Nestled in the heart of California"s Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, spans more than 310,000 hectares, cradling granite giants, cascading waterfalls and ancient sequoias. Among its lesser-known treasures lies the Clark Range—the rugged, high-elevation spine seen in today"s image. It was named after Galen Clark, Yosemite"s first guardian and a pioneer of conservation.
Beyond water, rivers carry life, history and stories. They are nature"s ever-moving contribution to our landscapes, flowing through lands and across time. One such gem is the Snake River, which winds through Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, United States. A particularly stunning spot along this river is Oxbow Bend—featured in today"s image—where calm waters reflect the towering Teton Range and wildlife such as moose and bald eagles thrive. On calm days, Mount Moran can be seen mirrored on the water"s surface, making the scene even more striking. Here, water flows freely, unbound by concrete or commerce, protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. At dawn, mist dances over the bend and the mountains blush with the first light. Visitors pause, hushed by nature"s poetry.
Mists curl, waters glimmer and legends linger—welcome to Glen Brittle. On the Isle of Skye, Scotland"s fabled "Misty Isle," the glen stretches in a sweep of purple heather carpeting its rugged slopes. The landscape hums with echoes of the past: dinosaurs left footprints on these cliffs long before Mesolithic hunters traced its streams over 8,000 years ago. In the 9th century, seafaring Norse Vikings settled here. Centuries later, the powerful MacLeod and MacDonald clans claimed these lands, their castles standing guard over countless battles and alliances.
Today"s image captures the International Space Station (ISS), a vast laboratory built by 15 nations, orbiting about 400 kilometres above Earth. Travelling at nearly 28,900 km/h, the ISS circles Earth every 90 minutes, giving its international crew of seven the remarkable experience of witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. Its solar arrays soak up sunlight to power groundbreaking research on microgravity, technology and human survival beyond our planet. Shot from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour—a reusable spacecraft that has completed six missions since 2020, ferrying astronauts and cargo—this scene embodies what humanity can achieve when it chooses cooperation over competition. Each gleaming panel makes it clear: the final frontier is within reach and the audacity to explore it defines us.
Today"s image features a boreal owl, one of the smallest and most elusive members of the owl family. This compact bird has a round head without ear tufts, striking yellow eyes framed by a pale facial disc, brown upperparts speckled with white and cream-coloured underparts streaked with russet brown. Males measure about 25 centimetres in length with a wingspan of almost 60 centimetres, while females are slightly larger, around 30 centimetres long, with a wingspan over 60 centimetres.
Today"s image features the Anshun Bridge in Chengdu, China. It isn"t just a crossing—it"s a cultural icon shining over the Jin River. Its name literally translates as "Bridge of Peace and Propitiousness," reflecting its role as both a practical crossing and a symbol of the city. The original bridge was built in 1746 but suffered repeated damage from floods over the centuries. The current structure, completed in 2003, preserves the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties and spans 81 metres in length and 6 metres in width. The bridge features handrails with traditional floral carvings, water-beast statues on the piers and memorial archways on each side, reflecting classic Chinese architecture. It serves as a cultural landmark and a hub for tourism, featuring a restaurant on the upper level, hosting occasional cultural events and offering an illuminated night view that has become one of Chengdu"s most photographed attractions.
It"s that time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when the hills shed their summer greens, unveiling a blaze of colours that lights up the season. The change usually begins in September and early October, with higher slopes turning first, followed by the lower valleys. Among the stars of this display are the aspens, whose leaves shimmer like gold coins in the sunlight. The magic of aspen colours, however, isn"t guaranteed year after year. Their golden glow depends on many factors—tree health, local weather shifts, soil moisture and where they grow in terms of elevation and latitude.
Meet the master of disguise—the day octopus (Octopus cyanea). Found across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Hawaii in the United States to Africa"s eastern coast, this reef-dweller is a true shapeshifter. Unlike most of its kin, it hunts in broad daylight, instantly shifting its colour, pattern and even skin texture to blend into its surroundings. At times, it even performs a clever "passing clouds" act, casting a false shadow to trick crabs into moving at just the wrong moment. And once the trap is sprung, the hunter wastes no time. A skilled predator, this octopus prowls the reef for fish, crabs, prawns and molluscs. Smaller catches are devoured on the spot, while larger prey is dragged back to its den.
Picture clouds—not drifting across our skies, but stretching across space itself, cradling the birth of new stars. That"s exactly what NASA"s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed in its view of the Pillars of Creation—shown here—with colours and details unlike anything seen before.
Today"s image features one of Fiji"s true gems, the island of Monuriki. Known worldwide as the filming site of "Cast Away," it is uninhabited—but far from lifeless. Tucked within the Mamanuca group, this small volcanic islet stretches over a kilometre in length and 600 metres across, surrounded by turquoise waters and vibrant coral reefs. The reefs act as a natural fortress, protecting the island from storms while sheltering countless species of fish. They are a fitting metaphor: strong, diverse and deeply connected to the well-being of the nation. Beyond its waters, Monuriki is also home to the endangered Fiji crested iguana, one of the few places where this rare reptile can still be found. Together, the island"s vibrant reef and unique wildlife make it a true natural treasure of Fiji.
The wood duck, pictured here, is one of the most colourful waterfowl in North America. Males dazzle with iridescent plumage, red eyes and a bold white flare down the neck, while females have a softer look, with grey-brown feathers, a white eye-ring and a pale throat. Both have a small crest on the head, and their wings show a blue-green patch edged in white.
Some places are just stops on the map, but Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains in New York, United States, is a destination that keeps people hooked year-round. Despite its name, this village isn"t directly on the Saranac Lakes themselves but rather on Lake Flower, a wide section of the Saranac River. For centuries, the area—nicknamed "The Capital of the Adirondacks"—was used by Indigenous peoples for hunting and travel. By the late 19th century, it gained fame as a health retreat, where Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau pioneered fresh-air treatment for tuberculosis. The cure cottages from that era still stand today.
With its steep rocky walls, cascading streams and scenery that looks painted by nature itself, the Wimbachklamm near Ramsau, in Berchtesgaden National Park, ranks among Bavaria"s most stunning gorges. In today"s photo, the Wimbach carves its way through narrow rock formations over a stretch of about 200 metres, tumbling down in small waterfalls and sculpting impressive patterns into the stone over time. The colourful layers of rock reveal geological processes that date back thousands of years.
Ever wondered what it"s like to live on a movie set? Oia is about as close as it gets, part of Greece"s Santorini archipelago. This village has appeared in films like "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and "Tomb Raider," thanks to its Cycladic houses—cube-shaped homes with flat roofs—and cliffside views that feel almost unreal. Its unique architecture has roots in the late 19th century. Sailors and merchants carved houses right into the volcanic cliffs—cool in summer and warm in winter. The white-and-blue theme is also more than just for show: houses were painted with lime wash so rainwater would run off and be collected. Today, visitors wander its cobbled lanes, explore the Naval Maritime Museum or climb to the ruins of Agios Nikolaos Castle for unforgettable sunsets.
Did you know that approximately 14,000 species of mushrooms have been described? One of them is the amethyst laccaria, pictured here. Also known as the amethyst deceiver, its bright purple colour is dazzling when young, but it fades with age and weathering, making it tricky to identify. Despite its delicate, ever-changing appearance, this jewel-toned fungus is edible and plays a vital role in the ecosystem.
Think of a cat that can vanish into the forest without a sound—that"s the Eurasian lynx, pictured here in Siberia. With its tufted ears and a piercing gaze, this feline is the largest of the four lynx species. Stretching more than 100 centimetres in length and standing over 70 centimetres tall at the shoulder, it is built for power and precision. Its padded paws aren"t just for sneaking; they act like snowshoes, spreading its weight so it can chase down prey in deep winter drifts. Mostly a nocturnal hunter, it spends its days tucked away in thickets or rocky dens, venturing out under the cover of darkness to stalk deer, hares and squirrels.
Nestled within Rock River Canyon Wilderness, in Michigan, United States, 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.
Some ancient sites, like the one shown here, blend seamlessly into their surroundings: at first glance, Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, England, may seem like a simple slope in the countryside. However, it conceals a 4,500-year-old Neolithic enigma. Starting around 2400 BCE, chalk was locally quarried, transported and compacted by hand, layer by layer, over generations. The result is the tallest prehistoric mound in Europe, built entirely by human effort, rising to almost 40 metres.
This time of the year in Minnesota, United States, carries more than crimson leaves—it brings the crisp promise of apple season. From mid-August through late October, orchards across the state open their rows of Honeycrisp, Haralson and dozens of other cultivars, each bred for flavour, resilience and charm. Today"s image captures that moment: branches heavy with ripe fruit, ready for harvest.
How good would it feel if you could just hang out and do absolutely nothing all day? That"s exactly what sloths do, but don"t let their slow pace fool you. Sloths are around three times stronger than humans and can hang on tight enough to fend off a jaguar.
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