Perched on cliffs or hidden deep in caves, the world is full of ancient sites that have stood for thousands of years. From cave paintings depicting early human life, to burial grounds, to mysterious henges, here are 33 amazing prehistoric sites around the world. (MORE: ) Some of the most spectacular prehistoric sites were constructed with megaliths, such as Ale's Stones in Sweden, a monument comprised of 59 large sandstone boulders, each s, that have been placed in the shape...

(Michaela Smidova / 2016 Sony World Photography Awards) From eerie shots of abandoned places to vivid stills of lightning, this year’s highlights the best talent and inspiring images of last year. The recently revealed shortlist includes over 350 stunning entries in the Professional, Open and Youth categories. This year’s competition received a over 230,000 entries from 186 different countries—the most in the awards’ history. Across the immense number of entries, the judges noticed subtle themes: the delicate handling of private...

Seeing Paris from the Eiffel Tower or lounging at the beach in Phuket, Thailand are trips of a lifetime, but sometimes you just need to kick your vacation up a notch. From paragliding with vultures to cage diving with great white sharks, these adventure travel experiences are worthy of anyone's bucket list — if you're looking for some heart-stopping fun. Adventure travel and all its adrenalin-pumping thrills, however, do come with risks, so it's important to be prepared before embarking...

This picture taken on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, shows Iranians spending time in Urmia Lake near Urmia, northwestern Iran. Hopes for survival of Urmia salt lake have been revived after more rains boosted a government program aimed at preserving the almost dried up water body. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Located in Northwestern Iran, Lake Urmia has undergone a major transformation. It has shrunk significantly in the past few decades,. The water is also known to change colors, thanks to the microscopic...

Mother Nature is full of surprises. From a landscape of bubbling, gurgling mud volcanoes to swirling, blue walls hidden in a cave, the world is dotted with spectacular, natural oddities that may seem too strange to be real. But they are, indeed, real. Many of the world's most amazing sights can be found in the vastness of China.One of its natural treasures is the in Hunan Province. With its deep canyons, majestic waterfalls, and sandstone-quartz pillars towering over 650 feet...

From above, they may resemble abstract paintings but it's not just their scenic beauty that makes the terraced rice fields of China and Southeast Asia some of the region's most popular tourist attractions. These "stairways to heaven" (the vast layers of rice terraces built to accommodate the region's weather and mountainous terrain can reach up to 6500 feet above sea level) are also the product of history, agricultural innovation and strenuous labor. (MORE: ) 1. Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Yunnan, China...

Photographer and student Chia Joel captures vibrant perspectives with his drone photography. (Chia Joel) “The Internet is changing lives” is an understatement. It’s a valuable, educational resource for any subject—drone photography included.“I was really intrigued and amazed by such views and went to research about the technology available,” 24-year-old photographer Chia Joel, the man behind the , told weather.com. His “random” encounter with a drone video on YouTube struck his curiosity, leading him to immediately get his hands on a...

Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland A hiker standing on the Aletsch glacier photographs an ice landscape on August 23, 2016 near Bettmeralp, Switzerland. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) The glaciers of the European Alps are some of the region's most treasured natural wonders—and are prime tourist destinations. But the glaciers, such as Switzerland's Rhone and Aletsch glaciers, and Austria's Pasterze glacier, are rapidly shrinking, propelling them into the global climate change stage. The Pasterze Glacier, Austria's largest, , according to the Austrian Alpine Association's...

When you dream about your next big trip, your immediate response isn’t likely to be Armenia. But that’s where you are woefully overlooking a beautiful spot that hasn't yet been overrun by tourists.In honor of Armenian Independence on September 21, we wanted to give you a brief rundown of Armenia in all of its glory. (MORE: )With its rich cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and tasty local cuisine, Armenia is a perfect spot for a long trek or a short trip....

From New Zealand to Austria, and a few places in between, architect, environmentalist, and thinker Friedensreich Hundertwasser has left his mark with the presence of some pretty jaw droppingly spectacular and rather quirky buildings.Born December 15, 1928, Hundertwasser studied in Vienna. His best-known work is considered Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, Austria which has become an Austrian landmark, known for its liveliness and creative construction, especially against the backdrop of traditional Austrian architecture. The common themes in many of Hundertwasser’s works...

Pilot Christiaan van Heijst and friend Daan Krans capture images of spectacular weather from the airplane cockpit, from thunderstorms and lightning streaks to the Northern Lights. This photo captures a stunning view of a heavy thunderstorm in July as van Heijst flew over Toronto on a trip from Chicago to Amsterdam. (Christiaan van Heijst and Daan Krans/Caters News) Seated in a cockpit at an altitude of about 35,000 feet, pilots enjoy the best view, whether it's from above the clouds,...

Oh, how I love Italian food.I eat it all the time,Not just ‘cause how good it tastesBut ‘cause how good it rhymes.Minestrone, cannelloni,Macaroni, rigatoni,Spaghettini, scallopini,Escarole, braciole,Insalata, cremolata, manicotti,Marinara, carbonara,Shrimp francese, Bolognese,Ravioli, mostaccioli,Mozzarella, tagliatelle,Fried zucchini, rollatini,Fettuccine, green linguine,Tortellini, Tetrazzini,Oops—I think I split my jeani. More: There’s a reason celebrated poet Shel Silverstein wrote a happy-go-lucky poem all about Italian food.To us foreigners, Italy is the land of cannolis and mobsters, bucolic landscapes and villas, and Italians and good wine.We idealize all...

Photographer Mitch Dobrowner originally went storm chasing as an experiment, but ended up dedicating a full series to photographing nature's storms. (Mitch Dobrowner) Landscape photographer Mitch Dobrowner does more than shoot the quiet, beautiful scenes of nature, he heads out to capture the scene of storms.When it comes to weather, Dobrowner knows photography can be tricky. “In inclement weather, light and shadows are always changing,” he told weather.com. “Then there are all the unexpected things that Mother Nature throws at...