博尔米奥的雪景，伦巴第大区，意大利 Snow-covered landscape at Bormio, Lombardy, Italy (© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images)

高山的悠久历史 High mountains, deep history

博尔米奥，伦巴第大区，意大利

博尔米奥位于意大利北部伦巴第大区的阿尔卑斯山中，靠近斯泰尔维奥山口。这片地势险峻的山地数百年来连接着不同山谷中的社区，塑造了当地人生活与迁徙的方式。今日图片中的冬季景观，正映照出这座高山小镇的地理特征与它与群峰之间延续千年的纽带。

凭借战略位置，博尔米奥早在中世纪就发展出强烈的公民认同感。多年来，它一直是“三大杰出社区”之一，享有地方自治权，并作为附近定居点的行政中心。中世纪城镇的布局在石制建筑和公共空间中仍清晰可见，包括曾用于社区决策的库尔奇广场。这些建筑体现了治理方式和日常生活如何适应山区环境的挑战。

博尔米奥还以自古罗马时期便被记载的天然温泉而闻名。历史悠久的浴场，如巴尼维基温泉，展示了温泉如何在严冬中支撑人们的健康、社交与坚韧。如今，这座小镇是施泰尔维奥国家公园的一部分，其历史、景观和文化得以保存。

Bormio, Lombardy, Italy

Bormio is a mountain town in northern Italy's Lombardy region, nestled in the Alps near the Stelvio Pass. This location has connected communities across mountain valleys for centuries, shaping how people live and move through the region. Today's image features Bormio's winter landscape, a reflection of its high-altitude setting and enduring bond with the surrounding peaks.

Its strategic position helped Bormio develop a strong civic identity. For many years, it was one of the 'Three Magnificent Communities,' which held local autonomy and served as an administrative center for nearby settlements. The medieval town layout remains visible in its stone buildings and public spaces, including the Kuerc Square, where community decisions were once made. These structures reflect how governance and daily life adapted to the challenges of a mountain environment.

Bormio is also known for its natural hot springs that have been documented since Roman times. Historic bathhouses, such as the Bagni Vecchi, show how thermal waters supported health, social life, and resilience during harsh winters. Today, the town is part of Stelvio National Park, where its history, landscape, and culture continue to be preserved.

太阳神庙，圆顶礁国家公园, 犹他州, 美国 Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA (© Austin Cronnelly/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

犹他州的时光层叠 Layers of time in Utah

庆祝圆顶礁国家公园成立54周年

数百万年的岩层沉积，伴随地壳的巨大弯曲，造就了这片沙漠独一无二的地质窗口。这里是犹他州的圆顶礁国家公园，砂岩峭壁与峡谷像一本打开的历史书，记录着地球的沧桑。1971年12月18日，它被正式列为国家公园。今日的图片聚焦大教堂谷的砂岩巨石，其中包括壮丽的“太阳神殿”，彰显这片景观的非凡魅力。

圆顶礁国家公园得名于两大标志性地貌特征：水袋褶皱中的圆润砂岩穹顶，宛如美国国会大厦；以及褶皱的脊线，曾像“礁石”般阻隔早期旅人穿越沙漠。1937年，这里先被列为国家纪念地，直到后来才晋升为国家公园。

这一天不仅纪念自然奇观，也铭记这里的人类历史。早在拓荒者果园出现之前，原住民就在弗里蒙特河畔繁衍生息，并在峡谷的岩壁上刻下岩画，留下古老的印记。

Celebrating 54 years of Capitol Reef National Park

Rock layers formed over millions of years and a massive bend in the Earth's crust give this desert a rare window into geologic history. This is Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, where sandstone cliffs and canyons preserve a striking record of the planet's past. December 18 marks the anniversary of its designation as a national park in 1971. Today's featured image highlights the sandstone monoliths of Cathedral Valley, including the Temple of the Sun, part of this extraordinary, protected landscape.

Capitol Reef takes its name from two defining features: rounded Navajo sandstone domes—within the Waterpocket Fold—that resemble the US Capitol building, and the Fold's ridges that form a 'reef,' which blocked early travel across the desert. Before becoming a national park, the area was designated as a national monument in 1937.

This anniversary also honors the human history linked to this region. Indigenous communities lived along the Fremont River long before pioneer orchards appeared, leaving petroglyphs carved into canyon walls.

斯皮格尔运河上的灯光装饰, 阿姆斯特丹, 荷兰 Light decorations on Spiegelgracht canal, Amsterdam, Netherlands (© Amith Nag Photography/Getty Images)

静谧水波，闪耀灯影 Still waters, bright lights

阿姆斯特丹的斯皮格尔运河，荷兰

你有没有想过，运河如何影响城市的演变？几千年来，人们修筑运河，用于运输、控水和连接各地。从古代美索不达米亚和埃及，到中世纪的欧洲，运河让威尼斯、布鲁日等城市成为繁荣的贸易枢纽。到了17世纪，荷兰更进一步，规划出影响城市格局的水道，阿姆斯特丹便是其中的典范。

阿姆斯特丹被誉为"北方威尼斯"，城市纵横交错的运河全长约60英里，构成了被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产的运河区。大多数运河两侧都有道路，如今这些水道成为旅游和休闲的胜地。市中心的斯皮格尔运河，是今日画面中的主角，以艺术画廊、古董店和静谧的水面闻名，“镜子运河”之名正源于此。夜色中，桥梁与树木披上节日的光辉，灯影在水面上闪烁。圣诞临近，这些运河仿佛一条条闪亮的历史长链，见证着过去的光芒仍在当下熠熠生辉。

Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Have you ever wondered how canals changed the way cities developed? For thousands of years, people have built canals to transport goods, control water flow, and connect places. From ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to medieval Europe, they transformed cities like Venice and Bruges into trade hubs. The Netherlands took this even further—by the 17th century, they were designing waterways that shaped cities such as Amsterdam.

It's no wonder Amsterdam is nicknamed the 'Venice of the North.' The city's 60-mile-long network of canals forms part of the UNESCO-listed Canal District. Mostly flanked by roads on both sides, these routes are now used for tourism and recreation. In the center of the city is the Spiegelgracht canal seen in today's image. It is famous for its art galleries, antique shops, and serene reflections that inspired its name, 'Mirror Canal.' As night falls, bridges and trees glow with festive lights, their reflections shimmering across the calm water. With Christmas just around the corner, these canals resemble glowing strings of history—proof that the past still shines bright in the present.

默塞德河, 优胜美地国家公园, 加利福尼亚, 美国 Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, USA (© Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images)

冰封的倒影 Frozen reflections

默塞德河, 优胜美地国家公园, 加利福尼亚

每一幅杰作都需要点睛之笔。而优胜美地的点睛之笔便是默塞德河。作为美国国家级“野生与风景河流”之一，这条水系起源于内华达山脉高处，汇集雪水，蜿蜒145英里，穿过优胜美地山谷，流入加州中央谷地。

这条河的西班牙语名"El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced"，意为"慈悲圣母河"，恰如其分地诠释了它的双重性：随季节更迭，时而宁静如镜，时而奔腾如潮。春季，融雪使河水暴涨，激流在石桥下奔涌，冲过如春瀑、内华达瀑等轰鸣的瀑布群，成为优胜美地的主角。夏季河水转为平缓，吸引着漂流者和游泳者。秋日落叶随水漂流，为河面添上点点金黄；冬日万物归寂，河面如镜般澄澈。有趣的是，这条河滋养着麦克卢尔湖——每逢秋冬季水位下降，湖底便会浮现一座鬼城。河流下游曾矗立着默塞德瀑布，这座淘金热时期繁华的磨坊小镇，如今已归于沉寂。

Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California

Every masterpiece needs a brushstroke to tie it together. For Yosemite National Park, that stroke is the Merced River—painting reflections of granite cliffs, pine forests, and waterfalls across its canvas. One of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers, this waterway begins high in the Sierra Nevada. It gathers meltwater and winds 145 miles west through Yosemite Valley into California's Central Valley.

Its Spanish name, 'El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced,' translates to 'River of Our Lady of Mercy,' and suits it well: it offers both calm and chaos depending on the season. Spring turns the river into Yosemite's main act, as snowmelt sends torrents rushing beneath stone bridges and past roaring waterfalls like Vernal and Nevada Falls. Summer brings a gentler flow that attracts rafters and swimmers. Fall adds a hint of gold as leaves drift downstream, and winter slows everything to a reflective stillness. Interestingly, it feeds Lake McClure, where a ghost town rises when water levels drop in fall and winter. Along its lower stretches once stood Merced Falls, a bustling mill town during the Gold Rush era, now lying quiet.

从伦佐拉山口眺望珠穆朗玛峰日落时分的峰顶，尼泊尔 Summit of Mount Everest at sunset, seen from Renjo La, Nepal (© shoults/Alamy)

天地相接之处 Where the sky meets Earth

国际山岳日

每年12月11日，我们庆祝“国际山岳日”， 以此致敬塑造地球的雄伟山脉与哺育生命的冰川。从起伏的阿尔卑斯山到巍峨的喜马拉雅，山地覆盖了地球陆地面积的近四分之一，栖息着全球约 15% 的人口与近一半的生物多样性热点地区。世界最高峰珠穆朗玛峰，海拔逾29,000英尺，象征着人类的追求与自然的壮丽。其冰川滋养着无数河流，维系着数以百万计的生命，证明了山脉不仅是风景，更是地球的生命线。

冰川储存着全球约70%的淡水资源，但随着全球气温上升，它们正以惊人的速度融化。这一变化威胁着农业、水资源安全、能源生产，以及数十亿人的生计。冰川退缩与永久冻土融化也加剧了洪水、山体滑坡与侵蚀等灾害，使社区与基础设施面临风险。

今年国际山岳日的主题为：“冰川关乎山地及其以外地区的水源、粮食与生计”，强调了保护这些关键生态系统的紧迫性。无论是仰望珠峰的雄姿，还是徒步于家乡的山岭，这一天都提醒我们重新连接地球的垂直世界，铭记山脉在生命、气候与生物多样性中所扮演的不可替代的角色。

International Mountain Day

Every December 11, we celebrate International Mountain Day, honoring the majestic peaks that shape our planet and the glaciers that support life. From the rolling Alps to the towering Himalayas, mountains cover nearly a quarter of Earth's land and host 15% of the world's population and nearly half of its biodiversity hotspots. Mount Everest, the world's highest peak at over 29,000 feet, stands as a symbol of human aspiration and natural beauty. Its glaciers feed rivers sustaining millions, showing that mountains are more than scenery—they are lifelines.

Glaciers, holding about 70% of the world's fresh water, are melting rapidly due to rising global temperatures. This threatens agriculture, water security, energy production, and the livelihoods of billions. Retreating glaciers and thawing permafrost also heighten hazards like floods, landslides, and erosion, putting communities and infrastructure at risk.

This year, International Mountain Day is themed 'Glaciers matter for water, food, and livelihoods in mountains and beyond,' which emphasizes the urgent need to protect these vital ecosystems. Whether marveling at Everest or hiking a local ridge, the day invites us to reconnect with Earth's vertical landscapes and recognize their essential role in life, climate, and biodiversity.

科尔多瓦清真寺大教堂的内部，安达卢西亚，西班牙 Interior of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain (© Elena Zolotova/Getty Images)

文化交汇之地 Where cultures converge

安达卢西亚 · 科尔多瓦清真寺大教堂，西班牙

科尔多瓦清真寺大教堂是一部凝固在石头中的编年史，诉说着西班牙层叠交融的历史。它最初由日耳曼的西哥特人建造为一座教堂，公元784年，科尔多瓦倭马亚酋长国的创建者阿卜杜·拉赫曼一世将其改建为清真寺。其宏伟的柱式大厅由一排排石柱支撑，最著名的便是那交错的红白相间拱券。如今，殿内仍保留着 850 多根石柱，其中许多取材自古罗马和早期西哥特建筑。

13世纪的基督教收复运动期间，这场历时数百年的运动旨在从穆斯林统治下收复伊比利亚半岛，清真寺被改建为天主教大教堂。此后，又增建了文艺复兴风格的中殿，使哥特、文艺复兴、巴洛克与伊斯兰艺术在此完美融合。如今，这处被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产的地标，每年吸引数百万游客，他们为其独特的艺术、信仰与历史融合而着迷。尽管历经数百年的修缮与改造，原清真寺的几何纹饰与马蹄形拱门依旧保存完好，仿佛为人们开启了一扇通向科尔多瓦多元文化辉煌过去的窗口。科尔多瓦清真寺大教堂，是共存与征服、信仰与艺术交织的建筑杰作。

Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain

The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba is a chronicle of Spain's layered history. It began as a church built by the Germanic Visigoths, before being transformed into a mosque in 784 CE by Abd al-Rahman I, founder of the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba. Its vast hypostyle hall, a space supported by rows of columns, features the famous red-and-white arches shown here. Today, it contains more than 850 columns, many reused from Roman and earlier Visigothic structures.

During the Christian Reconquista in the 13th century—a campaign spanning centuries to reclaim Iberian territories from Muslim rule—the mosque was converted into a Catholic cathedral. Later, a Renaissance nave was added, blending Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles with Islamic heritage. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts millions of visitors fascinated by its unique fusion of art, faith, and history. Despite centuries of modifications, the original mosque's geometric patterns and horseshoe arches remain largely intact, offering a glimpse into Córdoba's multicultural past. The Mosque-Cathedral serves as a remarkable story of coexistence, conquest, and architectural brilliance.

多马索的建筑上的圣诞彩灯，科莫湖，意大利 Christmas lights in Domaso, Lake Como, Italy (© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images)

一切安详，一切明亮 All is calm, all is bright

多马索的建筑上的圣诞彩灯，科莫湖，意大利

当意大利科莫湖上闪烁的灯光比星辰更耀眼时，你就会知道，圣诞节已在多马索登场。这个昔日的渔村，如今每到冬季便化身为闪亮的节日舞台：粉彩色的房屋、古老的教堂与湖畔别墅被光带缠绕，交织成一幅梦幻的圣诞画卷。

湖畔的主步道湖滨大道成为节日的焦点。教堂里回荡着圣诞颂歌，集市摊位上陈列着手工艺品、香气四溢的烤栗子，以及堆得满满的意大利圣诞蛋糕，让人们在甜蜜中迎接新年。

这一切的核心是温暖的社区精神。科莫湖畔的居民以让节日更特别为荣：他们在广场上组织现场音乐演出，搭建宛如文艺复兴画卷般的耶稣诞生场景。游客们也不再只是旁观者，毕竟，没有什么比一杯热气腾腾的香料红酒与一个真挚的微笑，更能传递那句温暖的祝福：“圣诞快乐！”。

Christmas lights in Domaso, Lake Como, Italy

When the twinkling reflections on Italy's Lake Como outshine the stars, you know Christmas has docked in Domaso. Once a fishing village, this lakeside town now transforms each winter into a glittering display of holiday cheer, where pastel houses, old churches, and waterfront villas are wrapped in ribbons of light. The result? A picturesque Christmas scene.

The main waterfront, or lungolago, becomes the star attraction. Churches chime with carols, and market stalls pop up selling handmade crafts, warm chestnuts, and enough panettone to keep everyone running on sweet energy until the New Year.

At the heart of it all is community. Residents around Lake Como take pride in making the season special, from organizing live music in the piazza to staging nativity scenes that look straight out of a Renaissance painting. Even visitors feel part of the celebration—after all, nothing says 'Buon Natale' (Merry Christmas) like being handed a steaming cup of vin brulé, or mulled wine, and a smile.

雪中的故宫，中国北京 The Forbidden City in Snowfall, Beijing, China (© Ian.CuiYi/Getty Images)

雪落下的声音 The sound of snow falling

大雪节气

今天是中国传统二十四节气中的大雪节气。大雪的到来预示着气温将逐渐降低，冬季降水量也将增加。大雪期间，中国大部分地区已进入严冬，北方部分地区的气温甚至会降至零度以下。北方大地呈现出“万里冰封”的壮丽景象，而南方则展现出“雪花飘舞，万物银装素裹”的迷人景色。

今日照片中的紫禁城，在飘雪时分显得格外有韵味。宫墙披上银装，屋檐斗拱更显恢弘。雪花轻柔飘落，宛若纤柔的飞舞花瓣，营造出极致浪漫的意境。斑驳的光影让每个角落都成为绝美的画卷。

大沼泽地国家公园的蜘蛛网，佛罗里达州，美国 Spider webs in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA (© Troy Harrison/Getty Images)

佛罗里达州的生命湿地 Florida's living wetlands

庆祝大沼泽地国家公园成立78周年

在美国的最南端，延展着一片与众不同的自然奇景：大沼泽地。它既不是典型的沼泽，也不是河流，而是一片缓慢流动、浅而宽广的水域，从平坦的草原向南漂移，最终注入佛罗里达湾，它将森林、湿地、红树林与沿海草原连成一个庞大而复杂的亚热带生态网络。栖息着包括短吻鳄、海牛及濒危的佛罗里达美洲狮在内的数百种生物。1947年12月6日，美国设立了大沼泽地国家公园，保护面积超过150万英亩，并首次将保护重点从单一地标转向整体生态系统的保育。

如今日图片所示，蜘蛛网在芦苇间轻盈铺展，细丝在阳光下折射出细碎的光影。如今，大沼泽地已被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录，然而它的生态平衡依旧脆弱：污染、城市开发以及水流改造，持续威胁着这片土地的生机。包括《大沼泽地综合修复计划》在内的重大生态项目，正致力于恢复自然水流、减少污染并限制城市扩张。在这片由湿地与水道交织的生态拼图中，生活着超过 350 种鸟类；美洲鳄与短吻鳄共栖同一片水域；佛罗里达美洲狮则在寂静的走廊间穿行。大沼泽地是一片仍在呼吸的土地。它提醒我们，保护自然，并非让生命静止，而是让它继续流动。

Celebrating 78 years of Everglades National Park

On Florida's southern tip lies one of the United States' most unusual landscapes. The Everglades is not a typical swamp or river. It is a slow, shallow sheet of water that drifts south across flat grasslands toward Florida Bay, linking forests, marshes, mangroves, and coastal prairies. This subtropical wilderness supports hundreds of species, including alligators, manatees, and the endangered Florida panther. On December 6, 1947, the United States established the Everglades National Park, protecting over 1.5 million acres and shifting conservation toward preserving entire ecosystems rather than isolated landmarks.

Spider webs stretch between reeds, catching light in fine reflections in the image featured today. The park is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet its balance remains fragile: pollution, development, and altered water flow still threaten its habitats. Major restoration efforts, including the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, aim to restore natural water patterns, reduce pollution, and limit urban expansion. Within this mosaic, over 350 bird species live, both American crocodiles and alligators share its waters, and panthers move through its quiet corridors. The Everglades endures as a working landscape, proof that protection means letting life keep moving.

科潘的玛雅遗址，洪都拉斯 Maya site of Copán, Honduras (© diegograndi/Getty Images)

绘制星图的城市 The city that mapped the stars

科潘玛雅遗址

在洪都拉斯西部一片静谧山谷中，坐落着科潘古城的遗址，这座城市曾是古代玛雅文明的璀璨明珠。在这座城市里，天空既是罗盘，又是日历，指引着天象，塑造了庙宇的方向、仪式的时间与人们的生活节奏。公元426年左右，来自玛雅腹地的勇士基尼奇·亚什·库克·莫建立了科潘，并开创了王室王朝。此后，科潘成为玛雅艺术、天文学与政治权力的中心。

在科潘的核心区域，矗立着两座讲述历史的石碑：象形文字阶梯与Q祭坛，它们以石刻的语言记录了这座城的辉煌与智慧。象形文字阶梯共有63级石阶，刻有超过2000个玛雅文字，是迄今发现最长的玛雅铭文，记录了统治、仪式与野心的篇章，见证了权力的脉动。紧邻其旁的Q祭坛则以雕刻讲述历史，依次刻出16位君王的形象，将一个王朝的传承永恒镌刻于石上。科潘遗址于19世纪被重新发现，并于1980年被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录。如今，它依旧被视为古代玛雅文明最杰出的成就之一。那精妙的石工工艺、对秩序与天象的理解，至今仍令人赞叹。正如它所证明的那样：艺术的生命力，终将超越孕育它的世界而长存。

Maya site of Copán

In a quiet valley of western Honduras lie the ruins of Copán—a city of the ancient Maya civilization. Its sky served as both compass and calendar, guiding celestial events and shaping temples, rituals, and the rhythm of life. Around 426 CE, K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', a warrior from the Maya heartland, founded Copán and established its royal dynasty. The city became a center of Maya art, astronomy, and power.

At the heart of Copán stand two monuments—stories in stone—that reflect its artistic and political brilliance: the Hieroglyphic Stairway and Altar Q. The stairway rises in 63 carved steps covered with more than 2,000 glyphs—the longest Maya inscription ever found—recording reigns, ceremonies, and ambitions that shaped the city's power. Altar Q, standing beside it, translates that history into sculpture, portraying 16 rulers in sequence, preserving the story of a dynasty in stone. Rediscovered in the 19th century and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, Copán remains one of the finest achievements of the ancient Maya. Today, it endures in the precision of its stonework—proof that art can outlast even the world that built it.