Places NixOfNowhere Wants to Go

Mongolian Buddhists believe this monastery in the Gobi desert to be the center of the world's spiritual energy.

This spiritual landmark for practicers of Shamanism is drenched in milk and vodka and covered in blue scarves.

A huge communist-era propaganda monument and mural that offers stunning views of the Mongolian capital.

The oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia has survived centuries of invasions, political shifts, and religious purges.

This remote research station sits amid the second-largest ice sheet on the planet.

These eight mummies are the best-preserved human remains ever discovered in North America.

A Cold War atomic camp buried under the ice is now emerging because of global warming.

The 3.8 billion-year-old rock proves that tectonic plates may have been shifting longer than we thought.

A surprisingly beautiful abandoned World War II military base in East Greenland.

A massive collection of petroglyphs dating back some 40,000 years.

Complete town of 5,000 living out at sea on the world's first offshore oil platform.

In the foothills of the lesser Caucasus, a centuries-old fortress still stands.

This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

Resonant stone, that has been played since prehistoric times.

A unique museum dedicated to culture and artistry of carpet weaving.

A scenic canyon with thick forests and historic ruins.

Home to nearly a third of the world's mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan is home to a messy, bubbling, and sometimes explosive landscape.

A quirky house created entirely out of glass bottles combines a collector's spirit with an artist's flair.

This striking icon of the disputed Republic of Artsakh caused a stir at a Eurovision Song Contest.

A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

Mysterious hillside with a continuously burning natural fire.

This little medieval church hidden in the center of Yerevan was lost and rediscovered—twice.

Nestled in a peaceful valley, this Armenian monastery may have been saved from Mongols thanks to the eyes of God.

This ancient monastery complex was transformed from an island to a peninsula when the lake was partially drained.