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Ball’s Pyramid is a sea stack, a great jagged spire rising from the Tasman Sea. Its steep base, roughly 650 feet across, is battered by the rugged sea, making the landing a serious challenge. Royal Navy Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball is credited with discovering Ball’s Pyramid in 1788, which was named in his honor. It…
The Western United States is home to some of the world’s most iconic rock formations. Monument Valley, the Delicate Arch, and Devils Towers attract countless visitors eager to view some of the West’s most beloved natural architecture. Most travelers are unaware that one of the West’s most impressive landscapes is tucked away in a remote…
Scotland is known for its majestic woodlands that look like they’ve come straight out of a storybook. The Devil’s Pulpit, however, takes on a more sinister vibe when it comes to folklore. Instead of dreaming of gnomes and fairies across the lush greenery, Finnich Glen is a crimson-colored river that gushes through twisted and sinister-looking…
For decades, travelers driving the rustic road between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska have been captivated by a large concrete igloo which locals lovingly refer to as the “Parks Highway Igloo.” The Parks Highway Igloo was supposed to be the centerpiece of a resort town called Igloo City, but building code infractions prevented the building from…
In the 8th century AD, a Rashtrakuta King ordered a rock-cut temple that celebrated Mt. Kailash—which Hindus believe is the Himalayan home of the deity Shiva—to be built in Maharashtra, India. Mt. Kailash was located in a remote corner of Tibet, so the Rashtrakuta ruler wanted to create an accessible pilgrimage spot for devotees of…
Rows of rounded rocks known as the Alabama Hills—which are located just outside of Lone Pine, California—have served as a captivating backdrop for countless films. From the first masked Lone Ranger in the television series of the same name in 1949, to Kevin Bacon narrowly escaping the jaws of a vicious desert creature in the…
U.S. Route 50 is one of Americaβs most fascinating cross-country highways. Stretching nearly 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from Ocean City, Maryland to West Sacramento, California, this legendary eastβwest route cuts through deserts, mountain ranges, tiny forgotten towns, and the famously empty stretch in Nevada known as βThe Loneliest Road in America.β US Route 50 Map:…
When most people think of a river, they envision dark muddy water—or, crystal clear water with a few dull grey stones lining a fairly nondescript riverbed. From late July through November, CaΓ±o Cristales in Colombia is the most colorful river in the world. A short window between the wet and dry season is conductive to…