A 19th century pearling and fishing village abandoned before Qatar's economic boom.

A mesmerizing wonderland of salt-encrusted tree branches and pencil roots.

This fountain pays homage to Qatar's history of pearling, the primary industry before oil.

This vibrant side road in Doha was painted light blue to reduce heat.

Qatar's oldest market can trace its origins back more than a century.

A state-of-the-art medical facility dedicated to treating beloved birds of prey.

This 23-foot-tall bear stands amid the hustle and bustle of Hamad International Airport.

The oldest (maybe) swimming pool in Iceland is a stunning oasis built into the side of a lush hill.

A museum celebrating Icelandic history and technology.

A tiny village church in dramatic surroundings.

Three columns of volcanic rock shoot out of the ocean.

Cairns built to bring travelers good luck stretch across the land like miniature stone mountains.

What was once believed to be a church floor turned out to be the artwork of geology.

The unique waterfall in Iceland's south features a backdrop of geometric black lava columns.

This fairytale-like structure is the last turf church ever constructed in Iceland.

A black sand beach where glacial fragments wash ashore and look like sparkling diamonds.

Iceland's largest lagoon is home to stunning multi-colored icebergs.

This natural rock formation features seemingly unnatural vertical ridges that have been blamed on elves.

These enlarged egg sculptures represent the native birds of eastern Iceland.

The most powerful waterfall in all of Europe.

A sulfuric martian landscape that looks far better than it smells.

This volcanic cave lake is essentially hard proof that Iceland is the most magical place on Earth.

These ominous lava formations were said to be an entrance to the netherworld so of course they inspired a famous metal band.

This elegant arc of a waterfall marks a religious turning point.