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The American bison was once nearly extinct in North America, but this iconic symbol of the American West has largely recovered through the efforts of various public and private agencies. Many herds thrive in national parks and preserves, like the one here making its way through a ">The American bison was once nearly extinct in North America, but this iconic symbol of the American WeThe American bison was once nearly extinct in North America, but this iconic symbol of the American West has largely recovered through the efforts of various public and private agencies. Many herds thrive in national parks and preserves, like the one here making its way through a snowy Yellowstone National Park. The bison endure food shortages in winter only to gorge on spring and summer grass as they fatten up and prepare for another year.

The Amazon is the largest river in the world by the volume of water it discharges, so powerful that the muddy plume it empties into the Atlantic Ocean covers more than half a million square miles. But it'd be nowhere without its ">The Amazon is the largest river in the world by the volume of water it discharges, so powerful that the The Amazon is the largest river in the world by the volume of water it discharges, so powerful that the muddy plume it empties into the Atlantic Ocean covers more than half a million square miles. But it'd be nowhere without its tributaries, the more than 1,000 rivers across nine nations that drain into the Amazon and add to its flow. Across the Amazon drainage basin, which covers about a third of South America, water tends to all end up in one place: the mouth of the Amazon. Take this sunset-tinted lagoon in Ecuador for example—though it's more than 2,000 miles upriver from the Amazon's mouth in eastern Brazil, the waters of the lagoon will slowly but surely empty into the nearby Napo River, which will tumble into northern Peru to meet the rushing Amazon, making its inevitable journey east to the ocean.

Before Tokyo stole the limelight as Japan's capital, Kyoto had been the country's cultural center for about a thousand years. A visit to the Imperial Palace attests to the city's former political importance. Aside from this, spiritual dignity and power emanate from the many Shinto and Buddhist temples that adorn the city’s map. The Golden Pavilion, a gold-plated temple, is a must-see. The Kamo and Takase rivers, on the other hand, are natural playgrounds where visitors can enjoy hiking and cycling. The city also boasts of many markets and tea houses for foodies.

By some accounts, the sand dune we see in our image may be the world's tallest. But whether it takes the top spot or not, ">By some accounts, the sand dune we see in our image may be the world's tallest. But whether it takBy some accounts, the sand dune we see in our image may be the world's tallest. But whether it takes the top spot or not, Cerro Blanco—at some 3,860 feet tall—is certainly in the top two or three. The massive dune rises over the Sechura Desert, a place full of extraordinary landscapes. This coastal desert stretches nearly 2,000 square miles between the Pacific Ocean and the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Peru. One of the most arid places on Earth, the Sechura Desert is perhaps best known not for what nature has created, but for what humankind has crafted: The Nazca Lines. These geoglyphs are hundreds of geometric patterns and representational figures (including spiders, birds, and monkeys), some of them spanning miles. They were carved between 200 BCE and 600 CE by the ancient Nazca people into the desert's hillsides and flatlands.

Located just three miles from downtown Ica, a city of over 200,000 people, this oasis on the border of the Atacama Desert in southwestern Peru seems worlds away from civilization. Sand dunes loom hundreds of feet high above Huacachina, looking as if they might swallow up the small village with the next big windstorm. But this haven remains, its palm trees swaying with every warm breeze and its lake shimmering in the sun. The total permanent population rarely exceeds 100, but Huacachina is understandably irresistible to tourists. They travel here for the storybook surroundings and likely don’t mind a little (or a lot of) sand in their shoes.