The Olympic Peninsula occupies the far northwest corner of Washington State, where mountains, rainforest, and coastline meet within a relatively compact area.

Black Hills National Forest covers a mountainous island of forests in western South Dakota, surrounded by the open plains of the Great Plains. The landscape includes granite peaks, narrow canyons, ponderosa pine forests, lakes, streams, and rolling grasslands. The forest stretches across a large portion of the Black Hills and contains some of the highest elevations in the region.

Robben Island lies in Table Bay off the coast of Cape Town and is one of South Africa’s most significant heritage sites. The island is best known for its former prison, where political prisoners opposed to apartheid were held, including Nelson Mandela. Its landscape also contains a lighthouse, historic buildings, military remains, quarries, and areas of natural vegetation.

Glencoe lies in the western Highlands of Scotland, where a long, steep-sided valley cuts through mountains shaped by ancient volcanic activity and glaciation.

Grand Rapids sits along the Grand River in western Michigan, shaped by industry, reform, and a strong civic culture.