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Farther north, and higher up into the mountains from where our image was taken, stand the ruins of an ancient city. And while Machu Picchu is the most renowned cultural site in the region, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is full of other extraordinary archeological sites and magnificent landscapes. Ollantaytambo and Pisac are just two of the valley locations with extensive Inca ruins. Also called Urubamba Valley, the area's fertile soils have been farmed for thousands of years, and evidence of this is seen not only across the valley's small amount of level ground, but also quilted atop rolling hills, and even climbing the steep Andean foothills. These ancient hillside agricultural terraces are called andenes, and today are the most prolific physical evidence of the mighty Inca Empire.

The gemsbok, or South African oryx, is a large antelope found in the desert landscapes of Southern Africa. Known for their spectacular horns—which lend them yet another name, 'saber antelope'—gemsbok are exquisitely adapted to life in scorching spots like the Namib Desert, able to forgo food and water for long periods of time. Even in the desolate dunes, they aren't alone: Predators like jackals and hyenas also stalk Namib-Naukluft National Park, so it's lucky gemsbok are also powerful sprinters able to top 35 miles an hour.

Thrill-seekers and culture buffs generally agree that this city is the best place to be. Charlotte packs a punch when it comes to amusement park rides, as Carowinds clearly shows. Some of the park's roller coasters reach a height of 325 feet and speed up to 95 mph. On the other hand, both the U.S. National Whitewater Center and the NASCAR Hall of Fame are among the must-see attractions for watersports and motor racing fans. For the more laid-back "patrons of the arts," the city offers venues like the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.

Within northern Spain’s Navarre province, a place known for its lush river valleys, rolling green hills, and temperate climate, the Bardenas Reales stands out. Some 100,000 acres of desert badlands feature stark, treeless plateaus, deeply creased and eroded hills, windswept plains, and meandering gullies. Declared a UN Biosphere Reserve in 2000, the region’s clay, sandstone, and chalk soils are ideal sculpting materials for wind and rain. The geological treasures here include the weirdly wonderful cabezas, conical-shaped hills that have become a signature of this arid wilderness.

Discover all there is to see and do in Glacier National Park. It is a country of mountain ranges sculpted by prehistoric ice flows that were designated as a National Park in 1910. It has alpine meadows, thick forests, waterfalls, approximately 25 gleaming glaciers, and 200 dazzling lakes. The views from Going-To-The-Sun Road are stunning, making it a photographer's dream. In the park's 1,600 square miles of stunning environment, there are only a few kilometers of road, preserving the park's rustic and unspoiled charm.