偶然发现了这些建筑，并立刻意识到，这正是他们一直在寻找的“世界”。这些独特的建筑风格几乎无需改动，便自然融入了《星球大战》的叙事体系之中，成为塑造虚构星球“塔图因”的重要灵感来源——这个名字本身，也与现实中的“塔塔温”相呼应。

每年5月4日，这个最初源于谐音玩笑的日子，逐渐发展为一场面向全球的文化致敬——致敬视觉想象力、故事创作，以及那个“遥远的银河系”。像这样的地方，正是想象力得以具象化的来源：开阔的地平线、被阳光炙烤的夯土，以及人类智慧的结合，共同构成了独特的质感。电影的奇观并不只存在于特效之中——有时，大自然本身，就是最完美的“取景地”。

Star Wars Day

May the 4th be with you! On Star Wars Day, reality cosplays as science fiction and dares you to tell the difference. Our image takes us to Ksar Ouled Soltane in Tunisia's Tataouine district, where stacked clay granaries rise like sand‑colored fortresses. Dating back to the 15th century, this storehouse complex was built by Berber communities to protect harvests from heat, theft, and time. Function first. Beauty as a side effect.

Centuries later, filmmakers stumbled upon these structures and instantly recognized the world they were looking for. The architecture slid straight into Star Wars mythology, helping shape Tatooine, a planet whose name echoes Tataouine.

Each May 4, what began as a playful pun grew into a global tribute to visual magic, storytelling, and a galaxy far, far away. Places like this are where imagination gets its texture: a combination of open horizons, sunbaked mud, and human ingenuity. Cinematic wonder isn't limited to special effects—sometimes it's Earth itself, perfectly cast.

阿尔伯塔省贾斯珀国家公园中的小型湖泊与湿地，加拿大 Small lake and marsh in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada (© Don White/Getty Images)

贾斯珀的自然魅力 The magic of Jasper

阿尔伯塔省贾斯珀国家公园，加拿大

你能想象一片面积超过1.1万平方公里的受保护荒野吗？这便是位于加拿大阿尔伯塔省的贾斯珀国家公园。它始建于1907年，是加拿大落基山脉日益完善的保护地网络中的重要一环，并于1930年正式被命名为国家公园。贾斯珀不仅展现了现代自然保护的成果，更承载着悠久的原住民文化底蕴，其中包括纳科达族（Nakoda）和塞克维潘族（Secwépemc）等民族与这片土地跨越千年的联系。公园内的地形地貌极为宏伟多样：从冰川融水汇聚而成的河川，到生机勃勃的高山草甸，再到由云杉和松树构成的茂密针叶林，共同构建出了一幅原始而壮丽的自然画卷。

在这片土地上，野生动物才是真正的主人。马鹿（Elk）成群结队地穿越开阔的山谷，驼鹿（Moose）在湿地中觅食，而偶尔现踪的灰熊或狼则时刻提醒着游人，这里依然是原始的生命领地。尽管种群现状依然脆弱，但珍稀的林地驯鹿（Caribou）至今仍徘徊在公园的深处。你是否也渴望与这些生灵不期而遇？这里的徒步路径从短途散步到跨越数日的荒野纵贯线应有尽有。著名的冰原大道（Icefields Parkway）是通往冰川、饱览宽阔谷地的必经之路；而到了夏季，玛琳湖（Maligne Lake）那如宝石般湛蓝的水面则吸引着无数划桨爱好者。当季节更迭，冬日的贾斯珀会化身为越野滑雪和雪鞋徒步的胜地。而当夜幕降临，作为全球知名的暗夜星空保护区，贾斯珀将褪去白日的喧嚣，向世人展示那片纯净无瑕、群星璀璨的浩瀚穹顶。

Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada

Can you picture more than 4,200 square miles of protected wilderness? That's Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1907 as part of a growing network of protected landscapes in the Canadian Rockies, it was designated a national park in 1930. The park reflects both conservation efforts and much older Indigenous connections, including those of the Nakoda and Secwépemc peoples. Its terrain ranges from glacier-fed rivers and alpine meadows to dense conifer forests dominated by spruce and pine.

Wildlife is ever-present. Elk move through open valleys, moose feed in wetlands, and the occasional grizzly bear or wolf is a reminder that this is their space. Caribou still roam parts of the park, though their numbers remain fragile. Do you hope to catch sight of the fauna? Trails range from short walks to multi-day backcountry routes. The Icefields Parkway offers access to glaciers and wide valley views, while Maligne Lake draws paddlers in summer. Winter brings cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. After sunset, Jasper's Dark Sky Preserve status reveals clear, star-filled skies.

中国的长城 The Great Wall of China (© aphotostory/Getty Images)

初夏·翠微长城 Emerald Great Wall in Early Summer

中国夏季的长城

五月的中国北方，仿佛刚从春天的画卷中苏醒，带着清新的气息与恰到好处的温度，向远方的旅人发出邀请。无论是在古城街巷间寻访历史的回声，还是沿着万里长城的脊线远望群山，五月的北方都以其明净与舒展，呈现出一年中最适合出行的模样。此时出发，不仅能避开盛夏的炎热，也能在恰好的光影与温度中，收获一段轻盈而难忘的旅途。

初夏的万里长城，呈现出与春秋截然不同的生命力。连绵起伏的山峦被郁郁葱葱的植被覆盖，长城宛如一条蜿蜒的巨龙，在翠绿之间若隐若现。阳光充足时，城墙的砖石在蓝天映衬下显得格外鲜明，视野开阔、层次分明。这一时节的长城更具活力，但气温也相对较高，尤其是像八达岭长城这样的热门段落，人流较多、体感较热。相比之下，慕田峪长城等区域植被覆盖更丰富，环境相对清幽，是不少人避开拥挤、享受自然的选择。

葡萄风信子和郁金香, 库肯霍夫花园, 利塞, 荷兰 Grape hyacinths and tulips, Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands (© Martin Ruegner/Getty Images)

郁金香是这里的主角 Tulips run the show

库肯霍夫花园, 利塞, 荷兰

想象一下，一朵花引发了一场金融狂潮。听起来不太可能，对吧？然而，在17世纪30年代，郁金香在荷兰却做到了这一点。在郁金香狂热时期，稀有的郁金香球茎成了奢侈品，交易价格惊人——有些球茎的价值甚至堪比一栋房子。为什么如此珍贵？因为颜色和条纹图案独特的郁金香稀少且难以预测，收藏家们想要找到他们所能找到的最稀有的品种。

郁金香泡沫最终破灭，但荷兰人对郁金香的热爱却从未消退。几个世纪后，这种与郁金香的深厚情缘又迎来了新的篇章：位于利瑟附近的库肯霍夫花园，也就是今天照片中的这片花园。这座花园于1950年开放，最初是一个春季展览会，荷兰球茎种植者在此向买家和游客展示他们最新的品种。

每年秋季，约有40位园丁会种植超过700万株球茎植物，层层叠叠，营造出色彩缤纷的景象，一直延续到来年春天。其中，约800种郁金香是主角，而葡萄风信子和水仙花则点缀着蓝色和黄色，带来一抹亮丽的色彩。美中不足的是，这座花园每年只对公众开放几周。

Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands

Imagine a flower sparking a financial frenzy. Sounds unlikely, right? Yet in the 1630s, tulips did exactly that in the Netherlands. During tulip mania, rare bulbs became luxury items traded for astonishing sums—some valued at prices comparable to a house. Why so valuable? Unusual colors and striped patterns were scarce and unpredictable, and collectors wanted the rarest varieties they could find.

The bubble eventually burst, but the country's fascination with tulips never faded. Centuries later, that long relationship with the flower found a new stage: Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse, seen in today's image. Opened in 1950, the park began as a spring exhibition where Dutch bulb growers presented their newest varieties to buyers and visitors.

Each autumn, about 40 gardeners plant over seven million bulbs in layered designs so colors appear in waves through spring. Around 800 varieties of tulips lead the show, while grape hyacinths and daffodils add bursts of blue and yellow. The catch? The garden opens to the public for only a few weeks each year.

塔霍河岸边的贝伦塔, 里斯本, 葡萄牙 Belém Tower on the bank of the Tagus River, Lisbon, Portugal (© f9photos/Getty Images)

历史镌刻于石上 History anchored in stone

贝伦塔, 里斯本, 葡萄牙

昔日，离开里斯本的船只在驶向浩瀚的大西洋之前，都会经过一座小小的石塔。这座矗立在塔霍河畔的石塔，既是守护者，也是告别的象征。让我们一起来认识贝伦塔——这座见证葡萄牙扬帆起航，迈入大航海时代的堡垒。

这座塔楼建于16世纪初葡萄牙国王曼努埃尔一世统治时期，在探险家们探索新航线时，它曾帮助保卫里斯本港。其曼努埃尔式设计融合了哥特式风格和航海符号——石绳、盾牌以及海洋主题的雕刻，都清晰地体现了其与海洋相关的用途。

这座塔楼曾矗立在一个小岛上，但随着河岸的移动，它逐渐靠近了陆地。塔楼内曾设有大炮、士兵，甚至还有囚犯。如今，这座联合国教科文组织世界遗产证明，有些地标建筑的确经受住了时间的考验，屹立不倒。

Belém Tower, Lisbon, Portugal

Ships leaving Lisbon once passed a small stone tower before meeting the wide Atlantic. That tower, standing on the bank of the Tagus River, served as both a guardian and a farewell. Say hello to Belém Tower—a fortress that watched Portugal sail into the Age of Exploration.

Built in the early 1500s under King Manuel I of Portugal, the tower helped defend Lisbon's harbor while explorers set out to chart new sea routes. Its Manueline design mixes Gothic forms with maritime symbols—stone ropes, shields, and sea-inspired carvings that clearly embraced their oceanic purpose.

The tower once stood on a small island, but shifting riverbanks brought it closer to land. Inside were cannons, soldiers, and even prisoners. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is proof that some landmarks truly stand the test of time and tide.

维托里奥·埃马努埃莱二世拱廊的玻璃穹顶, 米兰, 意大利 The glass dome of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Italy (© PhillipMinnis/Getty Images)

有格调的玻璃 Glass with class

维托里奥·埃马努埃莱二世拱廊的玻璃穹顶

由建筑师朱塞佩·门戈尼设计，于1877年竣工的维托里奥·埃马努埃莱二世拱廊位于意大利米兰，是世界上最古老、最著名的购物拱廊之一。它坐落于米兰大教堂广场和斯卡拉广场之间，拥有令人惊艳的玻璃铁艺屋顶和优雅的八角形布局。这条拱廊被亲切地称为“米兰的客厅”，汇集了众多高端精品店、历史悠久的咖啡馆以及知名餐厅。

多年来，米兰拱廊经历了多次修缮，包括20世纪50年代为修复二战造成的破坏而进行的大规模修缮，80年代为保护原有结构而进行的修缮，以及最近为迎接2015年世博会而进行的修缮。拱廊最标志性的特色之一是镶嵌在地板上的公牛马赛克，游客们会绕着它旋转以求好运。拱廊内还有四幅分别代表欧洲、亚洲、非洲和美洲的马赛克镶嵌画，引人注目。它至今仍是米兰优雅与文化底蕴的象征，吸引着当地居民和游客。

The glass dome of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Italy

Designed by architect Giuseppe Mengoni and completed in 1877, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's oldest and most famous shopping arcades. Located between Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala, it features a stunning glass-and-iron roof and an elegant, octagonal layout. Affectionately known as 'Milan's living room,' the Galleria is home to high-end boutiques, historic cafés such as Caffè Biffi and Camparino in Galleria, and renowned restaurants.

Over the years, the Galleria has undergone several restorations, including major projects in the 1950s to repair damage caused by World War II, in the 1980s to preserve the original structure, and most recently in preparation for the 2015 Expo. One of the most iconic features is the bull mosaic set into the floor, around which visitors spin for good luck. Among its notable features are four mosaics representing Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. It remains a symbol of Milan's elegance and cultural sophistication, attracting locals and tourists.

湿地松和锯棕榈组成的森林吊床, 大沼泽地国家公园, 佛罗里达, 美国 Forest hammock of slash pine and saw palmetto, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA (© Mary Liz Austin/Alamy)

向树木致敬 A tribute to trees

大沼泽地松林

植树节旨在颂扬树木的无声力量——它们如何稳定生态系统、庇护野生动物、为城市降温，并塑造我们日常生活所依赖的环境。在美国，植树节定于四月的最后一个星期五，这一天鼓励美国以及许多其他国家（日期因生长季节而异）的社区种植、保护和养护各种类型的森林，从社区绿荫到标志性的荒野。

在佛罗里达州的大沼泽地国家公园（联合国教科文组织世界遗产地），高地松林耸立于沼泽和草原之上，共同构成了世界上最大的湿地系统之一。图中可见，阳光普照的火炬松和锯棕榈营造出开阔的林地，与大沼泽地广袤的湿地和红树林形成鲜明对比。在植树节这一天，这样的景观清晰地提醒着我们，树木对于这片非凡的亚热带生态系统的健康和平衡是多么重要。

Arbor Day

Arbor Day celebrates the quiet power of trees—the way they steady ecosystems, shelter wildlife, cool cities, and shape the environments we rely on every day. Observed in the United States on the last Friday in April, the day encourages communities here—and in many other countries, where dates vary according to growing season—to plant, protect, and care for forests of every kind, from neighborhood canopies to iconic wildlands.

In Florida's Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, elevated pinelands rise above the marshes and prairies that form one of the world's largest wetland systems. Seen here, sunlit slash pines and saw palmetto create open woodlands that contrast sharply with the Everglades' vast wetlands and mangrove forests. On Arbor Day, landscapes like this offer a clear reminder of how essential trees are to the health and balance of this remarkable subtropical ecosystem.

安妮·海瑟薇的小屋与花园，埃文河畔斯特拉特，英格兰 Anne Hathaway's cottage and garden, Stratford-upon-Avon, England (© David Steele/Shutterstock)

一座充满故事的小屋 A cottage full of stories

莎士比亚日

每年4月23日，世界都会再次聚焦威廉·莎士比亚的生平与遗产。这位剧作家的文字，至今仍在全球文学舞台上熠熠生辉。“莎士比亚日”既是他于1616年逝世的纪念日，也被普遍视为他1564年的诞辰。这一巧合般的日期，为这位重塑英语文学的伟大作家赋予了象征性的意义。从《哈姆雷特》中对人性深处的探寻，到《罗密欧与朱丽叶》里跨越生死的爱情，他的语言至今仍回荡在课堂、剧院与日常表达之中。莎士比亚的作品已被翻译成多种语言，并在世界各地不断上演，跨越时间与文化，持续影响着一代又一代人。

今天的图片展示的是位于英国斯特拉特福德镇的安妮·海瑟薇小屋，这里是威廉·莎士比亚未来妻子的童年故居。这座建于15世纪的茅草屋如今被保存为博物馆，为人们提供了一个难得的窗口，得以一窥这位年轻剧作家成长年代所处的日常生活环境。游客可以在这里探访保留下来的原始结构、历经数百年的家具陈设，以及以都铎时代生活为灵感打造的花园。在这样充满历史气息的空间中，人们也更容易沉浸其中，感受这段跨越时光、至今仍不断激发灵感的文化遗产。

Shakespeare Day

Each April 23, the curtain rises on the life and legacy of William Shakespeare, a playwright whose words still command the world's literary stage. Shakespeare Day commemorates the anniversary of his death in 1616 and the traditionally accepted date of his birth in 1564—a symbolic pairing that honors a writer whose works reshaped English literature. From the psychological depths of 'Hamlet' to the enduring romance of 'Romeo and Juliet,' his language continues to echo through classrooms, theaters, and everyday speech. His plays have been performed in numerous languages worldwide.

Today's image shows Anne Hathaway's cottage in Stratford‑upon‑Avon, England, the childhood home of Shakespeare's future wife. This 15th-century thatched cottage, now preserved as a museum, offers a rare glimpse into the domestic world that surrounded the young playwright. Visitors can explore original features, centuries‑old furnishings, and gardens inspired by Tudor life—an evocative setting in which to reflect on a legacy that continues to inspire new generations.