Established in 1980, Kenai Fjords National Park protects 669,984 acres (271,133 hectares) of the coast of the Kenai Peninsula. The remote and largely inaccessible wilderness preserves one of Alaska's most spectacular swathes of land, where snow-capped mountains descend into lush forests teeming with wildlife. Over 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, carving the coast into a rippling series of fjords. Bears, coyotes and mountain goats roam the land, while the skies are the domain of many rare species of birds. Its waters too host a variety of marine life, including sea lions, otters and whales. The Exit Glacier is the only one of the park's many that is accessible by road, while more seasoned hikers can venture onto the Icefield.

Angetrieben vom Gefühl der 'Gottlosigkeit', das die Nation nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg plagte, wurde der Cristo Redentor oder Christus der Erlöser als wachendes Symbol auf dem Mount Corcovado gebaut. Die Statue steht auf einem Sockel, ein immerwährendes Symbol für ein spirituelles Wiedererwachen, das stoisch auf die Stadt darunter blickt. Die von Heitor da Silva Costa und dem französischen Bildhauer Paul Landowski entworfene Statue erhebt sich mit einer Höhe von 38 Metern einschließlich ihres Sockels über der Stadtgrenze. Die prächtige Figur ist aus Stahlbeton und Speckstein gefertigt und verfügt über eine stille Kapelle am Fuße. Die Christus-Erlöser-Statue mit ihren ausgestreckten Armen bezeichnet eine Konvergenz von alten Christus-Darstellungen (die das Kreuz symbolisieren) und moderneren Interpretationen, die sie für ein Symbol des Friedens interpretieren.

A wondrous realm of majestic redwoods, the Redwood National and State Parks encompass a vast stretch of old-growth forests; a place where humans are dwarfed by ancient trees that soar to dizzying heights. A dreamy landscape of dense foliage, rugged coasts, and lush grasslands, the park is teeming with elk and black bears, while the skies are the domain of the brown pelicans. Standing amid the redwoods is an almost spiritual experience, their leafy heads reaching for the skies in an apparent attempt to peer over the horizon. Standing the test of time, several groves of these forests predate the Roman Empire, making these some of the world's oldest and tallest trees. Riddled with trails and small towns, Redwood National and State Parks form an international Biosphere Reserve and are recognized as a World Heritage Site.

For years, the extraordinary lair of the Borobudur Temple lay shrouded under debris of volcanic ash and carpets of vegetation, in a lush expanse in Central Java's Magelang. This 9th Century temple, older than the sacred Angkor Wat in Cambodia, was unearthed from its earthly trappings by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1814, and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 20th Century. Since then, this stellar stone stupa has been a source of awe and wonder for all those who visit it in its tropical-fringed abode. In the midst of a vast clearing, the temple sits on nine layered platforms consisting of six square and three circular bases, at the heart of which is a central dome. From an aerial perspective, the temple bears resemblance to a gloriously blossomed lotus flower, with skilfully layered platforms that symbolize the spiritual journey from desire to nirvana. The temple's most prolific feature however, is the astounding arrangement of 72 stupas that encircle the central dome, each stupa pierced with diamond-shaped perforations through which a statue of the elusive Buddha becomes visible.

The ethereal beauty of the Yellowstone National Park unfolds one panorama at a time - sometimes in visions of raw, rugged alpine features, at other times, in softer landscapes clouded with billowing smoke that emanates from hot springs and geysers. Whatever the sight, there is little that will not mesmerize anyone who traverses the bounds of this park. Deemed to be the first national park in the world, the depths of Yellowstone were home to early Native Americans for a staggering 11,000 years, before mountain men and trappers ambled up its sheer cliffs and conducted organized explorations. It stretches from the state of Wyoming and spills over the boundaries of both Montana and Idaho, a geographic testament to its profound sprawl. The Old Faithful, a cone geyser, is one of the park's main attractions, while the Yellowstone Lake stretches over a supervolcanic caldera. Speckled with gushing waterfalls, geothermal spots, majestically arched cliffs that cast arresting silhouettes, and an array of nature's vivid colors, the park is an unspoiled terrestrial spectacle.

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, located in the historical city of Sergiyev Posad, is a magnificent monastery and a designated World Heritage site by the United Nations. Established in 1345 by one of Russia's patron saints, Sergius of Radonezh, it stands today as the major center of the Russian Orthodox church and has more than 300 monks residing in it. Spread over a large area, it includes many churches and towers featuring stunning Neoclassical Russian architecture with white washed walls, blue and gold colored domes and exquisite interiors decorated with grand chandeliers, beautifully painted wall frescoes and intricately carved stone carvings. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions around Moscow and is definitely worth the long journey from the city if you are an architecture and history enthusiast.

The world's largest waterfalls system, Iguazú Falls lie within sight of the point where the countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet. Legend has it, a long time ago a deity besotted with a beautiful woman was overcome with wrath when she fled with her lover in a canoe. The deity cut the river to stymie their escape, creating the falls and condemning the lovers to an eternal plunge. The Upper Iguazú River rushes down the steep face of the Devil's Throat, a narrow chasm of sheer rock, tumbling down in a series of cataracts and falls numbering in the hundreds. The tallest of these fall from a height of about 82 meters (269 feet) into the canyon below. A cacophony of rumbles and roars pervades the silence as the river comes crashing down, filling the air with a misty spray sliced by rainbows. A vision of immense beauty, the Iguazú Falls are a majestic display of nature's might; an awe-inspiring sight that attracts thousands to the midst of this monumental curtain of water.

Flanked by the peaks of the Austral Andes in the Santa Cruz province of Argentina, Los Glaciares National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The national park covers a spectacularly icy stretch of around 7,269 square kilometers (2,807 square miles), replete with glaciers and melt-water lakes, many of which are fed by the South Patagonian Ice Field. Rugged peaks rise from a bed of snow, the silence broken only by the distinctive, thunderous crack of icebergs being calved from glaciers. A landscape shorn from ice, the spectacular stretch of white is beautifully nuanced, with glassy pinnacles and swooping frozen waves in shades of blue and green, lending the stark vista some relief. Elsewhere, the scene is sheathed in a soft dusting of snow like a blanket of the finest cottony fluff. Although only 30 percent of the park is clad in ice, the most iconic of its sensational sights is that of the Glaciar Perito Moreno, a daunting wall of frigid blue fronted by the steely waters of Lago Argentino. Guanacos, cougars and the South American gray fox are just a few of the animals that roam the wild and wondrous Los Glaciares National Park.

The volcanic Mount Fuji is Japan's tallest peak as its summit is at a height of 3,776.24 meters (12,389 feet). This ethereal beauty is an icon of Japan's natural and cultural heritage, greatly revered and even deemed sacred as per Shinto beliefs. The near-perfect conical mountain has inspired thousands of paintings, poems and other artwork, its pinnacle dressed in snow for almost five months of the year. Shrines, temples and monasteries line the lower slopes of this active volcano, riddled with lakes, forests and pristine gardens along routes well-traversed by pilgrims. Mount Fuji is also a popular destination for mountaineers, with several attempts made to summit the volcano each year. The most recent eruption was over two centuries ago in 1707, yet the threat of disaster is ever-present. Often draped in a cloak of clouds and bathed in a golden hue at sunset, the otherworldly vision of Mount Fuji is not mired by this choleric side, however.

Sometimes called the necklace that adorns the northeastern Australian coast, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest in the world. It is a collection of more than 3,000 distinct reefs and island fleets, protected by the turquoise waters of the majestic Coral Sea. Together, the Great Barrier Reef was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Waters run shallow for a large portion of the reef, making the perfect environment for aquatic adventures before the reef dips to a depth of 2,000 meters (6,561 feet). Diving and snorkeling here are like being transported to a different world, where swirling, rainbow-colored corals create a colorful backdrop for so many fish species. The experience is bound to stay for a lifetime.

The Prambanan Temple, or Candi Prambanan, located in Central Java, is one of the best-known religious sites of Indonesia. A collection of towering spires resplendently embellished with intricate finials, rich carvings and statues, the temple is striking in its complexity and grand proportions. Established sometime during the 9th Century, little is known about the early history of this monumental Hindu temple, although it is believed that its construction spanned the reigns of both Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. The complex comprises the remains of 244 temples neatly arranged across the outer compound, while the central courtyard consists of eight main and eight minor temples. The central shrine towers to a height of about 47 meters (154.19 feet) and as such, it is the largest temple of its kind in Indonesia, and one of the finest in South Asia. Dedicated to Brahma (The Creator), Vishnu (The Preserver) and Mahesh (The Destroyer), collectively known as Trimurti in Hindu mythology, the Prambanan Temple is lavishly ornamented with stonework, sculptures, and reliefs that draw heavily from the Hindu epic of Ramayana. After years of careful restoration, the interiors of the main shrine are accessible once more. The compound was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in the year 1991.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, also known as Ayers Rock, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its red sandstone monolith. The massive landmark towers at 348 meters (1,142 feet) and features many inscriptions from the area's aboriginal ancestors. The site is under dual management by the Australian government and local Anangu tribe. Visitors must definitely visit the cultural center to learn about the history of this iconic monolith and the people that have called it home for centuries. They can also bushwalk, bird watch, and catch incredible sunsets at this breathtaking site. Climbing Uluru is permitted but discouraged by the region's aboriginal overseers.