Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park, on New Zealand’s North Island, holds deep cultural meaning as well as striking geological presence. It was the country’s first national park, gifted to the nation by Ngāti Tūwharetoa chiefs in the 19th century, establishing a model that tied conservation to Māori guardianship. The volcanic peaks of Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe, and Ruapehu are considered ancestors, giving the landscape a living cultural identity rather than a purely scenic one.
Derry
Derry stands on the banks of the River Foyle in Northern Ireland and is known for its intact seventeenth-century city walls, steep streets, and strong local identity.
Humacao
Humacao is a coastal city on the southeastern side of Puerto Rico, facing the Caribbean Sea and surrounded by low hills, wetlands, beaches, and agricultural land. The city sits near the mouth of the Río Humacao, with its urban center inland from the coast and several communities extending toward the shoreline.
Charyn Canyon National Park
Charyn Canyon National Park is a protected area in southeastern Kazakhstan, east of Almaty, centered on the dramatic Charyn Canyon carved by the Charyn River. The park covers a landscape of deep gorges, dry valleys, cliffs, and semi-desert plains at the edge of the Tian Shan. Charyn Canyon is the park's best-known feature, with layers of sedimentary rock exposed along steep walls shaped by erosion.
Nxai Pan National Park
Nxai Pan National Park lies in northern Botswana as part of the wider Makgadikgadi pans landscape, covering about 2,100 square kilometers of grass-covered pans, acacia woodland, and open plains. The park occupies former salt lakes within the ancient Makgadikgadi basin, and its character changes significantly with rainfall.
