Fiordland National Park, located on the southwestern tip of New Zealand's South Island, is a breathtaking wilderness that captivates visitors with its dramatic landscapes of towering fjords, cascading waterfalls, and lush rainforests. Established in 1952, Fiordland is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its stunning natural beauty and unique biodiversity.

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.

Homps is a small village in the Minervois of southern France, positioned between the Corbières and the Aude valley. Its identity is closely tied to the Canal du Midi, which passes through the village and remains central to local life. The port is used by pleasure boats and provides a setting for walks along the water, while vineyards surround the settlement on the gently rolling landscape.

Western Sahara, (formerly Spanish Sahara), northwestern Africa, former overseas province of Spain partitioned in 1976 between Mauritania and Morocco, and since 1979, occupied entirely by Morocco.

Ascension island, British dependency of St. Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between Africa and South America and 700 miles northwest of St. Helena. The small, volcanic island was sighted by the Portuguese in 1501, but it was uninhabited until the exile of Napoleon to St. Helena in 1815.