The world's prettiest sights
Jada A. Graves
The Northern Lights Arctic Circle
This scientific phenomenon occurs when charged solar particles collide in the earth's geomagnetic field and create a colorful, magnificent glow in the sky's upper atmosphere. According to the Huffington Post, "ideal viewing conditions are crisp, cold, clear and cloudless skies with little light." And though it is possible to see the Northern Lights in other parts of the globe, this phenomenon is most prevalent in the world's polar regions; the name Aurora Borealis refers to the lights as seen from northern latitudes (Aurora Australis is the name for the lesser-known Southern Lights of the South Pole). For the best viewing, Fodor's recommends visiting Anchorage, Alaska or Calgary, Alberta. You can also see the Northern Lights in parts of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Russia, among other countries.(Photo: Beverly & Pack/Flickr)
June 21 will be our "longest day". For the summer solstice, the sun does indeed play extra time. With us, it will be lifted soon 3:49 ET will go to bed at 7:56 p.m.. Going up north, this period gets longer: the pole, it shines almost non-stop for three months and yet so far.
Grand Canyon USA
The astonishing depths and incredible sunsets of the Grand Canyon make it a shoe-in on this list. Plus you can enjoy the scenery while you work up a sweat, hiking the rigorous Bright Angel Trail or rafting the Colorado River. As President Theodore Roosevelt famously noted, this park is "one of the great sights which every American, if he can travel at all, must see." Many take Teddy up on his word -- so if you want to explore this northern Arizona park, we suggest you avoid the staggering crowds of the summer. Consider visiting between March and May or September and November, when the weather is pleasant and the lodging rates are reasonable.(Photo: Fundenberg/Flickr)The Great Wall of China
Myth: The Great Wall of China can be seen from outer space (with the naked eye). Fact: it is pretty fantastic to view up close and personal. It sweeps through approximately 6,500 km of northern China, and different sections guarantee different tourist experiences: The jungly sections of Simatai and Jinshanling are good for hiking; the arresting and gorgeous Mutianyu stretch is good for snapping photos; and the crowded Badaling portion is good for convenience (it's only an hour away from exciting Beijing). Plan your trip for anytime (just imagine the contrast of the Great Wall with the white snow of winter, the red leaves of fall and the green grass of spring and summer), but do try to bypass the hordes of tourists that visit on the weekends year-round.(Photo: firepile/Flickr)
Machu Picchu Peru
Machu Picchu's 12 acres of mysterious temples and exquisite terraces are perpetually shrouded in cloud tufts, proving that this ancient site of Peru's Urubamba Valley still lives up to its reputation as the "Lost City of the Incas." Or at least it seems like it from the pictures. In reality, this ancient city is always overrun with hikers exploring the Inca Trail or catching the view from the Temple of the Sun. So come with plenty of camera film and patience. For fewer crowds -- though not by much -- visit between October and April. (Photo: Allard Schmidt/Wikimedia Commons)
The Great Temple of Ramses II Egypt
During his 67-year reign, Pharaoh Ramses II left many visual reminders of his greatness. Perhaps the best known are the four larger-than-life statues carved into a mountainside of southern Egypt. Many don't realize there's more to this site -- sometimes called Abu Simbel for the town you'll find it in -- than those seated statues seated on the facade. Pass through them and you'll find more detailed statues and intricate hieroglyphs depicting the Egyptian army's victory over ancient Libya, Syria and Nubia. Next door is the smaller Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the Pharaoh's favorite wife. If you truly want to be wowed, you should swing by Abu Simbel around Feb. 20 or Oct. 20. Twice a year around those days the sun's rays shine directly into the larger temple to illuminate the artwork and statues within.(Photo: Mrs Logic/Flickr)Báo Le Figaro
- Natural mosquito . This is one of the side effects and totally unexpected monstrous floods that devastated Pakistan in late 2010. To escape the waves, the spiders have taken refuge in the trees by the millions before the jail in their paintings, turning them into huge, and very effective - mosquito traps. Result: while the country is experiencing the greatest difficulty recovering from the disaster (almost 2000 deaths and 15 million people-about 170 million Pakistanis - Private Roof), malaria is unusually low virulence. A blessing for local people who had never observed such a phenomenon. (Ho New / Reuters) Immortal in our hearts . This Polish boy no mistake playing with the image of John Paul II as if he were still among us. Died in April 2005 and was beatified Sunday by his successor Benedict XVI, Karol Wojtyla has indeed a popularity that nothing seems able to refute. No pope before him had been so close to his flock. In twenty-six years of his pontificate, this tireless evangelist was able to visit 127 countries, enabling millions of faithful to approach personally. And it was true in Poland than elsewhere, since he had made nine times in his native country, while contributing greatly to the issue of communism. (Peter Andrews / Reuters) Ten years . This is one of hounding the longest in modern history that has just ended. In nearly four months, Americans have taken a full decade to get its hands on Osama bin Laden since Sept. 17, 2001, days after the attacks of Sept. 11, when George W. Bush called the capture "dead or alive" the leader of al-Qaida. Over 3000 people died in the deadliest such attacks in history. (Seth Mcallister / AFP) For memory . This aerial view of the site of the former World Trade Center in New York, was taken Thursday, May 5 Three days after the U.S. military has killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, Barack Obama makes a highly symbolic trip to Ground Zero, the site where the twin towers were destroyed by the attacks of September 11, 2001. The U.S. president should make a speech and meet families of victims of the attack the deadliest in history. (Mike Segar / Reuters) Curiosity . Three days later, the population of Abbottabad, within one hundred kilometers north of Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, is still stunned by the news of the death of Osama bin Laden in his place so peaceful. So much so that many people like this man, post themselves at the great door of the last residence of the head of al-Qaida to try to see this house, attacked by U.S. commandos. (Faisal Mahmood / REUTERS) Repeat . The second night rehearsal of the parade in honor of the 66th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War took place on Red Square in Moscow on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. May 9, nearly 20,000 soldiers and officers will take place for this military parade. (Dmitry Kostyukov / AFP) Tightrope walkers . For this trio, he is not afraid of heights. Balancing on a wire cable over 200 meters in height and without safety equipment, these new record holders have traveled a distance of 1550 meters between two mountains of Guangdong Province, China. The previous record was 1500 meters. (REX / SIPA) At the chain . It's a lucky day. As every year on 1 May is a popular date for many couples wishing to marry. At Wuhan, in Hubei Province, China, the demands were so great that a mass ceremony was organized, with the added bonus for the happy newlyweds, a small sleigh ride. (AFP)