汤姆·麦考尔滨水公园的樱花，波特兰，俄勒冈州，美国 Cherry blossoms at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon, USA (© Eric Vogt/Tandem Stills + Motion)

城市花开 Urban blooms

汤姆·麦考尔滨水公园，波特兰，俄勒冈

汤姆·麦考尔滨水公园位于俄勒冈州波特兰威拉米特河畔，占地36英亩，是这座城市最受欢迎的绿地之一。每年春季——通常从3月中旬到4月初——公园会被粉色与白色的樱花覆盖，仿佛置身花海。沿着风景优美的步道漫步，这些充满生机的樱树为城市中心提供了一片宁静的休憩空间。公园内还有多处著名景点，如萨蒙街喷泉（Salmon Street Springs），一个拥有众多水柱的互动喷泉，以及波特兰周六市场（Portland Saturday Market），是当地居民和游客喜爱的热门去处。

沿着公园的步道，游客可以欣赏到威拉米特河全景、波特兰的各座桥梁，以及晴朗天气下远处耸立的胡德山。汤姆·麦考尔滨水公园将自然之美与都市魅力完美融合。无论是在樱花树下悠闲漫步，还是探索开阔的绿地空间，它都象征着波特兰与自然和社区的深厚联系，为游客提供了一片远离城市喧嚣的清新天地。

Cherry blossoms at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon

Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a 36-acre urban oasis along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, is one of the city's most beloved green spaces. Each spring—typically from mid-March to early April—it transforms into a sea of soft pink and white as cherry blossoms bloom. These vibrant trees along scenic walking paths offer a peaceful escape in the heart of the city. The park also features notable landmarks like Salmon Street Springs, an interactive fountain with numerous water jets, and the Portland Saturday Market, a favorite local destination.

From the park's paths, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the river, Portland's bridges, and, on clear days, Mount Hood rising in the distance. Tom McCall Waterfront Park combines natural beauty with urban charm. Whether you're relaxing under the cherry blossoms or exploring its open spaces, it is a symbol of Portland's deep connection to nature and community, offering visitors a refreshing break from the bustle of city life.

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.

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.

蒙特雷湾的大翅鲸(座头鲸)，加利福尼亚州，美国 Humpback whales in Monterey Bay, California, USA (© Kiliii Fish/Cavan Images)

浪涛下的歌谣 Songs beneath the waves

世界鲸鱼日

世界鲸鱼日定于每年2月的第3个星期日，起源于20世纪80年代的夏威夷。当时，当地社区会庆祝座头鲸在迁徙季节重返近海。这一纪念日随后逐渐受到国际关注，尤其是在1986年国际捕鲸委员会通过商业捕鲸禁令之后，该举措成为全球鲸类保护的重要里程碑。

座头鲸修长的胸鳍格外醒目，而它们在繁殖季发出的复杂歌声，更为海洋增添了神秘回响。座头鲸的迁徙路线高度规律，常年沿岸而行，不仅成为季节更替的自然标志，也使其成为最早被关注和保护的鲸类之一。

鲸类保护不仅是禁捕，更关乎整个海洋环境。渔业、航运、噪音、塑料污染与海温变化，共同影响鲸的迁徙路径和觅食节奏。在蒙特雷湾，座头鲸的觅食依托于健康丰富的生态系统。猎物反哺海洋，营养滋养浮游生物，生命由此串联成完整的食物网。世界鲸鱼日，关注鲸鱼，也是关注海洋的未来。

World Whale Day

World Whale Day, observed on the third Sunday of February, began in the 1980s in Hawaii, where communities celebrated the seasonal return of migrating humpback whales. The day gained wider recognition after the International Whaling Commission's 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling, which marked a major milestone in international whale conservation.

Humpback whales are easily recognizable by their long pectoral fins and are known for their complex songs associated with breeding behavior. Their predictable migrations bring them close to shore, turning them into both a cultural marker of the season and a focal point for early conservation efforts.

Today, whale conservation extends far beyond hunting restrictions and includes how we use and manage the oceans more broadly. Fishing activity, major shipping routes, underwater noise, plastic waste, and rising ocean temperatures all influence whale movement and feeding patterns. Pictured here are humpback whales feeding cooperatively in Monterey Bay—a behavior that depends on healthy ecosystems and reliable prey availability. Whales also contribute to ocean systems by circulating nutrients that support plankton growth and marine food webs. World Whale Day highlights the ongoing importance of thoughtful ocean stewardship in maintaining balanced marine ecosystems.

死亡谷国家公园恶水盆地的盐滩, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Salt flats in Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA (© Jim Patterson/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

对比之谷 The valley of contrasts

死亡谷国家公园周年纪念

死亡谷国家公园颠覆人们对沙漠的想象，横跨加利福尼亚州与内华达州，总面积约340万英亩，是美国面积最大的国家公园。盐沼、火山丘陵、流动沙丘与覆雪山峰交错分布，构成极端而多变的地貌。从海拔11000英尺的望远镜峰，到低于海平面282英尺的恶水盆地，这里呈现出鲜明且震撼的对比。

罕见暴雨唤醒山谷，野花短暂盛放，隐秘绿洲为野生动物提供栖息之所，近1000种植物在极端环境中顽强生长。恶水盆地是北美洲海拔最低点，广阔盐滩在天际线上裂解出几何纹理，呈现出近乎超现实的景观。早在1849年，廷比沙肖松尼人便在这片山谷中安居生活。

鉴于其独特且极端的地貌景观，1933年，时任美国总统赫伯特·胡佛正式将死亡谷指定为国家纪念地。1994年，《加州沙漠保护法案》进一步将其升格为国家公园，面积扩大一倍以上，使这片极端沙漠得以长期保存。

Death Valley National Park's Anniversary

Death Valley National Park challenges first impressions. Spanning more than 3.4 million acres across California and Nevada, it is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. Across this vast expanse, salt flats, volcanic hills, sweeping sand dunes, and distant snowcapped peaks create a landscape shaped by time and extremes. From the soaring heights of Telescope Peak, which rises over 11,000 feet above the desert floor, to the depths of Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, the park is a study in contrasts.

Rare rainstorms can trigger brief bursts of wildflowers across parts of the valley, while hidden oases sustain wildlife and more than 1,000 plant species thrive against the odds. At Badwater Basin, pictured here, the land sinks to its lowest point in North America. Its blinding white salt flats stretch to the horizon, fractured into geometric patterns that make each step feel surreal. Long before it earned its foreboding name in 1849, the Timbisha Shoshone people called this valley home.

Recognizing its unique landscapes, President Herbert Hoover designated Death Valley a national monument on this day in 1933. That protection expanded in 1994, when the California Desert Protection Act elevated it to national park status and more than doubled its size, ensuring the preservation of this extraordinary desert for generations to come.

翡翠湾和范内特岛, 太浩湖, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, USA (© Bill Stevenson/Cavan Images)

太浩湖视觉盛宴 Tahoe serving views

翡翠湾和范内特岛, 太浩湖, 加利福尼亚州

当一个地方同时被地质学家、电影镜头和民间传说反复提及，它必定不只是一处风景。横跨加州与内华达州的太浩湖，正是这样一片承载故事的水域。它诞生于冰河时代，断层活动与冰川雕琢造就了深不见底的湖盆，如今已成为美国最深的淡水湖之一。很久以前，瓦绍族人世代栖居湖畔，随季节更替捕鱼、采集。几个世纪后，矿工的脚步踏入此地，汽船划破湖面，太浩湖也由资源中心，转变为四季皆宜的休闲度假地。

今日画面中的翡翠湾，是太浩湖最上镜的角落之一。因水域较浅，湖水在这里呈现出更为明亮的碧色。水面之下，旧时的游艇与驳船静静躺卧，无声地讲述着湖泊的历史。位于湖心中央的范内特岛上，有一座小巧的石制“茶屋”，建于20世纪20年代，出自慈善家洛拉·奈特之手，她同时还主持兴建了附近的维京斯霍姆。故事并未止步于此，当地传说中提到的“太浩特西”，为这片湖水增添了一丝神秘感。也许某个不经意的水波，就会让你多看一眼，浮想联翩。

Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California

You know a place holds stories when geologists, filmmakers, and local folklore all claim it for different reasons. Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada, fits that bill perfectly. Formed during the Ice Age, the lake was shaped by faulting and glacial carving that created its deep basin. It is now one of the deepest freshwater lakes in the United States. For generations, the Washoe people lived around these clear waters, fishing and gathering seasonally. Centuries later, miners arrived, steamboats crossed the water, and Tahoe shifted from a resource hub to a year-round retreat.

Emerald Bay, seen in today's image, became one of its most photographed corners. Because the bay is shallower than the main lake, its water takes on a lighter hue. Beneath the surface rest old launches and barges, now preserved within Emerald Bay State Park. In the middle, Fannette Island rises with a small stone 'Tea House,’ a 1920s structure built by philanthropist Lora Knight, who also commissioned Vikingsholm nearby. And the story doesn't end here. Local stories mention 'Tahoe Tessie,' the lake's mythical creature. You never know—maybe you'll catch a ripple that makes you look twice.

密尔沃基市政厅的八层开放式中庭，威斯康星州，美国 The eight-story open atrium of Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin, USA (© lavin photography/Getty Images)

密尔沃基的传奇故事 A tall story of Milwaukee

密尔沃基市政厅，威斯康星州

走在密尔沃基市中心，你很可能会在某个瞬间抬头，被一座高塔深深吸引——那便是标志性的市政厅。密尔沃基市政厅于1895年完工，是一座高耸的弗拉芒文艺复兴式建筑，不仅在天际线上格外醒目，更是这座城市的象征。近八十年里，它一直是密尔沃基的最高点，直到1973年才被超越。市政厅由建筑师亨利·C·科赫设计，融入了鲜明的德国元素，这一点并非巧合：密尔沃基的城市性格与德国移民文化紧密相连，周围的社区也因此带着类似的底色。

这座建筑最令人着迷的细节，其实藏在脚底下：它稳稳立于2500多根白松木桩之上，这些木桩深深扎进密尔沃基河的沼泽河岸。走进室内，迎面而来的是一个挑高八层的中庭，顶部覆盖着一扇巨大的玻璃天窗，也就是今天画面中所看到的景象。

凭借其重要的历史价值，密尔沃基市政厅在1973年被列入美国国家史迹名录，并于2005年被正式认定为国家历史地标。如今，它依旧是这座城市公共生活的核心，也是了解密尔沃基的必访之处。

Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin

If you've ever wandered through downtown Milwaukee and looked up in awe, chances are you were staring at the iconic Milwaukee City Hall. Completed in 1895, this towering Flemish Renaissance Revival masterpiece doesn't just dominate the skyline; it defines it. For nearly eight decades, it stood as the city's tallest building, a title it proudly held until 1973. Designed by architect Henry C. Koch, this hall blends German-inspired architecture with Milwaukee's own historic influences. That connection isn't accidental—its design pays tribute to the city's strong German heritage, which shaped much of the surrounding neighborhood as well.

One of the building's most fascinating features lies beneath your feet: its foundation rests on more than 2,500 white pine piles driven deep into the marshy banks of the Milwaukee River. Inside, visitors are greeted by a soaring eight-story atrium crowned with a glass skylight, seen in today's image.

Recognized for its significance, Milwaukee City Hall earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 2005. Today, it's still the beating heart of Milwaukee's civic life and a must-see for anyone curious about the city's story.

白沙国家公园，新墨西哥州，美国 White Sands National Park, New Mexico, USA (© Francesco Carucci/Getty Images)

伪装成沙漠的奇境 A desert in disguise

白沙国家公园，新墨西哥州

如果把《冰雪奇缘》里的冰换成白沙，画面大概就会像新墨西哥州的白沙国家公园——一望无际的洁白沙丘，乍看之下仿佛仍带着冰雪的凉意。193 年的今天，这里被设立为国家纪念地，用来保护一种罕见的地质奇观：世界最大的石膏沙丘群。这些沙丘由石膏晶体在数千年的风化中逐渐破碎堆积而成，形成了明亮起伏的沙浪，即使在盛夏也依然触手冰凉。

白沙国家公园耸立于图拉罗萨盆地中央，占地275平方英里。在这片耀眼的白色沙海之下，沉睡着远比公园本身更古老的历史。古生物学家在此发现了人类、猛犸象与巨型地懒并行的化石足迹，成为重现冰河时代迁徙轨迹的最鲜明证据之一。

尽管环境荒凉，这片沙丘依旧维持着自己的生存节奏。皂树丝兰抽出高高的花茎，灌木把根深深扎进土壤。阿帕奇袋鼠鼠、漂白无耳蜥蜴、踏沙骆驼蟋等动物，也都隐身在这片苍白的地貌之中。当电影人需要一种“超脱地球”的场景时，这片土地总会成为不二之选。《天外来客》《艾利之书》《变形金刚》都曾在这里借用过宛如“月光洒落地表”的独特光感。

White Sands National Park, New Mexico

If 'Frozen' traded ice for sand, the result would look a lot like White Sands National Park in New Mexico—cool, white dunes that deceive the eye at first glance. It became a national monument on this day in 1933, established to protect a rare geological phenomenon: the world's largest gypsum dunefield. These dunes were formed from gypsum crystals that broke down over thousands of years, creating bright waves that stay cool even in summer.

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin, the park spans 275 square miles. Beneath that brightness lies a story far older than the park itself. Paleontologists uncovered fossilized human footprints alongside mammoths and giant ground sloths, providing one of the strongest records of Ice Age movement on the continent.

For all its starkness, the dunes still support a steady rhythm of survival. The soaptree yucca sends up tall stalks, while shrubs anchor themselves deep underground. Animals, including the Apache pocket mouse, bleached earless lizard, and sand-treader camel cricket, blend into the pale terrain. When filmmakers need a landscape that looks otherworldly, this place is dressed for the part. 'The Man Who Fell to Earth,' 'The Book of Eli,' and 'Transformers' all borrowed its 'Moon-on-Earth' glow.