National Geographic Society

The discovery of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance — National Geographic’s January 2025 cover story — marks an extraordinary milestone in global exploration, a testament to humanity's relentless curiosity and the ingenuity that drives us forward. While some may see such remarkable findings as relics of a bygone era, I believe they illustrate that we are, in fact, living in the greatest era of exploration. In the issue, I explore what's driving this new age of discovery. Plus, shout outs to the #NatGeoExplorers (and many of their stunning photographs) featured: Robin Hammond, Esther Horvath, Justin Jin, Robbie Shone, Joel Sartore, Gina Moseley, Ami V. and James Russell. Read my full letter and #ExploreWithUs: https://lnkd.in/gcZkc6Su

Few can capture the depths of the Earth like #NatGeoExplorer Robbie Shone. As an accomplished cave photographer, his images bring the magic of exploration to life. Shone captured the 2024 "Pictures of the Year" cover while in Western Africa traveling alongside fellow Explorer Lisa Baldini. See more of Shone's work and the complete "Pictures of the Year" collection at NatGeo.com/Photos or in National Geographic’s December issue. Want to hear the story behind the shot? Join Shone live on December 19 at Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA for his "Adventures in Caving." Tickets and other events for #NatGeoLive can be found at natgeo.org/live Photo by Robbie Shone

Ocean adventurer and #NatGeoExplorer Agustina Besada is turning the tide on plastic pollution prevention. 🌊 After crossing the Atlantic Ocean twice in a 36-foot sailboat to research ocean plastics and to study international scalable solutions, Besada was inspired to take action and co-founded Unplastify, a social enterprise on a mission to minimize the use of single-use plastic to regenerate the ocean. As a global nonprofit, the National Geographic Society has championed critical programs and generations of Explorers to ask questions, share stories, make breakthroughs and open minds. Join us in supporting Explorers like Besada who are leading the way in illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world: https://lnkd.in/eeX4F_jQ Photo by Sofia Lopez Mañan

A historic journey starts at a historic site 🇰🇭 #NatGeoExplorer Victoria Herrmann carries the Nat Geo Society flag to its first destination: the breathtaking temples of Angkor, Cambodia. Follow the flag's path as it makes its way across the world — from Explorer to Explorer — before it finds its way home in Washington, D.C. at the Museum of Exploration in 2026. Next stop? Stay tuned!

#NatGeoExplorer Federico Pardo is ‘bringing the jungle to the city’ with his current National Geographic Society-funded project, Salvando Primates, by creating an immersive space that invites audiences to step into the world of Colombia’s endangered primates. “Seeing monkeys up close is important. It’s something that really shakes you,” Pardo reflects on his first face-to-face encounter with a group of Howler monkeys. Find out how he’s using unfiltered storytelling to protect Colombia’s vanishing primates. https://lnkd.in/ehWtPxqp Photo by Federico Pardo

In 2024, thanks to the support of donors, #NatGeoExplorers were able to achieve incredible milestones and solidify their place in the world as global changemakers. Here are just a few highlights from a remarkable year of impact: 🪸 Our team of scientists and filmmakers on the National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition discovered the world’s largest coral (visible from space!) spanning a length greater than that of the planet’s largest animal, the blue whale. 📸 The Society held 13 National Geographic Photo Camps in 7 countries reaching hundreds of youth and inspiring them to continue developing their skills as exceptional storytellers and photographers. 🥾 Explorer Paul Salopek completed walking through China after two and a half years and walked 4,020 miles across 7 provinces, 4 mountain ranges, the Mongolian plateau and 4 mega-cities with temperatures as hot as 115 degrees and as low as 20 degrees below zero. Explore more and learn how you can support Explorers and their groundbreaking work in 2025 and beyond: https://lnkd.in/etUbrcSv

Dive deeper into global freshwater issues with World Water Map: Insights. 💧🗺️ Developed in collaboration with Utrecht University and Esri, and building on the original World Water Map, this version introduces enhanced tools for exploring water availability trends across geographic scales — from the global to the local watershed level. This interactive resource allows users to analyze data on water withdrawal, balance, supply-demand gaps and sector-specific demand; model past, present and future water availability scenarios through 2100; and create compelling graphics, animations and reports. Explore how this tool can inform decision-making, storytelling and a more comprehensive understanding of the science and geography of water: https://lnkd.in/eTW8WY55

Hawaii’s snails, known as the "voice of the forest," face extinction — but hope is on the horizon. The next recipient of the Photo Ark Species Impact Initiative, #NatGeoExplorer David Sischo, is working with the Snail Extinction Prevention Program to restore and protect Hawaii’s vanishing native snail populations. The Snail Ark project aims to turn the tide for Hawaii’s snails and fill the forest with the beauty and songs of snails through captive breeding and habitat restoration. This is the second project to be funded by the Photo Ark Species Impact Initiative, a multiyear effort to raise awareness of and find solutions to some of the most pressing issues affecting wildlife and their habitats. https://lnkd.in/e6d3MTB8 Video was taken at the Snail Extinction Prevention Program in Honolulu. #PhotoArk Joel Sartore

Documentary photographer and #NatGeoExplorer M'hammed Kilito explores the connections and bonds individuals and communities form with their environments, delving into themes such as cultural identity, labor sociology and climate change. Here, we share a selection of photos from the Siwa Oasis in Egypt, part of his ongoing project exploring the effects of climate change and human intervention on oasis ecosystems, made possible by The Climate Pledge and the National Geographic Society's Global Storytellers Fund. You can find more of his work in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year. As a global nonprofit, the National Geographic Society has championed critical programs and generations of Explorers to ask questions, share stories, make breakthroughs and open minds. Join us in supporting Explorers like Kilito who are leading the way in illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world: https://lnkd.in/e82REvhJ Photos by M’hammed Kilito

Andean bears are one of the few mammals that travel along the full range of the altitudinal gradient, moving between the lowlands, through the cloud forests and into the high grasslands. As they migrate, they disperse seeds at higher elevations, enabling the plant species’ climate adaptation. As part of the National Geographic and ROLEX #PerpetualPlanet Amazon Expedition, #NatGeoExplorers Ruthmery Pillco Huarcaya and Andrew Whitworth and a local team from Conservation Amazonica used GPS-enabled collar cameras to document the behaviors of Andean bears. The footage reveals new insights into the diet and social lives of these elusive bears and provides critical data for improved conservation efforts of this endangered species. Explore more: https://lnkd.in/e9eGf-mU. Photo by Elias Condori Cuti