Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2025 i National Geographic Magazine - UK

OCEANS “Instead of CHAOS in the aftermath of the Taal Volcano eruption, these particles evoked a sense of serenity, transforming the scene into a fairy tale set on a snowy night.”JIALING CAI, photographer WILDLIFE “Socotra amazes the imagination with the BIZARRE SHAPES of its trees, creating the impression that you are in Jurassic Park.”KRISTINA MAKEEVA, photographer CULTURE “Stateless people are not protected by any country. They must fight for their basic human rights. In a world where citizenship defines identity, they do not belong. I want the world to RECOGNIZE them.”CHIARA WETTMANN, photographer NATURE “As an artist, I often use artificial light in my own installations; however, there is something very COMPELLING when you see nature producing luminous vessels of its own.”JOSEPH MICHAEL, photographer…

In 1914 Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 27 embarked on an expedition to reach Antarctica and be the first explorers to traverse it on foot. But by January 1915 their ship, the Endurance, became trapped in sea ice 1,500 miles from the nearest human settlement. Follow the route of their epic two-year ordeal. Riding the gyre Currents in the Weddell Sea drive sea ice in a clockwise pattern along the Antarctic Peninsula. Shackleton knew the ice would carry the ship northward and, with luck, toward open water. An expedition gone wrong After the Endurance sank in November, the crew were at the mercy of the ice floe they’d made camp on—drifting until April 1916, when they spotted Elephant Island and could row their lifeboats into the open ocean and…

THE HELICOPTER LANDED on top of the cliff, its blades chopping the cold air. Stepping out, Gina Moseley breathed deeply and took in the commanding view of Greenland’s barren landscape. To the south, a frozen lake stretched out for miles, eventually giving way to brown and gray plateaus, interrupted by the white flash of glaciers in the distance. In the other direction, some 560 miles beyond the horizon, was the North Pole. The only other human presence was the helicopter pilot and the other passengers: Moseley’s life partner and this story’s photographer, Robbie Shone, and technical climbing spe-cialist Chris Blakeley. The weather was mild, just above freezing—perfect, actually—but Moseley knew that storms could blow up at a moment’s notice, bringing dangerous winds and dense fog. In such a case, they’d have…

The images are well-known now. In one, ice blocks surround the famous three-masted ship, as grinning crew members and thick-furred dogs mill about a makeshift Antarctic camp. The scene belies the drama that went into saving the footage and photographs taken by Endurance photographer Frank Hurley. After the crippled vessel began to take on water, Hurley braved the flooding inner cabins to retrieve the negatives—glass plate, celluloid, and nitrate motion picture—that he had stored in soldered tin boxes to protect them. In the following months, the negatives traveled with the men across the ice and then over the sea to Elephant Island, where Hurley and the crew survived for four months before being rescued. Today nearly 150 glass plates and 39 celluloid negatives are held by the Royal Geographic Society,…

For the uninitiated, it can be easy to lump all caffeinated beverages together. But the differences between tea and coffee are vast. Both can increase alertness, but tea can also induce a sense of calm. Each of the six foundational styles of tea offers a different flavor and chemical characteristics that have been associated with potential health benefits. CAFFEINE The psychoactive substance promotes concentration and reduces mental fatigue by binding to receptors in the brain, blocking messages that rest is needed. L-THEANINE Found in tea plants and a species of mushroom, this rare amino acid affects the nervous system. It soothes for restful sleep, moderating the action of caffeine while increasing focus. CATECHINS Studies suggest that these nat chemical compounds can boos cardiovascular health by relaxin blood vessels, improving flow.…

Nestled in the Aseer region, Soudah’s mountains reach almost 10,000 feet (3,015m) above sea level, making them the highest point in the country. Given its unique terrain, geographical position, and culturally-focused people, the area offers an unmissable opportunity for intrepid travelers to immerse themselves in the region’s human and natural wonders. Traditions in the clouds Obscured in the verdant heights of Soudah, a group of men dance to the beat of tradition and the rhythm of communal spirit. These are the Flowermen, embodiments of a time past, and symbols of heritage across the region. Donning black robes embroidered with gold, and carrying ceremonial swords, this cultural dress is a key part of their tribal identity. Many of the Flowermen have roots in Rijal Almaa, a village over nine centuries old…

THE WEDDELL SEA HIDES ITS SECRETS WELL. JOHN SHEARS AND MENSUN BOUND KNEW THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE—AT LEAST ANYONE ALIVE. The two men had spent years searching for the Weddell’s greatest treasure. Now, standing on sea ice amid the brutal polar sea, they were ready to admit defeat. They had climbed from their massive icebreaker to take a walk and have a brief chat. And discuss how to break the news to the world that they had failed again. The treasure they were hunting was the famous Endurance, the three-masted barkentine that carried Ernest Shackleton and his 27-man crew to Antarctica in 1914, before being crushed by pack ice and swallowed by the Weddell. The failed expedition—Shackleton meant to land the ship and cross the continent on foot—instead became a…

DAVID GAGRČIĆ FIRST set eyes on the Italian sanctuary of La Verna on a school trip in 1994. Raised in Croatia to an Italo-Croatian family, Gagrčić was just 14 years old at the time, but it was there at this friary nestled in the mountains of Tuscany that his life changed forever. “It filled my heart,” he says. “The scent of the wood inside has always stayed with me. God spoke to me.” Gagrčić felt a calling inspired by La Verna. He took vows as a Franciscan friar and spent a year in training at the sanctuary in 2001. After two decades of postings to friaries around Tuscany and a year in Jerusalem, he returned to the mountain as Brother David, a Franciscan friar and vicar of La Verna. Founded…

EVERY YEAR, MILLIONS of people across the world pledge to give up alcohol for a month, during what many now call Dry January. The tradition started over a decade ago in the United Kingdom, and by 2024, more than 20 percent of Americans were participating. Others are taking breaks from alcohol later in the year, thanks to a similar movement called Sober October. Such month-long challenges may be appealing because they represent a different kind of resolution: Instead of committing to a complete lifestyle change, people can experiment with how sobriety feels. Then they can reflect on whether it makes sense to quit or modify their alcohol consumption. To state the obvious, research clearly shows many benefits to cutting down on your overall alcohol use. According to the World Health…

FROM OUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS PHOTOGRAPHER Ami Vitale LIKES 188,000+ WHERE Samburu County, Kenya A BABY ELEPHANT named Kapai offers an open-mouthed nuzzle to Tiyapi Lekupanai, one of the animal keepers at Reteti, Africa’s first Indigenous-owned and-operated elephant sanctuary. In 2018 photographer Ami Vitale captured this moment as part of her work “to show where the hope lies,” she says. Kapai was discovered malnourished and alone at just one month old. Once she came to Reteti, the keepers there helped nurse her back to health with formula, expertise, and love. Last summer Kapai, now seven years old, and a herd of 12 others were led on foot (none were tranquilized) and released onto protected community land. HISTORY The latest issue of National Geographic History traces the unlikely 750 b.c. rise of…