Celebrated as a center of civilization, the remains of the ancient city have been nearly destroyed by greed, egoism, and war.

Ethiopian standing stones featuring remarkably preserved carvings of swords and people.

An ancient Ethiopian cave church is endangered by the simple building of a road.

Massive stele returned to Ethiopia after 70 years in Rome.

An Ethiopian "Jerusalem" featuring a church hewn out of a single rock.

Marked by the hand of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley.

Salt cured mummies continue to turn up in this Iranian mine.

This ancient burial site is believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world.

These little castles each held thousands of pigeons.

One of the world's largest salt caves is filled with fragile salt sculptures, salt rivers, and huge salt megadomes.

A sophisticated astronomical tower built by one of the greatest Persian scholars of the Islamic Golden Age.

This beautiful system of tunnels built into natural rock serves as a centuries old plumbing system.

A 1,500-year-old, 3-story subterranean city where ancient Persians took refuge in times of war.

Putrefaction plateaus in Iran, where the dead were sent for decontamination before going to their final resting place.

Iran's colorful terraces are a rare geological masterpiece.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Mirrors and glass shards cover every inch of this arrestingly beautiful mosque.

This spectacular bridge supported by two gigantic hands looks like something out of a fantasy universe.

Various forms of phallic art decorate this hill in commemoration of legendary local tragedy.

This quirky Korean eatery is built to resemble an equally quirky vintage camera.

South Korea's love of the silly photograph is on full display at this goofy collection of trompe l'oeil paintings.

For those with no fear of heights: a skywalk 4,700 feet up on a Chinese mountain.

The most famous location in China was home to whole dynasties worth of imperial rulers.

A part of the world's largest marsh seems to be growing bright red Martian grass.