Countries
Dazzling toucans, hummingbirds and pelicans, howler monkeys up close, idyllic islands and ecstatic Garifuna drummers: these images show Belize at its wildest and most vibrant – far beyond its Caribbean beaches.
Larger than Europe and Australia combined. More barren and dry than the Sahara. The coldest, windiest, most inhospitable continent on Earth. 90% of the world’s ice, up to 4.8 kilometres thick, lies there. No continent commands more awe. These 30 images attempt to do so nonetheless.
I experience Switzerland as a winter wonderland – with ice in all its fascinating facets: ice canyoning, ice climbing, cross-country skiing – and finally, my adventure buddy Markus Blum and I take an ice bath in Europe’s first public ice bath facility, the “Eisbadi” in Arosa.
A capital city full of magnificent temples, surrounded by lush jungle. Deep gorges with rushing rivers and breathtaking views over tea plantations and seas of clouds. Dark forests with centuries-old giant trees – Taiwan is all this and much more.
The Río Napo flows deep into the green heart of Ecuador. Among howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys and the ancient knowledge of the Kichwa people, the Amazon reveals its full magic – wild, quiet, overwhelming.
In Finland, I learn how to free dive under thick ice – a borderline experience between ancient reflexes and the question: what is the human body capable of?
Anyone who wants to go to Antarctica has to pass through the Drake Passage: six-meter waves, wind gusts of up to 120 km/h. Those who persevere are rewarded with bright blue icebergs, a world record holder of the skies, and endless silence. An expedition to the end of the world.
I venture into the winter water, even though the air temperature is well below zero. A visit to Switzerland’s largest ice bath.
Between the Amber Mountains, red Tsingy rocks and windswept bays, Madagascar unfolds a mosaic of wonders. Almost every creature is endemic – from camouflaged geckos and cool chameleons to lemurs with Zorro masks. A vulnerable, dazzling island full of secrets.
Because her father was working in Sri Lanka, Amelie did not attend school as usual for six months. Instead, she studied with her mother on the balcony, chatted with classmates and emailed her homework. Back in Berlin, she was bored at school at first.
It was only discovered in 2009: Son Doong in Vietnam is considered the largest cave in the world. Very few people have the opportunity to visit this unique and strictly protected wonder of nature. Malte Clavin took part in a five-day expedition into the underworld.
Cream-coloured tartlets, golden Moja wine, turquoise lakes – Slovenia sparkles everywhere. Deep in the karst, olms crouch in bizarre stalactite halls; right next to them, Europe’s largest underground canyon captivates visitors.