Meet the shipwrecked sailor who has lived alone on an island for 28 years
Mauro Morandi's failing catamaran was carried to Budelli Island nearly three decades ago by chance. He never left. |
National Geographic's best stories of 2018
From an epic and misguided attempt to summit K2 to a behind-the-scenes look at the man who literally unlocks the Vatican’s doors every morning, these are National Geographic editors’ favorite reads of the year. |
See photos taken on illegal visits to Chernobyl's dead zone
Thirty-one years after the worst nuclear disaster in history, a group of self-proclaimed “stalkers” makes illegal trips into the abandoned radioactive city. |
Meet the man with the keys to the Vatican
(print + online) Gianni Crea is intimately familiar with the contours of history. |
See both sides of Korea’s heavily armed border
The DMZ is a living vestige of the Cold War era—it’s also a tourist attraction. |
The men who work in an active volcano
Mount Ijen’s gorgeous vistas have captivated travelers for centuries, but in recent years, its sulfur mine has become a controversial tourist attraction. |
A reverent ascent
Climbing Mount Fuji remains one of Japan’s most sacred traditions. |
Peer inside Japan's secretive love hotels
In an increasingly crowded and technology-mediated world, pay-by-the-hour love hotels offer sexual freedom. |
One of the most scenic railways in the world spans Iran
The UNESCO World Heritage Trans-Iranian railway crosses four distinct climates—and challenges stereotypes of this long isolated country. |
How to spend your money for maximum happiness
Years of behavioral and psychological research have given us insight into how to splurge optimally. |
Life in one of the coldest inhabited regions on the planet
A photographer’s journey into the Canadian Arctic reveals the vibrancy of life. |
Inside an apocalypse-inspired palace
It was the year of the great tsunami that Vietnamese hotelier Son Bui says he first spoke with God. |
These Black women photographers are carving out a place in history
Long excluded from mainstream histories, this anthology is giving women photographers of African descent a platform to tell their stories. |
This ultramarathon runner is redefining what an athlete looks like
Mirna Valerio thinks everyone deserves to explore the outdoors in the bodies they have. |
This temple honors the Egyptian queen who ruled as king
Hatshepsut's temple is one of the world’s most striking architectural masterpieces, but perhaps even more noteworthy is the woman who commissioned it. |
Surreal photos of India's living root bridges
These intricate living structures take 15 to 30 years to complete. |
See inside North Korea’s retro Soviet planes
This isolated nation is frozen in the golden age of Soviet aviation. |
These ancient dances are making a comeback (print)
Around the globe, old forms of dance are getting a new spin. |
Life aboard the longest train ride through India
Beneath the relentless churn of steel, wood, and dust, the Indian railway is made entirely of stories. |
Meet our 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year
Sergio Tapiro has been photographing volcanoes for 15 years, but this was a "once-in-a-lifetime" shot. |
Why architects around the globe are bringing nature inside
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but our attraction to nature is instinctive. |
See how American Muslims celebrate Islam’s holiest holiday
Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the United States are as diverse as the country itself. |
Nostalgic Photos of Tourists in U.S. National Parks
Captivated by hordes of visitors, camera-toting families, and packed motor coaches, this photographer embarked on a road trip to capture them. |
The Chinese Town That Duplicated Paris
Tianducheng isn’t the only city in China with an uncanny familiarity. |
These young cities are solving age-old problems
(print + online) Welcome to the new and improved metropolis. |
It’s been 5 years since the Paris Agreement was adopted – here’s where we stand today
In 2015, 196 countries gathered in France to discuss our warming planet. Five years later, 2020 is on track to be the third hottest year on record. |
The steep price we pay for cheap chocolate
Our voracious appetite for chocolate is helping fuel the climate crisis and keeping farmers in poverty — but as consumers, we can drive change by changing what buy. |
The kids may not be all right. Here’s how to check in on their mental health.
The pandemic could be putting children at risk for depression and anxiety. Don’t be afraid to talk about it. |
Helping kids deal with climate anxiety
The threats of climate change can be upsetting to children. Here’s how to ease their fears with empowering solutions. |
Bringing out the everyday hero in your child
Kids are hardwired to help others—but parents can still help nurture children’s altruistic nature. |
Helping kids cope with fear and uncertainty during thepandemic
This winter, an upsurge of COVID-19 cases means another round of big changes. Here's how parents can help kids cope with an unpredictable and sometime scary world. |
Why too much stuff can make kids unhappy
Getting new things can make children feel better—but not for very long |
Talking to kids about fast fashion and the environment
TikTok ‘haul’ videos promote cool clothes—but children likely aren’t aware that the content could be impacting the planet. |
Aromatherapy for kids
Aromatic plant and flower extracts and oils have been used to promote kids' mental and physical health for thousands of years. |
Why music might be the perfect tool to decrease kids’ pandemic stress
Playing a musical instrument is associated with improved organization and growth of the brain areas responsible for thinking, memory, emotion regulation, and motor coordination. |
Screen time is up—and so is cyberbullying
Here's how to recognize the signs and help your kids. |
How to keep your kid healthy online
Improve your child’s at-home learning experience by watching for things like eye strain and video fatigue. |