At first glance, it looks like a surreal art installation: dark trees frozen on a clay pan, backed by sand dunes and a glowing sky. But this scene from Deadvlei, in Namibia"s Namib-Naukluft Park, is entirely natural. The name "Deadvlei" means "dead marsh"—a remnant of the wetland that once filled this basin.
Rising like a stone hymn in the heart of Kutná Hora, a town in Czechia, the Cathedral of St Barbara is an example of medieval grandeur. The cathedral was dedicated to St Barbara, the patron saint of miners—an enduring symbol for a community whose lifeblood was silver. The miners themselves played a key role in building the cathedral that still bears her name.
Millions of incredible animals roam, fly, swim and slither across our planet. Among the most iconic of these is the grizzly bear, a symbol of the American wilderness. Young grizzlies often "play-fight" to build strength, sharpen skills and establish social bonds. These heavyweight champs can weigh up to 410 kilograms and still sprint faster than most humans. Once widespread across the western United States, grizzlies now primarily roam Alaska and parts of the Northern Rockies.
When the sun clocks out in streaks of orange, pink and purple, Santa Monica in the United States goes from laid-back to lit up. Literally. With over 3 miles of sand, a historic pier and the Pacific Coast Highway keeping things scenic, this beach is more than just a pretty shoreline. Let"s start with the sand. Wide, clean and ready for volleyball or just flopping down with a good book, it"s ideal for sunbathers and sandcastle architects alike. And yes, "Baywatch" was filmed along Santa Monica Bay. Feel free to run in slow motion.
They fly backward, dive-bomb rivals and travel further than most road trippers. Meet the rufous hummingbird—photographed in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, United States. The bird, one of nine species in the genus Selasphorus, gets its name from its rusty, reddish-orange feathers. Males flash copper backs and red throat patches that shimmer in the sun. Females are more subdued but still carry streaks of rufous on their sides and tails.
You could say the Great North Run is where the North really goes the distance. Every September, thousands lace up in Newcastle upon Tyne, ready to pound the pavement from city streets to seaside views. Founded in 1981 by former Olympic bronze medallist Brendan Foster, the half marathon has grown into the world"s largest of its kind, regularly attracting over 60,000 runners. The 13.1-mile route starts on the central motorway and finishes along the South Shields seafront. It takes runners past landmarks like The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, pictured here, and across the Tyne Bridge—often cheered on by a passing Red Arrows flyover.
Read it and believe it—literacy changes everything. As a basic human right, literacy is a powerful tool that opens the door to greater freedoms and active global citizenship. Recognising its far-reaching impact, International Literacy Day—observed each year on September 8 since 1967—serves as a reminder of how vital literacy is in building a better, more sustainable future for all. This year, the theme explores literacy in a digital age, where technology continues to reshape how people learn, communicate and participate in society. As a result, digital engagement has become both a challenge and an opportunity.
Quick, clever and always on the move—meet the Eurasian red squirrel, a leafy treetop resident found across much of Europe and Asia. While it prefers the shelter of forests, this agile creature easily adapts to gardens and parks. It builds its nest, called a drey, high in the fork of a tree using twigs to form a domed structure about 25 to 30 centimetres wide. The female featured here is gathering moss—one of several soft materials, along with bark, leaves and grass, that line the nest and turn it into a snug, well-insulated retreat. These rodents may also take over tree hollows or abandoned woodpecker holes when available.
"Make hay while the sun shines" may sound like an old proverb, but in farming it"s a practical truth. Hay baling plays a crucial role in agriculture worldwide. It involves cutting, drying and packaging grasses to feed livestock during the colder months. The process depends heavily on the weather: the grass must be dry before it"s baled, or it risks moulding. Farmers must act quickly once a dry spell arrives, making it a seasonal race.
Where cobbled charm meets coastal cool, Gdańsk is a dynamic city in Poland"s Pomorskie province. It is part of Tricity—a metropolitan area along the Gdańsk Bay that includes the neighbouring coastal cities of Sopot and Gdynia, along with nearby towns. The city likely takes its name from "Gdania," an earlier name for the Motława river that runs through it.
With lifelong bonds, signature whistles and echolocation, dolphins are more than just smart swimmers. First observed in 2022, World Dolphin Day shines a light on these intelligent marine mammals and the oceans they rely on. The day encourages people to learn about their behaviour and the threats they face. Over 40 dolphin species swim our seas, from the Māui dolphin to the Irrawaddy dolphin. They"re expert navigators, problem-solvers and team players. Some even form superpods—temporary gatherings of hundreds or thousands of dolphins moving together offshore.
It starts with a baton and ends with a bang. The Last Night of the Proms is where one of the world"s biggest classical festivals signs off in style. For eight weeks, the BBC Proms fills London"s Royal Albert Hall, pictured here, with world-class orchestras and soloists. But the final night? That"s the one everyone talks about. It"s part concert, part singalong, part flag-waving party.
It"s not polished or curated—and that"s exactly the point. Drive just over an hour north of San Francisco in the United States, and you"ll reach Point Reyes National Seashore—a place where fog drifts slowly, tule elk roam freely and time seems to pause. Established in 1962, the park was set aside to protect this piece of coastline for public enjoyment and environmental conservation. It covers over 100 square miles and features an impressive array of landscapes, from coastal prairie and blustery headlands to sandy shores and Douglas fir woodlands.
What do invisible gases, vintage hairspray and satellites have in common? They all played a role in one of the greatest environmental comebacks in history. Seen from 225 miles above, the Gulf Coast glows like a constellation—clusters of light scattered across the dark. But what truly makes this view possible can"t be seen: the ozone layer, silently shielding everything below from the sun"s ultraviolet rays. By the 1980s, that shield was thinning fast—damaged by chemicals once used in refrigeration and aerosol products. The solution? A global pact. The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, led to a swift phase-out of ozone-depleting substances. Today, satellites show that the hole over Antarctica is shrinking. Scientists believe it could be fully healed by mid-century.
He may be young, but these antlers speak of future battles. In Denali National Park, in Alaska, United States, a young bull moose lifts his head above the shrubs. At this stage, his antlers are more crown than weapon—still covered in velvet. But even now, they hint at a life shaped by instinct, sparring and the quiet pull of dominance.
This stunning view—where the sky meets the open waters of the Atlantic—is accessible only by foot. Tucked away on Ireland"s wild and beautiful Dingle Peninsula, Dunquin Pier is one of the most photogenic spots in County Kerry. The small pier is famous for its winding, serpentine path that zigzags dramatically down the cliffside like a ribbon. These steep curves aren"t just for the thrill—they"re the only way to reach the pier below, where boats depart for the remote Blasket Islands.
When you hear "Thousand Islands," you might think of a jar of salad dressing, but behind that creamy condiment is one of North America"s most enchanting regions. The Thousand Islands is an archipelago in the St Lawrence River, spanning the state of New York in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada. It is made up of more than 1,800 islands. Some of these islands have fairytale castles; others are barely big enough for a hammock. There"s also Just Room Enough Island, which lives up to its name with a single house and a lone tree.
Every autumn, Theresienwiese, a square in Munich, Germany, transforms into one of the world"s largest festivals—Oktoberfest. First held in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, it has grown into a 16- to 18-day tradition attracting more than six million people from around the globe. The scale is staggering: the festival grounds span approximately 42 hectares and host 14 main tents, each seating thousands. Each year, visitors consume around seven million litres of beer, along with mountains of pretzels, sausages and gingerbread hearts. All beer served at Oktoberfest comes from Munich breweries and meets the strict standards of the Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity Law.
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