克尔卡国家公园的斯克拉丁斯基布克瀑布, 克罗地亚 Skradinski Buk Waterfall in Krka National Park, Croatia (© Amazing Aerial Agency/Adobe Stock)

克尔卡的造物主 The architect of Krka

克尔卡国家公园的斯克拉丁斯基布克瀑布, 克罗地亚

水是克罗地亚克尔卡国家公园的缔造者，它沿着克尔卡河塑造了碧绿的水潭和层叠的瀑布。今天的照片重点展示了公园最著名的瀑布群——斯克拉丁斯基布克瀑布，多条溪流从洛佐瓦茨村附近茂密森林中的石灰华梯田倾泻而下。

斯克拉丁斯基瀑布并非单一的瀑布，而是绵延近半英里、由17级台阶组成的宽阔瀑布群。富含矿物质的水流经苔藓和岩石，缓慢形成层层阶梯，最终塑造了河流的自然走向。木栈道横跨水面，使游客可以近距离欣赏奔腾的瀑布、星罗棋布的小岛以及曾经为当地社区提供动力的修复水磨坊。

除了瀑布群之外，克尔卡国家公园还保护着一系列天然水域和野生动物栖息地，使其成为克罗地亚最具特色的景观之一——在这里，运动、历史和地质仍然紧密交织在一起。

Skradinski Buk Waterfall, Krka National Park, Croatia

Water is the architect of Krka National Park in Croatia, shaping emerald pools and layered waterfalls along the Krka River. Today's image highlights Skradinski Buk, the park's most famous waterfall system, where multiple streams spill over travertine terraces in a dense forest near the village of Lozovac.

Skradinski Buk is not a single waterfall, but a wide cascade of 17 steps stretching nearly half a mile. These terraces form when mineral-rich water flows over moss and stone, slowly creating natural barriers that reshape the river's course. Wooden walkways cross the water, offering close-up views of rushing falls, small islands, and restored watermills that once powered local communities.

Beyond the waterfall complex, Krka National Park protects a network of natural waters and wildlife habitats, making it one of Croatia's most distinctive landscapes—where movement, history, and geology remain deeply intertwined.

雪落瀑布，布雷肯比肯斯国家公园，威尔士 Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales (© Guy Edwardes/Nature Picture Library)

光之水帘 Veil of light

雪落瀑布，布雷肯比肯斯国家公园，威尔士

清澈的水流沿着岩壁整齐地倾泻而下，形成了这座瀑布，这是威尔士南部最具特色的瀑布之一。它的威尔士语名称意为“雪落瀑布”，形容水流像一层淡白色的水帘从岩壁上滑落。这座瀑布的独特之处在于可以从瀑布后方穿行。一条狭窄的小径将游客引到水帘背后，让人近距离感受水声、光线与水雾交织的自然景象。

雪落瀑布位于布雷肯比肯斯国家公园内。这里因众多河流与瀑布在森林峡谷间交错分布，而被称为“瀑布之国”。标识清晰的步道沿着赫普斯特河将多处瀑布连接起来，使这里成为长距离徒步路线中的热门停留点。

在峡谷之上，地貌逐渐过渡为起伏的荒原与绵延的山脊。高地上的步道常常受到强风与多变天气的影响。这种从开阔高地到隐秘水谷的鲜明对比，正是布雷肯比肯斯国家公园独特景观的重要特征。

Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales

Water spills in clean lines at Sgwd yr Eira, one of South Wales' most distinctive waterfalls. Its Welsh name means 'Waterfall of Snow,' referring to the pale curtain of water sliding over the rock face. What sets this waterfall apart is access. A narrow path leads visitors behind the falling water, immersing them in sound, light, and movement at close range. Sgwd yr Eira lies within Brecon Beacons National Park, often called 'Waterfall Country' for its network of rivers and falls carved into wooded gorges. Well-marked trails connect this waterfall to others along the River Hepste, making it a popular stop on longer hikes. Above the valleys, the landscape opens into rolling moorland and long ridgelines where upland paths are shaped by wind and changing weather. These contrasts define the Brecon Beacons, where open, exposed uplands give way to sheltered water, tying the landscape together.

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.

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.

劳特布隆嫩的施陶巴赫瀑布, 伯尔尼州, 瑞士 Staubbach Falls at Lauterbrunnen, Canton of Bern, Switzerland (© pongnathee kluaythong/Getty Images)

传奇故事前的篇章 The steps before the saga

J.R.R.托尔金纪念日

今日图片带我们走进瑞士劳特布隆嫩小镇，静谧山谷间，远处的施陶巴赫瀑布在阳光下闪烁。1911年，年轻的托尔金曾在徒步旅行中穿越这里，那时他还未成为《魔戒》和《霍比特人》的作者。巍峨的峭壁、银白的瀑流和清冽的山风，深深印刻在他的记忆中，被认为启发了他笔下的瑞文戴尔——中土世界中隐秘的精灵圣地。

1月3日，托尔金诞辰，世界各地的读者举杯庆祝“托尔金日”，晚上9点齐声向“教授”致敬。这一传统始于1972年，由托尔金协会发起，既追忆《魔戒》中弗罗多为比尔博举杯的场景，也缅怀作者在牛津的岁月。托尔金用一生塑造现代奇幻，将语言、神话与勇气交织成永恒的史诗。今天，我们纪念的不只是作家，更是梦想的缔造者——他让我们相信，即使最微小的旅程也能成就伟大，而奇迹就藏在身边，触手可及。

J.R.R. Tolkien Day

Our picture of the day takes us to the Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen, where the Staubbach Falls shimmers in the distance beyond a quiet alpine valley. This is the landscape a young traveler, J.R.R. Tolkien, crossed during a hiking trip in 1911, long before he became the storyteller behind 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.' Its soaring cliffs, silver waterfalls, and crisp mountain air left a lasting impression and are believed to have inspired his vision of Rivendell, the elven refuge hidden deep in Middle-earth.

On January 3—Tolkien's birthday—fans across the globe celebrate Tolkien Day, raising a toast at 9 PM to 'The Professor.' The tradition, started by The Tolkien Society in 1972, recalls both Frodo's toast to Bilbo and the writer's years at Oxford, where he spent a lifetime shaping modern fantasy—interweaving language, legend, and moral courage into timeless tales. Today, admirers honor not just an author but a world-maker—one who showed that even the smallest journey can lead to greatness, and that wonder awaits, ever-present, just beyond the familiar.

罗克河瀑布，上半岛，密歇根州，美国 Rock River Falls, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA (© Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images)

爱上密歇根 Falling for Michigan

罗克河瀑布，上半岛，密歇根州

密歇根州罗克河峡谷深处，罗克河瀑布在冰川雕琢的景观中悄然显现，周遭密林环绕，层层历史沉淀。在上半岛这片土地上，人类足迹绵延数千年：原住民阿尔冈昆语族之后，法国与英国探险者接踵而至；19世纪采矿与伐木业繁荣时期，芬兰、瑞典及法裔加拿大移民在此定居。如今这片人烟稀少的区域仅容纳着密歇根州3%的居民，森林与瀑布依旧保留着近乎原始的宁静。

要抵达瀑布，需沿着蜿蜒小径徒步前行，途中松柏参天、枫树成荫，林荫下蕨类与野花尽情舒展。红松鼠穿梭其间，白尾鹿悄然移动，鸥鸟与啄木鸟的鸣叫在海瓦萨国家森林回荡。小径尽头，一道18英尺高的瀑布倾泻而下，汇入清澈水潭。随着季节更替，这里展现出不同的风貌：夏日阳光在水面流转跳跃，秋日将树冠染成绚烂火海，冬日则为岩石披上晶莹冰晶。在罗克河瀑布，每一次造访，都是一次感官与自然灵魂的全新邂逅。

Rock River Falls, Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Nestled within Michigan's Rock River Canyon Wilderness, Rock River Falls emerges amid a landscape shaped by glaciers, dense woods, and layers of history. In the Upper Peninsula, humans have left their traces for millennia: Indigenous Algonquian-speaking peoples were followed by French and British explorers, and waves of Finnish, Swedish, and French-Canadian immigrants settled there during the 19th-century mining and logging booms. Today, this sparsely populated region hosts barely 3% of Michigan's residents, cradling its forests and waterfalls in near-natural serenity.

Reaching the falls requires a moderately challenging hike along winding paths lined with towering pines and maples, their shade cooling the ferns and wildflowers below. Red squirrels dart, white-tailed deer move silently, and the calls of loons and pileated woodpeckers echo through the Hiawatha National Forest. At the trail's end, the 18-foot waterfall spills into a clear pool, transformed by seasonal shifts: summer light flickers across the water, autumn sets the canopy ablaze, and winter drapes ice over rocks in glistening formations. At Rock River Falls, each visit offers a fresh sensory journey through the wild soul of northern Michigan.

温巴赫峡谷瀑布，巴伐利亚州，德国 Waterfall in Hintersee, Bavaria, Germany (© EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty Images)

水声低语 Where water speaks

温巴赫峡谷瀑布，巴伐利亚州，德国

陡峭的岩石峡谷，湍急的水流，还有如画般的风景：位于贝希特斯加登国家公园拉姆绍附近的温巴赫峡谷，是巴伐利亚最壮观的峡谷之一。在今日图片中，温巴赫溪在约200米长的狭窄岩层间奔流而下，形成层层小瀑布，并在长年累月中于岩石上雕刻出令人惊叹的纹理。色彩斑斓的岩层揭示了数千年前的地质过程。

稳固的木质栈道紧贴悬崖修建，引领游客穿行于这条狭窄峡谷之中。走到尽头，壮阔的温巴赫山谷豁然展开，坐落在瓦茨曼山与霍赫卡尔特山之间，这里也是远足登山的热门起点。自1847年向公众开放以来，峡谷凭借其沉浸式的自然之美持续吸引着各个年龄层的游客。尤其在春季，随着雪水融化、溪流暴涨，峡谷景观更显震撼。在这里徒步，就像进行一场时光之旅，亲眼见证大自然原始而磅礴的力量。

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.

秋季九寨沟国家公园里的诺日朗瀑布, 四川省, 中国 Nuorilang Waterfall in Jiuzhaigou National Park in autumn, Sichuan province, China (© tawatchaiprakobkit/Getty images)

彩林叠翠间的瀑布 Waterfalls among colorful forests

诺日朗瀑布, 四川, 中国

立秋是秋季的第二个节气。这意味着夏季的炎热将从此消失。不过，天气依然闷热，不像秋天。人们称这种天气为 “秋老虎”，通常从8月22日左右开始，到8月24日左右结束。

诺日朗瀑布距四川省会成都400公里，位于九寨沟景区中部，地理位置优越。距离典型藏式建筑的游客服务中心仅 300米（984英尺）。诺日朗在藏语中的意思是男性之神，强壮而威武。它海拔2365米（7759英尺），是中国最大的洞穴瀑布之一。

伊瓜苏瀑布的三火枪瀑布, 阿根廷 Three Musketeers Falls at Iguazú Falls, Argentina (© Mark Meredith/Getty Images)

奔流不息，为你为我 All for falls and falls for all

伊瓜苏瀑布的三火枪瀑布, 阿根廷

没有任何声音能盖过伊瓜苏瀑布的轰鸣。但令人震撼的不仅是那轰鸣的声浪。这座横跨阿根廷与巴西边境的自然奇观，以其磅礴气势令人无法抗拒。广阔的瀑布群绵延近两英里，汇聚了270多道独立瀑布，每一处都展现出独特的水流奔腾和水雾蒸腾之景。

今日图片展示的是阿根廷一侧的壮观景观三火枪瀑布。三股强劲水流并肩倾泻入伊瓜苏河，四周被郁郁葱葱的亚热带雨林环绕。有趣的是，虽然这些瀑布位于阿根廷境内，却只能从巴西一侧看到并进入。

瀑布属于伊瓜苏国家公园，这里是联合国教科文组织认定的世界遗产地，致力于保护该地区丰富的生物多样性，并为游客修建了步道与栈道，方便全景观赏与近距离感受那雷鸣般的水势。打开你的感官去感受大自然的奇观，同时别忘了回馈它的慷慨：不留下痕迹，只带走美好记忆。

Three Musketeers Falls at Iguazú Falls, Argentina

No voice is loud enough to drown out the roar of Iguazú Falls. But it's not just the sound. The sheer presence of this natural wonder is overwhelming as it straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil. This vast waterfall system stretches nearly 2 miles and features more than 270 individual cascades, each offering a unique display of tumbling water and shimmering mist.

Today's image captures one of the spectacular sights on the Argentine side—the Three Musketeers Falls, a trio of powerful streams plunging side by side into the Iguazú River below, framed by lush subtropical rainforest. Interestingly, although the falls are located in Argentina, they are only visible and accessible from the Brazilian side.

The falls are part of Iguazú National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects the region's rich biodiversity and offers visitors a network of trails and catwalks for panoramic views and close-up encounters with the thundering water. Open your senses to nature's wonders—and return its generosity. Leave no trace and take only memories with you.