Ecosystems

A three-tiered waterfall plummets from a mountain cave with amazing views over the countryside.

Once an ancient Roman bath, now a hotbed of geothermal energy and a hub for energetic innovations.

A rugged lava field dotted with molds of the ancient pines that were growing when the volcano erupted.

A chance to sleep among the firs and pines of the Oregon forest.

The shallow, salty inlet was a safe haven for 19th-century pirates.

A lumberjack in Finnish Lapland did not want to cut down his Arctic pines, so he offered them up to be adopted by nature-lovers.

A meandering boardwalk across the bogland leads to a "stairway to heaven" with sublime views.

The Sighignola summit on the Swiss border offers views so breathtaking it's been named one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

This mysterious pig iron pillar does not rust, despite being weathered by the elements for centuries.

Inky sludge oozes to the surface of this beach thanks to a rare natural tar seep.

More stones than Stonehenge, all scattered within a windswept landscape sure to enchant 'Outlander' fans.

Beautiful waterfalls grace a canyon visibly torn by a violent tornado.

The hottest, driest, and most scenic desert on Earth.

Hop aboard a charming bog train to explore this rare open-air museum of peat.

Hundreds of stones dangle from barren trees in the middle of the desert.

These beautiful historic watchtowers were used for both scanning the desert for enemy invaders and observing the celestial world.