Luther-Translated Bible, Eisenach, Germany, 1983
Photograph by James L. Amos A copy of the Bible translated from Greek to German by religious reformer Martin Luther in 1521 lies open to the New Testament in a dimly lit room in Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany. Luther lived incognito at the castle for nearly a year after he was declared an outlaw by the Roman emperor for refusing to recant his Reformation writings. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The World of Luther," October 1983, National Geographic magazine)
Temple Ruins, Near Marib, Yemen, 1979
Photograph by Steve Raymer Pillars of a Sabaean moon-god temple jut from the desert near Marib, Yemen, offering clues to a powerful kingdom that may have been ruled by the legendary Queen of Sheba, mentioned in both the Koran and the Bible. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "North Yemen," August 1979, National Geographic magazine)
Custom Car, Near San Diego, California, 1981
Photograph by Bruce Dale A woman in a custom-made classic car replica motors along a stretch of highway near San Diego. Car-crazy California boasts more than 15,000 miles (24,140 kilometers) of state highways, including some of the country's most scenic routes. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "America's Auto Mania," February 1981, National Geographic magazine)
Cape Point at Twilight, South Africa, 2003
Photograph by David Doubilet Clouds streak the twilight sky above South Africa's Cape Point. South Africa's coastline stretches some 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "My Seven: The World's Best Diving Spots," January 2004, National Geographic magazine)
French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2000
Photograph by Bob Sacha Shot in infrared, New Orleans' French Quarter seems bathed in blue early one morning. The oldest neighborhood in the city, the quarter is a national historic landmark and a popular tourist destination. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Spirits of New Orleans," October 2000, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
Aztec Rain God, Mexico City, Mexico, 2003
Photograph by Macduff Everton An Aztec brazier in the Templo Mayor Museum in Mexico City depicts Tlaloc, the god of rain. Like many Aztec deities, Tlaloc was both benevolent and wrathful, sending rain to nourish crops but also unleashing drought and hurricanes and demanding appeasement in the form of sacrificed children. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Under the Mexican Sun," November/December 2003, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
Carmine Bee-Eaters, Chad, 2007
Photograph by Michael Nichols Colorful carmine bee-eaters set up a breeding colony in holes they dug in a dried-up, sandy riverbed in Zakouma National Park, Chad. During the day, bee-eaters catch honeybees and other insects, sometimes displaying them outside their holes to attract mates. At sunset the colony gathers and embarks on a mysterious, swirling flight. By nightfall the birds are back in their holes. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Zakouma: Eye to Eye," March 2007, National Geographic magazine)
Orchid, Gurukula, India, 2002
Photograph by Frans Lanting A pink orchid blooms in the dense rain forests of India's Western Ghats mountain range. Once linked by land, the Western Ghats and the island nation of Sri Lanka together make up a biodiversity hotspot—a place with threatened natural habitats that are rich in species, especially plants, that live nowhere else. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "India's Western Ghats," January 2002, National Geographic magazine)
Researchers, Anavilhanas Reserve, Brazil, 1982
Photograph by James P. Blair Researchers from the National Institute for Amazonian Studies (INPA) use nets to collect specimens of pacu, a fish that eats fruits and nuts, on the Rio Negro in Amazonas state, Brazil. INPA scientists, financed by the World Wildlife Fund, monitor flora and fauna on plots of untouched rain forest in large areas where the trees have been cut and burned to establish cattle reserves. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Nature's Dwindling Treasures," January 1983, National Geographic magazine)
Boreal Forest, Arctic Circle, 2002
Photograph by Peter Essick Water and sky form a blue canvas for boreal forest in the Arctic Circle. Circling the globe, the boreal forest—its name derived from Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind—comprises one-third of Earth's wooded lands. The forest begins where the temperate woods of oak and maple disappear and continues north, often past the Arctic Circle. With long, cold winters and short, cool summers, the boreal woods have far less biodiversity than tropical forests. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Boreal: The Great Northern Forest," June 2002, National Geographic magazine)
Child, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2000
Photograph by Michael Nichols A child runs through a bleak village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Conservationist J. Michael Fay trekked some 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) across central Africa as part of a yearlong survey of the continent's remaining wild places. Fay designed the route of his Megatransect to skirt towns and villages by as wide a margin as possible, but he occasionally passed through one to survey its impact on surrounding wildlife populations. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Megatransect," October 2000, National Geographic magazine)
Snarling Wolf, Ely, Minnesota, 1998
Photograph by Joel Sartore A remote-controlled "carcass cam" captures an inside view of a gray wolf fiercely guarding its meal at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota. Wolves at the center are provided with food, but wild populations generally hunt in packs. After a large kill, a single wolf can consume more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of meat. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Return of the Gray Wolf," May 1998, National Geographic magazine)
Sunrise, Oxford, England, 1998
Photograph by Annie Griffiths Belt Sunrise breaks in Oxford, England, home of Thomas Edward Lawrence, who came to be known as Lawrence of Arabia. Hooked on history as a boy, "Ned" roamed the fields and riverbanks behind his home in Oxford, on the lookout for artifacts from Britain's age of chivalry. Later the scholar turned soldier fought alongside Arab forces in the Middle East. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Lawrence of Arabia: A Hero's Journey," January 1999, National Geographic magazine)
Buddhist Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, 2003
Photograph by Galen Rowell Pedestrians walk near a temple on the famed Barkhor promenade in Lhasa, Tibet, with the grandiose Potala Palace sprawled atop nearby Red Mountain. Once a spiritual epicenter, the Barkhor is in the midst of a Chinese government-led modernization effort that many believe has stripped the ancient neighborhood of much of its unique Tibetan culture. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "275 Miles on Foot Through the Remote Chang Tang," April 2003, National Geographic magazine)
Cave Diver, Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico, 1991
Photograph by Michael Nichols Ultra-clear water makes this formation in New Mexico's Lechuguilla Cave look more precipice than pool. Called Lake Chandalar, spelunkers are advised to fill their canteens here without touching the water to avoid introducing bacteria that could cloud the crystalline pond. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Charting the Splendors of Lechuguilla Cave," March 1991, National Geographic magazine)
14th-Century Fortress, Dunajec Breach, Poland, 1987
Photograph by James Stanfield A farmer in Poland's Dunajec Breach grazes his sheep on pastureland that is now many feet under water. This photo, taken in 1987, shows the dam-in-progress (center right) that nearly a decade later would turn this valley into a tranquil lake. Lofty Niedzica Castle (center top) now boasts waterfront property. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Poland: The Hope That Never Dies," January 1988, National Geographic magazine)
Diwali Observance, Jaipur, India, 2001
Photograph by Joe McNally Two women observe Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at the ancient palace of the maharaja in Jaipur. The festival lasts five days and celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. During Diwali, buildings and waterways are lit with candles and oil lamps, the earliest forms of artificial lighting after campfires. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Power of Light," October 2001, National Geographic magazine)
Elephant's Trunk, Zakouma National Park, Chad, 2007
Photograph by Michael Nichols A unique camera angle captures an elephant's trunk approaching a waterhole in Zakouma National Park, Chad. African elephants hydrate by sucking liquid into their trunk, then pouring it into their mouth. Adults will drink up to 50 gallons (190 liters) of water per day. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Ivory Wars: Last Stand in Zakouma," March 2007, National Geographic magazine)
Submersible and Research Vessel, Black Sea, 2001
Photograph by Randy Olson A team of archaeologists with the Black Sea Project lowers a remotely operated submersible named Little Hercules from a research vessel. In 2000, when this photo was taken, the project discovered several impeccably preserved ancient shipwrecks in the depths of the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Deep Black Sea," May 2001, National Geographic magazine)
Nasca Lines, Nasca, Peru, 1964
Photograph by Bates Littlehales An aerial view shows the famed Nasca Lines of southern Peru. These images, enormous geoglyphs etched into the desert some 2,000 years ago, are so large they can only be discerned from the sky. Some are more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) long. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Five Worlds of Peru," February 1964, National Geographic magazine)
Sea Anemone Eating Crab, Washington, 1999
Photograph by George Grall A giant green sea anemone eats a red cancer crab in a tidal pool in Washington's Clallam Bay. These carnivorous invertebrates snare their prey by firing a hooked filament into their victims, paralyzing them with a potent neurotoxin before engulfing the unlucky prey. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Pools of Spring," April 1999, National Geographic magazine)
Acid Rain, Washington, D.C., 1981
Photograph by Robert Sisson In this macro close-up, a bromophemol solution is dripped on raindrops found on a daisy petal to test their acidity. The solution is reddish and has turned one drop yellow. The rain is pH 3, the same as vinegar. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Acid Rain: How Great a Menace?" November 1981, National Geographic magazine)
Cliffs and Lighthouse, Waimanalo, Hawaii, 2001
Photograph by Jodi Cobb The red-topped lighthouse on Makapu'u Point stands at the end of a long, fence-lined trail in the southeast corner of Hawaii's Oahu island. Built in 1909, Makapu'u Lighthouse is only 46 feet (14 meters) tall, but its light, concentrated by the largest lens in America, can be seen 28 miles (45 kilometers) out at sea. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "ZipUSA: Waimanalo, Hawaii," February 2001, National Geographic magazine)
Drying Laundry, Zab, Poland, 1988
Photograph by James Stanfield Colorful clothes dry on a line outside a clapboard home in Zab, Poland. Zab sits at 3,356 feet (1,023 meters) in the Tatra Mountains, earning it the distinction as Poland's highest inhabited village. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Poland: The Hope That Never Dies," January 1988, National Geographic magazine)
Rain Forest Lizard, Malaysia, 1997
A lizard clings to a tree branch in Malaysia's Danum Valley Conservation reserve. Located in Western Borneo, this protected area of rain forest is home to many unique species, such as Low’s pitcher plant, the rot-scented rafflesia, and the silvered leaf monkey. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, “Malaysia’s Secret Realm," August 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Dead Trees, Grand Sable Dunes, Michigan, 1991
Photograph by Phil Schermeister Long-deceased trees cling stubbornly to the steep flanks of Grand Sable Dunes in Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The precipitous dunes, left behind by ancient glaciers, rise some 300 feet (90 meters) above Lake Superior and spread over 5 square miles (13 square kilometers). (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Big Lost Country," March/April 1991, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
Magnified Lipids, University of Santa Cruz, California, 1998
Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta Ultraviolet light turns the membranes of magnified lipids fluorescent green. Molecular scientists study such compounds for clues about the origins of life on Earth. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Rise of Life on Earth," March 1998, National Geographic magazine)
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Montana, 2007
Photograph by Michael Medford A common goldeneye duck paddles past a snowy bank—and toward the reflection of a gnarled tree stump—in Lake McDonald, part of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. For 75 years the combined 1.14 million acres (0.6 million hectares) of Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park and the U.S.'s Glacier National Park have been designated, and jointly managed, as a transboundary conservation area—the world's first international peace park. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Crown of the Continent," September 2007, National Geographic magazine)
Saint Mary's Church, Krakow, Poland, 1988
Photograph by James Stanfield A speck of sun behind the Gothic church of St. Mary's penetrates early morning fog in Market Square as merchants ready their tables for the day's crowds in Krakow, Poland. The picturesque plaza, built in the 13th century, is one of the largest public squares in Europe. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Poland: The Hope That Never Dies," January 1988, National Geographic magazine)
Sailboats, Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, 1975
Photograph by David Boyer Sailboats jockey for position in a boat race on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota, a state that owes much of its buoyant outdoor spirit to its rivers and 15, 291 lakes. For a lake to be counted, it has to cover at least ten acres (four hectares) and flow with fresh water. No ponds or potholes, please. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Minnesota, Where Water Is the Magic Word," February 1976, National Geographic magazine)
Coral Reef, Australia, 2001
Photograph by Flip Nicklin The serene blues and greens of a coral reef blend in with waters off Australia. Corals live in tropical waters throughout the world, generally close to the surface where the sun's rays can reach the algae. While corals get most of their nutrients from the byproducts of the algae's photosynthesis, they also have barbed, venomous tentacles they can stick out, usually at night, to grab zooplankton and even small fish. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Pursuing the Minke," April 2001, National Geographic magazine)
|
