阿拉姆-佩德亚自然保护区，塔尔图县，爱沙尼亚 Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve in Tartu County, Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Nature Picture Library)
阿拉姆-佩德亚自然保护区，塔尔图县，爱沙尼亚 Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve in Tartu County, Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Nature Picture Library)
行动的力量 The power of protest
世界地球日
地球日从不是轻轻敲门，而是一次将大门猛然推开的觉醒。1970年，沾满石油的海滩、燃烧的河流与充满毒素的空气，让数百万人走上街头抗议。当人们再也无法视而不见，环境保护被推上政治议程，催生出一系列里程碑式的环保法案，也让“守护地球”从边缘议题跃升为全球共识。每年4月22日，全球190多个国家都会在这一天停下脚步，反思、审视，并重新思考我们与地球的关系。
2026年的主题“我们的力量，我们的星球”（Our Power, Our Planet）提出了一个雄心勃勃的目标：到2030年，将全球可再生能源产能提升至三倍。但真正的行动，不仅关乎风力涡轮与太阳能板，也在于守护那些早已默默运转的“自然引擎”。例如图中的爱沙尼亚塔尔图县阿拉姆-佩德亚自然保护区。自1994年以来，这里一直守护着欧洲最大的湿地系统之一。而它的方式，其实很简单——让自然顺其本来。河流自由流淌，泥炭沼泽悄然储存碳汇，洪泛平原吸纳多余水量，无需人工筑坝干预。驼鹿、猞猁与黑鹳在这里自在栖息，四季更替不断重绘这片土地的边界。阿拉姆-佩德亚告诉我们：有时候，最有力的行动不是干预，而是克制——退后一步，让自然引领方向。
Earth Day
Earth Day didn't knock gently. It kicked the door wide open. In 1970, oil‑soaked beaches, burning rivers, and toxic air mobilized millions into street protests. When looking away was no longer an option, conservation was forced onto political agendas, sparking landmark environmental laws and flipping planet‑care from fringe concern to global priority. Every April 22, over 190 countries pause, reflect, and reassess.
The 2026 theme, 'Our Power, Our Planet,' sets an ambitious target: triple renewable energy capacity worldwide by 2030. But action isn't only about turbines and solar panels. It's also protecting the natural engines already doing heavy lifting. Take Alam‑Pedja Nature Reserve in Estonia, captured here. Since 1994, it has safeguarded one of Europe's largest wetland systems. How? By letting it be. Rivers run freely, bogs store carbon, and floodplains soak excess water without concrete barriers. Elk, lynx, and black storks thrive as seasons redraw the map. Alam‑Pedja teaches that restraint can be the boldest move—to step back and let nature lead the way.
市政厅广场，塔尔图，爱沙尼亚 Town Hall Square, Tartu, Estonia (© Westend61/Getty Images)
市政厅广场，塔尔图，爱沙尼亚 Town Hall Square, Tartu, Estonia (© Westend61/Getty Images)
多么可爱的树枝啊！ How lovely are your branches
平安夜
在这个平安夜，世界各地的城镇都沉浸在一种神奇的魔力中。商店关着门，街道空无一人，人们与朋友及家人欢聚一堂，互相慰藉。把礼物装进圣诞袜、举办派对或是播放节日音乐，每个人都有自己的平安夜传统活动。今天的照片上展示的是爱沙尼亚塔尔图市政厅广场一年一度的庆祝活动，广场上灯火辉煌，圣诞树点缀其间。塔尔图的圣诞集市洋溢着欢乐的气氛，有雪橇、户外火炉和木质动物旋转木马。此外，集市上还有熏肉、热饮和酥脆的姜饼。无论你是选择观看一部经典的节日电影，还是选择在十二点钟声敲响时惬意地喝上一杯热可可，在这个宁静的夜晚都能感受到浓浓的圣诞气氛。
Christmas Eve
There's a certain magic in knowing that, around the world, shops are closing, streets are emptying, and friends and families are gathering to celebrate Christmas Eve. We each have our own traditions, from filling stockings to hosting parties and playing festive music. Today's twilight homepage shows the gleaming lights and Christmas trees of Town Hall Square in Tartu, Estonia's second-largest city. Tartu's Christmas fair has a merry atmosphere, featuring sleigh rides, fire kettles, and wooden animal carousels, while serving up smoked meats, hot drinks, and gingerbread. Whether you're partying or cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa, embrace the Christmas spirit on this peaceful night—and don't forget the milk and cookies!
Alam-Pedja自然保护区，爱沙尼亚 Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Minden Pictures)
Alam-Pedja自然保护区，爱沙尼亚 Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Minden Pictures)
谨慎行事！ Tread carefully!
Alam-Pedja自然保护区，爱沙尼亚
在爱沙尼亚的众多自然景观中，有一个建立于1994年的Alam-Pedja自然保护区。这片偶尔被冰雪覆盖的保护区位于塔尔图县，占地132平方英里，是爱沙尼亚最大的自然保护区。该保护区是由广袤的湿地、森林和河流组合而成的，还有尚未被开发的原始荒野。从稀有的白尾海雕到行踪难觅的黑鹳，这里有200多种鸟类。图上展示的是保护区那由水生森林织造而成的绮丽画卷：静水森林、沼泽森林和洪泛森林错落有致，细长的莎草植物点缀其间。此外，这里还有蜿蜒的小径和木板路吸引着探险家们来打造自己的冒险之旅。
Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
Among Estonia's stunning natural sites is the Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, covering 132 square miles of wilderness in the heart of the country. This occasionally ice-covered, vast area of wetlands, forests, and rivers is the largest natural reserve in Estonia. From the majestic white-tailed eagle to the elusive black stork, more than 200 bird species can be found here. The landscape is a tapestry of aquatic forests: still water, bog, and floodplain forests. Winding trails and boardwalks invite explorers to craft their own adventures.
爱沙尼亚佩普斯湖上的小冰丘 Hummock ice on Lake Peipus in Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Minden Pictures)
爱沙尼亚佩普斯湖上的小冰丘 Hummock ice on Lake Peipus in Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Minden Pictures)
当冰块变成了艺术 When ice imitates art
佩普斯湖
佩普斯湖是欧洲第五大湖泊，形成于数亿年前的古生代。这里的沙丘非常有名，当各方面条件恰好时，这些沙丘会在风吹时“唱歌”。在冬天，结冰的湖面上可能形成照片中的堆积冰。这些堆积冰是由浮冰受到缓慢不均匀的挤压而形成的。
Lake Peipus, Estonia
Lake Peipus, the fifth-largest lake in Europe, dates back hundreds of millions of years to the Paleozoic Era and is known for its sand dunes, which can 'sing' when the wind blows just right. In the winter the frozen lake surface may feature ice hummocks, as seen in this image. The hummocks are caused by slow, uneven pressure in the ice pack.
爱沙尼亚波罗的海 Baltic Sea in Estonia (© fotoman-kharkov/Getty Images)
爱沙尼亚波罗的海 Baltic Sea in Estonia (© fotoman-kharkov/Getty Images)
像湖一样的大海 The sea that acts like a lake
Baltic Sea, Estonia
The Baltic Sea in northeast Europe is a peculiar body of water, possessing the characteristics of seas, lakes, and estuaries. Strictly speaking, it is in fact a sea and thus appropriately named, joined to the Atlantic Ocean through three straits in Denmark: the Oresund, Great Belt, and Little Belt. Technically, the Baltic is classified as a brackish sea, meaning it is not entirely fresh and not entirely saline. The Baltic Sea isn't landlocked, but it does border many countries, including Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—and it's the Estonian coast featured in today's image.
Like a lake, the Baltic is relatively shallow with an average depth of 150 feet. Its salinity is so low it nearly qualifies as freshwater. That's because hundreds of rivers empty into the sea, and more fresh water falls on the sea in the form of rain and snow than evaporates. The Baltic can also be described as a giant estuary, into which flow dozens of rivers. Sailors favor the Baltic because there is very little current and tide to contend with, and even when surface winds pick up, the seas remain relatively calm. Easy to navigate, gateway to so many lands—the Baltic has been integral to trade and commerce, and inevitable conflict, in the region for centuries. It has been known by many names, proof the Baltic is a true meeting place.
波罗的海，爱沙尼亚
欧洲东北部的波罗的海是一个独特的水体，具有海洋、湖泊和河口的特征。严格地说，它实际上是一个海洋，因此得名恰当，通过丹麦的三个海峡与大西洋相连：厄勒孙海峡、大海峡和小海峡。从技术上讲，波罗的海被归类为微咸海，这意味着它不完全是新鲜的，也不完全是咸的。波罗的海不是内陆，但它确实与许多国家接壤，包括俄罗斯、芬兰、瑞典、丹麦、德国、波兰、立陶宛、拉脱维亚和爱沙尼亚。今天的图片中是爱沙尼亚海岸。
波罗的海和湖泊一样，相对较浅，平均深度为150英尺。它的盐度很低，几乎可以称为淡水。这是因为数百条河流流入大海，更多的淡水以雨雪的形式流入大海，而不是蒸发。波罗的海也可以被描述为一个巨大的河口，数十条河流流入其中。水手们喜欢波罗的海，因为那里几乎没有水流和潮汐可供对抗，即使海面风力增强，海洋仍然相对平静。几个世纪以来，波罗的海一直是该地区贸易和商业的组成部分，也是不可避免的冲突。它有许多名字，证明波罗的海是一个真正的聚会场所。
卡鲁拉国家公园里的小湖，爱沙尼亚 Small lake in Karula National Park, Valgamaa County, Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Minden Pictures)
卡鲁拉国家公园里的小湖，爱沙尼亚 Small lake in Karula National Park, Valgamaa County, Estonia (© Sven Zacek/Minden Pictures)
世界之眼 Eye of the world
Earth Day
For this year's Earth Day we find ourselves floating above Karula National Park, the smallest national park in the smallest Baltic nation. Visiting this jewel of Estonia feels appropriate for Earth Day, as it is home to a variety of endangered species, including animals such as the pond bat, the lesser spotted eagle, and the black stork. Rare plants thrive here, too, like the endangered Baltic orchid, mezereon, and the daisyleaf grape fern. In addition to the draw of its biodiversity, Karula is a popular spot for camping, adventure tourism, fishing, nature photography, hiking, and cycling.
On this day in 1970, some 20 million Americans rallied in communities across the United States to raise awareness of environmental issues. The landmark event is credited for sparking the passage in the 1970s of the most comprehensive environmental reform legislation in US history, including the creation of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Earth Day is now celebrated in nearly 200 countries and has grown to include Earth Week and even Earth Month celebrations. That's good news for Earth's residents, big and small.
地球日
今年的地球日，我们发现自己漂浮在最小的波罗的海国家中最小的国家公园卡鲁拉国家公园上空。在地球日参观爱沙尼亚的这颗明珠感觉很合适，因为它是各种濒危物种的家园，包括池蝠、小斑鹰和黑鹳等动物。珍稀植物也在这里茁壮成长，比如濒临灭绝的波罗的海兰花、梅泽伦和戴西莱夫葡萄蕨。除了吸引生物多样性，卡鲁拉还是露营、探险旅游、钓鱼、自然摄影、徒步旅行和骑自行车的热门景点。
1970年的这一天，大约2000万美国人在美国各地的社区集会，以提高人们对环境问题的认识。这一里程碑式的事件被认为是20世纪70年代促使美国历史上最全面的环境改革立法获得通过的原因，包括制定了《清洁空气、清洁水和濒危物种法案》以及环境保护局（EPA）。现在，近200个国家都在庆祝地球日，并且已经发展到包括地球周甚至地球月的庆祝活动。这对地球上大大小小的居民来说都是好消息。
