100 Greatest Tourist Attractios eBook

Release 2.1 (January, 2014) - Mike Kaplan

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Front cover: The Eiffel Tower

2
Foreword
The earliest lists of travel wonders were made more than 2,000 years ago by
ancient Hellenic tourists. The idea of creating a list of architectural wonders
arose following Alexander the Greats conquest of much of the known world in
the 4th century BC, which gave Greek travelers access to the civilizations of the
Egyptians, Persians, and Babylonians.

The Greek writers didnt refer to these monuments as Wonders but rather as
top sights or things to be seen (theamata). Each person had his own version of
a Seven Wonders list. Some lists contain such ancient wonders as the Walls of
Babylon and the Palace of Cyrus, King of Persia. The most famous lists of are
those of Antipater of Sidon and Philon of Byzantium, both created in the 2nd
century BC. Except for the Great Pyramid of Giza the wonders on that list no
longer exist. They were destroyed by earthquakes, fires and in one case by an
angry mob.

Many lists of wonders have been made since then. In this eBook weve tried to
capture the 100 worlds most unique and wonderful destinations. Besides man-
mad structures weve also include natures top destinations as we think those are
just as important and amazing as those created by man. With so many beautiful
places on earth a list of the greatest tourist attractios in the world is unlikely to
create a consensus. Albeit subjective, this is our version of the greatest wonders
of what we think represents the best of what the world has to offer.

3
Paro Valley, Bhutan
Taktsang Dzong
Situated on the edge of a
#100 3,000 feet (900 meter)
cliff, the Taktsang
Monastery or Tigers Nest creates an
impressive sight, and is the unofficial
symbol of Bhutan. It is about 2-3
hour, totally up-hill hike from the
parking lot to the monastery.
According to a legend Guru Rinpoche
flew to this location from Tibet on the
back of a tigress and Taktsang was
consecrated to tame the Tiger demon.
Photo by:Gran Hglund
The first monastery was not
constructed until 1692 at the order of
Tenzin Rabgye, the ruler of Bhutan
from 680 to 694. It is built around
the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave,
where custom holds that Guru
Rinpoche meditated in the 8th
century. In 1998 a tragic fire
destroyed most of the original
buildings, but these have since been
painstakingly restored to their
former glory.
4
Toronto, Canada
CN Tower
Located in the heart of
#99 Downtown Toronto, the
CN Tower is Canadas
most recognizable icon. The
communication tower was built from
1973 to 1976 by the railway
company Canadian National and
standing 1,815.4 feet (553.33 meters)
tall was the tallest structure in the
world for over 30 years until it was
surpassed in height by the Burj
Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai. It
remains the tallest free-standing
structure in the Americas attracting
more than two million international
visitors per year.
Photo by: Scarleth White
Visitors can look out from behind
glass windows or go to an outside
observing area to look through a
metal screen. Thrill-seekers can walk
on and around the roof of the main
pod of the tower at 1,168.0 feet (356
m). Called the EdgeWalk, it is the
world's highest full-circle, hands-free
walk. Visitors are tethered to an
overhead rail system and walk
around the edge of the CN Tower's
main pod above the 360 Restaurant.
The attraction is closed throughout
the winter season and during periods
of electrical storms and high winds.
5
Nepal
Kathmandu Valley
Located at the base of the
#98 Himalayan Mountains in
central Nepal, Kathmandu
Valley covers a region of ancient
cities rife with historic temples,
architecture, monuments and art
works. Kathmandu Valley comprises
the three chief cities of Bhaktapur,
Patan and Kathmandu in addition to
hundreds of smaller villages.
Originally inhabited by the Newars
and ruled by the Malla kings between
the 12th and 18th centuries, the
region is famous for its magnificent
palaces, pagodas and stupas that give
testimony to the superb artistic skill
of the Newars.
Photo by: neiljs
Spectacular sites not to be missed in
Kathmandu Valley include the
Bouddhanath Stupa, the most
popular attraction in the valley, and
the Swayambhunath Stupa, which is
one of the oldest of its kind in Nepal.
Additionally, the Pashupatinath
Temple is one of the world's most
sacred Hindu shrines. The soaring
Dharahara tower offers breathtaking
views of the valley while the Garden
of Dreams is a historical garden
complex complete with sunken
flower gardens, ponds, water works
and artistic features.
6
Palau
Rock Islands
The Rock Islands are
#97 ancient relics of coral reefs
that surfaced to form the
445 islands in Palaus Southern
Lagoon. The islands are for the most
part uninhabited, and are famous for
their beaches, blue lagoons and the
peculiar shapes of many of the
islands. Many of them display unique
mushroom-like shapes. The aesthetic
beauty of the Rock Islands are
heightened by the turquoise lagoons
surrounded by a complex reef system
Photo by: LuxTonnerre
featuring over 385 coral species and
different types of habitat.
The Rock Islands are also home to the
highest concentration of marine lakes
anywhere in the world, isolated
bodies of seawater separated from
the ocean by land barriers. One of
these lakes is the famous Jellyfish
Lake, a body of seawater with
millions of golden jellyfish with very
weak stingers where snorkelers can
safely swim.
7
Israel/Jordan
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a salt lake
#96 between Israel and the
West Bank to the west,
and Jordan to the east. It is said to be
the lowest point on Earth, at 1,378
feet (420 meters) below sea level. It
is also the world's second saltiest
body of water, after Lake Asal in
Djibouti. With 30 percent salinity, it
is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean and
9 times saltier than the
Mediterranean Sea. Its salinity
prevents the existence of any life
forms in the lake, hence the name
Dead Sea.
Due to the hypersalination of the
water, one can float with ease in the
Dead Sea and it is in fact nearly
Photo by: Christian Haugen
impossible to sink. A popular activity
by visitors is to have their picture
taken while reading a newspaper and
floating on the surface of the water.
Another popular activity is for
visitors to cover their bodies with the
dark mud from the shores. The mud
of the Dead Sea contain many
minerals and is believed to have
medicinal and therapeutic benefits.
In recent decades, the Dead Sea has
been rapidly shrinking because of
diversion of incoming water from the
Jordan River to the north. All the
shallow waters of the southern end of
the sea have been drained and are
now salt flats.
8
Belize Barrier Reef
Great Blue Hole
Three of the four atolls in
#95 the western hemisphere
can be found in Belizian
waters, the fourth atoll lies just north
in Mexican waters. Lighthouse Reef is
probably the best known of these
atolls due to the Great Blue Hole that
can be found near its center. The
most popular dive site in all of Belize,
the Great Blue Hole offers divers
interesting observations of limestone
formations that mold its walls. The
Photo by: Belize Tourism Board
deeper one dives into the Blue Hole,
the clearer the water and the more
breathtaking the scenery, as the array
of bizarre stalactites and limestone
formations become more complex
and intense. Divers can also see
several species of fish, including giant
groupers, nurse sharks, and several
types of reef sharks such as the
Caribbean reef shark and the Blacktip
shark.
9
Fiordland, New Zealand
Milford Sound
Attracting nearly one
#94 million visitors annually,
Milford Sound is one of
New Zealand's most popular tourist
destinations. Situated within the
Fiordland National Park on South
Island, this awe-inspiring natural
wonder is more accurately a fjord
than a sound because it was formed
by melting glaciers. Surrounded on
both sides by steep, imposing cliffs
and lush rainforest, the Sound
features several majestic peaks
named for animals and objects that
they resemble such as Mitre Peak,
The Elephant and The Lion. The
frequent rains in Milford Sound
enhance the beauty of the place by
creating hundreds of waterfalls that
Photo by: lwtt93
cascade down the steep cliffs and
remain even days after the rains
stops.
A visit to the Sound offer views of
spectacular scenery and wildlife such
as dolphins, penguins, seals and New
Zealand glow worms. Most scenic
tours of Milford Sound involve a bus
ride through the breathtaking
landscape or a boat cruise into the
Sound. Tourists also have the option
of flight tours to admire the majestic
mountains, alpine lakes and rugged
coastline from the air. Other ways of
exploring the Sound and nearby area
are by canoeing and walking the
Milford Track, an old Aboriginal trail
that offers amazing scenery.
10
Sri Lanka
Sigiriya Rock
Sigiriya is a spectacular
#93 1214 foot (370 meter)
high Lion rock fortress
overlooking the green jungle
surroundings. t is the most visited
historic site in Sri Lanka. The Sigiriya
rock is a hardened magma plug from
an extinct and long-eroded volcano,
similar to the Devils Tower in
Wyoming. From about the 5h century
BC it was used as a rock-shelter
mountain monastery and later turned
into a rock fortress by King Kasyapa.
During his reign (477 to 495),
Photo by: Amila Tennakoon
Sigiriya was developed into a
complex city and fortress. Most of the
elaborate constructions on the rock
summit and around it, including
defensive structures, palaces, and
gardens, date back to this period.
After his death Sigiriya was turned
back into a Buddhist monastery,
which lasted until the 13th or 14th
century. After this period, no records
are found on Sigiriya until 300 years
later when it was used briefly as an
outpost of the Kingdom of Kandy.
11
France
Chartres Cathedral
The majestic Chartres
#92 Cathedral is an
extraordinary example of
medieval Gothic architecture. Part of
it was built in 1145, and, after a fire
in 1194, it took 26 years to
reconstruct this masterpiece of a
church. Still in remarkable condition,
the large nave that is the widest of
any in France at 52 feet (16 meters),
the fine sculptures from the mid-12th
Photo by: Francisco Gonzalez
century, soaring columns, the
elaborate carvings on the doorways,
the north portal with its more than
700 figures and the tower with views
of the surroundings as well as
buttresses and gargoyles make this a
marvel. No direct light enters the
Cathedral; all the warm glow comes
through the spectacular red and blue
ancient stained glass windows.
12
Barcelona, Spain
Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is the
#91 most popular attractions
in Barcelona, attracting
nearly 2.8 million visitors each year.
It is a large and intricate basilica
designed by Antoni Gaudi, a Catalan
architect. Construction began in 1882
and continues to this day. The
building is predicted to be completed
within the next 30 years.
The design of La Sagrada Familia
incorporates interpretations of many
architectural styles, such as Arat
Nouveau, Gothic and Catalan
Modernism. Gaudis original plans
called for a temple large enough to
seat 13,000 people. Because he
disliked straight lines, his towers
Photo by: Ran Yaniv Hartstein
were inspired by the peaks of
Montserrat Mountain outside
Barcelona, and had similar uneven
lines.. The plans include 18 spires,
which represent Jesus Christ, the
Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists and
the Twelve Apostles. Work is still
taking place on some of these spires,
while others are open to the public.
The design also calls for three facades
on the building. These include the
Nativity Facade facing east, the
Passion Facade facing west and the
Glory Faade facing south. The
Nativity Facade was completed in
1930. The Passion Faade and the
Glory Faade are still under
construction.
13
Czech Republic
Prague Old City
One of Europe's most
#90 beautiful cities, Prague
was founded in the 9th
century and has served over the
centuries as the seat of Holy Roman
Emperors as well as an important
economic, cultural and political
center in Central Europe. Playing
important roles in the Protestant
Reformation and the Thirty Years'
War, the city became the capital of
Czechoslovakia after World War I.
Following Czechoslovakia's 1993
division into two separate countries;
Photo by: Brad Hammonds
Prague became the capital of the
Czech Republic.
Today, Prague is a magical city of
stunning cathedrals, medieval
architecture, vibrant culture, fine
dining and energetic atmosphere,
making it one of the most visited
cities in Europe. The city's Old Town
is packed with historic landmarks
such as the Astronomical Clock and
gorgeous churches like the Church of
Our Lady before Tn. Outside the
historic district are must-see sites
like the beautiful Charles Bridge and
the huge Prague Castle.
14
Italy

Amalfi Coast Photo by: Abdulsalam Haykal

Situated in Italy's multicolored villas and ritzy resorts.

#89 southwestern region of
Campania, the Amalfi
Coast is known for its extraordinary
beauty. Stretching 30 miles along the
southern side of the Sorrento
Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast is prized
for its picturesque coastline that
features shimmering bays, craggy
cliffs, lemon tree gardens,
All along the Amalfi Coast, tourists
will find enticing villages such as
Sorrento, a combination of historic
architecture and modern resorts,
restaurants and shops. One of the
most romantic and posh towns along
the Amalfi Coast is Positano with its
beautiful pebbled beaches, pastel
houses and scenic mountains.

15
Peru
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are
#88 located between the towns
of Nazca and Palpa along
the northern Pacific coast. Created
between 200 BC and 700 AD the
giant figures range from simple lines
to stylized spiders, monkeys, fish,
llamas, lizards and human figures.
They were created by removing
surface stones, revealing the lighter-
colored soil below. The lines were
created on such a large scale that it
wasnt until the 1920s, when
Photo by: Dennis Jarvis
Peruvian airlines started to fly from
Lima to Arequipa, that they were
recognized as figures. The extremely
dry, windless, and constant climate of
the Nazca Desert has preserved the
lines well.
Hotels and tour agents in Nazca offer
round flights in a Cessna to view the
lines. There is also an observation
tower along the Pan-American
highway with a view of three of the
figures.
16
Djenn, Mali
Great Mosque
The largest mud building
#87 in the world, the Djenn
Mosque is built in
Sudanese style and located in Mali. It
has timbers jutting out for support
and to make the annual replastering
easier. The first mosque on the site
was built around the 13th century,
but the current structure is about a
century old.
The mosque is situated in the city of
Djenn on the flood plain of the Bani
River. Djenn was at one time,
ancient Timbuktus sister city. The
Photo by: qiv
entire community of Djenn takes an
active role in the mosque's
maintenance via a unique annual
festival. This includes music and food,
but has the primary objective of
repairing the damage inflicted on the
mosque in the past year from rain
errosion and cracks caused by
changes in temperature and
humidity.
The citys colorful and varied outdoor
market is put on at the foot of this
mosque and is a must-visit.
17
Thailand
Ko Phi Phi
Ko Phi Phi is a small
#86 archipelago in the Krabi
Province in Southern
Thailand. Ko Phi Phi Don is the
largest island of the group, and is the
only island with permanent
inhabitants while the smaller Ko Phi
Phi Leh is famous as the filming
location for the 2000 movie The
Beach. Ko Phi Phi was severely hit
Photo by: Mike Behnken
by the Indian Ocean tsunami of
December 2004, when nearly all of
the islands infrastructure was
destroyed. Redevelopment has,
however, been swift, and services are
back with building regulations in
place to limit the height of new hotels
and other buildings to preserve the
islands stunning views.
18
Morocco
Marrakesh Old City
One of the largest cities in
#85 Morocco, Marrakesh was
formerly one of the
country's imperial cities. Marrakesh
was founded in the 11th century by
the Almoravides, a Berber dynasty
who turned the city into an important
center of commerce, religion,
philosophy and culture. Under
Almoravide rule, red sandstone walls,
lavish palaces and Koranic schools
were built of which much can still be
seen today.
During the 1960s, Marrakesh was
known as a "hippie mecca," attracting
famous celebrities such as The
Beatles, Yves Saint Laurent and the
Rolling Stones. Comprised of
Photo by: Grand Parc
beautiful old architecture and
courtyards of orange, palm, apricot
and olive trees, Marrakesh today is
still one of Africa's most popular
tourist destinations.
At the heart of the Marrakesh is the
Medina, a labyrinth of old walls and
narrow passageways packed with
historic sites, museums, enticing food
stalls and colorful souks, or markets.
The focal point of the Medina is
Djemaa El-Fna, the main square,
buzzing with snake charmers,
musicians, acrobats, storytellers,
magicians and stalls selling the likes
of carpets, leather, pottery, hookahs
and spices.
19
Amritsar, India
Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib,
#84 better known as the
Golden Temple is the main
attraction in Amritsar, and the most
important religious place to the
Sikhs. Construction of the famous
temple was begun by Guru Ram Dast
in the 16th century and completed by
his successor Guru Arjan. In the 19th
century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh
covered the upper floors of the
temple with gold, which gives it its
distinctive appearance and English
name. Some of the architectural
features of the Golden Temple were
Photo by: Guilhem Vellut
intended to be symbolic of the Sikh
worldview. Instead of the normal
custom of building a temple on high
land, it was built at a lower level than
the surrounding land so that
devotees would have to go down
steps to enter it. In addition, instead
of one entrance, Sri Harimandir Sahib
has four entrances, symbolizing the
openness of the Sikhs towards all
people and religions.
Its a stunning temple, and always full
of thousands of pilgrims from all over
India, excited to be at a place that
they usually only see on television.
20
Japan
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is the highest
#83 mountain in Japan at
12,388 feet (3,776
meters). The volcanos exceptionally
symmetrical cone is a well-known
symbol of Japan and it is frequently
depicted in art and photographs, as
well as visited by sightseers and
climbers. t is one of Japan's "Three
Holy Mountains" along with Mount
Tate and Mount Haku. The volcano is
currently classified as active with a
low risk of eruption. The last
recorded eruption was in 1708.
Photo by: Daniel Foster
A popular destination, an estimated
200,000 people climb Mount Fuji
every year, 30% of whom are
foreigners. The ascent can take
anywhere between three and eight
hours while the descent can take
from two to five hours. The most-
popular period for to hike up the
mountain is from July to August,
while climbing from October to May
is strongly discouraged because of
the severe cold weather.
21
Botswana
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta in
#82 Botswana is one of the
worlds great inland
waterways. It is formed where the
Okavango River empties onto a basin
in the Kalahari Desert. The delta is
created from the rains that fill the
Okavango River during the rainy
season, between January and
February. The waters arrives at the
delta in March and rising to the peak
months of July and August. Most of
the water is lost to evaporation and
Photo by: Joachim Huber
transpiration instead of draining into
the sea.
The Okavango delta is famous for its
wide variety of wildlife. Species
include elephant, hippopotamus,
giraffe, crocodile, lion, cheetah,
rhinoceros and zebra. The majority of
the estimated 200,000 large
mammals in and around the delta are
not year round residents. They leave
with the summer rains and make
their way back as winter approaches.
22
Lalibela, Ethiopia
Rock-Hewn Churches
Lalibela is one of
#81 Ethiopias holiest cities,
second only to Aksum, and
is a center of pilgrimage for much of
the country. This rural town is known
around the world for its monolithic
churches which play an important
part in the history of rock-cut
architecture. Though the dating of the
churches is not well established, most
are thought to have been built during
Photo by: A.Davey
the 12th and 13th centuries by a
medieval Ethiopian civilization. The
Church of St. George is the most well
known and last built of the eleven
churches. The dimensions of the
complex are 82 feet by 82 feet by 98
feet (25x25x30 meters), and there is
a small baptismal pool outside the
church, which stands in an artificial
trench.
23
London, England
Big Ben
Located in the Houses of
#80 Parliament in London, Big
Ben is one of the city's
most famous landmarks. Big Ben is
the nickname for the massive bell
belonging to the world's largest four-
faced chiming clock, which is housed
within the historic Clock Tower.
Often, the nickname is used to refer
to the bell, clock and tower as a
whole. Weighing 13.5 tons, the
present-day Big Ben bell was
constructed in 1858 after a first bell
of 16 tons cracked irreparably two
years prior. Two differing theories
speculate that the bell's nickname
either originated from a British
heavyweight boxing champion or a
Photo by:Francisco Diez
First Commissioner of Works official,
both of which were familiarly known
as "Big Ben."
An illuminated light above the clock
signals when parliament is in session.
Consisting of sandstone brickwork
and a cast iron spire, the tower
containing the bell and clock rises
more than 300 feet (90 meters) amid
London's cityscape.
Frequently highlighted in numerous
films, Big Ben and its chimes are also
a traditional focus of New Year
celebrations in Great Britain.
Although Big Ben is one of London's
best known landmarks, it is not open
to the public.
24
Rocky Mountains, Canada
Banff
Located in the province of
#79 Alberta, the Banff National
Park is not only Canada's
first national park, but also one of the
nation's largest and most visited
national parks. Covering miles of
forests, mountains, rivers, lakes,
glaciers and a few small towns, Banff
National Park remains more than 93
percent untouched. The park's
breathtaking scenery and wildlife
Photo by: Satoru Kikuchi
draw many tourists every year along
the Trans-Canada Highway, which
passes through the park. Banff
National Park's large concentration of
wildlife includes mammals like black
bears, grizzly bears, bison, moose and
wolves. The mountains of the Valley
of the Ten Peaks near the crystal
clear Moraine Lake are known for
providing scenic vistas.
25
Dubai, UAE
Burj Khalifa
Until recently called Burj
#78 Dubai, at 2,722 feet (828
meters) and 160 floors the
Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest
structure by a long shot. Already
dominating the Dubai skyline, the
newly opened tower houses nine
hotels and a Las Vegas-inspired
fountain system. The visitors'
Photo by: Leandro Ciuffo
entrance is located at the lower
ground floor of the Dubai Mall. There
is an outdoor observation deck on the
124th floor. Although the observation
deck is called At the Top, at 1,483 feet
(452 meter) it's just over halfway up
the tower itself. Still it is the third-
highest observation deck in the
world.
26
France
Versailles
As one of the most famous
#77 Chateaus in France, the
Chateau Versailles draws
more than 3 million visitors annually.
This magnificent palace was first
constructed in 1624 as a hunting
lodge for King Louis XIII and then
later expanded to become the
residence of the French Royal Family.
The palaces many stunning features
include the Hall of Mirrors, a corridor
lined with seventeen mirrored
Photo by: Moyan Brenn
arches. In the Queens bedchamber,
visitors can view a hidden door
through which Marie Antionette fled
during the March on Versailles. With
its seven salons and painted ceilings,
the Grand Apartment of King Louis
XVI is a sight to behold. A must-see is
the palaces 250-acre formal gardens,
which are designed in a geometrical
pattern of trees, flowers and
pathways.
27
India
Varanasi
With a history dating back
#76 to more than 3,000 years,
Varanasi is one of the
world's oldest living cities. Located in
North India on the banks of the River
Ganges, Varanasi has been an
important center of learning for ages
as well as a chief pilgrimage
destination for many Hindus.
Varanasi is regarded as a sacred city
among Hindus, Jains and Buddhists
because it is believed that dying here
releases a person's soul from the
cycle of reincarnation, and that
bathing in the River Ganges cleanses
one's sins.
Varanasi offers sights and
experiences unknown anywhere else
Photo by: Nico Crisafulli
in the world. It is nicknamed the "City
of Temples" because of its thousands
of temples. The most famous sites of
the city however, are the ghats, the
series of embankment steps leading
down to the Ganges River, where
many people gather to bathe. The
oldest and main ghat is the
Dashashwamedh Ghat. The
Manikarnika Ghat is a burning ghat
where Hindu cremations and rituals
of death anniversaries are frequently
held. Yoga, shaves and massages are
some other activities here. The best
way to see the ghats is by taking a
morning boat ride at sunrise.
28
Italy
Pompeii
One of Italy's most visited
#75 tourist destinations,
Pompeii is a famous
Roman city which was buried under
several feet of volcanic ash for nearly
1,700 years after the cataclysmic
eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Conquered
by the Romans in 80 BC, Pompeii
developed into an important passage
for goods that arrived by sea and had
to be sent toward Rome. Researchers
today believe that the ancient city
had a population of about 20,000 of
which 2,000 died from the
catastrophe. Excavation of Pompeii
began in 1748, and the site is yet to
be totally unearthed.
A tour of Pompeii offers a fascinating
insight into the everyday life of the
Photo by: Carlo Mirante
ancient Roman world. Visitors can
walk along the ancient streets to see
the remains of shops, bars, bakeries,
brothels, baths and residential homes
as well as buildings that served as
commercial and religious centers.
Some of the most significant
structures include the Amphitheatre,
the Forum, the Temple of Apollo, the
Basilica and the Forum Granary
Market, which contains a large
number of artifacts and plaster casts
of people and dogs that died during
the catastrophe. Within the
architecture of Pompeii's ancient
buildings, there is a large number of
art works and frescoes depicting
erotica, mythological characters and
hunting scenes.
29
Germany
Neuschwanstein
The most photographed
#74 building in Germany,
Neuschwanstein Castle, is
also one of Europe's most popular
tourist destinations. Nestled among
the breathtaking beauty of the
Bavarian Alps near the town of
Fussen, this fairy-tale castle served as
the inspiration behind Walt Disney's
Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Constructed in the late 1800s,
Neuschwanstein Castle was never
built for defense purposes as most
castles. Instead, this castle was
created as a fanciful retreat for a man
dubbed the "fairy-tale king." King
Ludwig II of Bavaria had a reputation
Photo by: Rob Faulkner
for abiding in daydreams instead of
reality. He was completely captivated
by a German legend surrounding the
Swan Knight. After losing complete
sovereignty of his kingdom, Ludwig
became obsessed in a project to build
a castle that materialized his
romantic fantasies. However, the
project drained Ludwig of his
finances. When the banks threatened
to seize his property, Ludwig reacted
irrationally, causing the government
to declare him mad. Shortly
thereafter, Ludwig was found
drowned in a lake, without ever
seeing the completion of his beloved
castle.
30
Canada/USA
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a series of
#73 three awe-inspiring
waterfalls situated on the
border of Canada's Ontario and the
United States' New York. Although it
is often called the "Honeymoon
Capital of the World," Niagara Falls in
recent years has also developed as a
popular destination for family and
adventure vacations. The magnificent
beauty and enormous volume of
Niagara Falls attracts millions every
year from all over the world. The
Photo by: Montse PB
Ontario side of the Falls is called
Horseshoe Falls and offers the best
views and most attractions.
There are several ways to experience
Niagara Falls. One of the most
popular is the Maid of the Mist boat
tour that brings visitors close enough
to feel the spray from the plunging
cascades. Visitors can also walk along
a boardwalk beside the rapids or
enjoy a cable car ride overhead.
31
India

Ellora Caves Photo by: Kunal Mukherjee

The Ellora Caves are of large, multi-storey buildings

#72 located 19 miles (30 km) carved into the mountain face,
from the city of including living quarters, sleeping
Aurangabad in India. Ellora quarters, kitchens, and other rooms.
represents the epitome of Indian The Kailasa Temple, is the unrivaled
rock-cut architecture. The 34 centerpiece of Ellora. This
Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock cut gargantuan structure, designed to
temples and monasteries were built recall Mount Kailash, was carved out
between the 5th century and 10th of one single rock, and covers an area
century. The Buddhist caves were the double the size of the Parthenon in
earliest structures and consist mostly Athens.

32
Auroral Zone
Northern Lights
The Northern Lights or
#71 Aurora Borealis is a
natural phenomenon that
can paint the night sky with
unearthly, surreal color. The aurora
they illuminate the northern horizon
as a greenish glow or sometimes a
faint red, as if the Sun were rising
from an unusual direction. The lights
often appear as flickering curtains
following the earth's magnetic field
and can change within seconds or
glow unchanging for hours, most
often in fluorescent green.
The Aurora Borealis is caused by
charged particles ejected from the
sun during large solar explosions.
When the particles meet the Earth's
magnetic shield, they are led towards
Photo by: Dan Nordal
a circle around the magnetic North
Pole, where they interact with the
upper layers of the atmosphere. The
energy which is then released is the
northern lights.
The area with the highest probability
to see the Northern Lights covers
most of Alaska, northern parts of
Canada, the southern half of
Greenland, Iceland and Northern
Norway and the northernmost areas
of Sweden and Finland, as well as the
western half of the Russian north.
There is no guarantee to see the
Northern Lights though, even if you
are in the best areas. Naturally, the
longer you stay in the north the
better the odds. Just remember to
wrap up warmly.
33
Greece
Meteora
The Greek word meteora
#70 means "suspended in the
air," and this phrase aptly
describes the spectacular cliffs that
rise more than 1,200 feet (365
meters) into the air overlooking the
villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki in
the north central mainland of Greece.
What makes these cliffs even more
inspiring are the historic monasteries
perched along the summits. Dating
Photo by: Takeaway
back to the 14th and 16th centuries,
these monasteries were built by
monks who had been living in nearby
caves, seeking spiritual isolation and
freedom from religious persecution.
Out of faith and sheer determination,
it took years for the monks to
transport their religious materials up
the cliffs by way of ropes, baskets and
ladders.
34
Egypt
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a
#69 valley in Egypt where, for
a period of nearly 500
years from the 16th to 11th century
BC, tombs were constructed for the
kings and privileged nobles of the
New Kingdom. The valley contains 63
tombs and chambers, ranging in size
from a simple pit to a complex tomb
with over 120 chambers. The royal
tombs are decorated with scenes
from Egyptian mythology and give
clues to the beliefs and funerary
rituals of the period. All of the tombs
seem to have been opened and
robbed in antiquity. Only the famous
Photo by: dalbera
tomb of Tutankhamun was spared
from the worst of the tomb
depredations. The fabulous riches of
the tomb are no longer in it, but have
been removed to the Egyptian
Museum in Cairo.
Most of the tombs are not open to the
public, and the public ones are closed
periodically for restoration work.
Tour guides are no longer allowed to
lecture inside the tombs and visitors
are expected to proceed quietly and
in single file through the tombs. This
is to minimize time in the tombs and
prevent the crowds from damaging
the surfaces of the decoration.
35
Indian Ocean
Seychelles Islands
The Republic of Seychelles
#68 is a scenic archipelago of
115 islands located
northeast of Madagascar in the
Indian Ocean. It claims some of the
most beautiful beaches and scenery
in the world and is associated with
luxury and elegance. Most resorts can
be found on the main islands of Mahe
and Praslin. A few high end ones, like
the North Island, have their own
private islands. On top of ultra-
luxurious options, the Seychelles has
plenty of quaint, affordable self-
Photo by: Didier Baertschiger
catering facilities and guesthouses,
most of these are found on the island
of La Digue. This island is also home
to L'Anse Source D'Argent, one of the
world's most beautiful beaches due
to the large pink granite rocks
studding the coastline, coupled with
sandy beaches and palms.
The Seychelles is also a top spot to
watch birds and giant tortoises in
their natural habitat. And a vast living
world lies just below the turquoise
waters, beckoning divers of all levels.
36
The Netherlands
Amsterdam Canals
One of Europe's most
#67 popular tourist
destinations, Amsterdam
is widely known for its party
atmosphere, cannabis practice and
the red light district. However, this
capital city of the Netherlands offers
so much more for all travelers such
as its beautiful canal ring. Amsterdam
began building its famous canals in
the 17th century during the Dutch
Golden Age. The three main canals,
Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and
Keizersgracht form concentric belts
Photo by: Lennart Tange
around the old city, known as the
grachtengordel. The center is where
most tourists spend their time
enjoying canal cruises, sightseeing,
visiting impressive art museums such
as the Van Gogh Museum, and
attractions like the Anne Frank
House, Vondelpark and
Bloemenmarkt, the floating flower
market.
Today there are over 60 miles (100
km) of canals and 1,500 bridges.
Alongside the main canals are 1550
monumental buildings.
37
Pisa, Italy
Leaning Tower
One of Italy's most
#66 popular and photographed
buildings, the Leaning
Tower of Pisa is known worldwide
for its tilting position. Located in the
city of Pisa, the famous landmark is
the campanile, or bell tower, of the
surrounding cathedral and piazza
complex known as Campo dei
Miracoli, or Field of Miracles.
A fine example of Romanesque
architecture, the tower was
constructed in three stages over a
period of 200 years beginning in
1173. Just two years after the initial
Photo by: echiner1
construction, the tower began to tilt
due to an unstable foundation of soft
ground and was left alone for almost
a century. When the construction
resumed the engineers built higher
floors with one side taller than the
other to compensate for the tilt and
the tower was finally finished in the
2nd half of the 14th century. While
the tower now leans at about 4
degrees, it has been stabilized by
cement injections in the 1920s.
Since 2001, the famous tower is again
open to those wishing to climb its
296 steps to the top.
38
Australia
Ayers Rock/Uluru
One of the world's largest
#65 monoliths, Ayers Rock is
also one of Australia's
iconic landmarks. Located within the
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park of the
Northern Territory, this large
sandstone formation stands more
than 1,100 feet (340 meters) high
with a circumference of five miles (9
km). One of the rock's peculiarities is
that it changes colors dramatically at
sunset from terra cotta to blue, violet
and red. The local Aboriginal tribe,
known as Anangu, call the rock Uluru
and regard it as a sacred site.
Photo by: rumpleteaser
Steeped in Aboriginal legends, the
rock formation features caves
containing ancient carvings and
paintings. The area around Ayers
Rock is home to a number of species
of wildlife including lizards, emus,
bush turkeys, red kangaroo and the
Woma python. Although climbing
Ayers Rock is permitted and popular
among many tourists, this activity is
sometimes forbidden during times of
bad weather and when the local
indigenous tribe performs traditional
ceremonies and rituals.
39
France
Lascaux
Nicknamed the
#64 prehistoric Sistine
Chapel, the Lascaux Caves
are a cave complex in southwestern
France decorated with some of the
most impressive and famous cave
paintings in the world. The Lascaux
paintings are estimated to be 17,000
years old. Most of the cave paintings
are situated quite a distance away
from the entrance and must have
been created with the aid of candles.
The most famous cave painting is The
Photo by: Christine McIntosh
Great Hall of the Bulls where bulls,
horses and deers are depicted. One of
the bulls is 17 feet (5.2 meters) long,
the largest animal discovered so far
in any cave in Europe.
Due to the damage resulting from too
many people visiting the caves, the
Lascaux paintings have been
permanently closed to the public. The
French government has built Lascaux
II near the site where tourists can see
a copy of the original cave.
40
Moscow, Russia
Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin is
#63 one of Russias most
popular tourist
attractions. It is conveniently located
in downtown Moscow and dominates
the skyline of Russias largest city.
The Kremlin serves as the residence
for the countrys president. It has
been used as a fort, and this fact is
made clear by its sheer size. The
Kremlin's outer walls were built in
the late 1400s.
Under Ivan III, better known as Ivan
the Great, the Kremlin became the
center of a unified Russian state, and
was extensively remodeled. Three of
the Kremlins cathedrals date to his
reign. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower
was built in 1508. It is the tallest
Photo by: Lori Branham
tower at the Kremlin with a height of
266 feet (81 meters). Joseph Stalin
removed many of the relics from the
tsarist regimes. However, the Tsar
Bell, the world's largest bell, and the
Tsar Cannon, the largest bombard by
caliber in the world, are among the
remaining items from that era.
The Kremlin has also served as the
religious center of the country, and
there is a tremendous number of
preserved churches and cathedrals
here. Those who enjoy the
performing arts will want to consider
attending a ballet or concert at the
State Kremlin Palace. Completed in
1961, it is the only modern building
in the Kremlin.
41
Indonesia
Komodo Island
Komodo Island is part of
#62 the Komodo National Park,
a national park in
Indonesia located within the Lesser
Sunda Islands. The park also includes
the islands Padar and Rincah, and 26
smaller ones. The island is
particularly notable as the natural
habitat of the Komodo dragon and
consequently named after the island.
The Komodo Dragon is the worlds
largest living reptile and can reach 10
Photo by: Yusmar Yahaya
feet (3 meters) or more in length and
weigh over 150lb (70kg). As a result
of their size, these lizards dominate
the island ecosystems in which they
live. Komodo dragons eat mostly
carcass of dead animals,but they are
formidable predators and will also
hunt prey including birds, and
mammals. Although attacks are very
rare, Komodo dragons have been
known to attack humans.
42
Yemen
Shibam
Nicknamed the
#61 Manhatten of the desert,
Shibam is a town in Yemen
featuring unique high rise apartment
buildings. The tower houses, some 16
stories tall and up to 100 feet (30
meters high) and made out of mud
bricks, were built to protect the
citizens from Bedouin raids. The mud
buildings have to be maintained and
frequently renovated by the
inhabitants in order to protected
them from rain and erosion.
Photo by: Jialiang Gao
While Shibam itself dates back to the
third century AD, most of the city's
houses originate from the 16th
century. Many, though, have been
rebuilt numerous times in the last
few centuries. After a flooding in
2008 several buidlings collapsed
because their foundation was
compromised by the flood waters,
eventually leading to their collapse. t
ws ls the target f n Al Qaeda
attack n 2009.
43
Spain
Mezquita of Cordoba
The Mezquita (Spanish for
#60 Mosque) of Cordoba is a
fascinating building
famous for the forest of pillars and
arches inside the main hall. It is
unique in that it has undergone
several religious changes over time.
Construction on the mosque began in
784 AD after the Moors captured
Cordoba. It was built on the spot
where a 6th-century Visigothic
church had once stood. In the 13th
century, the Christians took Cordoba
from the Moors. At this time, they
consecrated the building as a
Christian church. During the 1520s,
they actually built a church within
the mosque. However, they agreed to
Photo by: Procsilas Moscas
leave the Moorish architecture in
place.
From the outside, the Mezquita of
Cordoba looks similar to many other
buildings of the time. However, the
inside of the building is what sets it
apart from other Mosques in the city.
One of the most unique design
elements is the use of red and white
double-tiered arches within the
building. Sculptured pillars, recycled
from the Roman temple that
previously stood at the site, support
these arches. Originally, there were
1,293 columns, made from onyx,
marble, granite and jasper, but only
856 remain today.
44
Cape Town, South Africa

Table Mountain Photo by: Jim Sher

Table Mountain is a flat- cableway that takes passengers to the

#59 topped mountain top of the mountain with views
overlooking the city of overlooking Cape Town, Table Bay
Cape Town in South Africa. Its main and Robben Island to the north, and
feature is a level plateau the Atlantic seaboard to the west and
approximately 2 miles (3 kilometers) south. Antnio de Saldanha was the
from side to side, surrounded by first European to land in Table Bay.
steep cliffs. The highest point on He climbed the mighty mountain in
Table Mountain is 3,563 feet (1,086 1503 and named it Table Mountain.
meters) above sea level. There is a

45
England
Stonehenge
One of the most famous
#58 sites in the world,
Stonehenge is composed
of earthworks surrounding a circular
setting of large standing stones in
south west England. Stonehenge was
produced by a culture that left no
written records so many aspects of
Stonehenge remain subject to debate.
Evidence indicate that the iconic
stone monument was erected around
Photo by: Natesh Ramasamy
2500 BC while the last known
construction at Stonehenge was
about 1600 BC. The gigantic stones
may have come from a quarry,
around 25 miles (40 kilometers)
north of Stonehenge on the
Marlborough Downs. It is not known
for certain what purpose Stonehenge
served, but many scholars believe the
monument was used as a ceremonial
or religious center.
46
China
Hong Kong Cityscape
Nicknamed the Oriental
#57 Pearl, Hong Kong is one of
Asia's most traveled
destinations thanks to its spectacular
natural beauty and man-made
marvels. Located off China's
southeastern coast, Hong Kong is a
glittering, world-class commercial
center where Chinese culture, British
colonial influences and modern day
high-technology blend together.
While it contains the world's highest
Photo by: Jim Trodel
concentration of skyscrapers and one
of the highest population densities,
Hong Kong also offers plenty of green
spaces, mountain views and beaches.
Some of the must-see attractions
include the famous Victoria Harbour,
which is a spectacular sight at night
with all the dazzling skyscrapers and
The Peak, Hong Kong's highest peak
which offers awe-inspiring views of
the harbour.
47
Rwanda/Uganda
Mountain Gorillas
The mountain gorilla is the
#56 worlds most endangered
ape found only in small
portions of protected forests in
southwestern Uganda, northwestern
Rwanda and eastern Congo. With
less than 900 mountain gorillas left in
the world, seeing them in the wild is
something only a few people will ever
have the chance to experience. There
are two populations. One is found in
an extinct volcanic region called the
Virunga Range along the borders of
Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic
Republic of Congo. The other is found
in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park.
There are two parks in Uganda, the
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and
Photo by: Philip Kromer
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
where travelers are able to go gorilla
tracking. Bwindi is home to about
half of all mountain gorillas. The park
covers a mountainous region of
extremely dense rainforest. Visitors
can also get to see chimpanzees as
well as some spectacular bird life. In
Rwanda the Mountain Gorillas can be
found in Virunga National Park. The
park encompasses six volcanoes.
Tracking gorillas in Virunga is
slightly less strenuous than at Bwindi
since the gorillas move around a little
less. The more open terrain also
allows more light for better photo
opportunities than in Bwindi.
48
Egypt

Abu Simbel Photo by: Olaf Tausch

Abu Simbel is an travelled down the Nile from out of

#55 archaeological site
comprising two massive
temples in southern Egypt on the
western bank of Lake Nasser. The
twin temples were originally carved
out of the mountainside during the
reign of Pharaoh Ramesses The Great
in the 13th century BC, as a lasting
monument to himself and his queen
Nefertari. Archaeologists have
concluded that the immense size of
the statues was intended to scare
potential enemies approaching
Egypt's southern region, as they
Africa. With the passage of time, the
temples fell into disuse and
eventually became covered by sand
until they were rediscovered in 1813
by Swiss explorer Jean Louis
Burkhart.
The complex was relocated in its
entirety in the 1960s to avoid their
being submerged during the creation
of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial
water reservoir formed after the
building of the Aswan High Dam on
the Nile River.

49
San Francisco, USA
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is
#54 a suspension bridge
spanning the Golden Gate,
the strait between San Francisco and
Marin County to the north. The
masterwork of architect Joseph B.
Strauss, whose statue graces the
southern observation deck, the
bridge took seven years to build, and
was completed in 1937. The Golden
Gate Bridge was the longest
Photo by: Bob Dass
suspension bridge span in the world
when it was completed. Since its
completion, the span length has been
surpassed by eight other bridges but
it remains one of the most famous
landmarks in the world. The famed
red-orange color of the bridge was
specifically chosen to make the
bridge more easily visible through
the thick fog that frequently shrouds
the bridge.
50
Venezuela
Angel Falls
Angel Falls or Salto ngel
#53 is the worlds highest
waterfall, dropping a total
of 3,208 feet (978 meter) from a cleft
near the summit of Auyantepui. The
most visited tepui in Venezuela,
Auyantepui, which means Devils
Mountain in the language of the
native Pemon people. The falls
themselves were named after pilot
Photo by: Erik Kristensen
Jimmie Angel who accidentally
discovered the falls in 1933. During a
return trip in 1937, Angel crashed his
small plane on top of Auyantepui. It
took him and his crew 11 days to
descend the mountain. Angel falls are
styll located in an isolated jungle
region of Venezuela, in the Canaima
National Park and the only access is
by air.
51
Paris, France
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a
#52 symbol of Paris and
France and one of the
most famous landmarks in the world.
The tower was built by Gustave Eiffel
as the entrance arch for the
International Exhibition of Paris of
1889. With a height of 984 feet (300
meters) it was the tallest tower in the
world until 1930, when the Chrysler
Photo by: NonOmnisMoriar
Building in New York was completed.
Since its construction more than
200,000,000 people have visited the
Eiffel Tower making it the most
visited paid monument in the world.
Tourists can ride the elevator to see
incredible views of the city or dine in
one of the two fine restaurants that
are situated within the tower.
52
Indian Ocean
Maldives Atolls
The tiny country of the
#51 Maldives in the middle of
the Indian Ocean is made
up of about 1,200 tiny coral islands
grouped into 26 atolls. The word atoll
actually comes from the the Dhivehi
(a language spoken on the Maldives)
word atholhu. With the highest
point above sea level being around 6
feet (2 meters), the Robinson Crusoe
Photo by: Nattu
life style is everywhere you look. The
primary activity on the Maldives is
scuba diving and snorkeling. The
atolls are all coral reefs hundreds of
miles away from any major landmass,
meaning that water clarity is
excellent and underwater life is
abundant. Manta rays, sharks, even a
few wrecks, you name it, you can find
it in the Maldives.
53
Israel/Palestine
Jerusalem Old City
Regarded as a holy city to
#50 the three major religions
of Judaism, Christianity
and Islam, Jerusalem is one of the
world's oldest cities. Located high in
the Judean Mountains, Jerusalem was
formerly inhabited by the Jebusite
tribe until King David of the Israelites
captured it 3,000 years ago and made
it his capital city. Over the centuries,
the city has been besieged, attacked
and captured numerous times by
opposing religious and political
powers. In spite of time and warfare,
Jerusalem's many historic sites
Photo by: israeltourism
remain well preserved, making it one
of the most beautiful and fascinating
cities of the world.
Divided into several districts,
Jerusalem is a remarkable blend of
1st century structures, modern day
high-rise buildings and medieval
neighborhoods. The Old City is the
main attraction with its numerous
historic and religious landmarks.
Some of the most important sites
include the Church of the Holy
Sepulcher, the Temple Mount, the
Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock
and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
54
Australia
Sydney Opera House
One of Australia's famous
#49 landmarks, the Sydney
Opera House is one of the
world's most prestigious performing
arts centers, located in Sydney's
Central Business District and
surrounded by the beautiful scenery
of the Sydney Harbour and the Royal
Botanic Gardens. Visited by several
million people annually, this stunning
structure houses multiple venues
that together host more than 1,500
performances each year. What's
more, Sydney Opera House is home
to four prominent companies
including the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra, Opera Australia, the
Photo by: Pavel
Sydney Theatre Company and The
Australian Ballet.
Regarded as a 20th century
architectural masterpiece, the Sydney
Opera House was designed and built
by architect, Jrn Utzon, to reflect the
image of a huge sailing ship. The
structure is 600 feet long and 394
feet wide (183 by 120 meters) at its
widest point, featuring distinctive
roof shells that resemble billowing
sails. Attending a performance is not
required to experience the full
splendor of the Sydney Opera House.
Daily tours are available where
visitors can explore the halls, venues,
backstage, dressing rooms and more.
55
Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
Located in the Andes
#48 Mountains of Bolivia, Salar
de Uyuni is the largest salt
flat in the world. It is covered by a
few feet of salt crust, which has an
extraordinary flatness with the
average altitude variations within 3
feet (one meter) over the entire area
of the Salar. The expanse of salt
creates an unending white landscape
during the dry season, but the area is
most breathtaking in the rainy season
when it is covered in water. The
reflection of the blue sky creates an
Photo by: Kris Krug
even more surreal landscape,
although some tourists insist on
seeing the salt.
The Salar contains large amounts of
sodium, potassium and magnesium. It
also holds about 40% of the world's
lithium reserves which is a vital
component of many electric batteries.
The Salar also serves as the major
transport route across the Bolivian
Altiplano and is a major breeding
ground for several species of pink
flamingos during the rainy season.
56
Guatemala
Tikal
Situated in the lowland
#47 rainforest of northern
Guatemala, Tikal is
perhaps the most breathtaking of all
the Mayan sites. Restored buildings
are scattered around the area while
many more ruined buildings are still
hidden by the jungle. Between ca. 200
to 900 AD, Tikal was the largest
Mayan city with an estimated
Photo by: Piers Canadas
population between 100,000 and
200,000 inhabitants. Tikal contains 6
very large temple pyramids. The
largest, Temple-pyramid IV, is some
230 feet (72 meters) high and was
finished around 720 AD. Climbing to
the top of one of these ancient Mayan
temples offers a great experience
with beautiful panoramic views from
above the tree tops.
57
Lebanon
Baalbek
Baalbek is a historical
#46 town in the Beqaa Valley,
located about two hours
by bus from Beirut and one hour
from the Syrian capital of Damascus.
It is home to the most famous ancient
site in Lebanon and arguably the
most important Roman ruins in the
Middle East.
Now home to 72,000 people, most of
whom are Shia Muslims, Baalbek was
known as Heliopolis, the City of the
Sun, during Roman times. It's
believed to be built on a site held
sacred by the Canaanites some 2,000
years before the Romans.
Photo by: Jan Hilgers
Baalbek is famous for its complex of
intricately carved stone temples,
some of which are the largest ever
built by the Romans. The renowned
Temple of Baal-Jupiter, for example,
conflates the Canaanite god with the
Roman god of the sky and thunder. It
features columns that stand 65 feet
(20 meters) tall and a terrace created
out of enormous stones. Other
popular sights include a finely carved
temple in honor of Bacchus, the
Roman god of wine, and a round
temple dedicated to Venus, the
Roman goddess of love.
58
Italy
Florence Cityscape
The capital of Tuscany,
#45 Florence is often
described as a colossal
outdoor museum because of its mass
of art and architectural treasures.
Internationally observed as the
birthplace of Italian Renaissance,
Florence is also known as the home
of the wealthy and powerful Medici
dynasty that produced several kings
and popes, impacting the entire
world in a number of ways culturally,
economically and politically.
Florence's hoard of art masterpieces
are found all over the city, contained
within the large numbers of
museums, stunning churches, like the
Photo by: Benson Kua
domed Santa Maria del Fiore, and
internationally esteemed art galleries
like the Ufizzi and Pitti Palace. The
Piazza della Signoria, the main
square, is home to beautiful buildings
and world famous sculptures like
Cellini's Perseus with the Head of
Medusa, Ammannati's Fountain of
Neptune and Michelangelo's Statue of
David.
Walking is the best way to see the
major sites in the city center. Some of
the best places to walk include the
Ponte Vecchio, a beautiful bridge
spanning the Arno River and
featuring a number of high-end
jewelry shops.
59
Ifugao, Philippines

Banaue Rice Terraces Photo by: IRRI Images

Situated in the heartlands by an ancient irrigation system from

#44 of the Cordilleras
mountains of the
Philippines and rising to an altitude
of 5000 feet (1525 meters) are the
Banaue Rice Terraces. The terraced
fields were carved out by hand
without modern tools by the Ifugao
tribes and have been producing rice
for almost 2,000 years. They are fed
the rainforests above the fields.
These terraces are so numerous,
steep, and compact, that if stretched
out end to end, they would wrap
halfway around the globe. Lately,
these under-maintained rice terraces
have been showing their age, as more
and more Ifugao tribes people are
emigrating to the cities.

60
Norway
Geirangerfjord
During the ice ages, water
#43 from melted glaciers filled
up deep valleys, forming
the prodigies of nature that are
known today as fjords. Among the
most famous and beautiful of these
fjords is Geirangerfjord, located in
southwestern Norway near the
coastal town of lesund. Stretching
for more than nine miles (15 km)
long, Geirangerfjord is a natural
wonder of deep blue water
surrounded by majestic cliffs and
lush green mountains towering more
than 3,500 feet (1,000 meters) high.
Adding to the spectacular scenery are
several stunning waterfalls and lush
countryside dotted with picturesque
farms.
Photo by: Suomi Star
A visit to Geirangerfjord offers a
variety of attractions and adventures.
Not to be missed are the impressive
waterfalls that include the Seven
Sisters. Jutting out from the cliff sides
in seven separate cataracts, the Seven
Sisters waterfall plunges more than
800 feet (250 meter) into the fjord,
creating a refreshing curtain in which
people can actually walk behind. On
each side of the fjord, the lush
mountains are dotted with quaint
farms. Not far from the fjord is the
town of Geiranger, home to
restaurants, lodging and the
Geiranger Fjord Centre, which
displays exhibits about the history
and culture of the area.
61
Granada, Spain
Alhambra
The Alhambra in Granada
#42 is the palace-fortress
complex where Spanish
Moors made their final stand during
the Reconquista led by the Christian
monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella.
The original fortress was constructed
in 889, and a royal palace was added
in 1333. The name is derived from
Arabic words meaning the red one,
which describes the citadel's brilliant
faade. The well-preserved citadel is
one of the finest examples of Moorish
Photo by: Frank Kovalchek
architecture and engineering. Inside
the castle are exquisitely decorated
rooms and lavish gardens of the royal
palace, such as the Hall of the
Abencerrajes. The brickwork, vaulted
ceilings, wood inlays, intricate stucco
and gold leaf ceilings reflect the
grandeur of the period. An exquisite
example of Alhambra's symbolism is
the Court of Lions that features
intricate mosaics, colonnaded
galleries and an ornate fountain.
62
Indonesia
Borobudur
A colossal temple complex
#41 dating back to the 8th
century, the Borobudur is
one of Indonesia's most popular
tourist destinations as well as one of
the world's most important Buddhist
temples. Located in the lush Kedu
Plain with a backdrop of majestic
volcanoes, Borobudur is an awe-
inspiring site located 25 miles (40
km) northwest of Yogyakarta in
Central Java. Built in the 8th and 9th
centuries over a period of 75 years,
the temple complex was mysteriously
abandoned in the 14th century and
left hidden for centuries under
Photo by: Jean-Marie Hullot
volcanic ash and jungle growth until
its unearthing by the British in the
1800s.
Modeled like a stepped pyramid,
Borobudur is constructed of two
million volcanic block stones and
consists of six rectangular terraces
crowned by three circular terraces.
On the top platform, the main dome
is enclosed by 72 Buddha statues.
Borobudur is decorated with a total
of 504 Buddha statues and more than
2,600 elaborately carved relief panels
depicting the teachings of Buddha
and everyday life in ancient Java.
63
Croatia
Dubrovnik Old City
Nicknamed the "Pearl of
#40 the Adriatic," the old city
of Dubrovnik is one of the
prominent tourist destinations of the
Mediterranean. Located at the
southern tip of Croatia off the
Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik was
established in the 7th century on
maritime trade. In spite of constant
territorial threats from Venice and
the Ottoman Empire, Dubrovnik
flourished in the Middle Ages as a
center of literature, art, science and
education.
Today, Dubrovnik is one of the most
beautiful cities of Europe, offering
Photo by: Dayou_X
alluring architecture and art works.
With orange rooftop houses sitting in
contrast to the blue sky, Dubrovnik
presents many sightseeing treasures.
The historic district, the Old Town, is
stuffed with many historic features
such as the old, defensive walls,
cobblestone streets, magnificent
palaces and stunning churches. A
must-see is the 15th century
engineering marvel, Onofrio's
Fountain. At night, the Old Town is
illuminated, giving it a romantic
ambiance.
64
Moscow, Russia
St. Basils Cathedral
With its multicolored
#39 spires and domes of
assorted shapes and sizes,
St. Basil's Cathedral is easily one of
Moscow's most recognizable icons as
well as one of the world's most
photographed landmarks. Located at
one end of the Red Square next to the
Kremlin, the cathedral was built to
commemorate the capture of the
Tatar strongholds of Kazan and
Astrakhan. Ivan the Terrible ordered
the cathedral's construction in the
mid-16th century, and legend holds
that Ivan put out the architect's eyes
so that he would be unable to build
another cathedral more glorious than
Photo by: Jack Versloot
St. Basil's. Designed to resemble the
shape of a bonfire in full flame, the
architecture is not only unique to the
period in which it was built but to
any subsequent period. For various
reasons, both Napoleon and Stalin
wanted to destroy the cathedral but
fortunately did not succeed.
Known for its various colors, shapes
and geometric patterns, St. Basil's
Cathedral houses nine different
chapels that are all connected by a
winding labyrinth of corridors and
stairways. On the lower floor, St.
Basil's Chapel contains a silver casket
bearing the body of St. Basil the
Blessed.
65
Wyoming, USA
Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park
#38 was the worlds first
national park, set aside in
1872 to preserve the vast number of
geysers, hot springs, and other
thermal areas, as well as to protect
the incredible wildlife and rugged
beauty of the area. Yellowstone lies
on top of a gigantic hotspot where
light, hot, molten mantle rock rises
towards the surface. Subsequently,
the park contains half of all the
worlds known geothermal features,
with more than 10,000 examples of
geysers and hot springs. The most
famous geyser in the park is Old
Faithful Geyser. It is one of the most
predictable geographical features on
Photo by: Jim Trodel
earth erupting almost every 91
minutes. The largest hot spring in
Yellowstone and the third largest in
the world is the Grand Prismatic
Spring. The vivid colors in the spring
are the result of pigmented bacteria
that grow around the edges of the
mineral-rich water. The bacteria
produce colors ranging from green to
red. The center of the pool is sterile
due to extreme heat.
In addition to all the geothermal
features Yellowstone is also home to
one of the finest megafauna wildlife
habitats in North America. Black
bears, grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison
and wolves can all be found within
the park borders.
66
Italy
Canals of Venice
Located in northeastern
#37 Italy, Venice is an
archipelago of 118 islands
all connected by hundreds of
beautiful bridges and scenic canals.
Of the canals, the Grand Canal is most
famous and divides the city into two
sections. Picturesque waterways and
historic architecture make Venice
one of the most romantic cities in the
world. Venice is often crowded and
expensive but well worth visiting to
see its magnificent landmarks like
Saint Mark's Square and Basilica,
Photo by: Tambako The Jaguar
Doge's Palace and Rialto Bridge. One
of the most popular things to do is to
take a gondola ride along the Grand
Canal.
Every year, Venice hosts one of Italy's
liveliest Carnival festivals where the
streets are filled with people dressed
in colorful costumes and masks, and
the Grand Canal is packed with fleets
of decorated boats and gondolas. A
popular souvenir to purchase in
Venice is one of the beautifully
crafted carnival masks.
67
Turkey
Cappadocia
Covering a large region in
#36 Central Anatolia of Turkey,
Cappadocia is best known
for its fairytale landscape of unusual
formations resembling chimneys,
cones, mushrooms and pinnacles.
Natural processes such as ancient
volcanic eruptions and erosion have
all sculpted these odd formations
over the ages, with some of them
rising as much as 130 feet (40
meters) high. However, thousands of
years ago, mankind added
remarkable touches to the landscape
by carving out houses, churches and
underground cities from the soft
rock. Inhabited as early as 1800 BC,
Hittites and other residents chiseled
out underground tunnel complexes,
Photo by: blieusong
seeking safety from invading
Persians and Greeks. Much later in
the 4th century AD, Christians, fleeing
out of religious persecution from
Rome, sought refuge in Cappadocia's
tunnels and caves.
While much of Cappadocia is located
in the province of Nevsehir, some of
the main towns in the region are
rgp, Greme, Avanos, Ortahisar
and Mustafapasa. Many of these
towns offer hotels, restaurants,
nightlife options and attractions such
as museums, rock castles, fairy
chimneys, underground tunnels, old
Greek villages, monasteries and
handicraft markets. Some of the
caves in the region are actually hotels
and cater to tourists.
68
Vatican City
St Peter's Basilica
It may be the center of the
#35 Catholic world, but
visitors do not have to be
religious to appreciate the
magnificent architecture and art
works contained within St. Peter's
Basilica. Located on Vatican Hill in
Rome, St. Peter's Basilica was built
over a period of more than a hundred
years by some of Italy's greatest
artists including Michelangelo and
Bernini. Although the original church
was built in 349 AD, the current
basilica was constructed in the 16th
century to replace the former due to
deterioration.
Catholic tradition says that the
present day St. Peter's Basilica is built
Photo by: Doc Searls
upon the tomb site where Peter, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, was buried in
64 AD. The church building itself is
impressive, sporting the world's
tallest dome, which dominates
Rome's skyline. Able to hold 60,000
people, St. Peter's Basilica contains
several niches and chapels. One of the
biggest draws of the church is its
lavish interior of marble features,
gilding and outstanding art works
that consist of paintings, sculptures,
mosaics and reliefs.
The basilica is fronted by St. Peter's
Square, a vast plaza designed by Gian
Lorenzo Bernini, featuring decorative
fountains, massive colonnades and a
4,000-year old Egyptian obelisk.
69
Xian, China
Terracotta Army
The Mausoleum of the
#34 First Emperor of the Qin
Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC),
who successfully defeated all rival
states and unified China, is located
near the city of Xian. The tomb of the
emperor has not been excavated yet
but his buried terracotta army
unearthed nearby has already
become one of the most popular
attractions in China. It is estimated
that in the three pits containing the
Terracotta Army there were over
8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520
Photo by: Pedro Szekely
horses and 150 cavalry horses, the
majority of which are still buried. The
figures are life-like and life-sized. The
colored lacquer finish, individual
facial features, and actual weapons
that were used in manufacturing
these figures created a realistic
appearance. Although the weapons
were stolen and the coloring has
faded greatly, their existence serves
as a testament to the amount of labor
and skill involved in their
construction.
70
Tanzania
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater is the
#33 world's largest unbroken
caldera. It is formed from
a volcano erupting two to three
million years ago which has collapsed
and formed a crater. The crater is
about 2,000 feet (600 meters) deep
and its floor covers 100 square miles
(260 square kilometers). The steep
sides of the crater have become a
natural enclosure for a wide variety
Photo by: Stig Nygaard
of wild animals. The crater is home to
over 30,000 animals including
elephants, lions, cheetahs,
wildebeests and buffaloes. It is also
presently one of the most likely areas
in Africa to see the endangered Black
Rhino. Local Maasai people are
permitted to bring cattle to graze in
the crater but are required to leave at
the end of each day.
71
Beijing, China
Forbidden City
Attracting 8 million
#32 visitors annually, the
Forbidden City is the
world's largest palace complex.
Situated in the heart of Beijing near
the Tiananmen Square, this
enormous palace was constructed in
the 15th century during the Ming
Dynasty and served until 1911 as the
imperial residence of emperors and
their families as well as the center of
Chinese political and ceremonial
functions. In total, 24 emperors
reigned over the country for almost 5
centuries from the Forbidden City
until the abdication of Puyi, the last
Photo by: Bridget Coila
Emperor of China. Known today as
the Palace Museum, the palace was
formerly named the Forbidden City
because entrance to it was strictly
prohibited unless approved by the
emperor due to its religious
significance as the Heavenly
Emperor's earthly residence.
Surrounded by a 26-foot (8 meter)
high wall with several gates, a wide
moat and royal gardens, the complex
covers a huge rectangle and consists
of 90 palaces and halls with
courtyards, nearly 1,000 other
buildings and 8,700 rooms.
72
French Polynesia
Bora Bora
One of the most beautiful
#31 and photographed islands
in the South Pacific Ocean,
Bora Bora is part of the archipelago
of the Society Islands belonging to
French Polynesia. About 20 miles (32
km) wide, the island consists of a
mainland that is surrounded by
several small islets famously known
today for their tourists resorts of
thatched-roof bungalows and long
wooden boardwalks stretching out
over a clear blue lagoon. Dominating
the center of the island are the
emerald green peaks of Mt. Otemanu
and Mt. Pahia.
Photo by: Didierlefort
First occupied by Polynesians in the
4th century and visited by explorers
like James Cook in 1770, Bora Bora
later became a French colony in
1842. During World War II, the island
served as a military base for the
United States. Today, Bora Bora is a
popular tourist destination for many,
including honeymooners and
adventurers. With its beautiful
beaches like Matira Beach, barrier
reefs and hundreds of multicolored
marine species, Bora Bora is an
excellent place to enjoy swimming,
snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing,
boating and other water activities.
73
Lhasa, Tibet/China
Potala Palace
Situated on Marpo Ri hill,
#30 430 feet (130 meters)
above the Lhasa valley, the
Potala Palace rises a further 560 feet
(170 meters) and is the greatest
monumental structure in all of Tibet.
As the winter palace of the Dalai
Lama from the 7th century the
complex symbolizes Tibetan
Buddhism and its central role in the
traditional administration of Tibet.
The construction of the present
palace began in 1645 during the
reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by
1648 the Potrang Karpo, or White
Palace, was completed. The Potrang
Marpo, or Red Palace, was added
between 1690 and 1694. The Potala
Photo by: reurinkjan
Palace remained the residence of the
Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama
fled to India, after the Chinese
invasion in 1959. T oday, the Potala
Palace is a museum.
The White Palace contains the main
ceremonial hall with the throne of the
Dalai Lama, and his private rooms
and audience hall are on the
uppermost level. The palace contains
698 murals, almost 10,000 painted
scrolls, numerous sculptures as well
as a large collection of important
historical documents. To the west
and higher up the mountain the Red
Palace contains the golden burial
stupas of past Dalai Lamas.
74
New York City, USA
Manhattan
One of the most densely
#29 populated communities in
the world, Manhattan also
contains one of the world's greatest
concentrations of famous attractions.
It may be the smallest of New York
City's five boroughs, but its what
people most often think of when they
picture New York.
A small island, Manhattan is probably
best known for its dazzling skyline
and cityscape consisting of numerous
skyscrapers. The borough is made up
of several neighborhoods and
districts that are all filled with
fabulous landmarks, shopping
venues, restaurants and
Photo by: nosha
entertainment venues. Some of
Manhattan's most famous attractions
include the Empire State Building, the
Statue of Liberty, Times Square,
Central Park, the Rockefeller Center
and the site of the World Trade
Center. Manhattan is also home to
some of the most distinguished
museums and art galleries in the
world such as the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, the Guggenheim
Museum and the American Museum
of Natural History. Additionally,
Manhattan's Theater District is world
known with its collection of
Broadway theaters and other
entertainment venues.
75
Burma

Bagan Photo by: Marc Veraart

The city of Bagan lies on refusing to pay tribute to Kublai

#28 the shore of the Khan. Bagan quickly declined aand
Ayeyarwady River in only a small group of people, living
central Myanmar, formerly known as among the temples, remained. The
Burma. Approximately 13,000 city became a pilgrimage site, but
temples, pagodas, stupas and other only focused on the largest temples.
ruins once stood here, and nearly The others were left in disrepair and
2,200 remain today. Some are well eventually succumbed to time and
maintained while others are the elements.
overgrown with grass and weeds. Bagans holiest temple, the Ananda
Bagan was the capital of the Kingdom Temple, was built in 1091. Four
of Pagan from the 9th to the 13th Buddhas are housed here and they
century. During the 11th to the 13th represent the four Buddhas that have
centuries, wealthy rulers achieved Nirvana. Other notable
commissioned the building of temples include the Shwesandaw
thousands of temples. This golden Temple, also known as the Sunset
age came to an end in 1287 when the Temple, where visitors gather to
Mongols invaded the Kingdom after watch the Bagan sunset.

76
Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia
A journey to Istanbul,
#27 would not be complete
without a visit to the Hagia
Sophia to see the remarkable
Byzantine architecture along with the
mosaics, icons and other religious
relics. Hagia Sophia is the Greek term
for Holy Wisdom and refers to Jesus
Christ. Constructed between 532 and
537, on the orders of the Byzantine
Emperor Justinian, the structure was
an Eastern Orthodox cathedral until
1453, except for about 60 years in the
1200s when it served as a Roman
Catholic cathedral. In 1453, Ottoman
Photo by: Arild Vgen
Turks captured Constantinople and
converted the edifice into a mosque,
removing or plastering over many
Christian relics and replacing them
with Islamic features. The building
closed in 1931, and the Republic of
Turkey re-opened it as a museum in
1935. Through the years, the church
suffered damage from earthquakes,
fires and riots, making many repairs
and restorations necessary, but it
remains a beautiful building that
some people call the world's eighth
wonder.
77
Luxor, Egypt
Karnak
Although badly ruined,
#26 few attractions in Egypt
tour are more impressive
than Karnak. It is the largest ancient
religious site in the world, and
represents the combined
achievement of many generations of
Egyptian builders. The Temple of
Karnak actually consists of three
main Egyptian temples, smaller
enclosed temples, and several outer
temples located about 1.5 miles (2.5
Photo by: Son of Groucho
kilometers) north of Luxor. It took
millennia to build and enhance the
massive Karnak Temple. However,
most of the work on Karnak was
done by the pharaohs of the New
Kingdom (1570-1100 BC). One of
most famous structures of Karnak is
the Hypostyle Hall, a hall area of
50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) with 134
massive columns arranged in 16
rows.
78
North Africa
Sahara Desert
Covering most of Northern Africa, the
Sahara is the third largest desert
after Antarctica and the Arctica,
almost equal in size to the United
Stated. It has one of the harshest
climates in the world. Daytime
temperatures are high, averaging
86F (30C) and often over 100F region to region throughout the
(37.5C) while the prevailing north-
easterly wind often causes sand
storms and dust devils. Heat loss is
rapid after dark and from December
to February freezing temperatures
are not uncommon during the night.
Most of the Sahara receives less than
5 inch (12.7 cm) of rain per year on
average. Even in the Saharas wettest
areas, it may rain only twice a week
Photo by: bachmont
and not rain again for years. Not
surprisingly the Sahara is not lush in
vegetation, except in the Nile Valley
and at a few oases.
Most of the people living in the
Sahara do not live in cities. Instead
they are nomads that move from
desert. Because of this, there are
many different nationalities and
languages in the region but Arabic is
most widely spoken.
Contrary to popular belief, large sand
dunes (called ergs) form only a minor
part of the Sahara. Most of the desert
consists of largely barren, hard, rocky
plateaus, with very little sand.
79
Zambia/Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls
#24 (indigenous name: Mosi-
oa-Tunya meaning The
Smoke That Thunders) are located
on the border between Zimbabwe
and Zambia. David Livingstone, the
Scottish explorer was the first
European to view Victoria Falls in
1855. He named his discovery in
honour of Queen Victoria but the
indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya
continues in common usage as well.
Photo by: Philipp Schufele
The falls are formed as the full width
of the Zambezi river plummets in a
single vertical drop into a gorge.
Victoria Falls is often called the
largest waterfall in the world,
although it is neither the highest nor
the widest. It has a width of 1 mile (
1.7 kilometers) and a height of 360
feet (108 meters), roughly twice the
height of North Americas Niagara
Falls. In combined height and width
Victoria Falls is rivaled only by South
Americas Iguazu Falls.
80
Vietnam
Ha Long Bay
With its aqua-green water
#23 and cluster of limestone
rocky outcrops rising from
the water like sea dragons, Ha Long
Bay resembles a scene from a fantasy
story. Located about 80 miles (130
km) east of Hanoi in northern
Vietnam, this otherworldly bay
features more than 2,000 jungle-
covered islands pitted with intriguing
caves, grottoes, sinkholes and lakes.
Ranging between 160 and 300 feet
(50 and 90 meters) high, many of the
islands and outcrops have been
sculpted over the centuries by
natural processes into fantastic
formations. The names of these
islands reflect the unusual shapes
they resemble such as Voi Islet
Photo by: Jean-Marc Astesana
(elephant), Mai Nha Islet (roof) and
Ga Choi Islet (fighting cock).
Although most of the islands are
uninhabited, some of the larger
islands such as Cat Ba offer
restaurants, hotels and attractions
like beaches and historic sites. Other
islands feature lakes, coral and
grottoes that are ideal for swimming,
kayaking and cave-exploring. Boat
cruises are the best way to
experience the natural wonder of Ha
Long Bay. With hundreds of boats
ranging from traditional Chinese
junks to luxury cruisers, boat tours
can vary from day trips to multiple-
night journeys.
81
Mexico
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is the most
#22 famous of all the great
Mayan cities. This is
somewhat ironic because its most
famous structures do not have a
typical Classic Mayan architecture
but show strong influences from
other civilizations from Central
Mexico.
The most famous landmark of
Chichen Itza is the 99 feet (30 m)
high Temple of Kukulkan, also
referred to as El Castillo (the castle in
Spanish). The temple contains many
references to the important Mayan
calendar. Each of El Castillos four
sides has 91 steps which, when
Photo by: Brian Snelson
added together and including the
temple platform , equals the 365 days
of the solar year. Each of the nine
terraces are divided in two, which
makes 18, symbolizing the number of
months in the Maya calendar. The
terraces contain a total of 52 panels,
referring to the 52-year cycle when
both the solar and religious calendars
converge.
Chichen Itza is the most developed of
the many Mayan ruins and can get
crowded. But the combination of
grant scale monuments and the
mysterious precise astronomical
calculation in the buildings make
Chichen Itza truly amazing.
82
Indonesia
Bali
Often described as a
#21 paradise for its volcanic
mountains, green rice
terraces and sandy white beaches,
Bali is one of the 17,000 islands that
comprise the archipelago of
Indonesia in Southeast Asia. In
addition to remarkable culture and
world-class diving and surfing, Bali is
where many people come for
weddings, honeymoons and for total
relaxation of mind, body and spirit.
Bali first became popular in the
1970s as a top surfing and diving
destination. Dive shops are located all
over the island, and the crystal clear
water, coral reefs, colorful marine
creatures and sunken ships all
Photo by: Riza Nugraha
present excellent diving and
snorkeling adventures.
Some of the main tourist destinations
in Bali include Kuta, known for its
beautiful beaches and vibrant
shopping and nightlife. Ubud is the
island's art and cultural center while
the towns of Sanur and Seminyak
offer many fabulous beachside
resorts. Bali's Hindu culture is among
its greatest attractions. The island is
dotted with thousands of Hindu
temples varying in size, shape and
architectural design. With each of
these temples hosting festivals at
various times of the years, the island
is always buzzing with performances
of traditional Balinese music, dances,
costumes and rituals.
83
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Christ the Redeemer
Completed in 1931 after
#20 nine years of construction,
the statue of Christ the
Redeemer stands atop Corcovado
Peak, a 2,330 foot (710 meter)
granite mountain in Rio de Janeiro.
With arms outstretched and bearing
an expression of divine serenity, the
statue of Jesus rises 125 feet (38
meters) from the base of its pedestal,
a larger-than-life representation of
Christ bringing peace to the world.
Visitors from all over the world flock
to view Rios most famous icon and to
enjoy panoramic views of the city and
harbor below.
Photo by: Artyominc
Christ the Redeemer was designed by
Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva in
the Art Deco style, a genre that
gained popularity during the period
between two world wars when
artists were inspired by a sense of
optimism and hope for the future.
Built with a concrete core covered in
soapstone, the statue was carved by
the French sculptor, Paul Landowski.
Most of the funding for the
monuments construction came from
small donations made by Brazilian
Catholics.
84
Athens, Greece
Acropolis
Consisting of several
#19 ancient buildings, the
Acropolis is located on a
rocky outcrop above the city of
Athens in Greece. In the fifth century
BC, the Greek statesman Pericles
coordinated the construction of this
sites many historic buildings. The
most famous of these is the
Parthenon, which has existed at the
top of the Acropolis for almost 2,500
years.
The Parthenon was built to honor the
goddess Athena Parthenos, the
patron of Athens, to thank her for
protecting the city during the Persian
Wars. The construction of this
monument began in 447 BC and
Photo by: Adam L. Clevenger
ended in approximately 438 BC
under the guidance of Pericles. Its
main function was to protect and
shelter the statue of Athena, nearly
40 feet (12 meters) tall, created from
gold and ivory by the sculptor
Pheidias. Although its most
important function was as a temple,
the Parthenon also served as a
treasury, a church, a mosque and a
fortress during its long history.
Today, the Parthenon is one of the
worlds most popular visitor sites
and it attracts millions of tourists
each year. It is a lasting symbol of
ancient Greece and many consider it
the most important surviving
building from that time.
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Polynesia/Chile
Easter Island
Easter Island is one of the
#18 most isolated places in the
world. Its closest
inhabited neighbor is Pitcairn Island,
1,289 miles (2,075 km) to the west
while the nearest continental point
lies more than 2,000 miles (3,500km)
to the east in central Chile.
The island is famous for its
monolithic stone statues, called moai.
The statues were carved by the
Polynesian colonizers of the island,
mostly between circa 1250 AD and
1500 AD. In addition to representing
deceased ancestors, the moai were
also regarded as the embodiment of
powerful living or former chiefs. The
tallest moai erected, called Paro, was
Photo by: Arian Zwegers
almost 33 feet (10 meters) high and
weighed 75 tons.
The name "Easter Island" was given
by the island's first European visitor,
the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen,
who encountered it on Easter Sunday
1722. By that time the civilization of
Easter Island was already in a drastic
decline, as a result of overpopulation,
deforestation and exploitation of an
extremely isolated island with limited
natural resources. The statues were
still standing when Roggeveen visited
the island but by James Cook's visit in
1774 many were reported toppled.
Most would be cast down during later
conflicts between clans. Today about
50 moai have been re-erected
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Nepal/China
Mount Everest
At 29,029 feet (8,848
#17 meters), Mount Everest is
the highest mountain on
Earth. It is located on the border
between Nepal and Tibet. In 1953, Sir
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay
were the first to succesful ascent Mt.
Everest. Today, the highest mountain
in the world attracts climbers of all
levels. Although other eight-
thousanders such as K2 are much
more difficult to climb, Mount
Everest still has many inherent
dangers such as altitude sickness,
weather and wind. People who die
during the climb are typically left
behind and it is not uncommon to
Photo by: Joe Hastings
find corpses near the standard
climbing routes.
Mt. Everest has two main climbing
routes, the southeast ridge from
Nepal and the north ridge from Tibet,
Southeast is the most frequently-
used route because it is generally
considered safer and has easier
access. The ascent via the southeast
ridge begins with a trek to Base Camp
at 17,600 feet (5,380 m) on the south
side of Everest in Nepal. At Everest
Base Camp, climbers will often spend
4 to 8 weeks, acclimatizing to the
altitude before they begin their
ascent to the summit.
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Agra, India
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is an
#16 immense mausoleum of
white marble, built
between 1632 and 1653 by order of
the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in
memory of his favorite wife. The Taj
is one of the most well preserved and
architecturally beautiful tombs in the
world, one of the masterpieces of
Mughal architecture, and one of the
great sites of the worlds heritage.
Called a teardrop on the cheek of
eternity, the monument is actually
Photo by: Dennis Jarvis
an integrated complex of structures.
Besides the white domed marble
mausoleum it includes several other
beautiful buildings, reflecting pools,
and extensive ornamental gardens
with flowering trees and bushes.
Soon after the Taj Mahal's
completion, Shah Jahan was deposed
by his son Aurangzeb and put under
house arrest at nearby Agra Fort.
Upon Shah Jahan's death in 1666,
Aurangzeb buried him in the
mausoleum next to his wife.
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Rome, Italy
Colosseum
The Colosseum in Rome is
#15 the largest and most
famous amphitheater ever
built in the Roman Empire. Its
construction was started by emperor
Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in
72 AD and was finished by his son
Titus in 80 AD. During the
Colosseums opening ceremonies,
spectacles were held for 100 days in
which 5,000 of animals and 2,000
gladiators were killed.
The Colosseum was capable of
holding some 50,000 spectators who
could enter the building through no
Photo by: Paul McCoubrie
less than 80 entrances. Spectators
were protected from the rain and
heat of the sun by sail,s called the
velarium, around the top of the
attic. The arena was comprised of a
wooden floor covered by sand (the
Latin word for sand is harena)
covering an elaborate underground
structure called the hypogeum. Today
little remains of the original arena
floor, but the hypogeum is still clearly
visible. It consists of a series of
underground tunnels used to house
animals and slaves.
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Antarctic Circle
Antarctica
Antarctica, on average, is
#14 the coldest, driest, and
windiest continent on the
planet, and has the highest average
elevation of all the continents.
Although about 98% of Antarctica is
covered by ice, it is technically a
desert (the largest on earth) with
very little precipitation. Antarctica is
colder than the Arctic because much
of the continent is more than 2 miles
(3 kilometers) above sea level, and
because the Arctic Ocean covers the
north polar zone transferring the
oceans relative warmth through the
icepack. Sea life of Antarctica include
Photo by: Antarctica Bound
penguins, blue whales, orcas, and
seals.
Scarcely touched by humans, the
frozen land boasts breathtaking
scenery, broken by only a handful of
scientific bases and a population of
scientists numbering only a few
thousand. For tourists, Antarctica is
accessible only during the austral
summer season from November to
March, during which sea ice melts
enough to allow access. Generally
they must brave rough sea crossings
aboard ice-strengthened vessels, but
those who do are rewarded with
beautiful scenery and unique wildlife.
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Greece
Santorini
One of the most popular
#13 destinations in Greece,
Santorini may be one of
the more expensive islands but
definitely one of the most
picturesque. Part of the Cyclades
group, Santorini is well-loved for its
cliff-hanging villages, Venetian
castles, scenic wine country and
legendary sunsets.
While Santorini consists of numerous
villages, the most famous are Fira and
Oia, which cling to cliff sides
overlooking the turquoise sea.
Hundreds of zigzagging steps ascend
and wind through these villages of
cobblestone lanes and whitewashed
Photo by: Pedro Szekely
houses with blue-domed roofs. The
sunset views from Oia are regarded
among the most stunning in the
world. From the seaport, tourists can
reach these villages by way of a cable
car or opt for a mule ride.
Additionally, the island is home to
two of the youngest volcanic islands
in the Eastern Mediterranean, Nea
and Palia. A tour to these smoking
islands offers views of steaming lava
flows. Additionally, the island is
home to two of the youngest volcanic
islands in the Eastern Mediterranean,
Nea and Palia. A tour to these
smoking islands offers views of
steaming lava flows.
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Cambodia
Angkor
Angkor is a vast temple
#12 complex featuring the
magnificent remains of
several capitals of the Khmer Empire,
from the 9th to the 15th century AD.
These include the famous Angkor
Wat temple and the Bayon temple at
Angkor Thom. The Angkor Wat
temple is the most magnificent and
largest of all the monuments at
Angkor. It name means City Temple
and it is considered to be the largest
religious structure in the world. From
the base to the tip of the highest
tower its 669 feet (213 meters) of
breathtaking stone reliefs in the
elaborate Khmer style. The Bayon
temple features a sea of over 200
Poto by: kianjin
massive stone faces looking in all
direction. Each face has an enigmatic
smile, an instantly recognizable
image of Angkor, as familiar as
Angkor Wat itself. In fact, many
people assume that the faces are an
integral part of Angkor Wat but it
stands in fact at the center of Angkor
Thom, the last great capital of the
Khmer empire.
During its long history Angkor went
through many changes in religion
converting between Hinduism to
Buddhism several times. It has
become a symbol of Cambodia,
appearing on its national flag, and it
is one of the prime tourist attractions
in Southeast Asia.
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Mexico
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan is an ancient
#11 city in central Mexico that
had up to 150,000
residents at one time. Although it
experienced a period of economic
prosperity, the city went into decline
after 650 A.D. and was abandoned
within 50 years. Seven centuries after
the demise of the Teotihuacn empire
the pyramids were honored and
utilized by the Aztecs and became a
place of pilgrimage. Today, tourists
from around the world visit this part
of Mexico to see what remains of
Teotihuacan.
The city's most famous attractions
are its pyramids. The Pyramid of the
Moon is located in the northern
outskirts of Teotihuacan. It measures
over 110 feet (34 meters) tall and
Photo by: ZeroOne
provides an excellent view. The
larger Pyramid of the Sun is near the
city's center. It was constructed on
top of a cave and positioned so that
the sun would rise over its peak. The
pyramid was constructed in two
phases. The first construction stage,
around 100 AD brought the pyramid
to nearly the size it is today. The
second round of construction
resulted in its completed size of 225
meters (733 feet) across and 75
meters (246 feet) high.
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Australia
Great Barrier Reef
One of the globe's top
#10 destinations for
underwater explorers and
scuba divers is the world's largest
barrier reef system, famously known
as the Great Barrier Reef. Located in
the Coral Sea off the coast of
Australia's state of Queensland, the
Great Barrier Reef encompasses a
huge area of more than 2,900 coral
reefs and hundreds of islands and
cays. Formed by millions of living
organisms over a period of millions of
years, the Reef is now one of the
world's most diverse and complex
ecosystems. While always known and
used by the Torres Strait Islander and
Photo by: Sarah Ackerman
Aboriginal Australian peoples, the
Reef today is protected by the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park. It is home
to a remarkable array of marine life
including 1500 fish species, 360
corals and thousands of mollusks in
addition to various species of whales,
dolphins, marine turtles, sea snakes
and birds, which breed among the
small islands.
The best way to explore the Reef is by
one of the numerous boat cruises that
run along the northern coast of
Queensland. The town of Cairns is
regarded as the main gateway to the
Reef, but other towns also offer
cruise operations.
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Arizona, USA
Grand Canyon
Attracting millions of
#9 visitors every year, the
Grand Canyon is one of the
great tourist attractions in the United
States. Located in northern Arizona,
this massive natural wonder was
carved by the Colorado River over a
period of several million years and
now measures 277 miles (446 km)
long, over a mile (1.6 km) deep and
up to 18 miles (29 km) wide. It is not
the deepest or the longest canyon in
the world but the overwhelming size
and colorful landscape offers visitor
vistas that are hard to match.
Managed and protected by the Grand
Canyon National Park, the Grand
Canyon is contained within the
Photo by: photophilde
national park as well as within the
Hualapai and Havasupai Indian
Reservations. Awe-inspiring
landscapes, wildlife viewing, historic
sites and adventurous activities are
just a few of the reasons that make
the Grand Canyon one of the world's
most famous natural wonders.
The Canyon is divided by two main
sections, the popular South Rim and
the remote North Rim. As the most
accessible part for tourists, the South
Rim features many historic sites such
as the El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon
Railway Depot and the Desert View
Watchtower. Also in the South Rim is
the Grand Canyon Village where
many tourists can find ample lodging.
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Jordan
Petra
Petra, the fabled rose red
#8 city, half as old as time is
one of the world most
fascinating archaeological sites
comprising what remains of an
ancient capital city once ruled by the
Nabataean kingdom from the 6th
century BC. Located in the desert in
southern Jordan, this ancient site is
famous for its marvelous architecture
carved from sandstone cliff faces.
Because of its location on a major
trade route, Petra was a center of
commerce where spices, incense and
Chinese silks were once traded. Even
today, the enormity and grandeur of
the city's ruins bespeaks its wealth
and importance. In 106 AD, the
Roman Empire took control of Petra.
Photo by: Pir6mon
Over two hundred years later in 363
AD, the water management system
was nearly destroyed after a
catastrophic earthquake. Petra later
was abandoned and remained
forgotten until a Swiss explorer
encountered it in 1812.
A tour of Petra today involves
walking through the entrance known
as the Siq, which is a long,
meandering canyon. After the Siq is
the magnificent Treasury, which was
actually not a treasury but probably
a temple or a royal tomb. Other
significant ruins include the
Monastery and the Street of Facades,
a huge canyon bordered with the
facades of assorted tombs.
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Brazil/Argentina
Iguazu Falls
One of the world's most
#7 stunning natural wonders,
Iguazu Falls is a series of
magnificent waterfalls located on the
Iguazu River, straddling the border
between Brazil and Argentina. This
chain of voluminous cataracts varies
between 200 to 269 feet in height
and extends for more than a mile
along a crescent-shaped cliff before
plunging over a plateau with
thunderous roars. Estimated in
number between 275 and 300, the
waterfalls are divided by numerous
Photo by: Rodrigo Soldon
islands. While some of the cascades
rush over ledges, creating dazzling
sprays of mist and rainbows, others
plummet straight down into a long,
narrow gorge called the Devil's
Throat. The falls in and of themselves
are a breathtaking spectacle, but
their beauty is all the more enhanced
by the surrounding lush forest
teeming in exotic wildlife like parrots,
toucans, macaws, spotted jaguars,
monkeys, butterflies and vivid
blooms of begonias and wild orchids.
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South America
Amazon Rainforest
Home to 40% of the planets
#6 remaining rainforest, the
Amazon is the largest and
most species-rich tropical rainforest
in the world. The Amazon is mostly
contained within Brazil, and
stretches into Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia,
and smaller parts in some other
South American countries.As the
largest tropical rainforest it has has
an unparalleled biodiversity. One in
ten known species in the world live in
the Amazon Rainforest. This includes
Photo by: CIAT
about 2,5 million species of insects,
4,000 species of plants,
approximately 2,000 species of
fishes, about 1,200 species of birds
and some 400 species of mammals.
Among the most dangerous animals
are the black caiman, jaguar and
anaconda. In the river, electric eels
can produce an electric shock that
can stun or kill a human, while
piranha are known for their
voracious appetite for meat.
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Pacific Ocean/Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
The inspiration behind
#5 Charles Darwin's Theory of
Natural Selection, the
Galapagos Islands are a remote but
beautiful archipelago of 19 islands
lying on the equator some 600 miles
(1,000 km) west of the South
American country, Ecuador. Isolated
from the continental mainland, these
islands are home to unique wildlife
not found anywhere else in the
world. Some of these unusual species
include marine iguanas, giant
tortoises, red-footed and blue-footed
boobies, fur seals, lava lizards,
frigatebirds, colorful Christmas
iguanas and the Galapagos Penguin.
Claimed by Ecuador and visited by
Darwin in the early 1800s, the
Photo by: blinking idiot
Galapagos Islands served as a penal
colony in the early 20th century until
being declared a national park in
1959. Today, the Galapagos Islands
are a popular tourist destination.
Some of the most visited include
Santa Cruz, which is home to giant
tortoises, lava tubes and the Charles
Darwin Research Center. Fernandina
has a large variety of wildlife from
flightless cormorants to marine
iguanas, sea lions, dolphins and
whales. Isabela is the largest of the
islands with many volcano trails
while Plaza Sur has a large colony of
sea lions. Wolf and Darwin Islands
are considered two of the world's
best diving destinations.
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Peru
Machu Picchu
One of the most beautiful
#4 and impressive ancient sites
in the world, Machu Picchu
was rediscovered in 1911 after it lay
hidden for centuries above the
Urubamba Valley. The Lost City of
the Incas is invisible from below and
completely self-contained,
surrounded by agricultural terraces
and watered by natural springs.
Although locals have always been
aware of the site, the world didn't
know about it until the American
explorer, Hiram Bingham, officially
discovered it in 1911. While many
theories abound concerning the site's
Photo by: Pedro Szekely
purposes and amazing feat of
construction, visitors can explore the
area and see for themselves the well-
preserved buildings that include
houses, temples, fountains and baths
in addition to agricultural terraces
and evidence of an irrigation system.
Machu Picchu can only be accessed
by hiking along the Inca Trail or by
train from the town of Poroy. There
are many tour companies that take
groups by hiking and by train. Many
of these companies operate from
Cusco. The journey to Machu Picchu
offers spectacular scenery.
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China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China
#3 built, rebuilt, and maintained
between the 5th century BC
and the 16th century to protect the
northern borders of the Chinese
Empire from the attacks of various
tribes. Several walls have been built
that were referred to as the Great
Wall. One of the most famous is the
wall built between 220206 BC by
the first Emperor of China but little of
that wall remains. The majority of the
existing wall was built during the
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).
Unlike the earlier fortifications, the
Ming construction was stronger and
Photo by: Severin Stalder
more elaborate due to the use of
bricks and stone instead of rammed
earth. About 25,000 watchtowers
were to constructed on the wall. As
Mongol raids continued periodically
over the years, the Ming devoted
considerable resources to repair and
reinforce the walls. Sections near the
Ming capital of Beijing were
especially strong.
The most comprehensive
archaeological survey has recently
concluded that the entire Great Wall,
with all of its branches, stretches for
5,500.3 miles (8,851.8 kilometers).
101
Tanzania/Kenya
Serengeti Migration
The Serengeti Migration is
#2 one of the largest mass
movement of land mammals
on the planet. One million wildebeest
and 200,000 zebra make a 300 miles
(500 kilometer) round trip from the
Southern Serengeti in Tanzania to the
northern edge of the Masai Mara
National Reserve in Kenya. During
their trip, the wildebeests and zebras
are accompanied by gazelle, eland
and impala.
The migration pattern is determined
by the availability of grazing. At the
beginning of the year there is plenty
of grass available for the animals in
the south eastern part of the
Serengeti ecosystem. Around this
time, the wildebeest give birth to
Photo by: Harvey Barrison
approximately half a million calves
over a period of 3 weeks. As the rains
end the animals normally head north-
west to the Western Corridor of the
Serengeti and its Grumeti River. Huge
crocodiles are waiting for the
hesitant wildebeest to stumble at the
crossing. From Grumeti, the
wildebeest and zebra head north,
arriving on the Kenyan border in July.
With the start of the short rains in
Nobember the migration starts
moving south again, usually arriving
in December to their breeding
grounds and the cycle begins again.
The Great Migration is probably
Africas greatest safari spectacle and
one of the most breathtaking events
in the animal kingdom.
102
Egypt
Giza Pyramids
The Giza necropolis, situated
#1 in the immediate vicinity of
the southwestern suburbs of
Cairo is probably the most famous
ancient site in the world. The
pyramids in Giza were built over the
span of three generations by Khufu,
his second reigning son Khafre, and
Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of
Khufu is the oldest and sole remnant
of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World. Over 2 million blocks of stone
were used to construct the pyramid,
during a 20 year period concluding
around 2560 BC. The pyramid is an
awe-inspiring 455 feet (139 meters)
high making it the largest pyramid in
Egypt, although nearby Khafres
Pyramid appears to be larger as it is
Photo by: Tommy Wong
build at a higher elevation. The most
distinctive feature of Khafres
Pyramid is the topmost layer of
smooth stones that are the only
remaining casing stones on a Giza
pyramid. At a height of 204 feet (61
meters) the Pyramid of Menkaure is
the smallest of the three great
pyramids. The Great Sphinx lies on
the east side of the complex. It is
thought that the head of the Great
Sphinx is that of Khafre. Along with
these monuments are a number of
smaller satellite structures know as
queen pyramids, causeways and
temples.
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