In this short video, Unplastify co-founder Agustina Besada shares more about her ongoing mission to inspire teens to “unplastify” their lives and their local communities.
This week's photos from the field included spectacular images of lava flows on La Cumbre, an active volcano on Fernandina Island in the Galápagos Islands.
Guests aboard National Geographic Venture witnessed a rocket launch, while National Geographic Explorer explored South Africa and National Geographic Sea Bird cruised the Columbia River.
In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, join Cultural Specialist Susan Flanagan as she reveals what discoveries are in store on our Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland expedition.
Today we set foot on the island of Terceira, where a group of active hikers walked a beautiful trail along the coast, the Baías da Agualva. It was a beautifully sunny day with blue skies, green surroundings, and many singing birds. Graciosa, the last island we visited, has many invasive trees, so it was interesting to see the endemic trees here in Terceira, including the Juniperus brevifolia, Erica azorica, and the Morella faya. In the meantime, others were headed for a scenic tour to experience the beautiful vistas the island has to offer. The afternoon highlighted different walks throughout the region: a photo tour, a nature hike, or free roaming through the city of Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Zipping along in our Zodiac through the narrow pass of Misty Fjords below the watchful eyes of the “stone owl,” we passed numerous waterfalls that seemed to descend from the sky. As we entered the punchbowl bay, the vista opened up to a snow-capped peak peeking through the mist above a wide, fresh green meadow of sedge grass. Our Zodiac slowly approached the meadow for some bear and bird spotting. Just when we thought the moment could not get any better, our Zodiac driver turned off the engine. As we floated, listening to the wild sounds of the Tongass National Forest, it became clear — the gift of the day was the present moment.
Today, our guests had the chance to enjoy diverse activities. The more active folks hiked around the Caldeira of Graciosa, the crater of a volcano that last erupted 5,000 years ago. The walk ended all the way down in a huge cave that smelled of sulfur, Furna do Enxofre, which holds within it a fumarole and a small lake. Zodiacs took guests out from the tiny village of Praia to explore the surrounding islet. While the rare and mysterious Monteiro’s storm petrels must have been hiding in their nests, graceful roseate terns were seen flying nearby. Guests enjoyed independent exploration of the village as well. Many got to taste Queijadas da Graciosa, a very memorable star-shaped sweet.
This morning we explored Green Inlet, a long and beautiful bay on the British Columbia shore. Steep, tree-covered hills met the salt water, and as we explored by Zodiacs and kayaks we discovered many bald eagles. All afternoon we enjoyed abundant, warm sunshine as we cruised north along the green, undeveloped coast of Princess Royal Island. Then late in the afternoon we saw whales! We saw distant blows and backs of several fin whales, and at least one humpback whale.
What a wild and exhilarating day we had in Haines, or “Deishú” as the Tlingit named this place, which means “end of the trail.” Our adventure began with a challenging hike as we attempted to summit Mount Riley, however the deep winter snowpack stopped us short of the summit. The crisp mountain air filled our lungs as we soaked in the splendor of the forest and its streams. Energized by our adventure, we wandered through the charming town to visit its colonial houses, quaint shops, and local microbrewery. We also enjoyed a cool float down the glistening Chilkat River. As we gently glided along the serene waters, we marveled at the sight of majestic bald eagles soaring overhead, their wings outstretched in a magnificent display of power. It was an extraordinary day that encapsulated the true spirit of Southeast Alaska.