202603 배경화면 컬렉션

The demoiselle crane is a small yet striking migratory bird found across Central Asia, from its breeding grounds in the steppes of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northern China, to its wintering grounds in India, Nepal and parts of Africa. With its elegant appearance—slender neck, long legs and beautiful plumage—it is often considered one of the most graceful crane species. They are known for their intricate courtship dances, during which pairs engage in synchronised movements and calls, creating a beautiful spectacle.

Peggy's Cove is a small yet captivating village on the rugged coast of Nova Scotia that offers a glimpse of life by the sea. The village's most famous landmark is Peggy's Point Lighthouse—also known as Peggy's Cove Lighthouse—first established in 1868 and replaced by the current structure in 1915. For over a century, it has guided ships through the ever-changing Atlantic waters, serving as a timeless symbol of coastal life. The surrounding landscape, with its windswept beauty and crashing waves, feels almost untouched by time.

The African buffalo, a powerful and imposing creature, roams the savannas and wetlands of Tanzania, particularly within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). Known for their large, curved horns and massive size, they are one of Africa's 'Big Five' (buffalo, elephant, leopard, rhino, lion) and are widely respected for their strength and resilience. The NCA, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a dramatic and ecologically rich setting for observing these formidable herbivores.

This is the kind of landscape that makes maps feel suddenly more interesting. Evening settles quietly over Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta. As temperatures drop, the surface stills, mirroring snow-dusted peaks that formed during the last Ice Age. Stretching about 22 kilometres, the lake owes its existence to glacial movement that carved the valley and left behind meltwater basins. Today, cold, oxygen-rich freshwater sustains ecosystems that include species such as lake trout and mountain whitefish. Boat cruises and paddling routes offer one of the best ways to view Spirit Island, the small but widely photographed landmark featured in the image.

Running along the remote southwest coast of Vancouver Island, the West Coast Trail is one of the country's most legendary hikes. Located in British Columbia's Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, the trail stretches about 76 kilometres through rainforest, beaches and rocky shoreline. It was established in 1907 as a lifesaving route for shipwreck survivors along what sailors once called the 'Graveyard of the Pacific.'

Manatees may seem slow and sleepy, but they have some surprising tricks under the surface. For starters, they are one of the few mammals that constantly replace their teeth. As old molars wear down from chewing gritty seagrass, new ones slowly roll forward like a conveyor belt—handy for an animal that eats for up to eight hours a day.

When mist drifts across Königssee Lake, located in Bavaria, Germany, in the early morning, the landscape feels almost timeless. The long, narrow mountain lake lies in south-eastern Bavaria, cradled between the steep rock faces of the Berchtesgaden Alps. Large parts of the lake lie within Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany's only Alpine national park, where nature is largely allowed to develop without human interference.

The strength of nature is nowhere more evident than in powerful storms. Scary? Yes. Fascinating? Even more so. Learning to understand and respect these forces is how people learn to live alongside them. The image of lightning over saguaro cacti captures that balance perfectly. The Sonoran Desert, spanning 260,000 square kilometres across the United States and Mexico, may appear dry and still, but it hosts one of North America's most dynamic desert climates.

Water has always shaped human survival, but moments come when simply flowing along is no longer enough—we have to protect the systems that carry us forward. Few places capture that urgency like Lake Tanganyika, set deep within the Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa. Seen from space, it stretches like a narrow ribbon about 676 kilometres long, linking Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. At the shoreline, it's a 10-million-year-old rift basin, formed as the Earth's crust slowly pulled apart.

If Earth ran on routine check-ups, wetlands like the Danube Delta, shared between Romania and Ukraine, would top the list. This vast landscape quietly filters water, absorbs floodwaters and shelters wildlife on a remarkable scale. Covering more than 5,800 square kilometres, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is one of Europe's largest and best-preserved wetlands. It's where the Danube River finally slows down, splitting into channels, lakes, reed beds and marshes before meeting the Black Sea. Letea Forest, featured in today's image, is a part of this vast biosphere.

A white snowdrop feels like spring's quiet debut. No fanfare, no fuss—just a small flower daring to appear as the season begins to turn. Snowdrops are among the earliest bloomers, often pushing through frozen soil, leaf litter and even light snow. How do they manage it? Their nodding, bell-shaped flowers protect pollen from cold rain, while antifreeze-like compounds in their cells help them tolerate frost. Delicate-looking, yes. Fragile? Not at all.

An egg-laying mammal. No teeth. Reptilian gait. Built-in body armour. If the short-beaked echidna sounds like a checklist of contradictions, that's because it is—and it owns it. Native to Australia, Tasmania and parts of New Guinea, it's one of the few surviving monotremes, or mammals that lay eggs. Despite the headlines, it still qualifies as a mammal: it has fur, produces milk and is warm-blooded. The twist? Milk is released through specialised skin patches rather than nipples, leaving the young to lap it up.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a 12.5-hectare urban oasis along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, is one of the city's most beloved green spaces. Each spring—typically from mid-March to early April—it transforms into a sea of soft pink and white as cherry blossoms bloom. These vibrant trees along scenic walking paths offer a peaceful escape in the heart of the city. The park also features notable landmarks like Salmon Street Springs, an interactive fountain with numerous water jets, and the Portland Saturday Market, a favourite local destination.

Today, we find ourselves in County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. Grianan of Aileach, a stone ringfort—dating from the Iron Age to the early Middle Ages—linked to the Kings of Aileach and the Northern Uí Néill, stands here. The fort crowns Greenan Mountain and served as a ceremonial and strategic stronghold. Archaeological evidence suggests the site had importance long before the current walls rose in the 6th or 7th century.

If Rio de Janeiro were a story, today's image would be one of its most iconic chapters. It captures the essence of a metropolis founded on 1 March 1565 to protect Guanabara Bay and control the trade of brazilwood. Since then, it has evolved from a military settlement into a cultural centre, from a strategic port into a national symbol. The city has faced invasions, fires and major political shifts, yet has repeatedly turned challenges into urban expression. Today, the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro is among the most recognisable cityscapes in the world.

Spring break on Vancouver Island, Canada looks a little different. In Canada, people can witness the annual spring migration of thousands of grey whales as they pass close to the island's west coast. Created by local communities in the 1980s, the Pacific Rim Whale Festival marks the whales' return north from breeding lagoons in Baja California, Mexico.

Time has altered the land around it, but Lanyon Quoit in Cornwall, England, still commands attention. Built in the Neolithic period, 'The Giant's Table' offers a rare chance to consider how early settlers marked their presence. Formed by upright stones holding a massive capstone of about 13,000 kilograms, the monument likely served as a communal burial chamber.

Silence on the water often means something special is happening—have you noticed how swans seem to turn lakes into slow-moving classrooms? A mute swan glides across calm water with its cygnets in Hesse, Germany. This scene is common across European lakes and river landscapes, from Lake Constance and the Mecklenburg Lake District to restored river channels in many towns and cities. These waterways provide sheltered shorelines and abundant aquatic plants, the swan's primary food source.

High in Ecuador's cloud forests, a young sunbittern spreads its wings in an early display, casting flashes of orange, black and white through the filtered green light. The sudden contrast cuts through the moss‑covered branches and leaf‑shadowed understorey, offering a snapshot of the species' dramatic wing patterns. Adult sunbitterns most often show these bold markings during defensive displays, briefly transforming an elusive bird into a striking spectacle.

Spring hits differently in Cieza. It doesn't gently unfold—it erupts with colour. Between February and March, this small city in Spain's Murcia region is the epicentre of 'La Floración,' the flowering of peach trees. In a matter of days, more than 4,850 hectares—Spain's largest municipal peach production—transform into a sea of colour we see in today's image.

Have you ever wondered what happens when fire, ice and time negotiate the same territory? Iceland's Hveravellir geothermal field has the answer. In this highland hotspot, energy from the Earth's interior meets the icy surface, triggering a volatile dialogue between pressure, temperature and stone. Fumaroles hiss, steam curls into the air and the ground paints itself with sulphur whites, rust reds and ochre yellows—not only artistry, but chemical reactions driven by extreme heat. In today's image, Bláhver, a natural hot spring, dazzles in electric blue. Its colour comes from mineral- and silica-rich waters that reflect light on the surface.

Not all wildlife moments are dramatic—some unfold in perfect stillness. The grey seal resting on the shores of the Orkney Islands, Scotland, is a perfect example. Grey seals are among the UK's largest native marine mammals, with the country supporting around 40% of the world's population. Despite their size, they are remarkably adaptable sleepers. Rather than settling into one long stretch, grey seals nap in short, flexible bursts shaped by their surroundings.

Imagine reaching the Brocken in Harz National Park, Germany, as clouds slide across the ridge. With the sun behind you, mist ahead—then a giant, haloed shadow forms. Ever wondered why climbers once feared this sight? The phenomenon, called the Brocken spectre, is an eerie natural optical effect that occurs when sunlight projects a person's shadow onto cloud or fog. Rising about 1,141 metres, the Brocken is the highest peak in northern Germany and has long inspired folklore, including tales of witches gathering here during Walpurgis Night.

Owls are full of contradictions. Silent wings, loud opinions. They are night hunters that somehow feel ancient. From myths to cartoons, they have always had a presence. Athena's owl symbolised wisdom, while pop culture gave us lines we still quote—remember Owl from 'Winnie-the-Pooh' always sounding sure of himself?

Architecture blends art and technology, expressed through the built form. While many designs focus primarily on function, some buildings give equal weight to visual impact. A strong example is The Wave building complex in Vejle, Denmark, where sculptural design and practical housing come together seamlessly.

As evening settles over the town of Göreme in the heart of the Cappadocia region of Türkiye, dusk reveals a landscape forged by nature and centuries of human presence. This scene is part of Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1985 for its exceptional combination of early cultural history and geological formations. These formations, often called 'fairy chimneys' or hoodoos, began as layers of volcanic ash that hardened into soft stone following eruptions of ancient Anatolian volcanoes. Over time, wind and water carved the pillars, ridges and valleys that define the region today.

As winter's grip on the Rila Mountains of southwestern Bulgaria begins to loosen, crocuses push through the thinning snow, signalling the arrival of spring in the country's highest mountain range. These early bloomers use stored nutrients to quickly grow in cold conditions, completing much of their life cycle before taller plants emerge. Their clustered blossoms unfurl over alpine meadows in sweeping purple ribbons, creating a striking contrast with bright snowfields and crisp morning light.

Our well-being is deeply connected to the natural world. Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs)—species used in traditional healing, modern medicine, cosmetics and food—play a vital role in daily life across the globe. An estimated 50,000 to 70,000 MAP species are harvested worldwide, with 70–95% of people in many developing countries relying on them for primary health care. Yet many of these plants face growing threats from habitat loss, overharvesting and illegal trade, making sustainable use essential for their future.

Do not be fooled by how simple Ko Samui's longtail boats look from a distance; decades of local ingenuity have shaped their slender frames. These vessels, known in Thailand as 'ruea hang yao,' emerged in the early 20th century, when fishermen repurposed vehicle engines to navigate shallow waters that larger boats couldn't reach. Handcrafted plank by plank, each boat reflects generations of skill. Their hulls burst with bold, striking colours, while decorative cloth and flowers often crown the bows—Buddhist blessings meant to safeguard both the boat and its crew.

Today we celebrate the stunning Spanish islands of the Balearic archipelago. This diverse and deeply Mediterranean territory includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, each shaped by centuries of history and a close relationship with the sea.

Moloka'i, often called the most Hawaiian of the islands, offers a slower rhythm shaped by nature and strong community ties. Formed by volcanic activity more than a million years ago, the island covers about 670 square kilometres and rises from the Pacific Ocean in long ridges and broad valleys. Unlike its busier neighbours, Moloka'i has resisted large-scale development, preserving a strong sense of local cohesion where families, traditions and stewardship of the land encapsulate central values. Life here focuses on the ocean, the land and stories passed down through generations.