元宵节期间悬挂的宫灯，北京自贡灯会现场，北京，中国 Palace lanterns hung during the Lantern Festival, Zigong Lantern Festival in Beijing, Beijing, China (© Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock)

花灯映月，团圆吉祥 Happy and reunited days

元宵节

元宵节是中国农历新年的重要节日，通常在正月十五庆祝。人们会吃汤圆（象征团圆）并欣赏各式灯笼，寓意团圆、幸福与吉祥。节日期间，家庭聚会、赏灯和灯谜活动都非常受欢迎，是春节庆祝活动的延续。

北京自贡灯会是元宵节期间最具特色的灯会之一，汇集了丰富多彩的宫灯、动物灯和民俗灯组。每一盏灯都巧妙设计、栩栩如生，为观众呈现一场视觉盛宴。灯会不仅展示精湛工艺，也传递了节日的喜庆与吉祥氛围。

苏梅岛的港口和长尾船, 泰国 Harbor and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand (© Foto2rich/Shutterstock)

漂浮的传承 Floating legacies

苏梅岛的港口和长尾船, 泰国

别被远看时苏梅岛长尾船朴素的外表所迷惑，这些修长的船身凝聚了当地数十年的巧思。它们在泰语中被称为“RueaHangYao”，诞生于20世纪初，当时渔民将汽车发动机改装成动力，用以穿行于大型船只难以进入的浅水海域。每一艘长尾船都由工匠一块木板一块木板手工打造，承载着代代相传的技艺。船体上色彩大胆而醒目，船头常装点着彩布与鲜花——这些象征佛教祝福的装饰，寓意守护船只与船员一路平安。

在度假村、海滩俱乐部和夜生活改变海岸线之前，苏梅岛的繁荣源于椰林种植、渔业以及连接周边岛屿的贸易航线。千余年来，木船在清晨载着渔民出海，也在岛屿之间往返运送一个个家庭。如今，它们同样载着游客前往珊瑚礁、水上集市和隐秘海滩，让人近距离感受苏梅岛的水上脉络。

黄昏降临，港湾渐渐慢了下来。缆绳吱呀作响，渔网被一张张收拢，船只依次归航。苏梅岛的历史并未被封存在博物馆里——它轻轻漂浮在水面上，等待天色再亮，重新启航，继续承载这座岛屿的日常与生命。

Harbor and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand

Do not be fooled by how simple Ko Samui's longtail boats look from a distance; decades of local ingenuity have shaped their slender frames. These vessels, known in Thailand as 'ruea hang yao,' emerged in the early 20th century, when fishermen repurposed vehicle engines to navigate shallow waters that larger boats couldn't reach. Handcrafted plank by plank, each boat reflects generations of skill. Their hulls burst with bold, striking colors, while decorative cloth and flowers often crown the bows—Buddhist blessings meant to safeguard both the boat and its crew.

Long before resorts, beach clubs, and nightlife transformed its shores, Ko Samui thrived on coconut farming, fishing, and trade routes linking neighboring islands. For over a thousand years, wooden boats have carried families between islands and fishermen at dawn. Today, they also ferry visitors to coral reefs, floating markets, and secret beaches, offering an intimate glimpse into Samui's waterways.

At dusk, the harbor slows. Ropes creak and nets are folded as boats return, one by one. Ko Samui's history isn't locked in museums—it floats gently on the water, ready to rise at first light to carry the island's life forward once more.

伊维萨岛, 巴利阿里群岛, 西班牙 Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain (© tokar/Shutterstock)

每一步，都是传承 Tradition in every step

伊维萨岛, 巴利阿里群岛, 西班牙

今天，我们一同庆祝西班牙迷人的巴利阿里群岛。巴利阿里群岛日致敬这一片多样却紧密相连的地中海土地——马略卡、梅诺卡、伊维萨与福门特拉，共同构成独特的群岛身份。这个日子同时纪念《巴利阿里自治法》，该法案于1983年3月1日正式生效，确立群岛作为西班牙的一个自治区。

巴利阿里群岛的底色，源于与海相伴的生活方式，也来自音乐、手工艺与热情好客共同孕育的文化传统。这里的自然环境脆弱而珍贵：梅诺卡岛在守护生态的同时保留着真实的岛屿生活；福门特拉岛则珍藏着重要的海洋栖息地；马略卡岛将群山、原野与海岸融为一体，城镇中至今延续着传统工艺与建筑风貌。今日伊维萨岛上空的日落航拍，让人心怀敬意望向远方，也映现出这座岛屿在传统底蕴与当代创造力之间的独特平衡。

这一天旨在倡导尊重文化多样性、践行可持续理念、促进教育发展，确保地中海的文化遗产能够世代相传、生生不息。

奥洛乌佩纳瀑布, 莫洛凯岛, 夏威夷, 美国 Olo'upena Falls, island of Moloka'i, Hawaii, USA (© Andrew Aylett/Getty Images)

洋溢着社区氛围 Overflowing with community

奥洛乌佩纳瀑布, 莫洛凯岛, 夏威夷

莫洛凯岛常被称为“最具夏威夷气息岛屿”，这里的节奏缓慢而从容，由自然环境与紧密相连的社区共同塑造。岛屿形成于一百多万年前的火山活动，占地约260平方英里，从太平洋中隆起，延展出修长的山脊与开阔的谷地。与喧闹的邻岛不同，莫洛凯岛拒绝大规模开发，保留了强烈的在地凝聚力，家庭、传统以及对土地的守护构成了这里的核心价值。人们的生活围绕着海洋、土地，以及代代相传的故事展开。

今天的画面中，奥洛乌佩纳瀑布矗立在岛屿北岸之上，从陡峭的海崖倾泻而下，落差达2953英尺。水源来自季节性降雨，水流常常散落成细密的银色水帘。环绕其间的海蚀峭壁高耸入云，跻身世界最高之列，只能通过直升机或船只抵达，为这片景观更添幽秘氛围。

如今，行走在莫洛凯岛宁静的道路上，面对空旷的海滩与亲密的社区，人们仿佛回到从前的夏威夷：安静而真诚，生活与土地紧紧相依。

Olo'upena Falls, island of Moloka'i, Hawaii

Moloka'i, often called the most Hawaiian of the islands, offers a slower rhythm shaped by nature and strong community ties. Formed by volcanic activity more than a million years ago, the island covers about 260 square miles and rises from the Pacific Ocean in long ridges and broad valleys. Unlike its busier neighbors, Moloka'i has resisted large-scale development, preserving a strong sense of local cohesion where families, traditions, and stewardship of the land encapsulate central values. Life here focuses on the ocean, the land, and stories passed down through generations.

Seen in today's image, Olo'upena Falls towers above the island's north shore. Dropping 2,953 feet down steep sea cliffs, the falls are fed by seasonal rains and often fan into delicate silver streams. The surrounding sea cliffs, among the highest on Earth, are accessible only by helicopter or boat, adding to their mystique.

Today, Moloka'i's quiet roads, uncrowded beaches, and close-knit community offer a rare chance to experience Hawaii as it once was—peaceful, welcoming, and deeply connected to the land.

大峡谷和科罗拉多河，亚利桑那州，美国 Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, Arizona, USA (© Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images)

一幅壮丽的景象 One grand view

大峡谷国家公园周年纪念

大峡谷国家公园每天都有新的故事，但2月26日这一天格外特别，纪念的是1919年大峡谷正式成为国家公园的历史时刻。这一里程碑式的决定，守护了美国最具代表性的自然奇观。峡谷深处，科罗拉多河缓缓流淌，穿行于层叠的岩石之间，跨越数百英里，以季节为节拍，静静雕刻着峡谷的生命。

对来到这里的游客而言，这个周年纪念是一次放慢节奏、重新发现峡谷的好机会。护林员主持的讲解与活动，带人走进峡谷的地质、野生动物与人文历史。南缘步道上，视野豁然开朗，加州神鹰在头顶滑翔，麋鹿、黑尾鹿和大角羊自在游走于不同生态环境之中。夜晚仰望星空，或驻足观景台，冬季清朗的夜色让一切更显深邃。

Grand Canyon National Park anniversary

Every day at Grand Canyon National Park tells a story, but February 26 is a special one. It marks the Grand Canyon's designation as a national park in 1919, a milestone that helped protect one of the most iconic natural wonders in the United States. At the heart of it all flows the Colorado River, winding for hundreds of miles through layered stone, quietly shaping the canyon one season at a time.

For visitors in the area, the anniversary is a perfect chance to slow down and explore. Ranger-led programs and talks highlight the canyon's geology, wildlife, and cultural history. A walk along the South Rim offers sweeping views where California condors circle overhead, while elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep roam the park's diverse habitats. Stargazing and scenic overlooks add to the experience, especially during winter's clearer nights.

You don't need to be nearby to take part. The National Park Service provides live webcams from viewpoints across the park, sharing real-time sunrises, weather shifts, and daily rhythms. Whether in Arizona or far away, February 26 is an open invitation to connect with the Grand Canyon in your own way.

门登霍尔冰川的冰洞，阿拉斯加州，美国 Ice cave in the Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, USA (© Designpics/Adobe Stock)

冰，由内而外透出光芒 Ice, lit from within

门登霍尔冰川，阿拉斯加

阿拉斯加朱诺城外，门登霍尔冰川静静隐匿其间，内外皆仿佛幻境。走入罕见的蓝色冰洞，世界骤然安静，光线透过历经数百年压实的冰层，映照四周。冰川自朱诺冰原绵延约十三英里，缓缓流向下方山谷，在年复一年的流动中悄然改变形态。

湛蓝的色泽源于高密度冰体对光线的吸收，其他波段被吞没，只留下蓝色。冰洞转瞬即逝，融水不断雕刻出通道，随着冰川消退与坍塌，光影也随之消散。

如今，进入冰洞已变得越来越罕见，且难以预测，但这条冰川依然是科学研究的重点。冰川在过去一个多世纪里被研究、被凝视、被敬畏，如今不断退却，为科学家们提供了一份清晰可见的环境变化记录。在这些泛着光芒的冰洞内，壮丽与脆弱并存，时刻提醒着人们：阿拉斯加的冰封景观，始终在变动之中，且稍纵即逝。

Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska

Hidden just outside Juneau, Alaska, the Mendenhall Glacier feels almost unreal, inside and out. Step into one of its rare blue ice caves, and the world turns quiet and luminous, with light filtering through centuries-old compacted ice. The glacier stretches about 13 miles from the Juneau Icefield, slowly flowing toward the valley below and reshaping itself year by year.

Its striking blue color comes from the ice's density, which absorbs most wavelengths of light and leaves behind vivid shades of blue. These caves are fleeting by nature, forming as meltwater carves tunnels through the glacier and disappearing, or collapsing entirely, as conditions shift.

While reaching the caves has become increasingly rare and unpredictable, the glacier remains closely studied and deeply admired. Over the past century, it has retreated dramatically, offering scientists a visible record of environmental change. Inside these glowing chambers, beauty and fragility meet, creating a powerful reminder of how dynamic and temporary Alaska's frozen landscapes truly are.

马姆托尔山，德比郡，英格兰 The hill of Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England (© john finney photography/Getty Images)

群山的母亲 The mother of hills

马姆托尔，德比郡，英格兰

“颤抖的山”这个绰号听起来颇具戏剧性，但对马姆托尔来说，却是数百年来的真实写照。它耸立在英格兰峰区国家公园的卡斯尔顿上方，这里也是英国首个国家公园，占地约555平方英里。这座地标的名字源自古英语，“mam”意为“母亲”，暗指它仿佛怀抱着周围起伏的小丘。然而，这座“母亲之山”却以不稳定而闻名：页岩与砂岩层层叠加，使山体长期滑动，1979年的一次坍塌甚至导致A625公路永久关闭。

在工程技术介入之前，这座“不稳定”的山早已有了人类的足迹。约3500年前，青铜时代的人们在马姆托山顶筑起宏大的山堡。至今，山脊上仍清晰可见圆形居所与古老道路的遗迹，静静诉说着这里长期作为重要聚落的历史。

从地质角度看，这座海拔约1696英尺的山峰，清晰呈现了峰区动荡不安的地质历史。峭壁间裸露的岩层，形成于3.2亿多年前的热带海洋环境；而附近的洞穴，如著名的蓝约翰洞穴，则孕育着世界上极为罕见的矿物。如今，马姆托尔依然是公园内最具代表性的徒步路线之一，沿着山脊行走，既能感受原始野性，又能行走得轻松自在。

Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England

'Shivering Mountain' is a dramatic nickname, but Mam Tor has earned it over hundreds of years. Rising above Castleton in England's Peak District, it lies within the United Kingdom's first national park, which spans 555 square miles. This landmark takes its name from Old English, 'mam' meaning 'mother,' a nod to the smaller hills it appears to cradle. Yet this 'mother mountain' is famously unstable. Its layers of shale and sandstone have caused landslips for centuries, including a collapse that permanently closed the A625 road in 1979.

Long before modern engineers battled its shifting slopes, Bronze Age people built a large hillfort on Mam Tor's summit around 3,500 years ago. The ridge still shows traces of a settlement, with roundhouses and ancient trackways that reveal its long‑standing importance.

Geologically, this 1,696‑foot peak showcases the Peak District's turbulent past. Its cliffs reveal layers formed in tropical seas over 320 million years ago, while nearby caverns—such as Blue John Cavern—hold minerals found in very few places on Earth. Today, Mam Tor remains one of the park's most iconic walks, offering a ridge path that feels both wild and wonderfully accessible.

约塞米蒂国家公园里的火瀑布，加利福尼亚州，美国 Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, USA (© Jorge Villalba/Getty Images)

光照之处 Where light falls

约塞米蒂国家公园里的火瀑布，加利福尼亚州

今天，是安塞尔·亚当斯的诞辰。正是他的镜头，塑造了世人心中优胜美地的形象。这座国家公园以雄伟的花岗岩岩壁、壮观的瀑布和变幻莫测的光线闻名，持续激发着一代又一代艺术家的创作灵感。而其中最令人着迷的景象，是被称作“火瀑”的奇观。这一名称，其实源自优胜美地历史中的两种不同景象。在过去，人们曾聚集在冰川点，观看一种人工制造的奇观：炽热的余烬被推下悬崖，在夜幕中倾泻而下，宛如一条燃烧的火流。

相比之下，真正令人着迷的，是埃尔卡皮坦山马尾瀑布上出现的自然火瀑。在二月中下旬的少数几个黄昏，落日以恰到好处的角度照亮瀑布，使水流染上一层炽亮的橙色，仿佛熔岩顺着山体缓缓倾泻。这一奇观并非年年可见，它依赖于晴朗的天空、充沛的水量，以及分秒不差的时机。1973年，摄影师盖伦·罗威尔首次捕捉到这一罕见瞬间，并拍下广为流传的影像，让这一天然奇观走入公众视野，成为优胜美地最令人惊叹的景象之一。

Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California

Today we celebrate the birthday of Ansel Adams, a photographer whose vision helped shape the world's perception of Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is renowned for its granite walls, dramatic waterfalls, and striking light, all of which have inspired generations of artists. One of its most intriguing sights is the Firefall, a term that refers to two distinct events in the park's history. For decades, visitors gathered at Glacier Point to watch an artificial Firefall, in which embers were pushed off the cliff in a glowing stream of fire.

Far more mysterious is the natural Firefall at Horsetail Fall on El Capitan. On a few evenings in mid- to late February, the sunset hits the waterfall at just the right angle, turning it bright orange, as if molten lava were sliding down the mountain. Clear skies, sufficient water, and perfect timing are all essential for this effect to occur. In 1973, Galen Rowell observed this rare phenomenon and took the first widely known photograph of the natural Firefall—bringing widespread attention to one of Yosemite's most remarkable sights.

乌塔克莱夫海滩的“龙之眼”岩层，挪威 The Dragon's Eye rock formation at Uttakleiv Beach, Norway (© reisegraf/Getty Images)

大地凝视着我们 Where the land stares back

龙之眼，挪威乌塔克莱夫海滩

“龙之眼”这个名字听起来像是出自传说，而当你站在挪威罗弗敦群岛的乌塔克莱夫海滩上时，你很容易就能明白为什么它会得此美名。这处地貌由古老的岩石雕琢而成，四周环绕着沙滩和大海，看起来栩栩如生，仿佛大地本身正在注视着你。它历经数千年的冰雪和海水的侵蚀塑造而成，如今已成为该地区最迷人的景点之一。

尽管龙眼有着神话般的名字，但它实际上是一个冰川坑洞。大约 2 万年前，汹涌的融水从广阔的芬诺斯坎迪亚冰原下流过，在变质岩中形成了一个圆形凹洞。在强大的压力下，携带着沙石的水流冲刷着基岩，逐渐侵蚀出壁面光滑的洼地。大约 1.6 万年前，冰雪退去，这些地貌显露出来，留下了像龙眼这样的地貌，龙眼的中心镶嵌着一块巨石或 “瞳孔”。

如今，“眼睛 ”继续随着各种元素的变化而变化。根据潮汐的变化，海浪会淹没空洞或将其剥离，而藻类和光线则不断重塑其表现形式，模糊了传说与景观之间的界限。

Dragon's Eye, Uttakleiv Beach, Norway

Dragon's Eye sounds like something pulled from legend, and standing on Norway's Uttakleiv Beach in the Lofoten Islands, it's easy to see why. The formation, carved into ancient rock and framed by sand and sea, looks uncannily alive, as though the land itself is watching you. Shaped over thousands of years by ice and water, it has become one of the region's most captivating sights.

Despite its mythic name, the Dragon's Eye is actually a glacial pothole. It is a circular hollow sculpted into metamorphic rocks by turbulent meltwater flowing beneath the vast Fennoscandian Ice Sheet around 20,000 years ago. Under intense pressure, water carrying sand and stones ground into the bedrock, gradually eroding smooth-walled depressions. When the ice retreated roughly 16,000 years ago, these features were revealed, leaving behind formations like the Dragon's Eye, complete with a boulder—or 'pupil'—settled at its center.

Today, the Eye continues to shift with the elements. Depending on the tide, waves flood the hollow or strip it bare, while algae and light constantly reshape its expression, blurring the line between legend and landscape.

中国春节传统汉字“福” Chinese New Year traditional character "Fu" (© DuKai摄影师/Getty Images)

福气满满，马年大吉 Wishing you a prosperous Year of the Horse

马年春节

过年好！今天是中国民间最隆重最富有特色的传统节日之一。其实每年从腊八或小年开始，到元宵节，都称之为过年。春节期间，中国全国各地人们都举办着感恩祈福、阖家团聚、除旧布新、迎禧接福、祈求丰年为主要内容的活动。而中国农历新年也在世界各地掀起了“中国风”，春节庆祝活动内容丰富多彩，具有重要的历史、艺术和文化价值。

马在中国文化中象征着力量、速度、活力与进取精神。自古以来，马在战争、农业和商业中都扮演着重要角色，在文学、成语和俗语中也占有一席之地，如“马到成功”和“马上封侯”常用于表达顺利与成功。马的形象被历代文人歌颂，并在艺术和文化创作中频繁出现。

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This calendar follows the phases of the moon and the rhythms of the seasons. Red lanterns—like the ones shown in today's image—are widely associated with the celebration. The holiday falls on the new moon between January 21 and February 20 and has been observed for more than 2,000 years. In 2024, UNESCO added the Spring Festival to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, recognizing its cultural and historical importance.

The festival follows a 15-day sequence, beginning on Chinese New Year's Eve and ending with the Lantern Festival. Each day traditionally carries its own customs, though practices vary from region to region. Even with these regional differences, the overall progression of the celebration remains similar across communities, reflecting a shared cultural framework tied to the lunar calendar.

The date of Chinese New Year changes annually because it is based on lunar cycles rather than the Gregorian calendar. This shifting date sets it apart from fixed-date holidays and explains why the festival's timing varies each year, even though its internal structure stays consistent.