Blue lagoon at Pulau Ay, Banda Islands, Indonesia
Blue lagoon at Pulau Ay, Banda Islands, Indonesia (© fabio lamanna/Alamy)
Where history gets spicy
Every June 29, the International Day of the Tropics shines a light on the equator-hugging zone where the sun sticks around, and climate conversations get real. The tropics span a broad region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, including parts of Asia, Africa, Oceania, Central America, and South America. Nearly 40% of the global population lives in this band, which also hosts 80% of the world's biodiversity. It's rich in culture, nature, and history—but also under pressure from rising temperatures, deforestation, and fast-paced urban growth.
© fabio lamanna/Alamy