Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

Morongo Uta is the oldest of the ancient mountain fortresses on the island of Rapa Iti, in French Polynesia. Built in 1450-1550 CE, this structure perched between 260 and 300 m above sea level bears witness to a time of conflicts linked to overpopulation and the decline of resources

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Morongo Uta is the oldest of the ancient mountain fortresses on the island of Rapa Iti, in French Polynesia. Built in 1450-1550 CE, this structure perched between 260 and 300 m above sea level bears witness to a time of conflicts linked to overpopulation and the decline of resources

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Parigala is considered one of Azerbaijan's lesser-known archeological treasures. The site, built between the 4th-8th centuries CE, consists of a limestone brick structure of 3 rooms with a window, built 300 m up the side of a cliff in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains

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Parigala is considered one of Azerbaijan's lesser-known archeological treasures. The site, built between the 4th-8th centuries CE, consists of a limestone brick structure of 3 rooms with a window, built 300 m up the side of a cliff in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains

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The west portals of the massive Strasbourg Cathedral in France . Built between 1015 and 1439 CE, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture

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The west portals of the massive Strasbourg Cathedral in France . Built between 1015 and 1439 CE, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture

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The Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain, dating back to the Dilmun and the Umm al-Nar culture . Recent studies have shown that an estimated 350,000 ancient grave mounds could have been solely produced by the local population over a number of thousands of years

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The Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain, dating back to the Dilmun and the Umm al-Nar culture . Recent studies have shown that an estimated 350,000 ancient grave mounds could have been solely produced by the local population over a number of thousands of years

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A drone photo of Fort 9, with the canal-lined Great Gorgan Wall visible on the right. Built in the 5th or 6th century CE by the Sasanian Empire in Iran, the wall is 195 km long and 6–10 m wide, and features over 30 fortresses spaced at intervals of between 10 and 50 km

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A drone photo of Fort 9, with the canal-lined Great Gorgan Wall visible on the right. Built in the 5th or 6th century CE by the Sasanian Empire in Iran, the wall is 195 km long and 6–10 m wide, and features over 30 fortresses spaced at intervals of between 10 and 50 km

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At Persepolis in Iran, dating 518 BC, this stone lion greets the viewer with a smiling face from the front, yet as you move to the side, the same lion appears fierce and angry. It is a masterpiece of ancient Persian art that captures both serenity and aggression.

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At Persepolis in Iran, dating 518 BC, this stone lion greets the viewer with a smiling face from the front, yet as you move to the side, the same lion appears fierce and angry. It is a masterpiece of ancient Persian art that captures both serenity and aggression.

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The Herodium, Herod the Great’s fortress and one of the largest from the ancient world. He intentionally buried the whole mountain and converted it to a funerary complex upon his death

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The Herodium, Herod the Great’s fortress and one of the largest from the ancient world. He intentionally buried the whole mountain and converted it to a funerary complex upon his death

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Roman Amphitheater, Arles, France. Built 12 years after the Colosseum, the structure could accommodate +20,000 spectators for the hunting scenes and gladiator fights. It's conversion into a medieval fortress-town with over 200 buildings explains its preservation until present times

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Roman Amphitheater, Arles, France. Built 12 years after the Colosseum, the structure could accommodate +20,000 spectators for the hunting scenes and gladiator fights. It's conversion into a medieval fortress-town with over 200 buildings explains its preservation until present times

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The 24,000 years old remains of Mal'ta Boy, discovered in the 1920s in Siberia, Russia. The boy belonged to the population of Ancient North Eurasians, who were genetically intermediate between modern western Eurasians and Native Americans, but distant from east Asians

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The 24,000 years old remains of Mal'ta Boy, discovered in the 1920s in Siberia, Russia. The boy belonged to the population of Ancient North Eurasians, who were genetically intermediate between modern western Eurasians and Native Americans, but distant from east Asians

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Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire is a castle, constructed along several centuries, converted to a palatial seigneurial residence, in Loiret, France. It is a chateau-fort, a true castle surrounded with a defensive moat, built to control one of the few sites where the Loire can be forded.

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Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire is a castle, constructed along several centuries, converted to a palatial seigneurial residence, in Loiret, France. It is a chateau-fort, a true castle surrounded with a defensive moat, built to control one of the few sites where the Loire can be forded.

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T'aqrachullo is a massive Inca citadel in Peru's Cusco region, perched on a high, wind-blown mesa, at an elevation exceeding 4,000 meters above sea level. The site spans over 43 acres with nearly 600 stone structures, making it potentially 4 times larger than Machu Picchu

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T'aqrachullo is a massive Inca citadel in Peru's Cusco region, perched on a high, wind-blown mesa, at an elevation exceeding 4,000 meters above sea level. The site spans over 43 acres with nearly 600 stone structures, making it potentially 4 times larger than Machu Picchu

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The Arch of Ctesiphon in modern-day Iraq is the only remaining structure of ancient Ctesiphon, built in 242–272 AD during the Sassanid Empire. Considered a landmark in architecture history, the Persian masterpiece was on the brink of collapse in 2021 when Iran intervened to restore it.

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The Arch of Ctesiphon in modern-day Iraq is the only remaining structure of ancient Ctesiphon, built in 242–272 AD during the Sassanid Empire. Considered a landmark in architecture history, the Persian masterpiece was on the brink of collapse in 2021 when Iran intervened to restore it.

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The Fortress of Piruro II, in Peru, is a five-story structure built with stones hewn in squared shape and uniform size. 1930-2100 BCE

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The Fortress of Piruro II, in Peru, is a five-story structure built with stones hewn in squared shape and uniform size. 1930-2100 BCE

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Frescoed Advertisement, probably selling different varieties of wine. The God Semo Sancus is believed to be the figure above the different colored containers, affirming the purchaser of trustworthiness of the transaction. Found in Herculaneum, one of the towns buried by Vesuvius.

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Frescoed Advertisement, probably selling different varieties of wine. The God Semo Sancus is believed to be the figure above the different colored containers, affirming the purchaser of trustworthiness of the transaction. Found in Herculaneum, one of the towns buried by Vesuvius.

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After 220 years, the Western pediment of the Parthenon has been restored to its most complete form. The restoration uses marble extracted from the same mountain as the ancient original, Mt Pentelicus.

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After 220 years, the Western pediment of the Parthenon has been restored to its most complete form. The restoration uses marble extracted from the same mountain as the ancient original, Mt Pentelicus.

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A picture of the Minoan Palace of Minos in Crete, and a reconstruction of the palace as it may have appeared in its heyday. Built between 1900-1350 BCE, the palace was a complex of buildings which served as a combination religious and administrative centre rather than a royal residence

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A picture of the Minoan Palace of Minos in Crete, and a reconstruction of the palace as it may have appeared in its heyday. Built between 1900-1350 BCE, the palace was a complex of buildings which served as a combination religious and administrative centre rather than a royal residence

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Stari Grad is a fortress near the city of Užice, in central Serbia. Historians believe it was built in the second half of the 14th century CE to control movement along nearby roads, and the town of Užice

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Stari Grad is a fortress near the city of Užice, in central Serbia. Historians believe it was built in the second half of the 14th century CE to control movement along nearby roads, and the town of Užice

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The Porcelain Room of the Santos Palace in Lisbon, Portugal, is famous for its ceiling, laid out between 1664 and 1687 CE with more than 250 Chinese porcelain plates, almost all of them decorated in blue and white

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The Porcelain Room of the Santos Palace in Lisbon, Portugal, is famous for its ceiling, laid out between 1664 and 1687 CE with more than 250 Chinese porcelain plates, almost all of them decorated in blue and white

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The Pyramid of Cestius is a Roman Era pyramid in Rome, Italy, built as a tomb between 18-12 BCE for Gaius Cestius, a member of the Epulones religious corporation. The pyramid measures 29.6 m square at the base and stands 37 m high

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The Pyramid of Cestius is a Roman Era pyramid in Rome, Italy, built as a tomb between 18-12 BCE for Gaius Cestius, a member of the Epulones religious corporation. The pyramid measures 29.6 m square at the base and stands 37 m high

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