Early in the morning of January 23, 1973, the residents of the Icelandic Heimaey Island woke up to the sound of fire engine horns warning them that a huge fissure had opened up across the island, spewing red-hot lava. They evacuated that night. The volcanic eruption went on for five months, burying one third of the island’s buildings in 200 million tons of ash and lava, according to The Daily Mail. A 656-foot volcanic cone - the Eldfell volcano –...

'When The Night Not Move Again,' Kyoto. (Massimo Ferrero) In the world's busiest, most populated cities, the action doesn't stop after the sun sets. Insired by the theme "Cities at Work," the photographers of the CBRE Urban Photographer of the Year competition capture the essence and spirit of their cities with vibrant images of day-to-day life. Many of the photographers' entries were shot at nighttime, depicting scenes after sundown — from the bright lights of Times Square in New York...

The city of Lindau is seen in Jakob Wagner's 'Nightscapes' photo series. (Jakob Wagner) Photographer Jakob Wagner captures images of the world’s cities illuminated by lights of buildings, traffic lights and cars at night for his “Nightscapes” series. Wagner, who started out as a graffiti artist, discovered his love for photography after he began using a camera to capture his artwork. “During experimenting I found that with long exposures at night, things you cannot see with the naked eye, could...

Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, Matera, Italy Inside one of the 'cave suites' at Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita in Matera, Italy. (Photo: Courtesy of Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita) Are "groundscrapers" the new skyscrapers? Around the world, travelers are discovering the unique experience of staying at underground and cave hotels, which bring them closer to nature and offer a taste of prehistoric living (with amenities, of course). Another perk of underground accommodations? Temperatures are always perfect—warm in the winter,...

Welcome to the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, home to the most expensive hotel room in the world. At a reported 18,000 sq. feet, the suite occupies the entire top floor of the hotel, and includes 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. (QUIZ: Which City Has the Best Weather for You?) Guests have a full staff at their command, a grand piano for show and a view of the lake through bulletproof glass. The price tag for this unmatched luxury...

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Formed in volcanic craters or calderas (or less commonly, in impact craters caused by a meteorite), crater lakes showcase nature at its most spectacular. They combine vibrant blue waters, sheer cliffs, scenic islands and volcanic histories that make these natural formations some of the most visited destinations in the world. In his 1934 travel book, Beyond the Mexique Bay, Aldous Huxley described Guatemala's Lake Atitlan as, "really, too much of a good thing." The lake, considered one...

After surviving the scavenger hunt, campers may also participate in blood tag match and camp talent show. (Great Horror Campout/Facebook) When summer arrives, so does the sunshine and trips to the great outdoors. But while most campers will enjoy making s'mores and hiking this season, many on the West Coast have signed on for a much creepier experience — camping in a horror movie. The Great Horror Campout is an all-night, interactive scavenger hunt and sleepover that has toured up...

Alabama - The rising Crimson Tide washes tailgaters onto the playing field—or so they later claimed to the referee. (Jeff Friesen) There are countless amazing photos of nature across the United States, but what happens when someone tries to recreate a scene from each state using Legos? Canadian Jeff Friesen’s project "50 States of Lego" uses the iconic toy to create some funny scenes of stereotypical life in the United States. Whether it be Kansas’ twisters, Georgia’s heat, or Colorado’s...

There might finally be some good news for frequent fliers who are sick of cramped, outdated cabins. The new Embraer E2 cabin is promising to fix many problems with current airplane interiors, from tight quarters to issues with bathrooms, according to Fast Company. Designers at Priestmangoodedrew up the plans for the new cabins, which include a redesign of the Personal Service Units– those things above your seat that contain a reading light, air vent and flight attendant button– Gizmodo reports....

4.58am. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. (Finn Beales) Looking at Finn Beales’ images, it’s not surprising that the photographer, who lives in the Black Mountains of Wales, is inspired by many elements of nature. Through his work, he explores the relationship between people and wildlife through his lens. “All sorts of things inspire me, but I’m particularly fascinated by the relative lifespan of the world around us compared to ourselves,” Beales told weather.com. Beales has travelled the world taking photos for clients,...

#53 Naturpark Dahme-Heideseen. (Henning Rogge) When German photographer HenningRoggehappened upon a giant hole in a forest in Germany, he realized that he discovered something unique and historic—a bomb crater from World War II. “I was amazed by its size and clear, circular shape. After doing some research, I found that many similar-looking holes still exist all over the country,”Roggewrites on hissite. Roggesoon started exploring Germany in search for new craters to photograph, using aerial photos and maps to find new...

Located in a valley in the province of Makkh in western Saudi Arabia, is the small city of Mina, also known as "the city of tents". There are more than 100,000 air-conditioned white tents, arranged in neat rows, covering every available open space in the valley, according to Amusing Planet. Every year, millions of Haji pilgrims gather in the tents of Mina, which is only about five miles from the Holy city of Mecca, for one of Islam’s holiest rituals....

Despite tense relations with the West and despite being a secretive, heavily guarded place, The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea is open to tourists, including citizens of the United States. Annually, anestimated 6000 touristsvisit this reclusive country, according toAl Jazeera, and among them, some are Americans. Since January 2010, American tourists have been allowed to visit the country on an official guided tour, reports CNN. “We take between 500 to 1000 tourists per year and have generally seen an...