A young ibex in El Torcal Nature Reserve near Antequera, Andalucia, Spain (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

A young ibex in El Torcal Nature Reserve near Antequera, Andalucia, Spain (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

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• Both males and females of this species have horns.""But what about the babies?
• Visiting photographers to this area appreciate the unique rock formations and Mediterranean light.""Here\s a local\s perspective (complete with English subtitles)
• The relatives of this young ‘un are dwindling around the world.""It\s a good thing this neighborhood is protected
• This sure-footed fella lives in a rocky reserve.""So where do the people live?

Great Glacier Provincial Park, Lower Stikine, British Columbia, Canada (@ Gary Fiegehen/Corbis)

Great Glacier Provincial Park, Lower Stikine, British Columbia, Canada (@ Gary Fiegehen/Corbis)

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• If you want to put something on ice…""It\s available here, year-round
• Thirsty? There\s a solid store of freshwater in glaciers like this around the world.""And how much exactly is in that store?
• Nearby is a river basin that millions of wild salmon call their first and last home.""The indigenous people here have a more reverent name
• You can hike into this wilderness, canoe, or fly in on a seaplane.""But those are all just cop-outs for this guy

Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona (@ Stephen Matera)

Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona (@ Stephen Matera)

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• In a narrow place like this…""Sunlight makes a dramatic entrance
• This canyon gets its name from…""The fastest land mammal in North America
• These beautiful geological formations often start as crevices that grow into deep, narrow ravines.""So what is it that makes them so dangerous?
• Access to this slot canyon requires that you join a guided tour. And the canyon walls are narrow enough…""You may need a very large shoe horn, too

Elephants on Stone Statue Road at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Zijin Shan, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (@ Ian Trower/Corbis)

Elephants on Stone Statue Road at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Zijin Shan, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (@ Ian Trower/Corbis)

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• Twelve pairs of animals guard this road, followed by four pairs of warriors.""So why the elaborate security system?
• Construction of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum began in the late 14th century…""For a leader who claimed the Mandate of Heaven
• These well-ordered grounds would be the perfect place…""For a certain aristocratic pachyderm we know
• Visitors who walk this row of stone sentries…""Have a bit of a hike before they reach their destination

Kogelberg Mountains, South Africa (@ Martin Harvey/Corbis)

Kogelberg Mountains, South Africa (@ Martin Harvey/Corbis)

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• Sea and sky meet sandstone peaks in this rugged shoreline scene.""Welcome to one of the most biologically diverse spots on the planet
• There\s a kingdom nearby.""But it\s not your usual fiefdom
• A winding road just inland from here is one of the world\s longest winery routes.""If you go, leave the keys at home and take a bus
• There\s another breathtaking site down here, but if you take the plunge...""You might want to bring an extra pair of pants

Tube anemone (@ Stuart Westmorland/Corbis)

Tube anemone (@ Stuart Westmorland/Corbis)

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• It\s hard to make friends…""When you live in a mucky, dank tube
• Long, tentacled creatures like this make an underwater rainbow of colors.""They\re totally tubular!
• There\s no need for a flashlight...""If you\ve got the cheapest neon in town
• So you say you\re not keen on diving into the depths to see this luminous show?""Then try some drier views from higher ground

Cranberries floating on the water's surface in Harwich, Massachusetts (@ Kerry Sherck/Aurora/Getty Images)

Cranberries floating on the water's surface in Harwich, Massachusetts (@ Kerry Sherck/Aurora/Getty Images)

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• Today, ovens are baking, stoves are frying, mixers are mixing, folks are napping, and tables are filled with grace and good will.""Happy Thanksgiving to all!
• Fall fruit plays well in sauces, jellies, and stuffing…""There\s even one that makes a sweet, lyrical sound
• These tart little juicers are chock-full of healthy goodness.""In fact, they\re not just for Thanksgiving anymore
• Seems this is a capital cape for cranberry cultivation because...""Bountiful bogs of berries abound all \round

Tent and prayer flags, Tagong Grasslands, Sichuan, China (@ Robert Harding Picture Library/Superstock)

Tent and prayer flags, Tagong Grasslands, Sichuan, China (@ Robert Harding Picture Library/Superstock)

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• You may want to pitch your own tent here…""Once you get a look at the surrounding landscape
• Why do people spin the large brass wheels…""In the courtyard of the local Buddhist monastery?
• Tibetans call this the “favorite place of the enlightened.”""Simply visiting can feel enlightening
• To get here, travelers spend hours, sometimes days, navigating over bumpy roads and mountain passes.""Just be sure to take a map

Reflection of an old tree with fog in Jusanji Lake/Cheongsonggun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea (@ Multi-bits/Getty Images)

Reflection of an old tree with fog in Jusanji Lake/Cheongsonggun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea (@ Multi-bits/Getty Images)

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• This lake is famous for reflecting the beauty that surrounds it.""It really pulls out all the stops in autumn
• A Buddhist temple, floating in these still waters, became the setting...""For one of this country\s most beloved films
• Although this park may be small…""When you visit, the payoff is big
• To visit this tranquil lake, you\ll need to travel…""To one of the most remote national parks in this land

Curly kale with raindrops (@ Gap Photos/Visuals Unlimited, Inc.)

Curly kale with raindrops (@ Gap Photos/Visuals Unlimited, Inc.)

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• Before year-round shipments of fresh produce to grocery stores became the norm, folks had to rely…""On hearty plants like this to get them through the cold months
• If you pop these pretty dandies into your garden…""You\ll enjoy color through the doldrums of winter
• Some of us tend gardens for the good, cheap food, or even for the exercise.""But guess who\s doing it for schoolwork?
• Sure it\s lovely, but what\s it good for?""It\s time to experiment in the kitchen

Buildings in Nice, France (@ Bharat Ranjan, FragmentOne Studios)

Buildings in Nice, France (@ Bharat Ranjan, FragmentOne Studios)

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• These buildings really show their colors…""When you get the bird\s-eye view
• Let your eyes travel down to street level and allow your nose to lead the way.""What are the locals cooking that smells so good?
• This time of year, most folks around here are searching for cozy cafés, but in the summer they escape the city streets for the beach.""And with views this nice, it\s easy to see why
• For centuries, travelers have flocked to this seaside hot spot.""Grab a croissant and tour the Azure Coast

Aspens and snow on the red cliffs of Redstone, Colorado (@ Terry Eggers/Danita Delimont)

Aspens and snow on the red cliffs of Redstone, Colorado (@ Terry Eggers/Danita Delimont)

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• This frosty mountain scene is near a resort town…""Known for its bubbling “big medicine”
• A cigar-smoking industrialist built an exquisite castle not far from here at the turn of the last century.""Some folks claim they can still smell the smoke of his stogie in the halls
• Nearby, there are people strapping sticks to their feet and launching themselves off powder-covered rocks.""Perhaps they find it therapeutic…
• If you don\t like snow and long winters…""Life could get rocky here

Bird's-eye view of Riga, Latvia (@ Top Photo Corporation/Photolibrary)

Bird's-eye view of Riga, Latvia (@ Top Photo Corporation/Photolibrary)

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• This small European nation first declared its independence 93 years ago today.""Unfortunately, they had to regain their freedom all over again after the Soviet invasion of World War II
• If you visit this country today…""You\ll likely hear this song
• In some cultures, a young woman might give the object of her affection a peck on the cheek.""But around here, it may be a pair of these
• Fairy-tale architecture, cobblestone streets, and snow-dusted steeples in a thriving Baltic metropolis…""Where will you find this UNESCO World Heritage site?

Close-up of a ring-tailed lemur with its offspring (@ SuperStock)

Close-up of a ring-tailed lemur with its offspring (@ SuperStock)

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• Yo, little guy…""Was somebody up all night?
• Why would two males try to outstink each other?""Oh, there must be a lady involved
• Up for some real-life action? Then meet “The Wilmas.”""They\re a modern primate family
• You\ll find more of these masked fur balls on their island nation home.""It\s that big spot on the map next to the mainland

White-lined leaf frog walking on branch at Manu National Park, Cruz de Mayo, Madre de Dios, Peru (@ Frans Lemmens/Getty Images)

White-lined leaf frog walking on branch at Manu National Park, Cruz de Mayo, Madre de Dios, Peru (@ Frans Lemmens/Getty Images)

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• Not far from here is the capital of an ancient empire.""Locals called it “the navel of the world”
• This little green guy stays safe in trees with feet that grasp like hands…""And sticky toes that act like super sucker saucer sneakers
• A rock star was just named honorary tourism ambassador of this soggy rainforest.""What is it they say about rolling stones gathering no moss?
• If you flew over our amphibian friend\s habitat…""You\d see a swath of green for miles and miles

City wall and watch tower in San Juan, Puerto Rico (@ Zhang Jun/Xinhua Press/Corbis)

City wall and watch tower in San Juan, Puerto Rico (@ Zhang Jun/Xinhua Press/Corbis)

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• This fortress used to provide protection against pirates and invaders.""But it\s since been remodeled for the governor
• During carnival, clowns here wear “fright masks” and whack bystanders with painted cow bladders.""What\s up with that?
• When Christopher Columbus first landed on these shores…""He found a large group of locals already here
• Tourists from all over the world come to this colonial city on the “Island of Enchantment” to vacation.""The view from here is just one of its many charms

Sheepdog guards a flock of sheep in the Tatra Mountains, Poland (@ Henryk T. Kaiser/Age Fotostock/Photolibrary)

Sheepdog guards a flock of sheep in the Tatra Mountains, Poland (@ Henryk T. Kaiser/Age Fotostock/Photolibrary)

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• In the dictionary, next to “soft, fluffy cuteness…”""Is a pic of this pooch
• Hey, why\s this dog lying around on the job?""Maybe she\s dreaming of the catwalk…
• When sheep here are shorn, they look forlorn…""But what if their wool is traditionally worn?
• This alpine setting in Poland is near a transboundary biosphere reserve.""You need two nations to get a fancy name like that

Yellow Mound Overlook area of Badlands National Park, South Dakota (@ Carol Barrington/Aurora Photos)

Yellow Mound Overlook area of Badlands National Park, South Dakota (@ Carol Barrington/Aurora Photos)

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• The Sioux call this area “mako sica.”""You probably know it by the English translation
• The delicately hued beauty of this landscape is best appreciated on foot.""But the drive is awfully nice, too
• One of the most endangered mammals in North America…""May get a second chance here
• If you show up at the gate today for this park\s 33rd anniversary…""Admission is free

Interior of the Sydney Opera House, Australia (@ Hervé Hughes/Corbis)

Interior of the Sydney Opera House, Australia (@ Hervé Hughes/Corbis)

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• Don\t recognize this interior?""You\ve probably seen its shell
• Almost every evening, this hall presents world-class performances.""But during the day, the beach is the stage in this sun-kissed city
• This boffo building was short-listed for the “new seven wonders of the world” a few years ago.""Take a tour of other world wonders
• Going for a pre-show stroll in the nearby botanical gardens?""Keep your eyes open for some of the local residents sporting giant wings

Icelandic horses running through a lagoon in Iceland (@ Tim Flach/Getty Images)

Icelandic horses running through a lagoon in Iceland (@ Tim Flach/Getty Images)

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• Even in icy glacial waters, their thick coats and robust constitutions mean…""These fillies don\t get chilly
• Though they\re called horses, this breed is small enough to be categorized as a pony.""They\re wee, but mighty sure-footed
• These horses romp on an island nation that\s also home to many active volcanoes, one of which erupted last year and disrupted air travel in Northern Europe for weeks.""What country is this?
• Their ancestors first came here more than 1,000 years ago, courtesy of Scandinavians who venerated horses.""Notably, one eight-legged equine

Freshwater ectoproct bryozoan (@ Wim van Egmond/Corbis)

Freshwater ectoproct bryozoan (@ Wim van Egmond/Corbis)

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• Until the mid-18th century, these animals were considered plants.""Which helps to explain how they got their common name
• Victorian naturalist George Allman said of these minuscule organisms, “A more interesting and beautiful animal... can scarcely be imagined.”""Of course, they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder
• Each of these little critters is only half a millimeter long.""How long is that in inches?
• On their own, these teeny creatures are helpless. But, like another organism that comes to mind, they find power in numbers.""Resistance is futile

Close-up of watch cogwheel (@ Clip Canvas)

Close-up of watch cogwheel (@ Clip Canvas)

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• Shhhh… Go back to bed, sleepyhead.""This morning you may redeem one extra hour of shut-eye
• If you built a time machine, would you want to change the past?""Consider the gravity of this far-out notion
• Should your clocks be set one hour earlier or one hour later today?""Maybe you should make sure
• Nowadays, cell phones and other gadgets automatically update the time for us.""But what did folks do in the olden days?

The twin peaks of Mount Ushba in the Greater Caucasus mountain range (@ Brooks Kraft/Corbis)

The twin peaks of Mount Ushba in the Greater Caucasus mountain range (@ Brooks Kraft/Corbis)

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• Though not among the highest of the mountains in this range, this peak is celebrated as…""The “Matterhorn of the Caucasus”
• Subjugated over the centuries by the Romans, Persians, Ottomans, Russians, and others…""This country is now meeting the world on its own terms
• The polyphonic singing from this region sounds as though it could almost be echoing…""Off the sides of the surrounding mountains
• Hike these mountains from the Black Sea in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east…""And you\ll travel from Europe to Asia

Interior of Graduate Reading Room at Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle (@ Michael T. Sedam/Corbis)

Interior of Graduate Reading Room at Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle (@ Michael T. Sedam/Corbis)

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• The design of this vast reading room reflects its namesake\s belief that universities should be…""“Cathedrals of learning”
• The librarians may need to shush students and faculty alike at this university.""What\s got them all so excited?
• This reading room is a welcome refuge for students in a city where it rains, on average, 155 days a year.""Where would you find this soggy city?
• Think this spot looks a little stuffy? Appearances can be so deceiving.""The librarians here really go gaga for the place

Aerial view of Tamul waterfall in the Huasteca Potosina region, Mexico (@ Patricio Robles Gil/Getty Images)

Aerial view of Tamul waterfall in the Huasteca Potosina region, Mexico (@ Patricio Robles Gil/Getty Images)

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• You\ll find this waterfall in a state known for its eye-catching natural resources.""The local capital is the silver-mining center of Mexico
• The fortunate few who make the journey to this remote waterfall…""Discover that it\s beautiful from most any angle
• In the local towns, you\ll hear not the splashing of water, but violins playing huapango music…""And see the dance that goes by the same name
• Not far from this towering waterfall is the Cave of Swallows, plunging more than 1,000 feet deep. It\s so deep…""It could swallow up San Francisco\s Transamerica Pyramid and still have room for dessert

Candles lining a street for All Souls' Day in Kaunas, Lithuania (@ Stephane Victor/Lonely Planet Images)

Candles lining a street for All Souls' Day in Kaunas, Lithuania (@ Stephane Victor/Lonely Planet Images)

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• Candles like these are lit in many communities today…""As a way of honoring the dead
• In recent years, this city\s winning basketball team has been a source of pride in its hoops-crazed country.""Visitors may find the local 14th-century castle and charming Old Town a slam dunk as well
• This cobblestone street is in a nation that was the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence.""Where is this country?
• Though this country\s claim to being the “Center of Europe” is up for debate…""It\s a great excuse for a visit

Beaded skull ornaments created for celebrations of Day of the Dead in Pátzcuaro, Mexico (@ Rodrigo Cruz/Getty Images)

Beaded skull ornaments created for celebrations of Day of the Dead in Pátzcuaro, Mexico (@ Rodrigo Cruz/Getty Images)

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• Today, Mexican families will gather to eat, drink, and celebrate, and they\ll be joined by…""Those who\ve already left this mortal coil
• These beaded skulls are ready for display in a city known for its celebrations…""That welcome back the souls of the dead to the land of the living
• After the Spanish arrived here, they rescheduled the locals\ holiday honoring the dead so it would coincide with a Christian one.""What\s that Christian holiday called?
• These ornaments are examples of the highly specialized craftsmanship in this part of Mexico. Copper goods come from one town, lace comes from another, and so on.""They\ll all be on full display during today\s festivities in this state