Pendleton, Oregon, sits in the heart of the high desert region, where wide open skies meet rolling wheat fields and the rugged Blue Mountains. The city is widely recognized for its rich history in ranching, railroads, and wool production, which visitors can explore through preserved buildings and museums. Downtown Pendleton features brick storefronts, murals, and sculptures that reflect the city’s connection to both the frontier and the railroad era.
The largest virgin tract of rainforest in Australia (and the second largest in the world), this lush, tropical World Heritage area is a living testimonial to the ancient rainforests which once covered the earth's surface. Cool forest streams, primitive rainforests, stunning mountain scenery and abundant wildlife - a naturalists and bird watchers paradise.
Perth is pleasantly sited on the Swan and Canning rivers, with the cerulean Indian Ocean to the west and the ancient Darling Ranges to the east. It claims to be the sunniest state capital in Australia and the most isolated capital city in the world.
An Eastern city of Turkey, known in ancient times as Amida, spreads across a basalt plateau close to the banks of the Dicle River. The black basalt triple walls which encircle the old town give the city a rather ominous appearance.