This natural Icelandic fissure allows divers to swim right between two volatile tectonic plates.

This beautiful, historic church looks like something out of a simpler past.

The picturesque birthplace of Icelandic democracy is drenched in the blood of its brutal past.

This fantastical waterfall is hidden in a cave located in a cracked cliff.

Three columns of volcanic rock shoot out of the ocean.

Along this wire fence, travelers have been leaving a particular memento since 2012.

Icelandic folklore says this giant boulder was ripped from the mountains and placed at its current location, where it became home to elves.

This irregularly shaped sea fortress has defended not one but three different sovereign states.

The final resting place of the controversial chess champion.

A replica of the decorated wooden pillars Viking sailors threw overboard when finding new places to establish a settlement.

St George's Leprosy Museum depicts the gruesome afflictions of those suffering from the disease.

A favorite with sightseers, this Norwegian funicular provides easy access to a stunning view of Bergen and its environs.

A collection documenting Nazi occupation of Norway, including a painting believed to be made by Hitler.

The world's first ice hotel is still one of the most elaborate and beautiful.

The world’s largest knitted mitten is displayed in one of Sweden’s smallest Arctic villages.

The world's largest underground iron ore mine.

These coffin-like Brutalist balconies were inspired by a nearby mine.

Few remain of these distinctive old trees that once served as natural landmarks for travelers on the road.

If you visit Santa's village, you can get your passport stamped to show you crossed into the Arctic Circle.

Roughly 17 million letters to Santa have found their way to this Arctic Circle post office.

This insurance company building reminds customers that witches, bears, and gnomes are out there, best be insured.

This church also serves as a lighthouse complete with a beacon.

These enormous, stern-faced statues greet visitors with lanterns, and sometimes costumes.

Architecturally stunning library serves as the hub of Finnish scholarly life and culture.