Have you ever wanted to retreat from the daily grind to an island paradise? What if you could envision them with a bird’s eye view first to help you decide where to go? If Superman took vacation, these are some of the sparkling seas, sugar-white beaches, and stunning locations that he would visit to escape from it all. Flying through blue skies with Superman’s point of view, here are 37 gorgeous island paradises and amazing aerials.

Glover Reef

(image credit: National Geographic)

Two rainbows arc over Glover’s Atoll, a World Heritage Site and Marine Reserve, and Belize’s most remote atoll. An atoll is a ring of coral that first grew completely around the shoreline of an island, but then continued to grow upward on top of itself as the island eroded away. Glover’s Reef Atoll is an oval ring of coral surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. It offers an outstanding place to swim, to snorkel, and to dive. Glover’s Atoll has 700 patch reefs in the lagoon and is surrounded by 50 miles of sheer drop-offs, starting from 25 feet down to 2,700 feet.

Bora Bora

(image credits: National Geographic, yannarthusbertrand2, National Geographic, National Geographic)

The archipelago of Bora-Bora is in the Leeward group of French Polynesia’s Society Islands located in the Pacific Ocean. Waves crash against the ring of coral reefs around this sunken remnant of a 7-million-year-old extinct volcano. The clear lagoon can be seen from the air, but hundreds of tropical fish species live in the turquoise-blue water, showing remarkable biological diversity. Bora-Bora is renowned for sugar-white beaches and the twin peaks Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia.

Tahiti, another Society Island

(image credit: National Geographic)

Tahiti is the largest of the Windwards, but is another Society Island like Bora-Bora. Together the 35 islands and 83 atolls of French Polynesia are spread out between the South Pacific about halfway between Australia and South America. Tahiti has a mountainous interior, deep valleys, clear streams, and high waterfalls. Most of the island’s population lives along the coastline.

Sulu Archipelago

(image credit: yannarthusbertrand2, yannarthusbertrand2)

The Sulu Archipelago is made up of hundreds of volcanic and coral islands, numerous rocks and reefs in the southwestern Philippines. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘backdoor of the Philippines.’ The deep sea diving is some of the best in the world, a prime source for pearls, marine sea turtles, and exotic tropical fish. The Sulu Sea supplies a large proportion of the nation’s commercial catch. Kurachas, small crab-like shrimp, are sweet to the taste once cooked and another notable thing about Sulu. The most popular entry point for visits to the Sulu Islands is Jolo, where there is outstanding hiking among the volcanic landscapes. The best diving spot in the Sulu Islands is Tubbataha Reef. The Sulu Archipelago includes the Samales Islands, home of this village on stilts as pictured on bottom. It is home of the Badjaos who are also known as sea gypsies.

Republic of the Fiji Islands

(image credit: National Geographic)

In the South Pacific, another archipelago is the 322 chain of islands which make up the Fiji Islands. Of those, only about 106 are inhabited. Only part of the tropical lure, the stunning coral reefs ring around Mondriki Island, foreground, and Monu Island, background. There are divine places to dive, taking in the fish and the coral gardens. Lush rain forests and sparkling white beaches make it an ever popular tourist destination.

Phi Phi Le, near Phuket island, Thailand

(image credit: yannarthusbertrand2)

Another tropical delight is the Phi Phi Archipelago which is nearly 25 miles off the coast of Thailand. It consists of six islands with Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi LePhi Phi considered the mainland. Phi Phi Le (above) is the more unspoiled of the two, a part of the Hadnopparattara-Koh Phi Phi National Park. Phi Phi is home to amazing marine life, an abundance of corals, long white sandy beaches, and limestone mountains with cliffs and caves. From archaeological discoveries, it is believed that the area is one of the oldest communities in Thailand and dates back to the prehistoric period.

Palau Islands

(image credit: National Geographic)

More than 250 beautiful forested and rock islands, wreathed with sands and exquisite seas, make up the nation of Palau. About 500 miles east of the Philippines, Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual temperature of around 82 °F. As a bonus, Palau is just outside the main typhoon zone. Tourism is the country’s leading industry as it is legendary for its astonishing marine diversity and beauty. Palau has a rich marine environment which invites snorkeling and diving around its barrier reef walls and World War II wrecks. Named one of the “Seven Underwater Wonders of the World” by divers, Palau holds far more than seems possible in the 170 square miles it covers. The Palau Islands are protected. Under the law of the sea, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a seazone over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.

Los Roques Archipelago

(image credit: webpark)

These scarcely populated Venezuelan Islands in the Caribbean Sea are not known to many people and thus its virgin beauty, wild and exotic, has been maintained. Los Roques Archipelago is a dream landscape with one of the biggest National Marine Parks of the Caribbean. The Los Roques islands consists of about 350 islands, cays or islets and abundant aquatic life surrounding the coral reefs. With only about about 1,500 permanent inhabitants, there is almost no crime and times seems to have nearly stopped. It’s a great place to enjoy calm and crystal clear turquoise bays and sugar-white beaches.

Buccaneer Archipelago

(image credit: yannarthusbertrand2)

Two-billion-year-old rocks make up the Buccaneer Archipelago, about 800 islands off the coast of Western Australia. These islands between King Sound and Collier Bay near Yampi Sound are in almost pristine condition due to the difficulty of gaining access. The Buccaneer Archipelago is compromised of ancient pre-cambrian sandstones with many high cliffs; some islands have patches of rain-forests. Large, fine pearls are harvested by local pearlfarmers in the surrounding Timor Sea.

Eldey Island

(image credit: webpark)

This sheer rock which is over 252 feet tall is Eldey Island, Iceland, but is also called The Fire Island. With over 70,000 birds counted there, it has the largest gannet colony in the world. In the past, different clusters of skerries and rocks have appeared only to disappear again due to tectonic movements and eruptions. In this unstable ocean area, it is not considered very safe for sailing, thus making the area a rich fishing ground for herring and lobsters.

Exuma Cays, Bahamas

(image credits: yannarthusbertrand2)

The Bahama Islands consist of over 700 islands and rocky coral islets or cays. Two James Bond films were set in Exuma Cays, Thunderball and Never Say Never Again. Divers come from all over the world to explore the underwater caves and enjoy the vast marine life. An emerald sea and white sands beaches attract tourists in search of sun, sand, and nature adventures. Exuma National Park is known for its brightly colored fish, exotic birds, and distinctive Bahamian iguanas.

Neuika Coral Reef France

(image credits: yannarthusbertrand2,yannarthusbertrand2)

Varied and contrasting blues of the lagoon surround Neuika coral reef in New Caledonia, France. This is the second longest double barrier coral reef in the world and is also considered endangered. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reef encircles a lagoon of 9,300 square miles which has an average depth of 82 feet. Pictured on bottom is the Nuami Islet, an atoll of Nokan Hui, near New Caledonia.

The Maldives

(image credits: wikipedia, ISS twitpic, dyscario, yannarthusbertrand2)

Nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the 26 atolls of the Maldives are a series of ancient coral reefs that grew up around the sides of prehistoric volcanoes. This island chain extends north-south for about 550 miles. The gorgeous Maldives are composed of 1,190 small coral islands which range on average from three to six feet above sea level. From the more modern Male Atolls to the laid back Southern Atolls, all are extremely popular with tourists. Most of these atolls have deep-water lagoons and look like jeweled pieces of tropical treasured paradise.

Sandbank on Whitsunday Island

(image credit: yannarthusbertrand2)

This bizarre but beautiful pattern is a sandbank on the coast of Whitsunday Island, Australia. Whitsunday Archipelago is made up of numerous coral islets from the coasts of Queensland to about 20 miles offshore from the Great Barrier Reef. Whitsunday Island is the largest of the 74 islands with sugar-white sands like on Whitehaven Beach pictured above. It is part of Great Barrier Marine Park.

Belize Blue Hole

(image credit: National Geographic)

This large underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize at Lighthouse Reef Atoll is a vertical cave. There are quite a few blue holes located worldwide, but the Great Blue Hole is 984 feet across and 410 ft deep. Once upon a time during the Ice Age, it was an opening to a dry cave system. Today it is a hotspot, luring scuba divers to dive the spectacular crystal clear sea among many species of marine life.

Zakynthos

(image credit: yannarthusbertrand2)

The third largest of the Ionian Islands, Zakynthos, Greece, is an amazing place to stroll the sandy beaches or swim in the company of sea turtles. Zakynthos is an underwater paradise, fantastic for snorkeling or scuba diving the underwater caves. This is one of the sunniest islands in the Mediterranean. Zakynthos National Marine Park was setup to help protect this island of sea turtles. Above is one of the most famous beaches in Greece, Navagio Beach. The Shipwreck is home to the wreck of smuggler ship Panagiotis and is often referred to as Smugglers Cove.

Taiwan: Lalu island & Wreck in the Pescadores Archipelago

(image credits: yannarthusbertrand2,yannarthusbertrand2)

On Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake, the tiny island is what is left of Lalu Island after floods and earthquakes. Sun Moon Lake is one of thirteen national scenic areas in the Republic of China. Before the earthquake, this island was a place to worship the “Matchmaker god” and many young couples participated in “Shueishang Group Weddings.” Lalu Island is regarded as the dwelling place of the Thao, the highest-ranking ancestral spirit.

Pictured on the bottom is one of the Penghu islands. 90 small islands and islets are also known as Pescadores Archipelago in the Taiwan Strait. This is a highly fished area and reefs were extensively damaged by commercial fishing and the practice of fishing with dynamite. Professional diving fishermen sometimes dive with a simple hooka system, a breathing umbilical cord from the surface. This wreck, suspended between the sea and basalt, is one that Superman missed saving due to his last vacation in paradise. It reminds him that he is needed elsewhere.

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What happens to all of the detritus of modern life once it has outlived its usefulness? We tend to think of it as being “thrown away” – but there is no away, and bizarre collections of outdated and broken junk are piling up around the world. Like all of those abandoned airplanes, sea-unworthy ships and busted bicycles, these 10 objects are accumulating in their very own graveyards with nobody to mourn their passing.

Tacky Toilets

(images via: ready2beat, damn cool pics)

Junkyards around the world are stocked with the forlorn toilets of yesteryear, never again to feel the warmth of a human behind. But while cracked, broken and seriously dated toilets typically rot behind gates in metaphorical toilet graveyards, others are displayed in bizarre works of public art. One town seems to have created an actual graveyard of toilets, while Gunagdong Province in China put thousands to use in a giant public waterfall.

Forgotten FEMA Trailers

(images via: treehugger)

FEMA trailers were a godsend for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, giving them roofs over their heads – and lungs full of formaldehyde. The trailers contained dangerously high levels of the toxic chemical, sickening hundreds of people. Today, those contaminated trailers sit and rot on storage lots throughout the country, like this one in Hope, Arkansas.

Busted Bus Stops

(image via: bradleypjohnson)

What, exactly, could be so wrong with dozens of bus stops found abandoned in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis that can’t be fixed? Whether for looks or function, these bus stops were scrapped and now sit as an odd monument to junk that nobody wants.

Vacant Vending Machines

(image via: katakanadian)

Japan is a country packed with vending machines, and they’re not just full of candy, chips and soda. Eggs, fresh flowers, piping hot french fries and lingerie are just a few examples of off-the-wall offerings. So, the existence of vending machine wastelands is no surprise.

Tarnished Tanks

(image via: artificial owl)

The tanks that clutter vast open spaces in the African country of Eritrea aren’t just the product of neglect. These hunks of metal are relics from the nearly half-century-long war fought for independence from Ethiopia, and they stand as a proud reminder of the country’s hard-won victory.

Tossed-Aside Taxis

(image via: spiegel.de)

For decades, Chinese citizens took taxi cabs and public transportation when they needed to get somewhere. But economic expansion meant that personal vehicles were no longer out of reach of the middle class, and the taxis that they once depended on so greatly are now jumbled chaotically amidst dirt and weeds.

Canned Construction Equipment

(image via: clockworklozenge)

When construction equipment is finally done building things and tearing them down, where does it go? Apparently, it sits around in scrap yards waiting for any still-useful parts to be harvested, and then sits around some more. This lot in England has just about any piece of equipment you can imagine.

Broken Books

(images via: english russia)

With such an astounding volume of books piled on the floor, this building could only be a library – albeit one that has seen better days. The sight of thousands of books rotting in an abandoned building is enough to make any bibliophile cry, but waste like this is all too common in the wake of the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Contaminated Chemical Barrels

(images via: michigan.gov)

While Superfund sites wait to be cleaned up, all of the toxic chemical-laden crap strewn around – including leaky barrels full of who knows what – are “contained” within a restricted area. Over time, as those barrels rust, their contents seep into the soil, and ultimately into the groundwater of nearby communities.

Trashed Tractors

(images via: picasaweb)

Typically, abandoned tractors tend to be left wherever they break down. At least this tractor graveyard in Nebraska appears to be in the process of recycling, given that the rusting beasts have been dismantled and categorized.

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The world is full of bizarrely shaped boulders and other natural rock formations that humans see as familiar objects. The brain tends to perceive an animal-shape or, even more popular, a human face hiding in the rocks. They were chiseled with wind, water, erosion and other geological processes. Over the centuries, nature sculpted these natural rock formations to have a close resemblance to animals. Here are 23 bizarre yet amazing animal-shaped rock formations.

Polar Bear

(image credit: italyfaves)

Sardinia, Italy, is known for animal-shaped rocks. The polar bear above is located in the La Maddalena Archipelago. This rocky polar bear is not too difficult to make out. But some rock formations require a person to tilt their head, squint one eye, and stand just so to see the animal.

Animals Seen in Rock Formations

(image credits: webshots,purpleslinky,roadsidenut,purpleslinky)

On Poike, near one of the extinct volcanoes that form Rapa Nui, a cat’s head stands out to catch the eye. But animal-shaped rocks are found on more places than Easter Island. In Oregon, a rock in the Willamette River seems to look like a serpent. Just past Hole in the Rock, at the stunningly gorgeous location of Moab, Utah, is this hillside rock formation that resembles a cat’s face. On the bottom right is an animal-shaped rock located in Matsushima Bay, Japan.

Camels

(image credits: nmnet,naturalarches,elisasjourneys,Waymarking)

Rocks that look like camels can be found in a multitude of places around the globe. The desert of New Mexico and Arizona have many like the two on top that people perceive as camels. On the bottom left is “Camel Rock” located in Cappadocia, Turkey. On the bottom right was the Camel in Garden of the Gods, Elizabethtown, Illinois. Sadly, vandals knocked the head off the camel and now it is only a headless hump.

Elephant Rocks

(image credits: walking along,americansouthwest,queenvalleyproperties,forestcamping,travelblog,advenphoto)

It’s not just camels that are a popular animal-shaped rock but also elephants. The top left elephant can be found at Pt. Reyes National Seashore in California. Valley of Fire State Park, about 45 minutes east of Las Vegas, Nevada, has a famous elephant that many photographers have captured. The top right and bottom right is the same elephant taken from different angles and at different times. On the middle left is a rocky elephant face found in Queen Valley, Arizona. Elephant Rock, on the middle right, is located near Prince Edward Island, Canada. On the bottom left is an elephant that guards the Stone Forest of Shi Lin, China.

Mirage of Animals

(image credits: blogspot,taniamarie,,Hamed Saber)

Arizona is full of breathtaking beauty and natural wonders. Such is the case in Monument Valley. The elephant is easy to discern and is located within the Navajo Tribal Park. On the bottom left is a crocodile in the Valley of Kings, Egypt. On the bottom right, this natural rock formation has dual lives. It is the Lion-Elephant Rock near Alisadr Cave. Alisadr cave is the biggest water cave in the world and is located in Hamedan, Iran.

Dogs to Penguins

(image credits: richardandjo,amazonaws,planetware,wikipedia,wrensnaturenotebook,)

From far away, and some believe close up, the top left rock formation in Albany, Australia, looks like a dog. In Hundred Islands National Park, Philippines, “Turtle Rock Island” awaits. On the middle left is a natural rock formation at Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island. The Kangaroo part comes in because it’s in Australia, but it looks more like a beak and bird? Can you see the hippo yawning in that rock near Wave Rock, Australia? Lastly, there are pair of penguins snuggled up together near Peninnis Head on the Isles of Scilly.

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Rainbow Bridge, USA

(images via: Guy Rolland, Utah.com, NASA and Doctor Tsai)

Rainbow Bridge in southern Utah state is the world’s largest natural bridge. Although well known to local native tribes, the spectacular sandstone structure was not investigated by American researchers until the early years of the 20th century. This was partly due to the isolation of the structure, a fact remedied by the creation of Lake Powell and its tributary waterways.

(image via: TWAN)

Incorporated into Rainbow Bridge National Monument in 1910, Rainbow Bridge stands 88 m (290 ft) tall, has an 84 meter (275 ft) span and is 13 meters (42 ft) thick at its top point.

Aloba Arch, Chad

(image via: NaturalArches)

At 77 meters (250 feet) Aloba Arch is the longest known natural arch outside the United States. Where it surpasses most other natural arches is in height: a stunning 120 meters or 394 feet. Like the arches of the American southwest, Aloba Arch is made from hard sandstone hundreds of millions of years old. It’s located in the Ennedi Range which rises out of the Sahara Desert in the northeast part of Chad near the border with Libya and Sudan.

(image via: NaturalArches)

The Sahara Desert abounds with natural arches and stone bridges. Aloba Arch may be one of the best known but the above bipod arch in Algeria is worth special mention due to its unusual beauty and exquisite fragility. Though 1.9 meters (6.23 ft) high, the arch’s thinner leg is a mere 15 cm (6 inches) thick. How much longer can it last?

Durdle Door, United Kingdom

(images via: Ian West, SOTON, Pike Pictures and TrekEarth)

If the name “Durdle Door” sounds English, well, that’s because it’s found in southern England along Dorset’s delightfully named Jurassic Coast. Durdle Door is not so much a door as a window, though, through which the chill waters of the English Channel pour through.

(image via: Southern Antiques)

The headland that includes Durdle Door is made of Portland Limestone, a material harder than the clays and silts it protects but itself not impervious to the pounding of the waves. Durdle Door is destined to yawn ever wider until one day, its roof will fall in and one side becomes an island in the channel.

Immortal Bridge, China

(image via: China Daily)

On the steep slopes of Mt Tai in China’s Shandong province, you’ll find the Immortal Bridge. Hopefully you won’t be forced to cross it on the way to complete your journey. Looking like a scene from an Indiana Jones flick, the Immortal Bridge is formed from massive stone blocks precariously balanced against one another.

(image via: Wikipedia)

Should a strong earthquake jostle the region, the bridge – and anyone crossing it – would be thrown into the deep gorge at the base of Mt Tai. Immortality, it would seem, is a relative thing.

Pont d’Arc, France

(images via: Igougo, Ardeche Holidays and Klaesi)

In the south of France, the river Ardèche has worn through an escarpment of ancient limestone forming the Pont d’Arc. This scenic natural bridge measures 60 meters (197 ft) wide and is 45 meters (147.5 ft) in height.

(image via: Insolite)

The Pont d’Arc is a popular tourist attraction as the limestone rock in the region houses a number of prehistoric sites and caves, such as the famed Chauvet Cave. The town of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc normally is home to about 2,000 people but that figure increases by a factor of 10 in the summer months.

Delicate Arch, USA

(images via: Wild Nature Images, Virtual Tourist, Passionati and Arches Utah)

Utah’s Arches National Park contains over 2,000 natural stone arches and bridges but 16 meter (52 ft) tall Delicate Arch is the most famous by far. Curiously, the arch wasn’t included in the original 1929 scope of the park, only being added when the park’s boundaries were enlarged in 1938.

(image via: Ben de Rienzo)

Since 1970, 43 natural stone arches in Utah’s Arches National Park have crashed to the ground. The problem is nothing new and, sadly, every extant arch will someday fall to pieces. It’s worthy to note that in the 1950s, the U. S. National Park Service considered coating Delicate Arch in clear plastic to halt further erosion. Although planned with the best of intentions, it’s just as well it wasn’t put into practice.

Moon Hill, Yangshuo, China

(images via: China Highlights, GuilinChina.net and China Hotels Reservation)

Moon Hill is just one of many arches and natural bridges found throughout Yangshuo County in Guilin, southern China. Millions of years of erosion has carved the Karst Limestone bedrock of the area into phantasmagorical shapes that seem to defy the laws of gravity. Moon Hill is perhaps the most famous arch in the region. This huge window takes on the appearance of a crescent moon whose phases vary depending on one’s viewing location.

(image via: Yangshuo Mountain Retreat)

Sheer vertical drops and copious handholds in the rough limestone have made Yangshuo into a rock climber’s paradise. In the past decade or so, dozens of professional outfits have been formed to ensure climbers enjoy the best possible recreational experience along with more than acceptable service and safety infrastructure.

London Arch, Australia

(images via: Travel & Photography and TrekEarth)

Located in Port Campbell National Park, Victoria state, Australia, London Arch lies just offshore where it is continually pounded by ocean waves and tidal swells.

(image via: Armchair Travelogue)

London Arch was formerly part of London Bridge, a spectacular double-arched formation connected to the shoreline. On January 15th, 1990, the arch nearer the shore suddenly collapsed stranding two visitors on the suddenly isolated remaining arch.

The Azure Window, Malta

(images via: Frederic Barbier, Malta Dreamflat and Virtual Tourist)

The Azure Window, or Tieqa Żerqa, is a natural arch formed millions of years ago when a limestone cave collapsed. The arch can be found on the island of Gozo in Malta. One of the larger sea arches and one of Malta’s most popular tourist attractions as well, The Azure Window offers viewers a 50 meter (164 ft) high window on the deep blue Mediterranean Sea.

(image via: Malta-Info)

Nothing lasts forever and The Azure Window is no different. Maltese authorities have warned visitors not to get too close to the arch as a number of rock falls from its roof have raised safety issues. It’s estimated that The Azure Window’s remaining lifespan can be measured in years, if that.

Shipton’s Arch, China

(images via: Unizar and Travelpod)

Shipton’s Arch, or Tushuk Tash in the local Uyghur language, can be found in the rugged badlands of Kashgar, in western China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Finding it wasn’t easy: the formation was unknown to western observers until British mountaineer George Shipton discovered it in 1947. Recognized today as the tallest natural stone arch on Earth, Shipton’s Arch stands 365 meters (1,200 ft) tall – roughly the height of the Empire State Building.

(image via: Slides/Pro)

This huge natural arch was “lost” for some time after Shipton publicized it; it had been listed in the Guinness World Book of Records for a time but was dropped after the editors could not ascertain its exact location. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that a team of researchers from National Geographic made a successful expedition to Shipton’s Arch and documented its soaring magnificence.

(image via: Wild Nature Images)

Like sunsets, stone arches and bridges are ephemeral in nature – a quality that only enhances their stark beauty. By viewing and studying their rise and fall, one can truly appreciate the incredible length of time required for earth’s geological processes to run their course.

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It’s cold and snowy in many places throughout the world. So let’s think warm thoughts like warm summer sand and sandcastles. In fact, think hot. Burning hot, flames of hell hot, and mix that with sand. What do you get? Dante’s Inferno. What in hell is that? No, not the game. It is a sand sculpture opera based on the Italian classic masterpiece and produced by the City of Jesolo, Venice, Italy. Welcome to Hell and the sand demons of Dante’s Inferno in 49 photos.

Welcome to Hell

(image credits:Eternally Cool)

Jesolo Lido has a theme-based sand sculpture festival each year and last summer they asked a team of 18 professional sand sculpture artists to illustrate Dante’s Inferno. More specifically, the participating artists were asked to take their inspiration for verses 1-9 of Canto III of Inferno. Dante stands at the edge of the world of damned souls and reads:
Through me is the way into the woeful city; through me is the way into eternal woe; through me is the way among the lost people. Justice moved my lofty maker: the divine Power, the supreme Wisdom and the primal Love made me. Before me were no things created, unless eternal, and I eternal last. Leave every hope, ye who enter!
The result was Hell, represented as scenes, mythological figures, and as some of the most famous characters from Dante’s Inferno.

Dante’s Inferno

(image credits:sultansofsand,Htmarcos,WaZaR)

In Jesolo Lido, there were 9 Circles to Dante’s Inferno. In the outer pre-circle after entering the exhibition, “Virgil and Dante Decend into Hell” and then meet “Charon the Ferryman.” Circle 1 was “Limbo.” The dogs were part of Circle 3, called “The Cerebrus.” Circle 2 is below:

The Lustful, The Gluttons, The Avaricious

(image credits:WaZaR,Htmarcos)

“The Lustful” was from Circle 2 and is at the top left. The entrance to each circle was numbered in a fantastically “evil” sand sculpture like at the top right. Besides “The Cerebrus,” Circle 3 included “The Gluttons” and one can be seen in the lower right.  The middle left was the introduction to Circle 4. It featured “The Avaricious” like in the bottom right.

River Styx & The City Of Dis

(image credits:WaZaR)

Circle 5 featured two different magnificent sandcastles. Following Dante’s Inferno, first there was “The River Styx” and then “The City Of Dis.” The amount of detail is unbelievable for sand sculptures. The show was designed and directed by Varano Sand Sculpture Co. LLC aka “the Sultans Of Sand Worldwide.” The Sultans Of Sand is a consortium of award winning international master sand sculptors who live and work all around the globe.

Circle 6 The Heretics

(image credits:WaZaR ,Htmarcos)

Circle 6 featured “The Heretics.” From the numbered 6 to introduce the Circle, you can see skill reflected in sand. The 18 hand-picked featured artists for Dante’s Inferno represented nine different countries and, together, hold more than six dozen international awards and titles. 2,000 tons of sand at the worksite were pre-compacted into carving blocks known as “pound-ups.” The pound-ups were prepared over a 10 day period prior to the the sculpting team’s arrival. The sand masters then carved all the sculptures in only 10 days.

Circle 7

(image credits:WaZaR ,Htmarcos)

Circle 7 began with a “Reaper” skeleton and then headed to “The Minotaur” at the top. Next stop in Dante’s Inferno was “The Harpies Taunting the Suicides” as seen in the middle images. Last but not least was “The Centaurs.”

Circle 8

(image credits:WaZaR ,Htmarcos)

Circle 8 was huge, starting with the great winged beast “Greyon the Guardian.” Next was “The Simonists” as seen in the lower right image next to the number 8. The carved sculptures were so detailed, that even the pores showed. Some things never change, not even from Dante’s time as the next stop in Dante’s Inferno was “The Corrupted Politicians.”

Circle 8 Continued

(image credits:WaZaR ,Htmarcos)

At the top, Circle 8 led to “Ulysses’ Shipwreck.” On the lower left is “When Hell Freezes.” The images on the lower right depict “Count Ugolino Gnawing the Head of the Archbishop.” These masters of sand carving even managed to make the sand-colored eyeballs appear realistic.

Circle 9: Satan, Leaving Hell

(image credits:WaZaR ,Htmarcos,skullbrain)

Circle 9 takes us past demons in the sand and stops in front of a massive 16-foot “Satan.” Look closely at the intricacy and texture on the beast and you can even see the devil’s pores! Pictured on the bottom left is “Leaving Hell.” That ends our tour of Dante’s Inferno. If you found these sand sculptures amazing, there is still plenty of time before July to book your trip Jesolo Lido, Italy, for the next thematic sand sculpture festival.

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Whether you’re looking down from an airplane or virtually soaring in the air using programs like Google Earth, the landscape looks different altogether from a vertical viewpoint. Sometimes eerie faces or figures can be seen in natural formations, and sometimes artists create works from trees, rocks, sand or water specifically hoping to be seen from above. Other artists even take images snapped from the sky and turn it into clever collages.

Area 51 Face

(image via: moillusions.com)

Maybe it’s John Travolta in Battlefield Earth. Maybe it’s just sand. But one thing’s for sure: the fact that this eerily detailed, alien-looking face was found in Area 51 is a mighty strange coincidence. Slanted brows, eyes, nose, a goateed chin and a startlingly large forehead are clear as day in this curious Google Earth find.

Google Earth Alphabet

(image via: BoingBoing)

Graphic designer Rhett Dashwood spent six months exploring landscapes using Google Earth in search of shapes that form letters and punctuation. The result is a full alphabet entirely composed of Google Earth images. A software engineer named Jesse Vig followed suit and created an interactive website called geoGreeting.com that allows users to create custom Google Earth messages.

Man-Shaped Lake, Brazil

(image via: Google Maps)

Located just outside Bauru, Brazil, this artificial man-shaped lake (-21.805149,-49.089977) is definitely an eye-catcher when viewed from above using Google Earth.

Vitruvian Man, Germany

(image via: silvery)

Not all crop art seeks to convince people of an alien presence. This living landscape art found in Munchen, Germany imitates one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous works, ‘The Vitruvian Man’. Such large-scale crop art is typically created using pre-planned planting patterns.

Dinosaur Lake, Croatia

(image via: metacafe)

In Zagreb, Croatia (45.78231, 16.024332) there’s a seemingly man-made lake that resembles nothing so much as a gigantic, long-necked dinosaur – tall and all.

Yin-Yang, China

(image via: Google Maps)

Near the Great Wall of China, just outside the city of Changping, there’s a large crop circle shaped like a yin-yang symbol. Well, perhaps not a “crop circle” exactly – it’s more like crop art. In fact, China is one of only two countries where crop circles of the sort that are attributed to extraterrestrials have never been reported.

Nazca Lines Monkey

(image via: famous wonders)

Why did the Nazca people of Peru go through so much trouble 2,000 years ago to create gigantic landscape art that could only be seen from the sky – long before planes were invented? Perhaps we’ll never know, but they’re certainly fascinating. The monkey shown above is just one of hundreds of designs, which also include a hummingbird, trees, hands, spiders and fish.

Dragon Head, Canada

(image via: moillusions.com)

Amid the sunny valley landscape of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada is this dragon head that looks like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie – complete with nostrils, an eye and a mouth.

Badlands Guardian, Canada

(image via: Google Maps)

The dragon head isn’t the only striking image found in the terrain of Alberta. This bust of a man, wearing what looks like a feather headdress, is known to locals as ‘The Badlands Guardian’. Although it looks like it’s made up of mountains, it’s actually a valley caused by erosion of soft, clay-rich soil by wind and water.

Obama Sand Art, Spain

(image via: moillusions.com)

Spanish artist Jorge Rodrigues Gerada created this 2.5 acre sand portrait of President Obama in 2008. Called ‘Expectations’, the work alluded to the global optimism that followed Obama’s historic election.

‘The Sun as a Face’, Denmark

(image via: Google Sightseeing)

Over a century ago, Danish author Hans Christian Anderson doodled a strange image onto a piece of paper and called it ‘The Sun as a Face’. Little did he know that many years later, his drawing would be turned into an odd man-made forest. The city of Odense, Denmark then went on to plaster the design all over the place in honor of the bicentenary of the author’s birth.

Imaginary Google Earth Landscape

(image via: DrGlass)

Where other artists have created landscape art for Google Earth, Deviant Art user DrGlass actually created an imaginary landscape using visually captivating Google Earth elements. The result looks like an alien city packed with farms, parking lots and interlaced highways to nowhere.

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There is something peaceful about watching water run over rocks as if it helps wash the stress from your body. Water helps relax you, clearing the mind, renewing the spirit. Nature is amazing with the ever changing emotions she can invoke, from excitement and adventure to rest and relaxation. So kick back and relax with these 26 soothing water on the rocks photos.

Rocks & Water

(image credits:israphel waterscapes,israphel waterscapes)

The seascape on top was taken Praia da Ursa in Portugal. It’s a hiking adventure to reach this little-frequented beach, but the effort is rewarded by superb scenery that is dominated by huge rock formations at the beach. The photo on the bottom was a long exposure at sunrise on Praia do Camilo, Lagos, also in Portugal. There are a number of small coves and little beaches which can be accessed if you’re prepared to climb, or to swim, or to boat around. Both places offer good snorkelling opportunities, fascinating rock formations, and sea grottos.

Water & Land

(image credits:antispy,Andreas Resch)

The photographer called the photo on the left “Water, Land and Sky” and says it is one of the best shots he got in “paradise.” Whatever warm tropical place where he snapped this incredible image, we wish you could kick back and relax there. The picture on the right is called “The Dark Gorge” and was taken in Lammeröfen, Salzburg, Austria. You can see where this was on the map.

Waterfalls

(image credits:stimpy,theon07)

“Serenity II” on the left was taken at a 60 foot tall waterfall near Plotter Kill Preserve, New York. On the right, the “Waterfall Detail” was taken at Cullasaja Falls in North Carolina. This falls was also affectionately named “Broccoli Tower.”

Blue Paradise

(image credit:tinypic)

This scene can be found around the Net named Blue Paradise or Azure Paradise, but the actual location is not stated. Nevertheless, it looks warm and soothing, a great place to kick back and relax. If you are somewhere cold or stormy, we wish you could visit here to hear the waves crashing and feel the wet sand between your toes as the sun smiles down upon you.

Fire & Euphoria

(image credits:solkku,solkku)

“Line of Fire” on the left was snapped at sunset in Pellinge which is an islet outside Porvoo in Finland. “Euphoria” on the right is another seascape taken in Finland. This time, however, this shot was captured in Porkala which is a cape outside Helsinki.

Dark Moods

(image credits:coulombic,Alex Wise Photography)

Most times, water on the rocks is soothing. However nature can always match any mood. Her sounds of rushing water are sometimes more of a tempest’s roar. The photographer said of “Devil’s Churn” on the left, “You see, it’s not just an incredible natural attraction, it’s more than that — it’s the way I saw it: dark, foreboding, gloomy, etc.” It was taken in Devil’s Churn State Park along the Oregon coastline. On the right, this picture is called “Seascape” and was taken at Park Beach, Tasmania.

Dobra Voda

(image credit: 1x)

This winter waterscape picture is called “Dobra Voda” and it was taken in the Czech Republic. Dobrá Voda also means “good water.” Summers in the Czech Republic are relatively rainy and warm, while winters are cold, cloudy and snowy.

Pebbles

(image credit:Raym’s Photosite)

Not all beaches are sandy. These photos were taken on a stormy day along the North Sea where the beaches are covered in colored pebbles.  The image on the left is called “Rabble Beach” while the image on the right is called “Golden Rocks.”

Golden Light

(image credits: jjuuhhaa,jadden)

“Fall River” on top was taken at Kuusamo, Finland. It looks like a spectacular place to get away from it all during the fall season. The image on the bottom was captured at the Island of Madeira, Portugal, and is called “Days Gone By.” The golden rays of the sun play over the rocks and water, looking like a lovely place to reflect on life.

Pinks & Purples

(image credits:1x,israphel waterscapes,israphel waterscapes)

Slangkop Lighthouse has been operational since 1919. It is the tallest cast iron tower on the South African Coast, 100 feet from base to its balcony. On the top right, Guincho Beach, Portugal, is a popular surfing spot. On the bottom, Parede in Portugal is known for very rocky beaches with lots of animal biodiversity.

Water & Rocks For Any Mood

(image credits:Antonio Androsiglio,EbruSidar,Alex Wise Photography,israphel waterscapes,Desktop Nexus)

There are waterscapes with rocks and water to fit any mood and in all different colors, located all around the world. The top left is called “A place where dream…” and the top right is titled “No where for run away.” The gorgeous waterfall was taken in Tasmania, Australia. The stone steps next to the sea was snapped at Monte Clerigo, Portugal. The rocks and water on the bottom right were captured in Antelope Valley, California.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

(image credit:perfectprints)

This particular somewhere over the rainbow was captured in Farewell Spit, South Island, New Zealand. The area got its name after Captain James Cook said “Farewell” to the land and he left these shores of New Zealand in 1770. There are some great Eco Tours around this lovely area.

Wailau Beach Rainbow

(image credit:Nature’s Best Photography)

The world’s highest sea cliffs line the north coast of Molokai island, Hawaii, near the remote Wailau Beach. Wailau, means “Many Waters.” It is a tribute to the abundant waterfalls in the area. Nearly impenetrable by foot, this wild coast area is easiest to reach by boat.

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Meteor Crater, Arizona, USA

(images via: Travel and Tweet, Absolute Astronomy and The Living Moon)

Located about 40 miles east of Flagstaff, the 4,000 ft wide and almost 600 ft deep Meteor Crater owes its startlingly lunar aspect to both a relatively young age (about 40,000 years) and the arid climate of the northern Arizona desert in which it is situated. It’s estimated that the mainly nickel-iron Canyon Diablo Meteorite was about about 55 yards (50 meters) in diameter and weighed approximately 150,000 tons.

(image via: Advanced Physics Forum)

Meteor Crater is, perhaps surprisingly, privately owned and has remained the property of the Barringer family since 1903. Tourists are charged a $15 entrance fee by Meteor Crater Enterprises and a visitor’s center on the crater rim offers multimedia presentations and a chance to handle meteoric iron fragments found in the area.

Here’s a video of a trip via air to Meteor Crater. Flying INTO the crater is not recommended – in 1964 a small Cessna airplane flew into the crater and found itself unable to exit due to persistent downdrafts – it eventually crashed on the crater floor.

Wolfe Creek Crater, Australia

(images via: Chris Images and Fossicking)

Like Meteor Crater in Arizona, Wolfe Creek crater owes its well-preserved state to both age (around 300,000 years) and the environment of the Australian Outback. Approaching the crater on land, visitors must first climb over the 80 ft (25 meter) high rim before descending to the sand-covered crater floor 165 ft (50 meters) below the rim.

(image via: Prism Reptile Robot)

Both oxidized iron meteorite fragments and pieces of impact glass (formed when sand is melted) have been found in the area of the half-mile wide Wolf Creek crater, attesting to its astronomical origins. As well, the center of the crater is dotted with outcroppings of gypsum, a white mineral that holds water and allows for the growth of trees and shrubs in the otherwise inhospitable desert.

Manicouagan Crater, Quebec, Canada

(images via: CBC, Syrtis and Flatrock)

Manicouagan crater is one of the oldest visible impacr crater, due likely to its location on the tough Canadian Shield about 190 miles north of the city of Baie Comeau. The lake that surrounds the central raised plateau of the crater is about 40 miles in diameter.

(image via: Roche-Noire)

An interesting theory put forth by David Rowley, John Spray and Simon Kelley posits that the Manicouagan crater, the Rochechouart crater (France, above), the Saint Martin crater (Manitoba, Canada), Obolon’ crater (Ukraine) and Red Wing crater (North Dakota, USA) were created in a single “crater chain” caused by a large asteroid that broke up high in the Earth’s atmosphere. Though continental drift has shifted the craters around the globe, 214 million years ago they were closer together and roughly aligned – so much so that they may have been the cause of an extinction event in the late Triassic Period of the Mesozoic Era.

(image via: The Blog Of Record)

The amazing image above, taken from the International Space Station orbiting high above the Earth, shows a unique view of the Northern Lights with Manicouagan crater in the foreground.

Wetumpka Crater, Alabama, USA

(images via: UNB and Auburn Astro)

Approximately 82 million years ago, an 1,100 ft wide meteorite impacted the shallow sea north of what is now the city of Montgomery, Alabama. What remains today is one of the best preserved marine craters on Earth. Measuring approximately 5 miles wide, the Wetumpka crater features rocky outcrops on the exposed crater rim and central uplift that clearly show the effects of a sudden impact on marine bedrock.

(image via: Falling Rocks)

The above artist’s conception by Jerry Armstrong shows what the Wetumpka crater may have looked like a short (in geological terms) time after the impact.

Lonar Crater Lake, India

(images via: KarthikCK and UNB)

One of India’s most famous meteorite impact craters is the Lonar crater lake, located near the town of Sultanpur in India’s Maharashtra state. Measuring just over a mile wide from rim to rim, the crater is partially filled by a salty, alkaline lake 3,900 feet (1,200 meters) in diameter. The Lonar crater was created by the impact of a comet or meteor in the Pleistocene epoch roughly 52,000 years ago.

(image via: UNB)

Lonar crater retains much of its original shape and appearance, due in part to the lack of glaciation in that area of India and also the hardness of the volcanic basalts which make up much of the region’s bedrock.

Pingualuit Crater, Quebec, Canada

(images via: UNB, Artnet/Stan Gaz, YJT-Korea and Nunavik Parks)

Discovered in the mid-1940’s but known to indigenous native people as the “Crystal Eye of Nunavik”, Pingualuit crater is the site of a meteor impact that occurred approximately 1.4 million years ago. The lake that today fills the crater is fed only by rain and snow, resulting in exceptional water purity with a salt content of just 3 ppm (the Great Lakes average 500 ppm).

(image via: U Laval)

Formerly known as the New Quebec Crater, Pingualuit crater is located in Quebec’s far northern Ungava peninsula and measures 2.14 miles (3.44 km) in diameter.

Kaali Crater, Estonia

(images via: Muinas-Kaali, CJSveningsson and Carlosj)

Around 660 BCE, a meteor entered the earth’s atmosphere, broke up into at least 9 pieces, and impacted the Baltic island of Saaremaa with the force of a Hiroshima-type atomic bomb. Some of the craters later filled with groundwater but retain their characteristic circular shape as they were formed long after Ice Age glaciers retreated. The largest Kaali crater is about 300 ft (100 meters) in diameter and is filled with groundwater, the level of which varies with the seasons.

The Kaali event may have impacted more than just the land; hints of what must have been a terrible human tragedy can be found in ancient Viking and Finnic epic poems as well as in Norse mythology. The main Kaali crater has been called “Holy Lake” and it may have been used in pagan rituals.

Gosses Bluff Crater, Australia

(images via: UNB, TIME, TrekNature and Gabriel)

Gosses Bluff crater looks pretty good for its age: about 142 million years! Located in Australia’s Northern Territory, the ruggedly beautiful crater features a central ring of peaks that soar 500 ft (150 m) into the crystal clear Outback skies. A popular tourist destination (but perhaps not for the cruise & cabana set), Gosses Bluff crater can be found about 110 miles west of the town of Alice Springs.

(image via: All-Experts)

The arrival of the Gosses Bluff bolide was the ultimate “Jurassic park”, causing widespread devastation and leaving an impact crater 13.5 miles (22 km) in diameter. Time has left its mark, local climate conditions notwithstanding, and currently the Gosses Bluff crater is “only” 3 miles (5 km) wide.

Clearwater Lakes, Quebec, Canada

(images via: UNB and Wikimedia)

The Clearwater Lakes are a pair of water-filled impact craters located in Quebec, Canada, near the shore of Hudson Bay. Like other craters of extreme age – in this case roughly 290 million years – the twin craters have retained their basic structure due to the rigid bedrock of the Canadian Shield.

(image via: UNB)

The circular lakes are 26 km and 36 km in diameter, and one lake features an inner circle of islands that attest to its original multi-ringed form. The phenomenon of double craters, while rare on the Earth, is often seen on other rocky planets and moons elsewhere in the solar system. he cause may be that the original impactor broke in two during its plunge through the atmosphere or, as some have postulated, that the asteroid was accompanied on its final journey by a moon.

Wilkes Land Crater, Antarctica

(images via: Physorg and Shackleton Centenary)

With the advent of accurate satellite mapping and powerful cameras that record beyond the limits of human vision, new craters and/or remnants thereof are continually being discovered. Being a global phenomenon, even icebound Antarctica is not immune: what may be the largest crater ever recorded may have been found, locked beneath the massive ice sheet for many millions of years. If current theories on the anomaly are proven, they indicate a 300 mile (483 km) wide crater smashed into the Antarctic coastline about 250 million years ago. Antarctica was warmer back then; especially so on the grim day a 30-mile wide asteroid arrived with a very big bang.

(images via: LANL and LPI-USRA)

The Wilkes Land crater, possibly formed in conjunction with the 125 mile (200 km) wide Bedout crater in nearby Australia, may have been caused by bolides whose after-effects led to the worst mass extinction in Earth’s history: the Great Dying which closed the Permian period. Could it happen again? We can only hope not… so wish upon a star!

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Where can you go to learn about nature – in both academic environments, and face-to-face – in a big way? Some of the world’s largest public gardens and eco-museums contain dazzling arrays of both live and preserved plant specimens, as well as opportunities to get more familiar with our planet’s natural history. But that’s only the beginning.  If some of the following as-yet-unbuilt concepts come to pass, in the future we’ll have even bigger indoor gardens, zoos and aquariums.

Sietch Nevada Underground Garden City Concept

(image via: Matsys Design)

In 1965, hidden underground oases of the world’s last remaining freshwater were merely science fiction. But those ‘sietch’ described in Frank Herbert’s famous novel Dune are seeming more realistic as the American Southwest struggles with dwindling water supplies. A project called Sietch Nevada envisions turning Herbert’s vision into reality, storing water in vast underground communities that hum with life – both human and plant – far below the dusty surface of the earth.

Keukenhof Flower Garden, Netherlands

(image via: Wikipedia)

No matter where you go in the world, you’ll never find a bigger flower garden than the one at Keukenhof, located near Lisse, Netherlands. Known as the ‘Garden of Europe’, Keukenhof is home to more than 7 million flower bulbs – mostly iconic Dutch tulips in a rainbow of colors.

Botanischer Garten, Berlin, Germany

(image via: visitberlin.de)

Among the biggest botanical gardens on Earth, Berlin’s Botanisher Garten is also considered one of the world’s most important. Encompassing an area that measures nearly 430,000 square miles, the garden contains about 22,000 species of plants and consists of a Botanical Museum, a large herbarium, a scientific library and a number of glass houses. One of them, the Great Pavilion, is the largest glass house in the world.

Dochodo Island Zoo Concept, South Korea

(image via: Inhabitat)

Once it’s built, the Dochodo Island Zoo in South Korea would not only be the biggest, tallest zoo ever – but also the most unusual (in shape at least). All transportation, energy sources and building systems would be contained within giant polygonal structures reaching 20 meters into the sky. This so-called “infrastructural green belt” would make as little an impact on the land itself as possible.

National Botanic Garden, Belgium

(image via: Maribelle71)

Few man-made places can claim that they contain 6% of all the known plant species in the world, but the National Botanic Garden in Belgium is one of the world’s largest botanical gardens and 18,000 plant species call it home. Half can be seen in the greenhouses, while the rest grow outdoors.  Also on its grounds is the 12th century Boechout Castle, used for conferences and exhibitions.

Bay South Garden, Singapore

(image via: Inhabitat)

Singapore will get another 1 million square miles of green garden space once the Bay South project is unveiled in 2011. The country’s largest garden project, this botanical preserve will feature towering solar trees which not only collect solar energy and rainwater, but also serve as gigantic trellises for a number of plant species including ferns and vines. A second 32-hectare development called Bay East, featuring water gardens and an aquatic education center, will open at a later date.

Qinling Mountain National Botanic Garden, China

(image via: quinlingbg.com)

Home to critically endangered pandas and many species of endangered plants, the Qinling Mountains in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province will soon have a massive botanical garden in an effort to protect them. The gardens will cover roughly 284 square miles – four times the size of Australia’s Queensland Botanical Gardens, which are currently the world’s largest – and will protect a total of 6,100 rare plant species. The national botanic garden will form an extension to the existing Qinling Botanical Gardens, located in central Shaanxi’s Zhouzhi County.

Kalyna Country, Canada

(image via: Wikipedia)

Alberta, Canada’s Kalyna Country is the world’s largest ecomuseum at more than 12,427 square miles. This heritage and eco-tourism district, named after the highbush cranberry plant, is home to large numbers of Ukrainian Canadians and includes Elk Island National Park and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. It’s also famous for the Giants of the Prairies, which are huge roadside attractions including giant potatoes and the world’s largest sundial.

National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France

(image via: Wikipedia)

The world’s largest collection of preserved plant specimens is at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris. This herbarium contains over 8 million carefully dried and protected plants from around the world. Such collections as this help scientists maintain a historical record of changes in vegetation over time, and retain specimens of plants that have since gone extinct.

American Museum of Natural History

(image via: Wikipedia)

Perhaps there’s no better place in America to see a visual representation of the earth’s natural history as this museum, located in just outside Manhattan’s Central Park in New York. One of the largest museums in the world, the AMNH contains over 32 million specimens – so many, that they can only display a fraction of them at one time. The history of human biology and evolution, meteorites, minerals and gems and fossils are only a few of the nature-related subjects covered here.

Songdo International City Ecotarium, South Korea

(image via: Songdo.com)

South Korea’s newest metropolis got its very own Central Park inspired by the one in New York City, and its crowning jewel will be an “ecotarium” packed full of fresh and salt-water marine habitats, scenic footbridges and promenades. The flow of the seawater canal will be powered by wind turbines and will harness seawater transported from the West Sea.

Eden Project, Cornwall, UK

(image via: Wikipedia)

The largest greenhouse on earth is located at the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK. Plants from around the world flourish inside the thermoplastic dome, which is only one of many moon-inspired artificial biomes on site. The record-setting Rainforest Biome is 180 feet high, 328 feet wide and 656 feet long.

King Abdullah International Gardens, Saudi Arabia

(image via: kaig.net)

The Eden Project will only boast the title of “world’s biggest greenhouse” for so long if the Saudis finish their own series of botanical landscapes outside Riyadh. King Abdullah International Gardens will feature two crescent-shaped enclosures projected to be five times larger than that of the Rainforest Biome in Cornwall. Inside, visitors will find a dazzling array of plants that span the entire history of botanical life from 400 million years ago until today, essentially walking back through time.

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Is the winter getting to you? The cold, dark, short days have a way of making us yearn for a change of scenery. For many destinations winter is the off-season, meaning you can get a better deal if you go now. Even if you’re not ready to go today, these links from our friends at Treehugger and Planet Green will help you get away in solid eco style on your next vacation.

Eco-Travel Tips

Confused about how to make traveling more green? Here are a few tips to make your travel plans a bit more eco-friendly, and here are a few more to help you find green accommodations no matter where you’re headed. If you still don’t know where, exactly, you’d like to spend your getaway, Planet Green’s Green City Guides can help you out with info on green accommodations and activities in cities around the world.

Meaningful Travels

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Top Ten Green Getaways of 2009

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Stunning Waterfront Camping

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Hiking in US National Parks

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Weird Eco-Resorts

If your tastes run toward the quirky and unexpected, you’ll love this guide to seven of the world’s oddest environmentally-friendly resorts and hotels. From mushroom-shaped huts to a literal hole in the ground, these accommodations are definitely off the beaten eco-path.

Luxury Eco-Resorts

If you, on the other hand, enjoy the finer things in life, don’t worry – you don’t have to spend your vacation sleeping in a tree to make your travels more eco-friendly. These 7 luxurious oceanfront resorts will give you the experience of a lifetime. Plus, learn which questions to ask to determine if a resort you’re looking at is eco-friendly.

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