18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Tasman Lake Stars

Winter in the mountains of New Zealand is harsh. The temperature drops to -15C at the foot of the mountains at night, and there is a ringing silence. It seems that the water is like a frozen muddy mirror of non-reflective stars. It is as if you are in space. The only thing missing is the lack of gravity. The lake and glacier are named after a Dutch navigator and explorer, the first known European explorer to reach New Zealand.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: New Zealand
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Elena Pakhalyuk
Awards
Photo of the Day: 09.20.21