1513 Turkish world map, full of European state secrets and snarky commentary.

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

This exceptionally well-preserved ancient marvel also houses a small museum dedicated to Jordanian folk tradition.

Concentrated around the Dead Sea, these surprising canyons are filled with coursing water, fish, and even crabs.

Known as the "Valley of the Moon," this Jordanian wadi is one of the most amazing desertscapes on Earth.

The abandoned palace stands as a wounded but proud beacon of Afghan hope.

One of the holiest Shi'i shrines in Iran honors the life and death of a learned noblewoman who became a saint.

One of the world's largest shopping malls covers an area of 15 million square feet—and it's still set to grow.

This steamship has been beautifully rusting off the coast of an Iranian island since the 1960s.

The tallest building in the Republic of the Congo is a source of pride despite its towering maintenance costs.

An enormous public square and parade ground built to celebrate Ghana's independence.

This Nigerian nature reserve is home to the longest canopy walkway in Africa.

The world's first crowdfunded skyscraper has not gone quite to plan.

Pilgrims each carried a brick to the top of Mount Monserrate to help build this historic sanctuary in Colombia.

Known as the "Finger of God," a dramatic rock formation resembles a divine hand extending towards the heavens.

An early-19th-century hotel with a past that is steeped in the Civil War.

This kitschy tavern is also home to rare early editions of "Treasure Island."

Ride the subways of yesteryear.

The embalmed remains of the communist leader lie within a custom crystal coffin.

This natural hill rose another 130 feet from the debris and rubble added after World War II.

Remnants of a cone-shaped Nazi bomb shelter.

This old wooden funicular railway leads to a cemetery in the forest.

The unusually large seat sits atop the base of a ruined temple.