A floating garden: hardy plants and wildflowers grow atop a broken tree trunk submerged in the pristine waters of Panda Lake, Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan. Famous for its otherworldly beauty.

Michael Yamashita has worked for the National Geographic magazine for over 40 years, photographing wide-ranging topics throughout six continents. As the first person of color to be a regular contributor to National Geographic, his long career has seen him traipse through war zones, deserts and mountains, from the Great Wall of China to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan on 34 stories for the magazine.

Follow Michael on Instagram @yamashitaphoto.