they were the world’s tallest standing statue of Buddha. The statues were destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001, on the grounds that they were an affront to Islam.
Kendeda earned the Living Building Challenge certification, said to be the world’s most ambitious green building achievement. In 2023, the PGMS awarded Georgia Tech its grand honor for urban university grounds as well as its sustainability award. U.S. News rank: 33 (tie), National ...
Much like the Victorians who came before me, I touch the spiky leaves and sticky flowers of endangered plants that had crossed the world to get to this corner of west London. There’s the Dombeya mauritiana , a tree that was thought to be extinct before one was found in the highlands ...
Out on the most westerly point of Australia, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shark Bay is known for its dugong (or “sea cow”) population, the wild dolphin hang-out of Monkey Mia, and stromatolites—living fossils that are among Earth’s oldest lifeforms, dating back 3 billion years...
Formed throughout millions of years, its endless mountains and forests contain over 300 caves and grottos. Some, such as Son Doong and Phong Nha, are among the largest in the world. Entering their cavernous confines is unforgettable as spectacular stalactites and stalagmites are on show wherever...
While many Middle Eastern countries boast architectural superlatives, the tallest of the futuristic towers – and the tallest building in the world – is Burj Khalifa. Its 163 floors are housed within a slender silver and glass frame that is 2,716.5-foot-tall and can be seen from virtually an...
Just north of Loch Ness, Reelig Glen is an ancient forest that’s home to some of Scotland’s tallest trees. This tranquil glen is a narrow, steep-sided gorge with the Moniack Burn rushing through it past stone bridges, grottoes and trickling waterfalls. ...
Double Arch Trailis a great place to climb around and explore underneath the park’s tallest arch. On the other side of the parking lot, theWindows Trailleads you to three massive arches on an easy, 1-mile loop. If you are seeking to see the longest arch in the world , take the tra...
World-famous for its gigantic trees, Sequoia in California is home to the tallest tree in the world, the towering General Sherman. It's also home to caves, rock formations and endangered animals, particularly black bears. Encounters between these animals and humans are rare and are usually limi...
Check out 24 of the world’s must unusual landscapes — from the hellish Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan to the “snow monsters” of Mount Zao, Japan.