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Male hooded merganser
Male hooded merganser
The quiet waterways of Oregon, United States, offer the perfect setting for hooded mergansers—small diving ducks native to North America. They are agile divers, plunging beneath the surface to catch fish and other prey. Males, known as drakes, stand out with their fan-shaped white crests, dark heads and chestnut-brown sides, while females, called hens, are brownish grey with smaller crests. Oregon"s lakes and wetlands provide sheltered feeding grounds as these birds migrate or winter across the continent.Desktop Version
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
Today"s image features Shenandoah National Park, in Virginia, United States, which serves as a sanctuary for the preservation of significant natural and cultural resources. Nestled in the northern Blue Ridge Mountains, it offers a glimpse into the region"s rich biodiversity and historical heritage. The park"s diverse ecosystems protect a variety of species, from towering oak and pine trees to black bears and white-tailed deer, while preserving the scenic beauty and wilderness that define this remarkable landscape. The park"s major attraction is Skyline Drive, a 169-kilometre scenic road, offering vistas where clouds drift like thoughts across endless valleys. Trails—more than 800 kilometres of them—lead to places where waterfalls tumble and summits greet the horizon. Whether you"re hiking, camping or stargazing, Shenandoah National Park provides an escape into nature.Desktop Version
A traboule in Lyon, France
A traboule in Lyon, France
In Lyon, France, you don"t just walk through the city—you glide through it. The traboules, a network of hidden passageways threading between courtyards and buildings, turn a simple stroll into a treasure hunt. They were the original shortcuts, allowing residents to dodge rain, carry goods or move discreetly through the medieval quarters. Today, they"re less about practicality and more about discovery. These passages date back to the fourth century but became essential during the Renaissance, when silk traders used them to shuttle delicate fabrics safely from workshops to the river without braving the weather. Later, during World War II, Resistance fighters used the traboules as escape routes.Desktop Version
Irohazaka Road, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
Irohazaka Road, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
If you think the alphabet is straightforward, Japan"s Irohazaka Road in Nikko will twist that belief right out of you. Named after the old Japanese syllabary "Iroha", this mountain pass once had 48 hairpin bends—each curve matched to a character of the alphabet. Today, it"s a pair of separate one-way roads—one goes up, the other comes down and both make drivers feel as if they"re spelling out a story with every turn.Desktop Version
Mother manatee and calf
Mother manatee and calf
Manatees, featured in today"s image, are found in the warm coastal waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon Basin and West Africa. They can weigh up to 550 kilograms, yet their diet is strictly vegetarian. These whiskered mammals are slow swimmers in a fast-paced world. They cruise at around 8 kilometres per hour—great for relaxing, not so great when speedboats come charging through. That"s why "no-wake zones," or sections of waterways with a strict speed limit, are there to keep manatees safe.Desktop Version
Quiver trees, Namibia
Quiver trees, Namibia
Of all the plants on Earth, the quiver tree looks the most like a vision from the future. Found in Southern Africa, including parts of Namibia, these striking giants are not true trees but a species of aloe adapted to life under the desert"s scorching sun. Their thick trunks store water, while their branches reflect heat, helping them endure harsh conditions. Reaching up to 7 metres in height, with some living for more than 100 years, quiver trees are also vital to their ecosystem. They offer rare perches and nesting sites for birds in landscapes where few other trees exist.Desktop Version
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Think modern sports are dramatic? Ancient Romans had front-row seats to spectacles far more intense inside the Colosseum. Commissioned by the Flavian emperor Vespasian in 72 CE and finished by his son Titus in 80 CE, this amphitheatre broke tradition with its predecessors that were built into hillsides for natural support. Instead, the Colosseum was a fully free-standing architectural giant. Crafted from stone and concrete, its arches and vaults supported an arena that could host up to 50,000 spectators. Gladiators, exotic animals and even staged sea battles thrilled the crowds, while hidden lifts and trapdoors created sudden, dramatic appearances.Desktop Version
Externsteine, Teutoburg Forest, Germany
Externsteine, Teutoburg Forest, Germany
Nestled in the heart of Germany"s Teutoburg Forest, near the town of Horn-Bad Meinberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, the dramatic rock formations known as the Externsteine rise majestically into the sky. These sandstone pillars, formed around 70 million years ago, are among Germany"s most significant natural and cultural landmarks. They captivate visitors with their unique shapes and rich historical significance, attracting thousands each year. The rocks reach heights of up to 35 metres. As early as the Middle Ages, the site was used as a place of worship, as evidenced by a remarkable 12th-century relief carved into the stone depicting the Descent from the Cross. It is the oldest of its kind north of the Alps.Desktop Version
Black-tailed prairie dogs
Black-tailed prairie dogs
In 1978, a stark stretch of South Dakota prairie gained recognition as one of America"s natural treasures. Badlands National Park, carved by wind and water, was redesignated from national monument to national park status, securing stronger protection within the United States" National Park System. Its cliffs and spires rise above fossil beds that reveal ancient rhinoceroses, camels and subtropical seas. Yet the park is not only a window into the past; it also safeguards one of the largest remaining tracts of mixed-grass prairie in the country.Desktop Version
Lagoon Nebula, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope
Lagoon Nebula, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope
The universe hums with creation. Featured here, in the Lagoon Nebula, a cluster called NGC 6530 is kindling newborn stars, a glowing reminder that beginnings are woven into the fabric of the cosmos. About 4,350 light-years away and a few million years old, it is a stellar formation still in its earliest chapter. Despite its immense distance, it glimmers faintly in the night sky, one of only two star-forming nebulae visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes, alongside the famous Orion Nebula. First recorded by Giovanni Hodierna in 1654, it is located in the constellation Sagittarius. In long-exposure photographs, the Lagoon Nebula may appear pink, but when viewed through a telescope it looks grey, as the human eye struggles to detect colour in low-light conditions. So, if you ever try to spot it, don"t be surprised by its muted appearance.Desktop Version
Bandon Beach in Bandon, Oregon, United States
Bandon Beach in Bandon, Oregon, United States
Exit Highway 101 and Bandon, in Oregon, United States, greets visitors with salty air and the gentle clang of harbour bells. The town began as a small settlement in the 1850s and grew into a centre for timber and salmon fishing. Cranberries became a key crop and are still celebrated each September during the Cranberry Festival. Old Town reflects that past with boardwalk cafés and galleries, while the Coquille River Lighthouse stands restored at Bullards Beach as a reminder of the days when its beacon guided ships.Desktop Version
Polar bear in Canada
Polar bear in Canada
Featured in today"s image—the polar bear—is the largest living species of bear, often weighing over 180 kilograms. Closely related to brown bears, polar bears have evolved to survive in the planet"s harshest, coldest environments, perfectly adapted to life on snow and ice.Desktop Version
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand
Blending over a thousand years of history, art and devotion, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, featured in today"s image, offers a glimpse into the spiritual heart of northern Thailand. Its origins date back to 897, when the Hariphunchai king built a stupa to enshrine a strand of the Buddha"s hair.Desktop Version
Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
Spain"s Aragon region isn"t exactly famous for its forests—it"s more "sun and scrub" than "shade and shuffle." And yet, climb the slopes of Moncayo and you"ll walk straight into a twist ending: a dense, whispering beech forest. The mountain is a climate roller coaster. At the bottom? Mediterranean shrubs. Midway up? Oaks and pines. Push further? Suddenly you"re in Peña Roya, a beech wonderland that seems to say, "Surprise, leaf it to me!"Desktop Version
Tower Bridge, London, England
Tower Bridge, London, England
Some bridges connect two sides. Tower Bridge connects history, engineering and a flair for drama. Standing next to the Tower of London and rising over the River Thames since 1894, this London icon literally knows how to lift spirits—and traffic. With its twin towers, blue-and-white paintwork and bascules that open like a giant"s drawbridge, Tower Bridge is less a traffic solution and more a stage performer.Desktop Version
Jellyfish, Guerrero, Mexico
Jellyfish, Guerrero, Mexico
They don"t have brains, bones or even hearts, yet jellyfish have pulsed through Earth"s oceans for half a billion years. Don"t be fooled by the "fish" in their name: they belong to the invertebrate club called Cnidaria and they"re made up of about 95% water. With their bell-shaped bodies and trailing tentacles, they"re more like ocean drifters than deep-sea athletes. Some glow, like the one pictured here in the Pacific Ocean off Guerrero, Mexico, others pack stings and a select few, like the "immortal jellyfish," can reset their life cycle and start again.Desktop Version
Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Today, we travel to the Arashiyama district in Kyoto, Japan, renowned for its captivating seasonal landscapes. Here, vibrant Japanese maple trees and serene bamboo forests create a harmonious blend of colour and tranquillity. These maples, known for their delicate, deeply lobed leaves, turn fiery shades of red, orange and gold during autumn, attracting visitors from around the world. They are celebrated not only for their beauty but also for their cultural symbolism—representing elegance, peace and the fleeting nature of life.Desktop Version
Bison, Yellowstone National Park
Bison, Yellowstone National Park
The bison embodies a paradox: immense strength paired with quiet calm. Weighing more than 900 kilograms and standing around 2 metres tall, these giants roam North America"s grasslands and river valleys in mobile herds. Photographed here in Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming, United States, they once numbered in the tens of millions but were nearly eradicated in the 19th century—a loss that reshaped ecosystems and disrupted lifeways.Desktop Version
Bran Castle in Bran, Brașov, Romania
Bran Castle in Bran, Brașov, Romania
Featured in today"s image is Bran Castle, one of Romania"s most iconic landmarks, where centuries of history blend seamlessly with myth and mystery. The fortress was built in the 14th century and has withstood wars, monarchs and shifting empires. During World War II, Bran Castle was turned into a hospital for wounded soldiers by Princess Ileana, who was trained as a nurse. But here, legends speak louder than history. Perched between the regions of Transylvania—renowned for its chilling tales—and Wallachia, once ruled by Vlad III Dracula, the castle evokes a haunting legacy. Vlad"s ruthless reputation inspired Bram Stoker"s 1897 novel "Dracula." Though the story is not set at Bran Castle, its looming form and persistent rumours of Vlad"s presence blur fact and legend, forever linking it to one of humanity"s most enduring tales.Desktop Version
Camels, Rajasthan, India
Camels, Rajasthan, India
Ever wondered how life survives in the harshest deserts? Meet the camel—the ultimate desert survivor, often called the "Ship of the Desert." With unique adaptations, camels are perfectly built to thrive in harsh, arid environments.Desktop Version
Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal
Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal
The Portuguese island of Madeira—about 965 kilometres 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.Desktop Version
The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia
The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia
From 18th-century visitors to fire-carved trails, this rock city tells a story of survival. Hidden in Czechia"s Hradec Králové Region, the Adršpach–Teplice Rocks form Central Europe"s largest sandstone labyrinth. For centuries, the cliffs and passages lay cloaked in forest until a great fire stripped the land bare. Arches, towers and winding corridors emerged out of the ashes and the first hiking paths were carved into the rock. Soon after, explorers and poets left their marks with stone inscriptions that captured a destination both wild and enchanting.Desktop Version
Thick-billed raven
Thick-billed raven
Perched high in the mountains of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, the thick-billed raven holds the title of the world"s largest raven. At more than 70 centimetres in length and weighing over a kilogram, it is about a quarter heavier than the common raven. Its enormous, arched bill—pale at the base and close to 8 centimetres long—is the largest among perching birds. These ravens live mostly between 1,500 and 3,400 metres above sea level, found across farmland, rocky cliffs and even rooftops in mountain towns.Desktop Version
Pumpkin farm, North Carolina
Pumpkin farm, North Carolina
A pumpkin farm is a patchwork of colour, life and tradition, with every gourd waiting its turn to shine. Walking through the fields, you"ll spot pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, from small decorative varieties to the giants that have inspired growers worldwide. Interestingly, the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded weighed an incredible 1,246.9 kilograms. Despite their solid appearance, pumpkins can float effortlessly because they are 92% water. These gourds have rolled their way into pies, porches, lattes and parades. The colour of pumpkins comes from beta-carotene, but not all are orange—some grow white, green or even blue. Their utility doesn"t end there—pumpkins have stood guard as scarecrows, been launched in pumpkin-chucking contests and even hollowed out for boat races.Desktop Version
Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Today, we step into the Martimoaapa Mire Reserve in Finland, where wide, cold-climate wetlands and peatlands stretch across a landscape shaped over thousands of years. This reserve is more than just mires—it carries layers of history. During Finland"s Prohibition era (1919–1932), smugglers hauled sacks of liquor from Sweden across these bogs, following a "spirits" route that passed through Martimoaapa. Parts of that path can still be traced today. Imagine trekking with a heavy pack over soggy ground—would you have made it?Desktop Version