圣胡安岛石灰窑灯塔，华盛顿州，美国 Lime Kiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island, Washington State, USA (© Edmund Lowe Photography/Shutterstock)

指引船只穿越历史 Guiding ships through history

全国灯塔日

每年的8月7日是“全国灯塔日”，这一节日旨在颂扬那些数百年来指引船只安全航行于美国沿海的灯塔。这一日期是为了纪念乔治·华盛顿总统签署生效的《1789年灯塔法案》。

在华盛顿州的圣胡安岛（San Juan Island），石灰窑灯塔（Lime Kiln Lighthouse）生动地展现了那段历史。这座灯塔建于1919年，矗立在俯瞰哈罗海峡（Haro Strait）的岩石峭壁之上，其发出的白色闪光至今仍指引着船只安全航行。附近的石灰窑点州立公园（Lime Kiln Point State Park）则因更令人兴奋的景象而闻名——那就是虎鲸。游客常在岸边眺望海面，有时能看到这些强壮的鲸鱼从离岸不远处游过。

从灯塔看守人在漫长风暴之夜坚守岗位，到如今自动化系统的广泛应用，灯塔在不断演变的同时，始终保持着其核心作用。尽管许多灯塔已成为历史地标与观景胜地，但在导航技术高度发达的今天，它们依然是安全、坚韧与探险精神的永恒象征。

National Lighthouse Day

Every August 7, National Lighthouse Day shines a light on the beacons that have guided ships safely along America's coasts for centuries. The date commemorates the Lighthouse Act of 1789, signed into law by President George Washington.

On Washington's San Juan Island, Lime Kiln Lighthouse brings that history vividly to life. Built in 1919 on a rocky bluff overlooking Haro Strait, its white flash still guides vessels through these waters. Nearby, Lime Kiln Point State Park is famous for something even more thrilling: orcas. Visitors often scan the waves from shore and may spot these powerful whales passing close to land.

From keepers tending lamps through long, stormy nights to today's automated systems, lighthouses have evolved while preserving their essential role. Many now serve as historic landmarks and scenic viewpoints, yet even in the age of advanced navigation, they remain enduring symbols of safety, resilience, and adventure.

奎诺尔特雨林, 奥林匹克国家公园, 华盛顿州, 美国 Quinault rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington state, USA (© Chris Moore/Tandem Stills + Motion)

一个郁郁葱葱的王国 A lush kingdom

世界雨林日

6月22日是世界雨林日，这是一个全球性的日子，也是全年呼吁人们保护世界剩余雨林的行动。这些生态系统并非地图上的点点星罗棋布。它们遍布热带地区及其他地区，却仅覆盖地球表面约6%的面积。想想南美洲的亚马逊雨林、非洲的刚果盆地以及东南亚的森林吧。

位于华盛顿州奥林匹克国家公园的奎诺特雨林是一片原始的温带雨林。雨水和雾气滋养着它，使每一根树枝都成为鲜活的生命之源。仔细观察，你会发现这里郁郁葱葱，湿润丰饶：西加云杉和西部铁杉，披着苔藓和蕨类的大叶枫，以及倒下的参天大树上萌发新芽的“保育原木”。森林地面是真菌、昆虫和两栖动物的柔软实验室。如果你要来这里游览，可以从奎诺特雨林护林站出发，沿着枫树林步道走一小段，就能与森林平视相望。6月22日提醒我们行动起来。让我们每天都为森林挺身而出，守护那些依然屹立的生机。

World Rainforest Day

June 22 is World Rainforest Day, a global moment and a year-round call to protect the world's remaining rainforests. These ecosystems aren't just dots on the map. They thrive across the tropics and beyond yet cover only about 6% of Earth's surface. Think of the Amazon in South America, the Congo Basin in Africa, and the forests of Southeast Asia.

Quinault, in Olympic National Park in Washington, is a primeval temperate rainforest. Rain and fog keep it growing, turning every branch into a living surface. Look closer and you'll see lush, damp abundance: Sitka spruce and western hemlock, bigleaf maples dressed in mosses and ferns, and 'nurse logs' where new trees germinate on fallen giants. The forest floor is a soft laboratory of fungi, insects, and amphibians. If you're visiting, start at the Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station and take the short Maple Glade Trail to meet the forest at eye level. June 22 is a reminder to act. Let's show up for forests every day and protect what's still standing.

斯卡吉特谷地郁金香花田, 华盛顿, 美国 Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington, USA (© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images)

花瓣巡游 Petal parade

斯卡吉特谷郁金香节

每年春天，华盛顿州的斯卡吉特山谷都会变成一片色彩斑斓的花海，斯卡吉特山谷郁金香节在此欢庆花季的到来。整个四月，游客们可以漫步于郁金香花园和农田，欣赏成排盛开的郁金香，远眺群山美景。

这个节日并非局限于一个地点——它横跨整个山谷，邀请游客探索多个花园，每个花园都各具特色。有些花园注重精心设计的花卉布置，而另一些则展现了仍在运营的农场和广袤的田野。除了鲜花，这个节日还为游客提供艺术展览、适合家庭的活动以及在该地区举办的社区活动。

展览选址于一座废弃的石灰岩采石场，将梵高的画作转化为一个共享的实体空间，投影在高耸的石墙和地板上。参观者不再是退后观赏，而是穿梭于色彩、韵律和尺度之间，体验科技如何重塑我们欣赏艺术的方式。这恰如其分地体现了世界艺术日的宗旨：不仅在于致敬艺术杰作，更在于重新思考艺术如何存在、发展并持续吸引新的观众。

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Each spring, Washington's Skagit Valley transforms into a patchwork of color as the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival celebrates the arrival of bloom season. Throughout April, visitors can explore tulip gardens and farmland lined with vibrant rows of flowers, all framed by mountain views.

The festival isn't limited to one location—it stretches across the valley, inviting guests to discover multiple gardens, each offering its own experience. Some focus on carefully designed displays, while others highlight working farms and wide- open fields. Alongside the flowers, the festival connects visitors with art exhibits, family-friendly activities, and community events hosted throughout the region.

Bloom timing changes every year, making each visit a little different, so checking bloom updates is part of the adventure. What began as a small local celebration in 1984 has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest's most loved spring traditions, drawing photographers, nature lovers, and road trip enthusiasts eager to welcome the season.

坦克湖 (Tank Lakes), 高山湖泊荒野区, 华盛顿州, 美国 Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, USA (© Austin Trigg/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

美丽的星空 Weeding and wishing

坦克湖, 高山湖泊荒野区, 华盛顿

今天图片中璀璨的星空来自于坦克湖，它位于高山湖泊荒野区。高山湖泊荒野占地超过40万英亩，位于风景如画的华盛顿州中部喀斯喀特山脉。荒野位于喀斯喀特山脉北段的斯诺夸米山口和史蒂文斯山口之间，其中包括被称为韦纳奇山脉的子山脉，该山脉构成了韦纳奇-雅基马分水岭。

这片荒野由冰川侵蚀而成，点缀着700多个湖泊。许多山峰和山坡终年被雪原覆盖。从生长着花旗松、雪松的湿润森林，到生长着沙拉树和浆果的林下层，这片地貌逐渐延伸至低矮植物覆盖的广阔草甸，最终以生长着黄松的干燥林地结束。

Astronomy Day and National Public Lands Day

When the calendar lines up just right, you get a rare double feature: National Public Lands Day and Astronomy Day. It's a chance to explore the landscapes that ground us and the skies that inspire us—all within 24 hours.

National Public Lands Day, held on the fourth Saturday of September, is America's biggest single-day volunteer event for parks, forests, and other shared spaces. Volunteers rake, plant, and pick up litter—all while enjoying free admission to these sites. Astronomy Day comes twice a year, with the fall version offering longer nights and darker skies. The goal is simple: help more people discover the universe. Many parks are far from city lights, making them prime spots for seeing the Milky Way, meteor showers, and constellations without interference. Remote places like Tank Lakes in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness, pictured here, offer exactly that.

This year, why not make it a two-for-one celebration? Hike a trail by day, then trace constellations by night. On National Public Lands Day, you might cross paths with a deer or eagle. On Astronomy Day, your companions could be Orion or Cassiopeia. Different worlds, same sense of wonder.

奥林匹克国家公园的瀑布, 华盛顿, 美国 A waterfall in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA (© Chris Moore/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

苔藓与薄雾 Moss and mist

奥林匹克国家公园, 华盛顿

奥林匹克国家公园拥有罕见的多元地形——这正是其独特魅力所在。这里汇聚了高山脊岭、宁静的森林，以及美国本土48州中最长的未开发海岸线之一。这片占地近1400平方英里的华盛顿州区域，作为联合国教科文组织世界遗产地，在2024年吸引了超过370万名游客。该地区最初于1909年由西奥多·罗斯福总统以“奥林匹斯山国家纪念碑”之名设立为保护区，并于1938年正式成为国家公园。

雨在这里不是问题——正是雨让这片苔藓覆盖的区域得以存在。在公园的西部边缘，霍雨林每年降雨量约为140英寸——超过11英尺——它自豪地承载着每一滴雨水。高耸的西黄松、西部红杉和海岸道格拉斯冷杉沿着像“苔藓大厅”这样的步道排列，而香蕉蛞蝓、猞猁和奥林匹克黑熊则以这片森林为家。霍雨林是世界上保存最完好的温带雨林之一。如果你在追寻瀑布，索尔杜克瀑布绝对不会让你失望——三条溪流倾泻入狭窄的苔藓峡谷。奥林匹克国家公园是一个坚实的提醒：最好的徒步旅行并不总是伴随着晴朗的天空。

Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park covers a rare mix of terrain—and that's part of its unique appeal. Alpine ridges, quiet forests, and one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48 all meet here. Spanning nearly 1,400 square miles in Washington State, this UNESCO World Heritage Site drew over 3.7 million visitors in 2024. Originally protected in 1909 as Mount Olympus National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt, the area became a national park in 1938.

Rain isn't a problem here—it's the reason this moss-draped area exists. On the western edge of the park, the Hoh Rainforest receives about 140 inches of rain a year—over 11 feet—and it wears every drop proudly. Towering Sitka spruces, western red cedars, and coast Douglas firs line trails like the Hall of Mosses, while banana slugs, bobcats, and Olympic black bears call the forest home. The Hoh is one of the best-preserved temperate rainforests in the world. And if you're chasing waterfalls, Sol Duc Falls delivers—three streams plunging into a narrow, mossy gorge. Olympic is a solid reminder that the best hikes don't always come with clear skies.

帕卢斯连绵起伏的丘陵，华盛顿州，美国 Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington, USA (© svetlana57/Getty Images)

大自然的绿色地毯 Nature's green quilt

帕卢斯连绵起伏的丘陵，华盛顿州

一波又一波的柔软丘陵绵延于帕卢斯地区。这片宁静的区域位于华盛顿州东南部，向爱达荷州和俄勒冈州的边界延伸。覆盖着小麦的坡地随着季节更迭而变换色彩。春季，丘陵呈现出郁郁葱葱的绿色，年轻的小麦和大麦开始生长；夏季则转变为干燥的金黄色，作物即将收割。

常被誉为华盛顿州最宁静的自然奇观之一，帕卢斯地区标志性的起伏山丘源于一段古老而引人入胜的地质故事。这些类似沙丘的山丘并非由河流或地壳运动塑造，而是由来自干旱西南部的风吹尘土和细粒淤泥（即“黄土”）在数千年中逐渐堆积而成。在冰河时代，来自加拿大的冰川将岩石磨成细小的“冰川粉”，这些粉尘流入史前时期的冰川密苏拉湖。当冰坝决堤时，洪水席卷了华盛顿州东部，留下层层淤泥。随后，主导风将这些尘埃带到该地区，沉积成我们今天所见的丘陵。

Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington

Wave after wave of velvety hills stretch across the Palouse. This tranquil region lies in southeastern Washington, extending to the borders of Idaho and Oregon. The wheat-covered slopes shift in color with every passing season. In spring, the hills turn lush shades of green as young wheat and barley begin to grow, while summer transforms them into dry, golden browns as the crops near harvest.

Often hailed as one of Washington State's most serene natural wonders, the Palouse owes its signature rolling hills to an ancient and fascinating geological story. These dune-like hills were shaped over thousands of years—not by rivers or tectonic shifts, but by windblown dust and fine silt, known as 'loess,' carried from the arid Southwest. During the Ice Ages, glaciers from Canada ground rock into fine 'glacial flour,' which flowed into the prehistoric Glacial Lake Missoula. When ice dams broke, floods swept across eastern Washington, leaving behind layers of silt. Prevailing winds later carried that dust to this region, settling it into the hills we see today.

奥林匹克国家公园石狮海滩，华盛顿州，美国 Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA (© T.M. Schultze/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

日落的阴影 Shades of sunset

石狮海滩，奥林匹克国家公园，华盛顿州

奥林匹克国家公园始建于1938年，是一处未受污染的荒野胜地。该公园位于华盛顿州奥林匹克半岛，占地近1,440平方英里。从冰川覆盖的高山到温带雨林，这里的生态系统如迷宫般错综复杂，既是野生动物的家园，也是探险家和历史爱好者的度假胜地。公园内的石狮海滩宁静美丽，太平洋的浪花拍打着海蚀柱和沙岸，正如今天的图片所示。这个国家公园被认定为国际生物圈保护区，拥有600英里长的小径，徒步旅行者可以沿着海岸线徒步跋涉，在“拱门点”观赏海滩的海拱门。游客可以近距离观赏奥林匹斯山，这里有红胸䴓、冬鹪鹩和斑点猫头鹰等300多种鸟类。观赏完美景后，游客还可以在新月湖中畅游一番。阿拉瓦角以北的沿海荒野地区，包括那里的海滩，2000多年来一直是太平洋西北海岸马卡部落的家园，游客可以在附近的马卡保留地了解其文化。

Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park, established in 1938, offers an escape into unspoiled wilderness. It covers nearly 1,440 square miles on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. With a labyrinth of ecosystems that range from glacier-capped mountains to temperate rainforests, the park is a home for wildlife and an International Biosphere Reserve. Within it lies Shi Shi Beach, a serene stretch where the Pacific laps against sea stacks and sandy shores, as seen in today's image.

From here, you can follow one of the park's many trails and trek along the coast to see the beach's sea arch at Point of the Arches, an outcrop that has over 30 sea stacks, columns of rock rising from the beach. Within the park, visitors can get a closer look at Mount Olympus, spot over 300 bird species like red-breasted nuthatches, winter wrens, and spotted owls. They can also take a refreshing swim in Lake Crescent. The coastal wilderness area north of Cape Alava, including Shi Shi Beach, has been home to the Makah Tribe of the Pacific Northwest Coast for over 2,000 years. Visitors can gain an insight into their culture at the nearby Makah Reservation.

迷人的水晶湖，高山湖泊，华盛顿州，美国 Crystal Lake in the Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, USA (© Mitch Pittman/Tandem Stills + Motion)

原始之美，人人共享 Unspoiled beauty for all

《荒野法》周年纪念日

有时候，逃离尘嚣也是一个不错的选择。多亏了环保主义者霍华德·扎尼泽，美国人才可以在该国众多的荒野之一中实现这一愿望。尽管创建国家森林公园等保护工作始于19世纪末，但到1960年代，原始的荒野面积已减少到仅占全国土地面积的2.5%。为了扭转这一趋势，扎尼泽起草了许多保护性条款，它们后来成为《荒野法》的大部分内容。该法案于1964年9月3日由林登·约翰逊总统签署成为法律，如今保护着超1.09亿英亩的土地——占美国土地的5%。

图中所示的水晶湖就位于这样一个保护区内。它坐落于华盛顿州的高山湖泊，这个“魔幻仙境”拥有700多个湖泊和池塘，以及美国西部一些最佳的攀岩地点。这里也是高山山羊、雷鸟、鼠兔以及多种高山花卉的家园。不过，如果您想亲眼目睹高山湖泊的风光，就得做好等待的准备。日间徒步旅行的许可证很少，去年参加过夜许可证抽签的40,000人中，只有2558人获得了许可证。

Wilderness Act anniversary

Sometimes it's nice to get away. Thanks to environmentalist Howard Zahniser, Americans can do that in one of the country's many wildernesses—sheltered from human activities. While the protection of national forests and parks began in the late 1800s, untamed wilderness had dwindled to only 2.5% of US land by the 1960s. To reverse this trend, Zahniser wrote most of what became the Wilderness Act. Signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on September 3, 1964, today it protects more than 109 million acres—5% of the land in the US.

Pictured in today's image, Crystal Lake, in the Enchantments, Washington, is in one such protected area. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Enchantments region has more than 700 lakes and ponds and some of the best rock climbing in the Western US. It's also home to mountain goats, ptarmigan, pikas, and many alpine flowers. If you want to see Alpine Lakes Wilderness yourself, however, be prepared to wait. Few permits are granted for day hikes, and of the 40,000 people who entered last year's lottery for overnight permits, only 2,558 received one.

雷尼尔山国家公园的野花，华盛顿州，美国 Wildflowers in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA (© RomanKhomlyak/Getty Images)

风雨无阻 Come Rainier or shine

雷尼尔山国家公园

在雷尼尔山冰川的注视下，成片的野花绽放出勃勃的生机。每年夏天，这座山周围的草地上都会盛开着色彩鲜艳的亚高山花朵：紫色的紫菀、粉色的珊瑚兰和黄色的虎皮花只是这里的部分植物。雷尼尔山又名塔霍马山，海拔超14400英尺，是华盛顿州最高的山峰。它被36平方英里的冰川和永久雪原覆盖，是美国48个州中冰川覆盖率最高的山峰。
雷尼尔山国家公园占地23.6万英亩，包括高山、瀑布、草地和原始森林。除了各种植物外，公园里还生活着美洲狮、海狸、白头鹰和游隼等各种生物。雷尼尔山国家公园是一个颇受欢迎的登山目的地，每年约有10,000人试图攀登这座山。游客还可以沿着各种各样的小径徒步旅行。7月和8月是雷尼尔山最阳光明媚的时候，是游览雷尼尔山的最佳时间。

Mount Rainier National Park

In the shadow of Mount Rainier, a carpet of wildflowers bursts into life. Every summer, the meadows around this mountain are colored with vivid shades of blooming subalpine flowers: purple asters, pink coralroot, and yellow tiger lilies, and more. Also known as Tahoma, at over 14,400 feet, Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in the state of Washington. It is covered by 36 square miles of glaciers and permanent snowfields, the highest glacier ice cover of any mountain in the lower 48 states.

Mount Rainier National Park encompasses mountains, waterfalls, meadows, and old-growth forests and teems with life, from cougars and beavers to bald eagles and peregrine falcons. It is also a popular climbing destination, with some 10,000 people attempting to scale the mountain every year while others enjoy hiking along its trails. It's never sunnier in Rainier than in July and August, making summer the perfect time to visit.

香根和羽扇豆，梅索谷，北喀斯喀特，华盛顿州，美国 Balsamroot and lupines, Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington, USA (© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images)

野性与自由 Wild and free

梅索谷，北喀斯喀特，华盛顿州

如果你想寻觅野花铺满青草地这样生机盎然的地方，华盛顿州北喀斯喀特山脉的梅索谷就是你的理想之地。羽扇豆开着紫色、蓝色和白色的尖尖的花朵，箭叶香根开着金黄色的大花朵，配上崎岖的山脉作为背景，造就了如诗如画般的美景。这些花朵在山谷的生态系统中也发挥着至关重要的作用，羽扇豆是固氮植物，它们通过将大气中的氮转化为邻近植物可以吸收和利用的形态来提高土壤肥力。另一方面，箭叶香根能吸引蜜蜂和蝴蝶等传粉者，有助于植物繁殖，进而促进该地区的生物多样性。无论你是经验丰富的植物学家还是自然爱好者，梅索谷的野花和迷人的荒野一定会给你留下深刻的印象。

Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington

If you're looking for meadows blanketed with vibrant wildflowers, the Methow Valley in the North Cascade Mountains, Washington, is the place for you. The spiky purple, blue, and white lupines and golden balsamroot flowers create a picturesque contrast with the area's rugged mountains. These flowers also play crucial roles in the valley's ecosystem. Lupines are nitrogen-fixing plants which help to improve soil fertility while balsamroot attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, helping plants to reproduce and contributing to the biodiversity of the region. Whether you're a seasoned botanist or nature enthusiast, the wildflowers of the Methow Valley will surely leave a lasting impression of the enchanting wilderness.