# img_en

date: 2025-12-29
filename: AniTurkey_EN-US6168768263.jpg
title: The church that outlived a city
copyright: St. Gregory Church in Ani Ruins, Kars, Türkiye (© Kenan Talas/Getty Images)
story:
On a windswept plateau in eastern Türkiye, along the border with Armenia, the ruins of the ancient city of Ani rise from the landscape with striking clarity. A millennium ago, Ani was a thriving Armenian capital on a major Silk Road route, its fortifications and busy streets shaping trade and culture across the region. Today, the city is quiet, but its outline still carries the weight of its past.


date: 2025-12-30
filename: JapanSwans_EN-US6228421340.jpg
title: Whoop, there they fly
copyright: Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan (© Martin Bailey/Shutterstock)
story:
In Japan's colder months, there's a morning moment when stillness breaks—not with wind or footsteps, but with a bright, rolling call that sweeps across the water. Whooper swans have touched down. One loud whoop—and winter suddenly feels awake. These birds migrate from Siberia and the Russian Far East, choosing Japan as their seasonal home because its lakes offer what long-distance travelers crave: open water, steady food, and a safe place to rest. One of their favorite destinations is Kotoku Pond in the Kantō region on Japan's largest island.


date: 2025-12-31
filename: GermanyNewYear_EN-US6344260060.jpg
title: Where Berlin bridges the New Year
copyright: New Year's Eve, Oberbaum Bridge, Berlin, Germany (© spreephoto.de/Getty Images)
story:
Three… two… one… wait—hold that countdown. It's not New Year's yet, but the Oberbaum Bridge already feels as if Berlin hit its 'celebrate' button ahead of time. On this night, the bridge transforms from a simple river crossing into a runway where this city taxis toward midnight, engines humming, fireworks warming up, and the crowd collectively practicing its 'Happy New Year!' voice.


date: 2026-01-01
filename: NewYearFox_EN-US6422915878.jpg
title: Stretch into the New Year
copyright: Arctic fox sleeping (© Chansak Joe/Getty Images)
story:
Do you feel as if you have a whole year's worth of rest to catch up on? Then you can relate to this Arctic fox, cozily tucked among the rocky outcroppings of the frozen tundra. Whether the new year greets you with biting cold or under a warm sun, take five extra minutes to stretch before diving into the 365 days ahead.


date: 2026-01-02
filename: VeniceView_EN-US3244163136.jpg
title: The soul of Venice
copyright: Aerial view of Venice, Italy (© Clement Leonard/Getty Images)
story:
Seeing Venice from above is mesmerizing, but this Italian gem's true magic lies within its walls and waterways. Founded in the 5th century on a cluster of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, the early settlement rose from marshland to become a maritime powerhouse. By the Middle Ages, it had evolved into a major hub for trade between Europe and the East, fueling immense wealth and cultural growth. The city's grandeur shines through its Gothic palaces, Renaissance art, and landmarks such as St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Rialto Bridge.


date: 2026-01-03
filename: LauterbrunnenValley_EN-US6594933852.jpg
title: The steps before the saga
copyright:
Staubbach Falls at Lauterbrunnen, Canton of Bern, Switzerland (© pongnathee kluaythong/Getty Images)

story:
Our picture of the day takes us to the Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen, where the Staubbach Falls shimmers in the distance beyond a quiet alpine valley. This is the landscape a young traveler, J.R.R. Tolkien, crossed during a hiking trip in 1911, long before he became the storyteller behind 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.' Its soaring cliffs, silver waterfalls, and crisp mountain air left a lasting impression and are believed to have inspired his vision of Rivendell, the elven refuge hidden deep in Middle-earth.


date: 2026-01-06
filename: NuukGreenland_EN-US6879869782.jpg
title: Chillin' in Nuuk
copyright: Nuuk, Greenland (© nevereverro/Getty Images)
story:
Picture a city where your daily commute offers views of fjords, drifting ice, and the Northern Lights. That's everyday life in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland—a small yet spirited Arctic hub blending Inuit heritage with Nordic modernity. Founded in 1728 by Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, it began as a small settlement called Godthaab—'Good Hope.'


date: 2026-01-07
filename: OldRockArch_EN-US2422589534.jpg
title: Rock legends
copyright:
Turret Arch framed by North Window in Arches National Park, Utah (© Jim Patterson/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

story:
Today is a day that puts time into perspective. Old Rock Day highlights the vast geological processes that have shaped our world since its earliest eras. In Arches National Park, Utah, Turret Arch—seen through North Window—offers a striking reminder: landscapes can take hundreds of millions of years to assemble. The Entrada Sandstone that forms these arches began as shifting dunes and shallow seas long before erosion carved today's shapes. Even so, these formations are relatively young. Most rocks on Earth disappear over time because plate tectonics, erosion, and volcanism continually recycle the crust. Only the planet's ancient continental shields preserve truly old material. Canada's Acasta Gneiss, about 4 billion years old, is the oldest known rock still rooted where it formed.


date: 2026-01-08
filename: StarlingBrighton2025_EN-US6998438769.jpg
title: Rust meets rush
copyright:
Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brighton's West Pier, England (© Philip Reeve/Photodisc/Getty Images)

story:
When a bird is called a starling, you'd expect it to be a bit of a show-off. True to its name, this little creature knows how to steal the spotlight. From shimmering feathers that glint green and purple in the sun, to its ability to mimic sounds, the starling is the headline act. Originally native to Europe and Asia, the common starling has spread across the globe. In the 19th century, a group of them were introduced to New York's Central Park by an enthusiast of birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays.


date: 2026-01-09
filename: MuirWoodsMonument_EN-US9831416144.jpg
title: Where time grows tall
copyright: Giant redwood trees in Muir Woods National Monument, California (© photo by canderson/Getty Images)
story:
Step into the realm of giants. Try embracing a BFG (Big Friendly Giant) as you wrap your arms around a thousand years of wisdom in a single tree trunk. Welcome to Muir Woods National Monument—established on this day in 1908—a majestic hall of coastal redwoods just north of San Francisco. These towering redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth—one here stretches about 258 feet, roughly the height of 43 people stacked head to toe. Most are 600–800 years old, and some have stood for over a millennium, yet they're still considered 'young' for a species that can live for 2,000 years.


date: 2026-01-10
filename: MatterhornSunrise_EN-US9978097106.jpg
title: Pure Swiss magic
copyright:
The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland (© Andy Trowbridge/naturepl.com)

story:
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.


date: 2026-01-11
filename: BlueMorocco_EN-US0026059455.jpg
title: From resistance to radiance
copyright: Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco (© AnetteAndersen/Getty Images)
story:
On January 11, 1944, Morocco took a bold step toward freedom. Sixty-six leaders signed the Proclamation of Independence, demanding an end to French and Spanish colonial rule and affirming the country's right to sovereignty. This manifesto, backed by Sultan Mohammed V, was presented not only to colonial authorities but also to representatives of the US, UK, and the former Soviet Union—a signal that Morocco's struggle was part of a global call for self-determination. Though repression followed, the movement endured, and by 1956 Morocco achieved full independence, marking a turning point in North African history.


date: 2026-01-12
filename: SnowOtters_EN-US0138589680.jpg
title: Otter-ly Estonia
copyright: Eurasian otter and pup, Estonia (© Sven Zacek/naturepl.com)
story:
The clue isn't the tracks in the snow—it's the frosted faces peeking out like they've just discovered winter. Estonia is one of Europe's best places to spot Eurasian otters, thanks to its clean rivers, wide wetlands, and snack-filled coastline. This protected species was named Estonia's Animal of the Year in 2024. While globally considered near threatened, their population here has grown substantially, reaching an estimated 2,000 in recent years, up from a historic low of just 300 before the turn of the millennium.


date: 2026-01-13
filename: WalesWinter_EN-US0191348069.jpg
title: Apple rhymes and old times
copyright: Vale of Clwyd, Wales (© Valerie Blencowe/Getty Images)
story:
Most people wrap up their New Year plans by the first week of January. Wales, however, has a charming habit of saying, 'Hold on—we've got one more celebration left.' Enter Hen Galan, the 'Old New Year,' observed on January 13 in parts of Wales, most famously in the Gwaun Valley. The date survives from the old Julian calendar, kept long after the rest of Britain adopted the Gregorian one.


date: 2026-01-14
filename: PalamidiFortress_EN-US0244863129.jpg
title: Ascending history at Palamidi
copyright: The staircase of the Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece (© George Pachantouris/Getty Images)
story:
National Take the Stairs Day, observed on the second Wednesday of January, encourages everyone to add small bursts of movement to daily life. Choosing stairs instead of elevators, or fitting in a short walk or bike ride, helps build healthier habits. With millions living with chronic lung disease and air quality concerns growing, simple actions that strengthen our bodies matter more than ever.


date: 2026-01-16
filename: EtoshaLeopard_EN-US0412326524.jpg
title: Eye see you
copyright: Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia (© Norbert Achtelik/Cavan Images)
story:
If you've ever watched a wildlife documentary, you know the moment: the camera pans across a quiet savanna, and suddenly a leopard appears as if it has been there all along. That quiet reveal says everything about how these cats operate. They move with precision, slipping through grass and branches without making a sound. Their build, muscular but lean, helps them climb, sprint, and hide in plain sight. Their rosetted coats? No two patterns match, each serving as natural camouflage from sunrise to moonlight.


date: 2026-01-17
filename: NaplesBasilica_EN-US0483177548.jpg
title: The dome of Piazza del Plebiscito
copyright: Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, Naples, Italy (© javarman3/Getty Images)
story:
Walk into any large square in Naples, Italy, and the city's history comes into focus. Arched galleries, sweeping colonnades, and domes that echo ancient architecture compete for your attention. Every street shifts in style—compact Baroque facades give way to broad Neoclassical courtyards. Continue exploring, and you will arrive at a wide square with a building that appears Roman at first sight. That's the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, located on the west side of Piazza del Plebiscito.


date: 2026-01-18
filename: WhiteSandsNM_EN-US0565482616.jpg
title: A desert in disguise
copyright: White Sands National Park, New Mexico (© Francesco Carucci/Getty Images)
story:
If 'Frozen' traded ice for sand, the result would look a lot like White Sands National Park in New Mexico—cool, white dunes that deceive the eye at first glance. It became a national monument on this day in 1933, established to protect a rare geological phenomenon: the world's largest gypsum dunefield. These dunes were formed from gypsum crystals that broke down over thousands of years, creating bright waves that stay cool even in summer.


