Botswana
Okavango Delta: After traveling through Angola and Namibia, the Okavango River enters Botswana and disappears into the Kalahari Desert, forming the world's largest inland delta. [More photos (from the ground)]
Namibia
Sossusvlei: Sossusvlei (and nearby Deadvlei) are well-known for their giant desert sand dunes, among the largest in the world. [More photos (from the ground)]
South Africa
Cape Peninsula: This peninsula extending below Cape Town offers dramatic scenery, vineyards, penguins, seals, baboons and South Africa's unique fynbos plants. [More photos (from the ground)]
Cape Town: With the ocean on one side and Table Mountain on the other, Cape Town is situated in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. It's also a wonderful city! [More photos (from the ground)]
Robben Island: For years, Nelson Mandela and many other African freedom fighters were held prisoner on this infamous island off Cape Town. Today, it's a museum. [More photos (from the ground)]
Tanzania
Lake Tanganyika: The largest and deepest lake in Africa lies in the rift valley and is bordered by mountains on both sides. It is remarkably clear and offered great swimming and snorkeling. [More photos (from the ground)]
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Africa's highest mountain and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. At the top, one can still see the volcanic crater. [More photos (from the ground)]
Ngorongoro Crater: The caldera of a long-extinct volcano holds one of the world's great wildlife parks. Nearby, one sees the Masai going about their daily business. [More photos (from the ground)]
Uganda
Kazinga Channel: This channel connecting Lake Edward with smaller Lake George to the northeast was filled with hippos and a wide variety of birds. [More photos (from the ground)]
Zanzibar
Stone Town: The island of Zanzibar (part of Tanzania) once thrived on the trade of slaves and spices. The spice trade still exists, but today tourists (thankfully) have replaced the slaves. [More photos (from the ground)]
Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls: These monumental waterfalls on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe are among the world's largest and most spectacular. The "smoke that thunders". [More photos (from the ground)]
Bhutan
Paro Dzong: This fortress-like structure (built in 1646) serves as both a governmental and religious center. To the upper right in an old circular watchtower is Bhutan's National Museum. [More photos (from the ground)]
Tongsa Dzong: This dzong, built initially in 1647, is the largest in Bhutan. Like other dzongs, it is both a seat of government and a monastery. It overlooks a spectacular valley! [More photos (from the ground)]
Japan
Chionin Temple (Kyoto): Chionin is one of many Buddhist temple complexes that grace this one-time capital city. [More photos (from the ground)]
Todai-ji Temple (Nara): Todai-ji Temple in Japan's ancient capital of Nara is one of the world's largest wooden buildings. [More photos (from the ground)]
Nepal
Bodhnath (Kathmandu): This gigantic Buddhist stupa hidden away behind the urban clutter of Kathmandu is a prime meeting place for Tibetan exiles in Nepal. [More photos (from the ground)]
Durbar Square (Bhaktapur): Founded in the 9th century, Bhaktapur once ruled over all Nepal. Its well-preserved Durbar (Royal) Square offers fine examples of Newar architecture. [More photos (from the ground)]
Durbar Square (Kathmandu): Aside from Newar architecture, visitors to Durbar Square may also catch a glimpse of the Kumari, a young girl believed to be a living goddess. [More photos (from the ground)]
Durbar Square (Patan): Durbar Square in Patan is considered the most refined of the three royal squares in the Kathmandu Valley. [More photos (from the ground)]
Himalaya Trek: A week-long trek in the Khumbu Region of the Himalayas offered spectacular scenery, including glimpses of Mt. Everest and other towering peaks. [More photos (from the ground)]
Thailand
Grand Palace (Bangkok): Bangkok, the capital of Thailand is known (among other things) for the ornate Grand Palace complex. [More photos (from the ground)]
Tibet
Jokhang Temple (Lhasa): The holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism is the destination for many pilgrims. Worshipers walk clockwise around the temple as a sign of devotion. [More photos (from the ground)]
Kumbum (Gyantse): This nine-story Buddhist chorten (stupa) contains 75 chapels and hundreds of elaborate paintings showing deities and other sacred images. [More photos (from the ground)]
Potala Palace (Lhasa): The Potala Palace was once the religious and political center of Tibetan Buddhist life. It was also the home of the Dalai Lama. [More photos (from the ground)]
Tashilhunpo (Shigatse, Xigaze): This monastery is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism (after the Dalai Lama). [More photos (from the ground)]
Bosnia
Bašcaršija (Sarajevo): The older section of Sarajevo is an interesting maze of streets and alleys (many pedestrian only) filled with shops and restaurants. [More photos (from the ground)]
Czech Republic
Charles Bridge (Prague): The Charles Bridge over the Vltava River was built in the 14th century at the command of Charles IV. It is one of Prague's most popular landmarks. [More photos (from the ground)]
Estonia
Art Museum of Estonia (KUMU): Finnish architect Pekka Vapaavuori's radical design offers unexpected lines even when viewed from above. [More photos (from the ground)]
Hungary
Hapsburg Palace (Budapest): The royal palace is one of many historic sites on Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube. Spanning the river nearby is the famous Chain Bridge. [More photos (from the ground)]
Margit Island (Budapest): If you're looking for a great place to run – or just a quiet place for a calm walk – with unbeatable views of the Danube, head toward Margit Island. [More photos (from the ground)]
Latvia
Rīga: The Freedom Monument (marked) in Rīga is near the moat (now set in a pleasant park) that once defended the city. To the southwest is Rīga's historic Old Town. [More photos (from the ground)]
Lithuania
Cathedral Square in Vilnius: Cathedral Square is a popular meeting place in the capital of Lithuania. To the northeast is Gediminas' Tower, all that remains of the ancient castle. [More photos (from the ground)]
Neringa (Curonian Spit): This narrow strip of land along the Baltic Sea is a beautiful beach area and a popular resort. The spit is divided between Lithuania and the Russian Kaliningrad. [More photos (from the ground)]
Poland
Market Square (Kraków): Cloth Hall (marked) sits at the center of Market Square, one of the largest public squares in Europe. To the right, St. Mary's Basilica. [More photos (from the ground)]
Slovenia
Preseren Square (Ljubljana): The area along the the river is a wonderful area of cafes and historic buildings. Preseren Square is a favorite for street performers and people watching. [More photos (from the ground)]
Ukraine
Artillery Bay (Sevastopol): With one of the few good harbors in Crimea, Sevastopol has had a long naval history. The Russian Black Sea Fleet still leases part of it from Ukraine. [More photos (from the ground)]
Independence Square (Kyiv): In 2004, large but peaceful demonstrations in Kyiv's Independence Square overturned a rigged election and brought Victor Yushchenko to power. [More photos (from the ground)]
Khan's Palace (Bakhchisaray): For 250 years (until 1783), Crimea was ruled by the Tatars from their capital at Bakhchisaray. [More photos (from the ground)]
Pecherska Lavra (Cave Monastery, Kyiv): Set in a wooded park high above the Dnipro (Dnieper) River, this 70 acre complex of churches and other structures dates from 1051. [More photos (from the ground)]
Simferopol: OK, maybe it's not a World Heritage Site, but Simferopol (capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) was my home for two years. [More photos (from the ground)]
Soviet-Era MIG in Brovary: The park in Brovary is dedicated to the victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War (WW II). Marked is a Soviet-era MIG fighter plane. [More photos (from the ground)]
Yalta: Ukraine's premier beach resort lies along the southern coast of Crimea and offers seaside views and access to nearby mountains. [More photos (from the ground)]
Yevpatoria: The 16th century Khan Mosque (designed by Ottoman architect Sinan) is to the left. To the right (with the blue dome), the St. Nicholas Cathedral. [More photos (from the ground)]
Egypt
Abu Simbel: Built on a bend in the Nile River where ancient travelers first entered Egypt, Abu Simbel was both a warning and a symbol of the godlike powers of Ramses II. [More photos (from the ground)]
Cairo Marriott: The Marriott Hotel on Zamalek Island in the Nile was a great place to stay. Its interior courtyard was a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. [More photos (from the ground)]
Eastern Harbor (Alexandria): To the left is Qaytbay Fort, built in the 1500s. To the right (with the blue circular roof) is the New Library of Alexandria, completed in 2002. [More photos (from the ground)]
Karnak: Most of the grand structures we see today at Karnak date from reigns of Seti I (1294-1279 BCE; 19th Dynasty) and his son, Ramses II (1279-1213 BCE). [More photos (from the ground)]
Luxor: The magnificent temples at Luxor were constructed (mostly by Amenhotep III (1390-1352; 18th Dynasty) with additions by Ramses II (1279-1213 BCE; 19th Dynasty). [More photos (from the ground)]
Mohammed Ali Mosque (Cairo): Also known as the Alabaster Mosque, the Mohammed Ali Mosque stands high above Cairo on the Citadel built by the Ottoman rulers. [More photos (from the ground)]
Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut: Queen Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BCE; 18th Dynasty) built a giant mortuary temple near Thebes on the west bank of the Nile River. [More photos (from the ground)]
Pyramids at Giza: The mysterious Sphinx of Egypt (zoom in for a closer view) stands guard in front of the great Pyramids at Giza, perhaps the most famous landmarks of all time. [More photos (from the ground)]
Step Pyramid: The Step Pyramid of Zoser (Djoser; 2667-2648 BCE; 3rd Dynasty) at Saqqara was the first successfully completed large stone structure in the world. [More photos (from the ground)]
Temple of Isis on Philae Island: Not far from Aswan on an island in the Nile River is the Temple of Isis, begun during the Ptolemaic dynasty and added to during Roman times. [More photos (from the ground)]
Iran
Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (Mashhad): This beautiful mosque is one of the holiest places in Iran and the destination for many Shi'ite pilgrims from Iran and beyond. [More photos (from the ground)]
Imam Square (Isfahan): Imam Square is one of the largest public squares in the world and home to the beautiful Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and the overwhelming Imam Mosque. [More photos (from the ground)]
Persepolis: From 500 to 332 BCE (when Alexander the Great sacked it), Persepolis was an important center of the Persian empire. [More photos (from the ground)]
Jordan
Jerash (Amphitheater): The North Theatre, a smaller amphitheater at the northern edge of the Roman city. [More photos (from the ground)]
Jerash (Hadrian's Arch): Hadrian's Arch, built in 129 CE, marks the southern entrance to the ancient Roman ruins at Jerash. [More photos (from the ground)]
Jerash (Oval Plaza): Well-preserved Roman ruins date from the first century CE. Zoom in and follow the road north and south to see the full extent of the ruins. [More photos (from the ground)]
King Abdullah Mosque (Amman): The mosque (with blue dome) is below the marker. The ten-sided building above-left is the Jordanian Parliament building. [More photos (from the ground)]
Petra (Amphitheater): The ancient Nabataean city of Petra is famous for its structures carved out of solid rock, as well as some more traditional construction (like the amphitheater). [More photos (from the ground)]
Wadi Rum: Wadi Rum is a collection of magnificent desert and mountain landscapes that T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) called "vast, echoing and godlike." [More photos (from the ground)]
Turkey
Bosphorus: The Bosphorus is a narrow waterway that passes through Istanbul and connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is also the boundary between Europe and Asia. [More photos (from the ground)]
Dolmabahçe Palace (Istanbul): In 1853, Sultan Abdül Mecit I moved from Topkapi to the very European-looking Dolmabahçe Palace. [More photos (from the ground)]
Ephesus: The Greco-Roman ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus (near modern Selçuk) are some of the most extensive and well preserved in the world. [More photos (from the ground)]
Istanbul Mosques: The Aya Sophia (upper right) was once a Christian church and later a mosque. The Blue Mosque (lower left) is one of the most magnificent mosques in the world. [More photos (from the ground)]
Süleymaniye Mosque (Istanbul): Istanbul's most important mosque was built in the 16th century by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and designed by the famous architect Sinan. [More photos (from the ground)]
Topkapı Palace (Istanbul): From 1465 to 1853, the Ottoman Sultans and their families lived in the sprawling Topkapı Palace complex. [More photos (from the ground)]
Canada
Niagara Falls: Horseshoe Falls (below the marker) and the American Falls (right of marker) are spectacular sights on the Niagara River and best viewed from the Canadian side. [More photos (from the ground)]
Vancouver Island: This island off the west coast of Canada has many scenic areas, including a temperate rain forest near Tofino and a beautiful harbor at Ucluelet. [More photos (from the ground)]
Caribbean
Road Town, BVI: Road Town, in the British Virgin Islands, is a frequent port of call for sailors making their way through the crystal waters of the Caribbean. [More photos (from the ground)]
Mexico
Hotel Quinta Real (Zacatecas): The fanciest hotel in Zacatecas is the Quinta Real, which is built around the old bull fighting ring. [More photos (from the ground)]
Streets of Taxco: You haven't lived until you've driven through the narrow and winding streets of this mountain town! [More photos (from the ground)]
Teotihuacán: The Avenue of the Dead passes in front of the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest in the world) and runs north to the Pyramid of the Moon. [More photos (from the ground)]
Zocalo (Mexico City): This giant plaza in the heart of the historic center is bordered on the north by the Metropolitan Cathedral and on the east by the National Palace. [More photos (from the ground)]
United States
Chaco Canyon (Pueblo Bonito): Pueblo Bonita, in New Mexico's Chaco Canyon, is one of the most elaborate complexes built by Native Americans in the United States. [More photos (from the ground)]
Crater Lake: Set in the caldera of a collapsed volcano, the surface of Crater Lake is 6,180 feet above sea level. At 1,950 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the U.S. [More photos (from the ground)]
Death Valley, California: Furnace Creek is a small oasis in the otherwise harsh, but beautiful, landscape of Death Valley in California. [More photos (from the ground)]
Flaming Gorge Dam, Utah: A large reservoir created by damming the Green River is the focal point of the beautiful Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. [More photos (from the ground)]
Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona: The mighty (and controversial) Glen Canyon Dam holds back the Colorado River and creates the meandering Lake Powell. [More photos (from the ground)]
Grand Canyon, Arizona: The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the geological wonders of the world. It's amazing what a little water can do, given enough time. [More photos (from the ground)]
Mackinac Bridge, Michigan: The third longest span in the U.S. connects Michigan's lower and upper peninsulas. [More photos (from the ground)]
Mt. St. Helens: In 1980, a massive eruption blew away the north face of the mountain. Today, a new lava dome is building within the caldera and will erupt again someday. [More photos (from the ground)]
Nags Head, NC: The Outer Banks of North Carolina are thin barrier islands with beautiful beaches and dunes, great seafood, and magnificent views. [More photos (from the ground)]
Nevada Fall in Yosemite NP: As the Merced River makes its way through Yosemite National Park, it plunges over Nevada Fall (and a little way downstream, Vernal Fall). [More photos (from the ground)]
Oregon Coast: The drive from Charleston south to Cape Arago offers spectacular coastal scenery, as do many other points from the Columbia River to the California border. [More photos (from the ground)]
Rockport, Massachusetts: This scenic seaside town is both an attractive tourist destination and a working fishing village. [More photos (from the ground)]
San Francisco: One of the world's great cities. San Francisco has plenty to offer, including the Golden Gate Bridge (marked) and the beautiful surrounding coastline. [More photos (from the ground)]
U.S.-Mexico Border Fence: The fence (marked) extends into the ocean. On the Mexico side, there are houses and even what looks like a bullfight ring. On the U.S. side, a no-man's land. [More photos (from the ground)]
Argentina
Buenos Aires: The capital of Argentina is one of the world's great cities and boasts Avenida 9 de Julio (one of the world's widest boulevards) and the nearby Plaza de Mayo. [More photos (from the ground)]
Iguazú Falls: Isla San Martin (marked). Wide, stairstep falls are to the west and the narrow Devil's Throat is to the southeast. Across the river is Brazil. (Note the nearby hotels.) [More photos (from the ground)]
Perito Moreno Glacier: The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina's Patagonia is one of the most spectacular glaciers in the world. [More photos (from the ground)]
Chile
Glacier Grey in Torres del Paine N.P.: Zoom in for an aerial view of this spectacular glacier in Torres del Paine National [More photos (from the ground)]
Plaza de Armas (Punta Arenas): A look at the southern tip of South America. (Marked: Plaza de Armas) [More photos (from the ground)]
Ecuador
Avenue of the Volcanoes: A string of active and inactive volcanoes punctuates the Andes Mountains in Ecuador. Cotopaxi, at 19,393 ft (5,911 meters), is the most famous. [More photos (from the ground)]
Plaza de la Independencia (Quito): The Plaza de la Independencia lies at the heart of Quito's Spanish colonial Old Town. [More photos (from the ground)]
Peru
Machu Picchu: Machu Picchu was an Inca city that the Spanish conquerors never discovered. As a result, it is the best-preserved reminder of this once-mighty civilization. [More photos (from the ground)]
Plaza de Armas (Cuzco): Once the capital of the Inca empire, Cuzco was ravaged and rebuilt by the Spanish conquistadors. Their main cathedral is off to the right. [More photos (from the ground)]
Plaza de Armas (Lima): Every city in South America seems to have a Plaza de Armas. Lima's is bordered by the main cathedral and government buildings. [More photos (from the ground)]
