Aqueducts have dramatically changed this old lake, now home to tufa towers and its very own species of tiny brine shrimp.

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.

The interior of the Overlook Hotel in "The Shining" was based on this Yosemite original.

Offering commanding views of the California coastline, this restaurant was a hub for the artists and bohemians of Big Sur.

340 bicycles, 65 feet high.

Concrete strongholds stand guard over the Golden Gate.

A man-made island in scenic San Francisco Bay.

The seawater playground of gilded-era San Francisco burned to the ground in 1966.

In all of the 29 years it was in operation, no prisoners ever escaped successfully... or so they claim.

Six ravens are kept captive (but well-fed) at the Tower of London to prevent the fall of the Crown.

The watery entrance for condemned prisoners heading to the Tower of London is still visible along the Thames.

Dictionary Johnson’s favorite feline.

Giant, friendly pelicans in Central London, the most unlikely of places.

Overlooked by many, the two famous Scottish warriors guard the main gate of Edinburgh Castle.

Largest lake in Great Britain measured by surface area.

A musical instrument played by the sea.

A chain of 16 wondrous lakes formed as a result of the gradual dissolution of soluble layers of bedrock.

A church that bred legends, and served as an inspiration for the Da Vinci Code.

Ruined 11th century abbey built by King David I in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A massive volcanic plug is now a protected area that hosts a number of bird species.

A hotel and restaurant serving as the mecca of kitsch.

Millions of years of oxidation make a drive down this winding Death Valley road surprisingly colorful.

The lowest point in North America is home to an undrinkable pool surrounded by fields of geometric salt flats.

"Only the devil could play golf here."