Think of it as a beach a day even on Leap Year. That's right, 366 beautiful beaches encircle this tropical island paradise, the focus of centuries of battles between Spain, France, Great Britain and Denmark. The Dane's influence has been the strongest.

Libreville, the capital of Gabon, stretches along the Atlantic coast with a mix of modern streets, colonial-era buildings, and bustling markets.

Olbia, located on the northeast coast of Sardinia, offers a blend of history and modernity. The city is known for its well-preserved ruins and historical sites, such as the Basilica di San Simplicio, an 11th-century Romanesque church built from local granite.

Sapporo, (säp-pô´rô), capital of Hokkaido prefecture, SW Hokkaido, Japan. One of Japan's most rapidly growing urban centers, Sapporo is famous for its annual snow festival. It was the site of the 1972 winter Olympics.

Kalmar Union, combination of the crowns of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, effected at Kalmar, Sweden, by Margaret I in 1397. Because all three crowns were elective, the union could not be maintained by inheritance. Margaret's successors controlled Sweden intermittently until Gustavus I of Sweden dissolved the union (1523). Norway became independent in 1814.