Sioux Falls is South Dakota’s largest city, located in the southeastern part of the state along the Big Sioux River. The river is central to the city’s landscape, most notably where it passes over a series of pink quartzite ledges at Falls Park. Around the urban area, the terrain opens into the broad prairie of the Great Plains, with farmland and gently rolling countryside extending beyond the city.

Alexandra Headland is a coastal suburb on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, situated between Mooloolaba and Maroochydore. Its main feature is a rocky headland overlooking a long sandy beach, with ocean views extending along the surrounding coastline. Alexandra Headland Beach is popular for swimming, surfing, fishing, and walking, while the foreshore includes parks, picnic areas, and paths connecting the beach with neighbouring communities.

Danco Island also offers a close look at how Antarctic wildlife uses a small ice-covered island. Gentoo penguins establish colonies on rocky and snow-free areas, while the surrounding channel provides access to feeding grounds. The island’s exposed slopes and summit can be windy, and snow conditions may vary considerably between visits. Its compact landscape means that even a short excursion can reveal glaciers, mountains, sea ice, seabirds, and penguin colonies within a relatively small area.

Ourika Valley lies south of Marrakesh in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, following the Ourika River through a narrow valley of villages, orchards, terraced fields, and steep mountain slopes. The valley is known for its relatively cool climate and access to the Atlas foothills, making it a marked contrast to the dry plains around Marrakesh. Small settlements extend along the river and up the surrounding slopes, where traditional houses are often built from earth and stone.

Seaside is a coastal city on Oregon’s northern Pacific shore, set between the ocean, the Necanicum River, and the wooded foothills of the Coast Range. Its broad sandy beach and compact oceanfront district have made it one of the state’s best-known coastal communities. The Promenade, a paved oceanfront walkway, follows the beach through the center of town and provides access to shops, restaurants, and public spaces.