红木国家与州立公园的日出，加利福尼亚州，美国 Sunrise in Redwood National and State Parks, California, USA (© HadelProductions/Getty Images)

守护美国瑰宝 Protecting America's treasures

红杉国家公园与州立公园

110年来，美国最杰出的户外课堂始终向人们开放，供大家探索。8月25日，美国国家公园管理局迎来其守护美国自然与文化瑰宝一个多世纪的纪念日。1916年，伍德罗·威尔逊总统签署《组织法》使其成为法律，该机构由此成立；如今，它负责管理全美数百座公园、纪念地、海滨和历史遗址。由护林员带领的项目、家庭活动和教育活动邀请游客亲近那些塑造了国家公园体系的景观与故事。

今天的图片展示了加利福尼亚州北部的红木国家与州立公园，阳光照亮了一条蜿蜒穿行于地球上一些最高树木之间的小径。高耸的海岸红杉矗立在由蕨类植物和苔藓组成的葱郁林下植被之上，营造出一片既古老又充满生机的森林。这些林地是一个支撑着多种野生动物和数百年古树的生态系统的一部分，展现了美国国家公园管理局世世代代协助保护的自然奇观，也让游客有机会漫步于这些活着的巨树之下，体验一片独一无二的景观。

Anniversary of National Park Service

For 110 years, America's greatest outdoor classroom has been open for exploration. On August 25, the National Park Service marks over a century of protecting the nation's natural and cultural treasures. Established in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act into law, the agency now cares for hundreds of parks, monuments, seashores, and historic sites across the country. Ranger-led programs, family activities, and educational events invite visitors to connect with the landscapes and stories that define the national park system.

Today's image shows Redwood National and State Parks in northern California, where sunlight illuminates a trail winding among some of the tallest trees on Earth. Towering coast redwoods rise above a lush understory of ferns and mosses, creating a forest that feels both ancient and alive. Part of an ecosystem supporting diverse wildlife and centuries-old trees, these groves showcase the natural wonders the National Park Service has helped protect for generations, offering visitors the chance to walk beneath living giants and experience a landscape unlike any other.

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.

阿蒂特兰湖的日出，危地马拉 Sunrise at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala (© shayes17/Getty Images)

远古火山的回响 Echoes of a volcanic past

日出在阿蒂特兰湖，危地马拉

阿蒂特兰湖（Lake Atitlán）坐落于危地马拉西部高地，占据了一处巨大的破火山口。其深蓝色的湖水被陡峭的火山口壁以及阿蒂特兰（Atitlán）、托利曼（Tolimán）和圣佩德罗（San Pedro）这三座锥形火山所环绕。木质码头向静谧的湖面延伸，勾勒出平静水面与火山活动造就的崎岖地形之间的强烈对比。

该湖形成于约 8.4 万年前的一次大规模火山喷发，通常被认为是中美洲最深的湖泊，深度达 1,100 英尺（约 335 米）左右。陡峭的断崖环绕着盆地，将湖水笼罩在一个宏伟的“天然剧场”之中，无声地诉说着其剧烈的爆发式起源。

湖面之下隐藏着拥有 1,500 多年历史的玛雅水下遗址，其中包括暗示了昔日繁荣湖岸文化的祭祀建筑残骸。沿岸的卡克奇克尔（Kaqchikel）和楚图希尔（Tz'utujil）玛雅社群依然传承着他们的语言和纺织传统，其日常生活仍与这片高地景观的律动紧密相连。

Sunrise at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Set in Guatemala's western highlands, Lake Atitlán fills a vast volcanic caldera. Its deep blue waters are framed by steep crater walls and the cone-shaped volcanoes Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro. Wooden piers stretch into the still lake, emphasizing the contrast between its calm surface and the rugged terrain shaped by volcanic activity.

Formed about 84,000 years ago after a massive eruption, the lake is often considered the deepest in Central America, reaching depths of roughly 1,100 feet. Steep escarpments encircle the basin, enclosing the water in a dramatic natural amphitheater that echoes its explosive origins.

Beneath the surface lie traces of submerged Maya sites more than 1,500 years old, including remnants of ceremonial structures that hint at a once-thriving lakeside culture. Along the shore, Kaqchikel and Tz'utujil Maya communities continue to preserve their languages and weaving traditions, their daily lives still closely tied to the rhythms of this highland landscape.

布罗肯峰的日出, 哈尔茨国家公园, 德国 Sunrise on the Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany (© imageBROKER/AVTG/Getty Images)

治愈、宁静且充满希望 A legendary sunrise

布罗肯，哈尔茨国家公园，德国

想象一下，你登上了德国哈尔茨国家公园的布罗肯山（Brocken）。云雾在山脊间缓缓流动，阳光从你身后照来，前方是翻涌的薄雾——突然，一个被光环包围的巨大影子出现在云雾之中。你是否好奇，为什么过去的登山者会对这一景象感到害怕？这种现象被称为布罗肯幽灵（Brocken spectre），是一种神秘的自然光学现象：当阳光从背后照射时，人的影子会被投射到前方的云层或雾气上，并被放大，同时常常伴随着一圈彩色光环。布罗肯山海拔约 1141 米，是德国北部最高的山峰。这里长期以来激发了丰富的民间传说，其中最著名的便是瓦尔普吉斯之夜（Walpurgis Night）女巫在此集会的故事。云雾缭绕的山顶与神秘的光影，使这座山在历史与想象中都充满了奇幻色彩。

这座山后来也在历史中扮演了十分现实而重要的角色。德国分裂时期，布罗肯山山顶曾被划为冷战时期的限制区域，成为东德与苏联情报机构的重要监视与侦察站点。德国统一之后，这里重新向公众开放，并被纳入哈尔茨国家公园的一部分。该国家公园于 2006 年由原有保护区合并建立，总面积约 247 平方公里。公园保护着大片云杉森林、高地泥炭沼泽以及湍急的山地溪流，同时通过一系列生态恢复计划，重新引入了欧亚猞猁等本土物种。如今，蒸汽动力的登山小火车仍然沿着山坡缓缓攀登，在森林与云雾之间穿行，把这座山的古老传说与现代自然保护巧妙地连接在一起。

The Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany

Imagine reaching the Brocken in Harz National Park, Germany, as clouds slide across the ridge. With the sun behind you, mist ahead—then a giant, haloed shadow forms. Ever wondered why climbers once feared this sight? The phenomenon, called the Brocken spectre, is an eerie natural optical effect that occurs when sunlight projects a person's shadow onto cloud or fog. Rising about 1,141 metres, the Brocken is the highest peak in northern Germany and has long inspired folklore, including tales of witches gathering here during Walpurgis Night.

The mountain later played a very real strategic role. During Germany's division, the summit became a restricted Cold War surveillance site used by East German and Soviet intelligence. After reunification, it reopened and became part of Harz National Park, established jointly in 2006 and covering roughly 247 square kilometres. The park protects spruce forests, upland peat bogs and fast-flowing streams, while conservation programmes have reintroduced species such as the Eurasian lynx. Steam-powered trains still climb the slopes, linking past legend with present-day protection.

日出时分，马特洪峰的倒影映照在斯特利湖中, 采尔马特, 瑞士 The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland (© Andy Trowbridge/naturepl.com)

纯粹的瑞士魔力 Pure Swiss magic

马特洪峰, 采尔马特, 瑞士

鲜有景致能像马特洪峰倒映在斯特利湖如镜的湖面上那般，完美呈现阿尔卑斯的灵魂。这座传奇山峰耸立在瑞士与意大利边境，海拔高达14,692英尺，象征着大自然的壮美与冒险精神，吸引着世界各地的攀登者、徒步者与追梦人。

在瑞士那座迷人而无车的小镇采尔马特，马特洪峰主宰着整个地平线，它那锯齿般的山脊在天空下勾勒出一幅天然的艺术剪影。来到斯特利湖畔，景色更显魔幻——尤其在日出时分，山峰的倒影柔和地浮现在如镜的湖面上，仿佛大自然按下暂停键，只为让你静静品味这片刻的宁静。

无论你是在高山小径徒步，捕捉变幻的光影，还是只是深深吸入那一口清冽的山间空气，这片景象都会默默提醒你：阿尔卑斯之所以能吸引旅行者数个世纪，其魅力就在这里。马特洪峰不仅是一座山，它更是瑞士之所以令人难忘的魅力——自然纯粹、冒险精神，以及让人一见便铭记的传奇之美。

The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland

Few sights capture the spirit of the Alps like the Matterhorn mirrored in Lake Stellisee's glassy waters. Rising 14,692 feet on the Swiss-Italian border, this legendary peak has long symbolized natural beauty and adventure, drawing climbers, hikers, and dreamers from every corner of the globe.

From Zermatt—a charming, car-free village in Switzerland—the Matterhorn dominates the horizon, its jagged silhouette etched against the sky like a work of art. At Lake Stellisee, the view turns magical, especially at sunrise when the mountain's reflection glows softly on the mirrorlike surface. It feels as though time stands still, as if nature paused just for you to savor the moment.

Whether you're trekking alpine trails, photographing the shifting light, or simply breathing in crisp mountain air, this scene offers a quiet reminder of why the Alps have inspired travelers for centuries. The Matterhorn isn't just a mountain; it's a reflection of everything that makes Switzerland unforgettable.

日出时的沙丘鹤, ‌阿帕奇森林国家野生动物保护区, 新墨西哥州, 美国 Sandhill cranes at sunrise, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)

曙光中的鹤影 Dawn of the cranes

沙丘鹤, ‌阿帕奇森林国家野生动物保护区, 新墨西哥州

每年十二月，晨光初露，响亮的鹤鸣声在阿帕奇森林国家野生动物保护区的沼泽间回荡。这片占地5.7万英亩的新墨西哥中部圣地，即将上演一场震撼心灵的自然盛景——沙丘鹤结束季节性迁徙，重返故地。不久，成千上万只雪雁和其他候鸟也将加入，振翅高飞，天空被生命的律动与鸣声填满。

沙丘鹤延续千年的迁徙，是一场跨越大陆的史诗，每年冬季，它们从北方平原飞向南方栖息地，这场壮观景象背后，是关于生命韧性的传奇。沙丘鹤是现存最古老的鸟类之一，其血脉可追溯至250万年前，历经冰川时代与无数气候变迁，仍顽强延续。它们曾一度濒临灭绝，却在数十年的努力保护下重获生机。如今，成千上万只沙丘鹤在新墨西哥的湿地找到庇护，这也昭示着一个真理：生命，只要被守护，终会找到回家的路。

Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

Every December, as morning unfolds, a chorus of rattling calls fills the marshes of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This 57,000-acre sanctuary in central New Mexico prepares to stage one of nature's most stirring performances as sandhill cranes return from their seasonal journey. Soon, tens of thousands of snow geese and other migratory birds join the scene, filling the sky with movement and sound.

We're in the midst of a migration that has carried sandhill cranes across continents for millennia. Each winter, they travel south from their breeding grounds in the northern plains. Beyond the spectacle lies a story of resilience. The sandhill crane is among the oldest living bird species. It descends from a lineage that stretches back over 2.5 million years, enduring ice ages and countless climate shifts. Once nearly extinct, they have rebounded thanks to decades of conservation. Today, thousands find refuge in this New Mexico wetland—a reminder that when life is nurtured and given space, it always finds its way home.

日出时的东京，日本 Tokyo at sunrise, Japan (© pongnathee kluaythong/Getty Images)

把我们都算上 Counting us all in

世界人口日

我们生活的地球早已人满为患，并且仍在不断变得更加拥挤。目前全球人口已达82亿，且呈持续增长之势。世界人口日旨在引发人们对人口增长如何影响城市发展、粮食供给与未来前景的思考。该纪念日设立于1989年，聚焦于不受控的人口增长对可持续性带来的影响，其灵感源自1987年全球人口首次突破50亿的“50亿人口日”。随着城市不断扩张，绿地面积减少，农业也在有限的土地和水资源中展开竞争。然而前路并非无解：通过教育投资、改善医疗可及性，以及建设更智慧的城市，人口增长与可持续发展之间可以实现平衡。

从全球数据来看，至2025年，印度仍将是全球人口最多的国家，人口数预计超过14.6亿；其次是中国，人口约14.1亿；美国以约3.39亿人口位居第三，尽管其增长速度趋缓，人口老龄化正成为新的社会挑战。当前全球人口最多的城市是日本东京，人口约3,720万，它呈现出高密度城市生活的实际图景：空间紧张、交通拥堵，以及公共服务需求高企。世界人口日不只是人口统计，更是呼吁我们要进行具前瞻性的规划，以确保子孙后代能在资源有限的地球上能持续繁荣发展。

World Population Day

We are living in a full house, and it is getting fuller. With 8.2 billion people and counting, World Population Day highlights how that growth affects cities, food, and the future. First observed in 1989, the day focuses on how unchecked population growth affects sustainability. The event was inspired by Five Billion Day in 1987, which marked the approximate date when the global population hit that milestone. As cities expand, green spaces shrink, and agriculture competes for limited land and water resources. But there is a way forward—investing in education, improving access to healthcare, and building smarter cities can balance growth with sustainability.

On a global scale, India remains the most populous country in 2025 with over 1.46 billion people, followed by China at 1.41 billion. The United States trails with around 339 million, though its growth is slowing and aging populations are becoming a new challenge. Tokyo, the world's largest city with around 37.2 million people, illustrates the realities of high-density urban life: overcrowded spaces, transport congestion, and rising demand for services. World Population Day is more than a head count—it's a call for better planning and long-term thinking to ensure future generations can thrive on a planet with finite resources.

日出时分，美丽的喀斯特山脉鸟瞰图，中国桂林 Aerial view of beautiful karst mountains at sunrise, Guilin, China (© zhaojiankang/Getty Images)

秀美壮丽的山河 Beautiful and magnificent mountains and rivers

喀斯特山脉，广西桂林，中国

今天是立夏，标志着我们即将进入夏季，今天图片中壮丽又秀美的山河景色是位于中国桂林的喀斯特山脉景致。桂林喀斯特地貌，位于广西南岭构造带中部，是大陆型塔状岩溶的典型代表，华南地区岩溶演化末期的地貌展现，世界地质遗产地。桂林喀斯特位于南岭构造带中部，以秀美漓江及其支流周边的塔状及锥状岩溶地貌为主要特征，同时发育有许多洞穴。受古生代构造运动的影响，桂林喀斯特形成了独特的岩溶发育盆地。

这里的山水如同一幅幅精美的山水画卷，吸引着来自世界各地的游客。它是中国山水画的真实写照来到桂林，你会被这里的美景所陶醉，仿佛置身于一幅幅山水画中，感受着大自然的瑰丽与壮美。

日出时分的富士山, 河口湖, 日本 Mount Fuji at sunrise, Lake Kawaguchi, Japan (© Twenty47studio/Getty Images)

清晨的美好精 Wind of Fuji, my souvenir from Edo

富士山，日本

在东京西南约 60 英里处，矗立着日本的文化象征之一：富士山。这座日本最高峰海拔近12,000英尺，其近乎完美对称的火山锥，每年约有五个月被积雪覆盖，形成壮丽景观。几个世纪以来，富士山一直被视为神圣之山。在神道信仰中，富士山被奉为本宫浅间大社的圣山，并在其视野范围内建有供奉它的神社。

Mount Fuji Day

Around 60 miles southwest of Tokyo stands one of Japan's cultural icons: Mount Fuji. The country's tallest mountain rises 12,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, with its near-symmetrical cone covered in snow for nearly five months each year. For centuries, Fujisan—as it is known in Japanese—has been worshiped as a sacred mountain. In the Shinto faith, Fuji is deified as Asama no Okami, and shrines dedicated to it are built within sight of the mountain.

February 23 is celebrated as Mount Fuji Day (富士山の日) because the word 'Fujisan' can be interpreted as '2, 2, 3.' Although it's not a national holiday, people often take the opportunity to learn more about this majestic peak. It's also a day to reflect on the future of the mountain, and how it can be preserved for future generations. Every year, more than 300,000 people climb Mount Fuji, and overtourism has become a real concern.

阿胡汤加里基的日出，拉帕·努伊国家公园，复活节岛，智利 Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile (© Piriya Photography/Getty Images)

古老又神秘 Ancient and mysterious

拉帕·努伊国家公园，复活节岛，智利

欢迎来到拉帕努伊岛，该岛也被称为智利的复活节岛，是世界上最偏远、最迷人的天堂之一。这座令人惊叹的岛屿以其标志性的摩艾石像而闻名，是一座拥有壮丽景观和丰富文化遗产的宝库。专家们对波利尼西亚人到来的时间众说纷纭，但许多研究人员认为应该是在8世纪左右。作为世界遗产的复活节岛占地超过17,000英亩，包括附近的四个小岛。在岛上，你可以欣赏到今天的图片所展示的迷人日出，探索矗立着宏伟雕像的火山口和郁郁葱葱的草地。

对这座岛屿的名字感到好奇吗？原住民称它为拉帕努伊，意思是“大拉帕”，指的是这片土地的地形与澳大利亚群岛的拉帕岛相似。荷兰探险家雅可布·罗赫芬是第一个访问该岛的欧洲人，他将该岛命名为帕斯奇-艾兰，即英语中的“复活节岛”，以纪念他在复活节当天抵达该岛。虽然复活节似乎离今天很遥远，但你全年都可以探索这个独特的世界遗产。深入了解其充满活力的历史，让这座岛屿用魅力征服你。

Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile

Welcome to Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, one of the world's most remote and enchanting paradises, roughly 2,330 miles west of mainland Chile. Famous for its iconic moai statues, Rapa Nui boasts breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Experts are divided on when the island's ancestral inhabitants first arrived from Polynesia, though many researchers suggest it was around the 8th century. Take in the mesmerizing sunrise featured in today's image and explore the striking volcanic craters and lush, grassy plains where the imposing statues stand. The World Heritage property of Easter Island spans more than 17,000 acres, including four nearby islets.

The island's original inhabitants call it Rapa Nui, meaning 'Great Rapa,' referring to the land's similarity to Rapa Island, in French Polynesia. Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, the first European to visit, named it Paasch-Eyland, or 'Easter Island' in English, to mark his arrival on Easter Sunday. You can explore this unique World Heritage site year-round. Dive into its vibrant history and let the island's charm sweep you away.