October 1, 2005
Republic of South Africa
1998
Kenneth Garrett
An intense storm cloud forms over South Africa\'s Highveld. The Highveld contains the greatest span of remaining grassland in southern Africa. These grasslands act as natural water purifiers, where the peat filters out 90 percent of the harmful chemicals from herbicides. Clean water is an extremely valuable resource in southern Africa.
(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Dawn of Humans," August 1998, National Geographic magazine)
Africa—Photos and more
October 2, 2005
Chandalar River, Alaska
1975
Bruce Dale
"A herd of stars makes tracks across northern lights in a time exposure taken when the temperature reached minus 58° F. [minus 50° C.]."
—From "Alaska: Rising Northern Star," June 1975, National Geographic magazine
National Geographic magazine: North Pole, Alaska
October 3, 2005
New South Wales, Australia
1995
Sam Abell
“Early morning anglers cast from shore at Byron Bay, one of the resort towns along the north coast of New South Wales, where beach follows beach almost continually for 360 miles (579 kilometers).”
—From the National Geographic book Wild Shores of Australia, 1996
Australia photo gallery
October 4, 2005
Kashmir, Asia
1998
Steve McCurry
Kashmir exerts a powerful emotional pull. Millions of sweltering, plains-dwelling Indians and Pakistanis dream of its green mountains, its blue rivers and lakes, its fertile farmlands and cool, dry climate. [Here, residents stroll through a park in autumn.]
Lush fields and placid lakes once drew more than half a million visitors a year, but deadly civil unrest—feuding between Pakistan and India over the disputed region—has shattered Kashmir\'s calm and way of life and left tourism in shambles.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Kashmir: Trapped in Conflict," September 1999, National Geographic magazine)
National Geographic magazine: Central Asia Unveiled
October 5, 2005
Colorado
1973
Bruce Dale
“Darkening clouds build toward an afternoon storm above Wilson Mesa, a rolling Colorado plateau touched by gold in October. A twisting road links the mesa’s four ranches.”
—From the National Geographic book American Mountain People, 1973
Colorado facts, maps, and more
October 6, 2005
Nevado Ampato, Andes Mountains, Peru
1995
Stephen Alvarez
Once wide enough for rituals around a ceremonial platform, Ampato mountain\'s avalanche-narrowed summit now only admits visitors single file. To the Inca, Ampato was sacred, a god who brought life-giving water and good harvests. As a god, the mountain claimed the highest tribute—an Inca mummy and other burial sites have been found here.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Peru\'s Ice Maidens," June 1996, National Geographic magazine)
Peru facts, maps, and more
October 7, 2005
Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
1998
Bob Krist
Highest of Tuscany\'s famed hill towns, medieval Montepulciano shelters a honeycomb of cantine (wine cellars). Winemaking in Montepulciano is recorded as far back as A.D. 789. Even the grape, Sangiovese, suggests ancient wine production; the etymology is from sanguis, Latin for "blood," and from Jove—blood of Jove. The local strain of Sangiovese is called Prugnolo Gentile, nice little plums.
Inspired by Henry James\'s description of Montepulciano as a "ship swimming in a violet sea," author Frances Mayes writes that Tuscan hill towns "often give one the sense of an immense ship sailing above a plain."
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Frances Mayes in Tuscany," May/June 1999, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
Italy facts, maps, and more
October 8, 2005
Bukittinggi, Sumatra, Indonesia
1980
David Alan Harvey
"A lowering thundercloud seems to erupt from Mount Singgalang, one of two volcanoes shadowing the bustling highland market town and tourist center of Bukittinggi. Dutch colonizers once made Bukittinggi their stronghold, aiming cannon from the heights of Fort de Kock into the town itself to preempt rebellion by the restive populace."
—From "A Sumatran Journey," March 1981, National Geographic magazine
Indonesia facts, maps, and more
October 9, 2005
Vermont
1997
Michael S. Yamashita
Among factors that combine to give Vermont an edge in the U.S.\'s foliage sweepstakes are the abundance and density of broad-leaved tree species, each with a contrasting color scheme, and a climate inclined to bring out the best in all of them.
What is the proper warm-up for a good leaf season? The answer is a source of endless debate among Vermonters, though scientists say sunny days and cool nights are best.
(Text adapted from "Leaves of Autumn: A Vermont Sampler," Autumn 1984, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Vermont: Suite of Seasons," September 1998, National Geographic magazine)
Photo gallery: Autumn Leaves
October 10, 2005
Taipei, Taiwan
1992
Jodi Cobb
A float in Taipei is part of a parade celebrating Taiwan\'s national independence day, or Double Tenth Day, commemorated each year on October 10 ("ten ten").
An uprising in Wuchang, China, on October 10, 1911 triggered the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and led to the establishment of the Republic of China. The annual independence day celebration is marked with parades and fireworks throughout Taiwan.
(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Taiwan: The Other China Changes Course," November 1993, National Geographic magazine)
Country profiles: facts, flags, maps and more
October 11, 2005
Dominica
1996
Michael Melford
Scores of rivers and rich volcanic soil make for a green, green landscape on the Caribbean island of Dominica. The place looks more Hawaiian than Carribean. A full 60 percent of Dominica\'s natural forest cover survives today.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Dominica," November/December 1996, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
National Geographic Traveler photo gallery: Travel Hot Spots
October 12, 2005
Derby, Vemont
1997
Michael S. Yamashita
Students in Derby, Vermont, board the bus for the journey to school.
Once boasting more cows than people, Vermont remains a mostly rural and small-town state. Though millions of tourists flock here during fall-foliage season, most Vermonters stay close to home, enjoying the seasonal changes in a tree or two outside their doors.
(Text adapted from "Leaves of Autumn: A Vermont Sampler," Autumn 1984, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Vermont: Suite of Seasons," September 1998, National Geographic magazine)
Vermont facts, maps and more
October 13, 2005
Mexico
1997
Sarah Leen
The volcano Iztaccíhuatl balances gracefully between earth and sky, as photographed from the north slope of its partner volcano Popocatépetl.
According to the ancient beliefs of the indigenous people\'s pre-Hispanic heritage, a volcano could be a god, a mountain, and a human all at the same time. Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl together were seen as a fertile couple that gave the gift of life.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Popocatépetl: Mexico’s Smoking Mountain," January 1999, National Geographic magazine)
Interactive feature: Forces of Nature—Volcanoes
October 14, 2005
Tokyo, Japan
1994
James L. Stanfield
The gates of a Shinto shrine on the grounds of Tokyo\'s Tsukiji fish market stand open to receive visitors.
The ancient, native religion of Japan, Shinto is a loosely structured system of beliefs and has no regular weekly service. People can visit shrines at their convenience—some devotees may pay their respects to the shrine every morning. The word "Shinto" is derived from the Chinese words shin tao, the "way of the gods."
(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Great Tokyo Fish Market," November 1995, National Geographic magazine)
Photo gallery: Tokyo
October 15, 2005
Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo, Indonesia
1997
Tim Laman
A rhinoceros hornbill—one of 54 species of hornbills—perches on a fig tree in Gunung Palung National Park.
The casque, a protrusion on the upper bill that gives hornbills their name, may play a role in sexual selection or amplify the birds\' calls. From loud barks to thunderous booms, hornbill cries resound across a range that extends from the dry savannas of sub-Saharan Africa to the lush forests of Melanesia.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Shrinking World of Hornbills," July 1999, National Geographic magazine)
Kids site: Amazing Animals
October 16, 2005
Winifred, Montana
1996
William Albert Allard
Score one for neighborliness when volunteer firefighters from Winifred and Hilger, small towns 23 road miles (37 kilometers) apart, defy summer storm clouds to assemble for their annual softball duel.
—From "The Missouri Breaks," May 1999, National Geographic magazine
Montana facts, maps, and more
October 17, 2005
Italy
1996
Macduff Everton
The gardens of Villa Taranto on Italy\'s Lake Maggiore are said to contain nearly 20,000 varieties of plants.
History and beauty mingle in northern Italy\'s lake district. Here, glaciers retreating after the last ice age left behind craggy mountains, isolated valleys, and—most famously—deep, narrow lakes that have charmed visitors since the aristocrats of imperial Rome built villas along their shores.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Italy\'s Lake Country," May 1997, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
National Geographic magazine: Italy\'s Po River
October 18, 2005
Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
1998
David Alan Harvey
A visitor savors a twilight run along a beach on the island of Tobago.
Tobago\'s pristine beaches and reefs are beginning to pay off. They have been discovered by international travelers who\'ve had enough of the Caribbean\'s more developed islands.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Limin\' Time," January/February 1999, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
National Geographic Traveler photo gallery: Travel Hot Spots
October 19, 2005
Agra, India
1986
James P. Blair
The Taj Mahal, once described as "a sigh made stone," was built by Shah Jahan, the fifth Mogul emperor of India, in tribute to his wife, who died giving birth to their 14th child.
For 22 years master craftsmen guided 20,000 laborers working the finest materials. Together they created this triumph of Mogul architecture in a tradition stemming from the dynasty\'s Central Asian roots but mindful of its Indian setting. A Persian dome, balanced by four Indian cupolas, crowns the white marble tomb. After his death Shah Jahan was interred in the tomb beside his beloved.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, the National Geographic book Our World\'s Heritage, 1987)
India facts, maps, and more
October 20, 2005
Sydney, Australia
1995
Sam Abell
"Sydney\'s landmarks, the span of the Harbour Bridge and the parabolic shells of the ultramodern Opera House, bracket the view from an open-air café."
—From the National Geographic book Wild Shores of Australia, 1996
Australia photo gallery
October 21, 2005
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
1997
Michael Melford
"The Kenai Peninsula—known simply as \'the Kenai\'—couldn\'t be more user-friendly. It\'s the abridged version of Alaska: just an hour\'s drive south of Anchorage, packed with postcard views, seemingly endless riffles of snow-dusted mountains, rivers that roil with spawning salmon, and an abundant supply of moose, bears, eagles, and puffins."
(Text from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Taking on the Kenai," May/June 1998, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
Adventure magazine article and gallery: Alaska\'s Arctic Refuge
October 22, 2005
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Big Cypress Swamp, Florida
1992
Raymond Gehman
Red-bellied turtles spend much of their time basking in the sun on logs or rocks. Older turtles often have darkened red markings, while young turtles have more brightly colored, round shells.
(Photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "In Big Cypress Country," March/April 1997, National Geographic Traveler magazine)
Florida facts, maps, and more
October 23, 2005
Papeete, Tahiti, Society Islands, French Polynesia
1996
Jodi Cobb
“Worshipers [in a Tahiti church] sit in same-sex groups, blending their voices in rousing himenes—Tahitian-style hymns. So transporting is the sound, vows one hearer, \'it lifts you right out of your seat.\'"
(Text from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Charting a New Course: French Polynesia," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)
Country profiles: facts, flags, maps and more
October 24, 2005
Mexico
1997
Sarah Leen
A woman carrying her infant on her back waters flowers in a graveyard in Puebla, Mexico.
Contained within the apparent peacefulness of the scene is a lurking threat. The nearby Popocatépetl volcano is stirring after more than half a century of quiet and could someday erupt on a scale not seen for a thousand years. Tens of thousands of people in a 660-square-mile area might have to flee for their lives, and public and private resources to carry out such an evacuation are slim.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Popocatépetl: Mexico’s Smoking Mountain," January 1999, National Geographic magazine)
Mexico facts, maps, and more
