Tibet’s Potala Palace

Named after Mount Potalaka, the Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, during the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

Eight Of The World’s Most Incredible Rock Formations

12 Apostles, Australia

Scattered along the scenic Great Ocean Road in Australia, the 12 Apostles formation is the result of the Southern Ocean’s harsh weather conditions eroding the existing landscape. Beginning 10 to 20 million years ago, the constant erosion of the limestone cliffs caused caves to form within them. These caves eventually became arches and ultimately collapsed into the isolated stacks of rock seen today.

Arches National Park, USA

Created from 300 million year old salt bed deposits, Arches National Park in Utah is home to over 2,000 beautifully crafted arches. As the salt beds shifted over the years, the superior rock layers began to create domes that were further molded by rain, ice and wind. The result? The magnificent arches you see today.

Stone Forest, China

The Stone Forest in China is an amazing sea of towering stone pinnacles that are believed to be over 270 million years old. Some speculate that the area was once an ocean floor and that today’s stone structures are actually the rocky results of millions of years of flowing water.

White Desert, Egypt

Situated north of the Farafra Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt, the White Desert is populated with chalk rock formations that have formed following occasional sandstorms.

Three Rondavels, South Africa

Located in Blyde Canyon in South Africa, the Three Rondavels are named for their resemblance to the rondavels — or huts — of Africa. Over time the harder and superficial rock layers eroded more slowly than the underlying softer layers, which resulted in this unique South African rock formation. As a fun piece of trivia, the Three Rondavels are thought to have inspired the setting in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

Devils Tower, USA

Also known as Bears Lodge, Devils Tower is America’s first national monument and a sacred site to many Native Americans. Devil’s Tower was formed approximately 60 million years ago during a volcanic eruption, when the molten lava released during the eruption eventually cooled and soon shaped the basalt columns.

Queen’s Head, Taiwan

Located in Yehlia Geopark, Taiwan, the Queen’s Head is a curious stone monument that has been sculpted by wind and sea erosion. However, the Queen’s Head is only one of the many uniquely shaped (and named) stone moments in the region, with others including the Fairy’s Shoe, Candle, Stone Heart, Bean Curd, and the Dragon Head.

Mesa Arch, USA

Calling Utah’s Canyonlands National Park home, Mesa Arch is a stone’s throw away from The Arches National Park (pun intended). The arch is located right on the rim of a plateau and beautifully frames the canyon landscape below it.

The World’s Seven Most Absurd Theme Parks

Dickens World, England

With his staggering works set on the backdrop of the squalor of 19th century English society, Charles Dickens was a literary genius. Unfortunately, someone took his words a little too literally and transformed his world into a theme park that recreates the filth, poverty, and even the unpleasant smells of Victorian London.

Memory Village, Haiti

Despite not being built yet, the Memory Village in Haiti deserves a spot on the absurd theme parks list. The proposed park seeks to educate visitors on slavery by allowing them to play the role of a slave. This includes donning traditional slave clothing and then simulating being kidnapped, chained and sold to plantations. The theme park will be a 12-hour experience and will end with visitors staging a rebellion for emancipation.

The Holy Land Experience, USA

Zealots can rejoice at the extremely bizarre Holy Land Experience, an entire theme park based on the life and times of Jesus Christ. The theme park features an olden-day Jerusalem with markets, a Judean Village, a temple and thousands of artifacts from the bible. Alongside plays, presentations and musicals, patrons can also join Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper Communion, watch a dancing water presentation and rest, reflect and pray at the Living Word Prayer Garden.

Išgyvenimo Drama, Lithuania

The controversial theme park, Išgyvenimo Drama, opened in early 2008 and allows tourists to experience life as a 1984 USSR citizen. Situated inside an actual bunker, the theme park was conceived as a means to educate people about Lithuania’s history during the Soviet Union. The experience involves watching TV programs from 1984, wearing gas masks, learning the Soviet anthem under stress, eating typical Communist-era food, and even undergoing a Gulag-style interrogation and medical check. The simulation may be traumatic, but it does end with a celebratory shot of vodka.

Suoi Tien Park, Vietnam

Meant to be a peaceful retreat for Buddhists, the Suoi Tien Park in Vietnam invites patrons who have overcome past transgressions to frolic in their splash pools, enjoy the thrill rides and visit the Heaven Palace. Unfortunately, heaven also involves passing through hell. In Suoi Tien park, this translates to a jaunt through a bat cave and mid-air cycling over a crocodile farm filled with 1500 crocodiles.

Love Land, South Korea

Love Land in South Korea is not a theme park in the traditional sense. Focused entirely on sex, it is not a family-friendly. Built in 2004, the park has sex education films on loop, 140 sculptures of sexual positions, hands-on exhibitions such as the “masturbation-cycle” and large statues of genitals. Unsurprisingly, it is quite the popular destination for honeymooners.

Grutas Park, Lithuania

Commonly referred to as “Stalin’s World”, Lithuania’s Grutas Park is a disturbing place. Founded by Vilumas Malinauskas, the park houses statues of famous Communists – including Stalin, Lenin, Marx – and is surrounded by barbed wire and watch towers in attempt to recreate the Soviet-era in Lithuania. Despite the dreariness, the park also has a zoo and playground in an attempt to lure families.