桑吉奈尔群岛景观，摄自科西嘉岛，法国 View of the Sanguinaires Islands from Corsica, France (© Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images)

科西嘉岛的岩石前哨 Corsica's rocky outposts

从法国科西嘉岛眺望桑吉奈尔群岛

桑吉奈尔群岛就在法国科西嘉岛近海，从地中海中拔地而起，是一个由四座崎岖岩石岛屿组成的小型群岛。从一座历史悠久的瞭望塔望去，它们坐落在阿雅克肖湾的入口处。陡峭的悬崖、历经数百年的地标和开阔的海景，世世代代吸引着游客来到这一地区。尽管最远的岛屿距离海岸仅约1.2英里，但这片群岛给人的感觉却出奇地偏远：它四周被开阔水域环绕，并受到风、海浪和盐雾的塑造。

游客可以搭乘获准运营的船只前往最大的岛屿梅祖马雷岛，并沿指定步道探索。其他地方的受保护栖息地则为筑巢的海鸟和适应干燥、多风环境的耐寒地中海植物提供庇护。梅祖马雷岛上的一座灯塔令人想起这片群岛悠久的航海历史，以及它位于海湾入口处的战略位置。如今，桑吉奈尔群岛拥有壮丽的景色、野生动物和丰富航海遗产的印记，共同构成了科西嘉岛最令人难忘的自然景观之一。

View of the Sanguinaires Islands from Corsica, France

Just off the coast of Corsica, France, the Sanguinaires Islands rise from the Mediterranean as a small archipelago of four rugged, rocky islands. Viewed from a historic watchtower, they sit at the entrance to the Gulf of Ajaccio. Steep cliffs, centuries-old landmarks, and sweeping sea views have drawn visitors to the area for generations. Though the farthest island lies only about 1.2 miles from shore, the archipelago feels surprisingly remote, surrounded by open water and shaped by wind, waves, and salt spray.

Visitors can reach Mezu Mare, the largest island, via authorized boat services and explore its designated footpaths. Elsewhere, protected habitats provide refuge for nesting seabirds and hardy Mediterranean plants adapted to dry, windswept conditions. A lighthouse on Mezu Mare stands as a reminder of the archipelago's long maritime history and strategic position at the entrance to the gulf. Today, the Sanguinaires Islands offer dramatic scenery, wildlife, and traces of a rich seafaring heritage, creating one of Corsica's most memorable natural landscapes.

黑色熔岩海滩鸟瞰图，埃尔戈尔福，兰萨罗特岛，加那利群岛，西班牙 Aerial view of black lava beach, El Golfo, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain (© Westend61/Adobe Stock)

火山灰与浪花相遇 Ash meets splash

黑色熔岩海滩， 加那利群岛，西班牙

在西班牙加那利群岛的兰萨罗特岛，大自然的地质创造力尽情挥洒。赭黄与铁锈色条纹交错的悬崖之下，深色沙滩与大西洋相接，这是延续数百万年的火山活动留下的杰作。这段地质故事中有一章发生在距今并不久远的年代：1730年至1736年间，兰萨罗特岛各处出现了众多火山喷口，熔岩覆盖数十平方英里的土地，掩埋了道路、村庄和农田。

图中的海滩坐落在埃尔戈尔福旁边，这是岛屿西岸的一个小渔村。村庄毗邻洛斯火山自然公园，而船只、海鲜餐厅和拍岸浪涛一如往常，仿佛眼前的景色再平常不过。附近著名的绿色潟湖查尔科德洛斯克利科斯位于一座部分坍塌的火山口内，并通过地下裂隙与大海相连。湖水那令人难以置信的翡翠色部分源于藻类，让碧绿湖水、黑色沙滩与蓝色大海同框，构成一幅色彩鲜明夺目的画面。无需滤镜。埃尔戈尔福自带专属调色盘。

Black lava beach, El Golfo, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

On Lanzarote, part of Spain's Canary Islands, geology got carried away. Dark sand meets the Atlantic beneath cliffs streaked with ocher and rust, the handiwork of volcanic activity spanning millions of years. One chapter of this story arrived remarkably recently: between 1730 and 1736, numerous vents opened across Lanzarote, sending lava over dozens of square miles and burying roads, villages, and farmland.

The beach in the image sits beside El Golfo, a tiny fishing village on the island's western shore. The settlement borders Los Volcanes Natural Park, while boats, seafood restaurants, and crashing waves carry on as if this scenery were perfectly ordinary. Nearby, the famous green lagoon Charco de los Clicos occupies a partially collapsed volcanic crater linked to the sea through underground fissures. Its improbable emerald color comes partly from algae, bringing green water, black sand, and blue sea into one strikingly vivid frame. No filter required. El Golfo comes with its own color palette.

泰德天文台上空的英仙座流星，加那利群岛，西班牙 Perseid meteors over Teide Observatory, Tenerife, Spain (© Westend61/Getty Images)

许个愿吧 Make a wish

西班牙特内里费上空的英仙座流星雨

并非所有夏日传统都发生在地面。有些在数百英里高空上演，每次划过一颗流星。英仙座流星雨每年从7月中旬持续至8月下旬，并在8月12日至13日前后达到峰值。世界大部分地区都能看到它；在黑暗天空下，每小时往往会出现数十颗流星。想象自己抬头仰望，一道接一道亮光划过。数到多少颗时，你会忘记数目？每道亮光都来自斯威夫特-塔特尔彗星散落的碎屑，地球穿过其尘埃带时便形成流星。它们看起来像是从英仙座辐射而出。

今天的图片展示了流星雨掠过西班牙特内里费泰德天文台上空的景象。这处高海拔观测点坐落在约7,840英尺高处。海拔高、空气稀薄且光污染程度低，使这里成为观测夜空的绝佳地点。有些英仙座流星会留下持续数秒的发光尾迹，让观星者有足够时间欣赏这场奇观。那么，今年你准备去哪里观看英仙座流星雨？

Perseid meteor shower over Tenerife, Spain

Not every summer tradition happens on the ground. Some take place hundreds of miles overhead, one meteor at a time. The Perseids return every year from mid-July through late August, reaching their peak around August 12-13. Visible across much of the world, they often produce dozens of meteors per hour under dark skies. Picture yourself looking up. One streak appears after another. How many can you spot before you lose count? Each streak comes from debris shed by Comet Swift-Tuttle as Earth moves through its dust trail. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus.

Today's image shows the shower above Teide Observatory in Tenerife, Spain. This high-altitude site sits about 7,840 feet above sea level. Its high elevation, thin air, and low levels of light pollution make it an excellent place to observe the night sky. Some Perseid meteors leave glowing trails that linger for several seconds, giving skywatchers just enough time to appreciate the spectacle. So, where will you watch the Perseids this year?

红树上的日出在小猪群岛，洪都拉斯 Sunrise on a red mangrove in the Pig Keys, Honduras (© Mac Stone/Tandem Stills + Motion)

海陆际会，生机肇始 Between land and sea, life begins

保护红树林生态系统国际日

在洪都拉斯小猪群岛的日出时分——那是掩映在红树林湿地中低矮的沿海小岛——一株红树将其交错的根系挺立于如镜的水面之上。这幅动人的画面精准捕捉了7月26日所庆祝的主题：保护红树林生态系统国际日，该节日的设立旨在呼吁全球关注这些至关重要的海岸森林。

红树林在咸水与陆地的交汇处生机盎然，利用特化的根系在柔软且贫氧（Oxygen-poor）的泥层中固着,它们密集的根系网络能够减缓波浪冲击、减轻侵蚀，并保护沿海社区免受风暴侵袭。在水面之下，这些根系为幼鱼、螃蟹和虾类提供了庇护所，使这些湿地成为海洋中最具生产力的育幼场之一。

在像洪都拉斯这样的地区，红树林资源丰富的沿海湿地还储存着大量的碳，并维持着当地的生计。然而，这些生态系统正在迅速消失，使得生态保育变得迫在眉睫。注视着日出穿透那些拱形枝干的光芒——你正在见证地球上最强大的天然防御屏障之一正在发挥作用。

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

At sunrise in Honduras' Pig Keys—small, low-lying coastal islets tucked within mangrove-rich wetlands—a red mangrove lifts its tangled roots above glassy water. This striking scene captures what July 26 celebrates: the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, created to spotlight these vital coastal forests.

Mangroves thrive where saltwater and land collide, using specialized roots to anchor in soft, oxygen-poor mud. Their dense networks calm waves, reduce erosion, and shield communities from storms. Beneath the surface, those same roots shelter young fish, crabs, and shrimp, making these wetlands one of the ocean's most productive nurseries.

In places like Honduras, mangrove-rich coastal wetlands also store large amounts of carbon and support local livelihoods. Yet these ecosystems are disappearing rapidly, making conservation urgent. Watch the sunrise glow through those arching branches, —and you're witnessing one of Earth's most powerful natural defenses at work.

埃希环礁，土阿莫土群岛，法属波利尼西亚 Kauehi Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia (© WaterFrame_dpr/Alamy)

海洋生命的律动 The shape of life at sea

国际生物多样性日

每年5月22日为“国际生物多样性日”，它向全球发出提醒：地球上的生命远比肉眼所见更加丰富，却也更加脆弱。这一由联合国设立的纪念日，旨在强调保护动植物及其生态系统为何对粮食安全、药物研发、气候稳定以及人类的日常福祉至关重要。

鲜有地方能像法属波利尼西亚土阿莫土群岛的考埃希环礁（如图中俯瞰所示）这样，如此清晰地展示地球的奥秘。其纤细的珊瑚环带围合出一片广阔的碧色泻湖，这是由活体珊瑚礁与避风洋流历经数千年雕琢而成的杰作。作为法卡拉瓦生物圈保护区的重要组成部分，考埃希的生态系统承载着繁茂的珊瑚群落、鱼类育幼场、海鸟以及适应了海天之间极端生境的岛屿植被。

几个世纪以来，波利尼西亚航海家们早已深谙这种生态平衡之道，将健康的泻湖与礁石视为生存与文化的基石——这种纽带至今仍映照在环礁的日常之中。在“国际生物多样性日”之际，考埃希环礁这样的景观提醒着我们：守护自然，不仅是在保护生物物种，更是在守护全人类共享的文化记忆与未来。

International Day for Biological Diversity

Observed each year on May 22, International Day for Biological Diversity is a global reminder that life on Earth is richer—and more fragile—than it appears. Established by the United Nations, today highlights why protecting plants, animals, and ecosystems matters for food, medicine, climate stability, and everyday well-being.

Few places reveal our planet's secrets with such clarity as Kauehi Atoll, seen here from above in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Its thin coral ring encloses a vast turquoise lagoon, shaped over millennia by living reefs and sheltered currents. Kauehi's ecosystem is part of Fakarava Biosphere Reserve and supports coral communities, fish nurseries, seabirds, and island vegetation adapted to life between ocean and sky.

For centuries, Polynesian navigators understood this balance, relying on healthy lagoons and reefs for survival and culture—a relationship still reflected in the atoll today. On International Day for Biological Diversity, landscapes like Kauehi remind us that safeguarding nature protects stories, cultures, and futures across our shared planet.

福门托尔灯塔, 马略卡, 巴利阿里群岛, 西班牙 Formentor Lighthouse, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain (© Allard Schager/Getty Images)

马略卡岛的边缘 The edge of Mallorca

福门托尔灯塔, 马略卡, 巴利阿里群岛, 西班牙

在西班牙巴利阿里群岛中马略卡岛（Mallorca）的最北端，福门托尔灯塔（Formentor Lighthouse）巍然屹立于福门托尔角（Cap de Formentor）的陡峭悬崖之上。这处地势开阔的海角常被称为“风之汇聚地”。这座灯塔始建于1863年，并于当年9月30日首次点亮，它高耸于地中海海面近700英尺之上；若要抵达此处，需沿着一条狭窄蜿蜒的盘山公路前行，全程约8英里，起点位于波连萨港（Port de Pollença）。脚下是色泽浅淡的石灰岩——这些岩石由远古海洋生物遗骸历经漫长岁月沉积而成，随后在地壳运动的抬升与风化侵蚀的雕琢下，演化为如今这般气势磅礴的峭壁、海蚀洞穴及天然拱门。正是这种崎岖险峻的地质地貌，造就了该地区那种苍凉壮阔的独特美感与遗世独立的孤寂氛围。想要将这绝美景色尽收眼底吗？不妨沿着半岛上的徒步路线前行，或者挑战一段短促却陡峭的登高之路，攀至阿尔贝库奇瞭望塔（Talaia d'Albercutx）俯瞰全景，随后再继续前往灯塔。攀登途中请留意山坡：那些由早期家养羊群野化而来的野生山羊，正凭借着天生的平衡感，在险峻的岩架之间轻盈自如地跳跃穿梭。

Formentor Lighthouse, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

At Mallorca's far northern tip, in Spain's Balearic Islands, the Formentor Lighthouse stands on the sheer cliffs of Cap de Formentor. This exposed headland is often called the 'Meeting of the Winds.' Built in 1863 and first lit on September 30 of that year, the lighthouse rises nearly 700 feet above the Mediterranean Sea and is reached by a narrow, switchback road about 8 miles from Port de Pollença. Under your feet is pale limestone—rock formed from ancient marine life and later lifted and carved by erosion into dramatic faces, sea caves, and natural arches. This rugged geology gives rise to the area's stark beauty and sense of isolation. Want to earn the view? Follow one of the peninsula's hiking routes, or tackle the short, steep climb to Talaia d'Albercutx for a watchtower panorama before continuing to the lighthouse. Keep an eye on the slopes: wild goats, descended from early domestic herds, spring across the ledges with effortless balance.

帕帕加约海滩, 兰萨罗特, 加那利群岛, 西班牙 Papagayo Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain (© Gavin Hellier/Getty Images)

火山外衣 Volcanic veneer

帕帕加约海滩, 兰萨罗特, 加那利群岛, 西班牙

由火焰孕育而成的海滩很少能如此低调，而帕帕加约海滩正好做到了这一点。我们今天看到的海岸线位于西班牙加那利群岛兰萨罗特岛的南端。热带幻想？更像是火山般的精准。数百万年前，这片土地在海底火山喷发的推动下，逐层由玄武岩和火山灰堆积升起。

约400英尺长的小海湾给人一种亲密的感觉。它坐落在洛斯阿乔奇自然纪念地内，仍然受到保护，并故意保持低调。曾经，这里为在非洲和欧洲之间航行的水手提供庇护。如今，人们可以步行、乘船或沿着著名的颠簸土路到达这里——通过不便实现保护。悬崖环绕着海湾，形成天然的防波堤，使大西洋的海水在这里变得平静而清澈。鱼在光影中闪动，螃蟹在潮间带巡逻，章鱼消失在岩石之间。沙子的温暖金色调来自粉碎的贝壳与火山岩的混合，经过千年潮汐的精炼。帕帕加约的魅力在于其对比：由火山喷发锻造，由侵蚀塑形，并通过克制得以保存。

Papagayo Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

A beach born from fire rarely does so subtly, yet Papagayo Beach manages exactly that. The shoreline we see today rests on the southern edge of Lanzarote, one of Spain's Canary Islands. Tropical fantasy? More like volcanic precision. Millions of years ago, this land rose in successive layers of basalt and ash thrust upward by submarine eruptions.

About 400 feet long, the cove feels intimate. Nestled within Los Ajaches Natural Monument, it remains protected and deliberately low-key. Once, it sheltered sailors navigating between Africa and Europe. Today, it is reached by foot, boat, or a famously bumpy dirt road—preservation by inconvenience. Cliffs arc around the bay, forming natural breakwaters that temper the Atlantic into calm, clear shallows. Fish flicker through the light, crabs patrol the tidal edges, and octopuses vanish into stone. The sand's warm, golden tone? Pulverized shells mixed with volcanic rock, refined by millennia of tides. Papagayo's power lies in its contrasts: forged by eruption, shaped by erosion, and preserved by restraint.

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。

法纳尔森林里的古老月桂树，马德拉群岛，葡萄牙 Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, island of Madeira, Portugal (© Lukas Jonaitis/Shutterstock)

时光扎根 Rooted in time

法纳尔森林里的古老月桂树，马德拉群岛，葡萄牙

葡萄牙的马德拉岛位于本土西南约600英里处，这里隐藏着一片与众不同的森林。在岛的北坡上坐落着法纳尔森林，薄雾在古老的月桂树间飘荡。这些树是马德拉岛亚热带常绿林的一部分，亚热带常绿林是曾经广泛分布的月桂树林的杰出遗迹。它是现存规模最大的同类森林，其中约90%被认定为原始林。这里孕育着独特的动植物群，包括马德拉长趾鸽等特有物种，堪称一座活着的自然历史博物馆。

在法纳尔，盘根错节、覆满苔藓的树干宛如守护者，守望着这片古老的遗产，数百年来自然的生机始终未曾消逝。除了蜿蜒的小径，这里还有静谧的角落供人驻足欣赏。在风景优美的观景点之间，有一片休闲区，并设有公共烧烤设施，甚至还有一个由远古火山口形成的冬季湖泊。这里既可以单纯地呼吸新鲜空气、放松身心，也能尽情嬉戏，让人流连忘返。

Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal

The Portuguese island of Madeira—about 600 miles southwest of mainland Portugal—hides a forest unlike any other. On its northern slopes lies Fanal Forest, where veils of mist drift through centuries-old til trees. These are part of the Laurissilva of Madeira—an outstanding relict of a once widespread laurel forest type. Laurissilva is the largest surviving area of its kind, with about 90% considered primary forest. Home to a unique array of plants and animals, including endemic species such as the Madeiran long-toed pigeon, it remains a living museum of natural history.

In Fanal, the gnarled, moss-draped trunks stand as guardians of this ancient heritage, where nature has preserved its vitality for centuries. Beyond the trails, these woods also offer quiet corners to pause and enjoy. Between scenic viewpoints, a leisure area with a public barbecue, and even a winter lake born from an ancient crater, this is a place to be dazzled, to wander, to play—or simply to breathe and relax.

莫努里基岛周边的珊瑚礁，玛玛努卡群岛，斐济 Coral reef surrounding the island of Monuriki, Mamanuca Islands, Fiji (© David Wall/SuperStock)

思绪之礁 A reef of reflection

莫努里基岛，玛玛努卡群岛，斐济

有些日子只标志着一个里程碑，而斐济的10月10日却见证了两个。1874年的这一天，斐济群岛正式成为英国殖民地。近一个世纪后的1970年，同一天，斐济升起了自己的国旗，宣布独立。斐济日是一个独特的全国性节日——既是反思的时刻，也是庆祝的日子。庆典从庄重的仪式开始，国旗冉冉升起，领导人发表演讲。学校和社区团体常常会举行历史重现或表演活动。街道上挤满了游行队伍，村庄里上演着传统舞蹈“梅克”，橄榄球场上热火朝天。家家户户则准备传统菜肴，比如将肉和根茎类作物埋在地下烤制的“洛沃”，以及用柑橘汁腌制的鱼“科科达”。

如今，自由的精神从繁华的城镇延伸到像莫努里基岛这样的偏远瑰宝，如今日图片所示。这座岛因《荒岛余生》的拍摄而名声大噪，虽无人居住，却绝非死寂。环绕小岛的珊瑚礁宛如天然的堡垒，既能抵御风暴侵袭，又庇护着无数鱼类。斐济的珊瑚礁恰如其分地成为了一个隐喻：坚固、多样且与国家的福祉紧密相连。

Visiting the Mamanuca Islands for Fiji Day

Some dates mark a single milestone—Fiji's October 10 marks two. On that day in 1874, the islands officially became a British colony. Almost a century later, in 1970, the same date saw Fiji raise its own flag and declare independence. Fiji Day is a unique national holiday—part reflection, part celebration. The day begins with formal ceremonies, where the Fijian flag is hoisted and leaders deliver speeches. Schools and community groups often stage reenactments and performances. Streets fill with parades, villages host cultural dances like the meke, and rugby pitches come alive with matches. Families prepare traditional dishes like lovo, where meat and root crops are cooked underground, and kokoda, a citrus-marinated fish dish.

Today, the spirit of freedom stretches from bustling towns to remote gems like the island of Monuriki, pictured here. Known worldwide as the filming site of 'Cast Away,' the island is uninhabited—but far from lifeless. Its surrounding coral reef acts as a natural fortress, protecting the island from storms while sheltering countless species of fish. The reefs of Fiji are a fitting metaphor: strong, diverse, and deeply connected to the well-being of the nation.