Join us as we explore the world in the latest issue of Geographical, from Morocco’s lost oases to melting glaciers
In our March issue, discover how a Russian family is impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine; find out how plastic has worked its way into every crevice of the planet and how best we can tackle it, and head to Morocco to see how once-thriving oases are drying up and the steps being taken to preserve them.
Our columnists bring an array of topics to the forefront to help you stay on top of the world: Marco Magrini explores how climate change is making the insurance industry fear the Earth is on the verge of insolvency, while Tim Marshall discusses the perilous journey that those who cross the Darién Gap face. Andrew Brooks looks at how consumer boycotts and celebrity activism reflect our changing, complex time.
This month, Geographical ‘s cover story is a powerful gallery from photographer Thomas Wrede, who sheds light on the world’s glaciers. As 2025 marks the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, Wrede’s photographs show just how precarious the future of these natural wonders are against the backdrop of climate change.
Robin Hanbury-Tenison is inspired by a radical idea to generate cheap power in space, and Bryony Cottam interviews photographer Rebecca Douglas on ‘noctourism’ – exploring the natural world at night. On the same note of exploration, Mark Eveleigh takes on one of the little-known and most beautiful routes of the Camino walks – the Camino del Invierno or Winter Way.
Ready to take up a new sport, or eager to upgrade your kit? Tristan Kennedy reflects on the wonders of modern equipment for ski mountaineering.
Our digital edition is out now, and you can not only read all the great stories in that issue, but our app also gives you access to our full archive dating back to 1935 with hundreds of magazines to explore. And if you want to enjoy our beautifully designed and produced print magazine, we can post the next edition to you anywhere in the world. Join us and stay on top of the world!
Can we stop the planet from being swamped by plastic?
Plastic is everywhere – wrapped around our food, woven into our clothes, floating in our oceans, and now, even inside our bodies. Less than ten per cent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, and yet, production is set to triple by 2060. As fossil fuel companies pivot toward plastic as a key revenue source, the crisis is only accelerating.
Efforts to curb plastic pollution are failing. A recent UN summit collapsed after oil-producing nations blocked a global treaty to limit waste. Some scientists argue that innovation, like biodegradable materials, stricter regulations, and improved recycling, could help. Others say the only real solution is cutting production at the source.
But with plastic woven so deeply into modern life, is elimination even possible? Or should we focus on smarter ways to manage the waste we already have?
Inside Russia: a family devasted by war
As Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on, its human cost is being felt not just on the battlefield but in homes across the country. In an exclusive extract from Russia Starts Here: Real Lives in the Ruins of Empire, journalist Howard Amos takes us into the Pskov Region, a place where military recruitment is ever-present and the pressures to enlist are immense.
For men like Mikhail, a 31-year-old father of two, joining the military was not about politics or ideology but about survival. The Russian government offers substantial financial incentives to recruits, often equivalent to a year’s salary upfront, making it an irresistible prospect for those struggling to make ends meet. Some enlist for the money, others because they feel it’s their duty, and for many, the choice is made for them – by family pressure, community expectations, or simply a lack of alternatives.
But for those left behind, like Mikhail’s wife Svetlana and their young daughters, the consequences are devastating. As her husband is sent to the frontlines, Svetlana is left to navigate an uncertain future, questioning what his sacrifice was for. With no clear resolution to the war in sight, more families face the same fate.
Tracing ancestry through soil
For many descendants of enslaved people, tracing family roots is nearly impossible due to missing historical records. But a breakthrough scientific method – strontium isotope mapping – is changing that.
Scientists have developed the first-ever strontium isotope map of Africa, a tool that allows human remains to be traced to specific regions based on the chemical composition of bones and teeth. The method has already been used to identify the origins of individuals found in an 18th-century African burial site in Charleston, South Carolina, confirming links to western Angola.
In World Watch, Bryony Cottam investigates the benefits of this new technology and where else it may be used.
The fragility of the world’s glaciers
Glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate, and photographer Thomas Wrede has captured their fragile beauty before they vanish forever. His exhibition White Was the Snow, featured in this month’s Geo-Gallery, documents the surreal and unsettling ways in which humans are trying to slow the ice from disappearing.
In the Swiss Alps, vast sections of the Rhône Glacier are covered in reflective fleece in a desperate attempt to reduce melt rates. In Italy, the Presena Glacier is wrapped in geotextile blankets, preserving what little ice remains. Elsewhere, streaks of blood snow – caused by microscopic algae that thrive in warming temperatures – stain once-pristine landscapes, a sign of a rapidly changing world.
Morocco’s disappearing lifelines
Once thriving centres of life, Morocco’s oases are drying up, victims of rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and unsustainable water management. In the Draa Valley, where the river once sustained entire communities, water now flows unpredictably, and entire stretches of farmland are turning to dust.
Palm groves, once the backbone of the oasis economy, are dying. Traditional irrigation systems like the khattara – centuries-old underground water channels – can no longer supply enough water. Farmers are resorting to expensive well-drilling, which in turn increases soil salinity and renders land infertile. Some are adapting, using innovative irrigation techniques, but many are simply leaving, abandoning ancestral lands for uncertain futures in overcrowded cities.
Meanwhile, the Moroccan government has introduced projects aimed at managing water resources more sustainably, but limited funding and bureaucratic delays have slowed progress. As desertification advances, entire ways of life are at risk. Can local adaptation strategies and national policies keep pace with climate change?
Is homeownership becoming a thing of the past?
Owning a home is slipping further out of reach for millions, as housing prices continue to rise faster than incomes. In 1997, an average worker in England and Wales could afford to buy in 88 per cent of local areas. Today, that figure has dropped to just seven per cent. The UK is not alone – across the world, from the US to Australia, housing affordability has collapsed, creating a generation of renters with little hope of homeownership.
In fast-growing cities across India, Africa, and Latin America, the situation is even more severe, with millions living in informal settlements due to a lack of affordable options. Governments are responding in different ways. Norway has halved homelessness through strong tenant protections and accessible home loans, while Estonia is using modular housing and large-scale renovations to improve supply.
Our latest Geo-Graphic breaks down these statistics and highlights the urgent need for global housing reform.
