Total area 1,723,337 km²
Area of water 236,507 km² (13.77%)
Population 733,391

There are eight species of whales that frequent the cold and icy waters of Alaska. The Beluga, Humpback, Grey, Orca, Bowhead, Blue, Right, and Minke whales. Like all mammals, Alaska whales breathe air into lungs, are warm-blooded, breast-feed their young, and have some (although very little) hair. The Alaska whales ancestors lived on land, and their adaptions to a fully aquatic life are quite striking. The body is fusiform, resembling the streamlined form of a fish. The forelimbs, also called flippers, are paddle-shaped. The end of the tail holds the fluke, or tail fins, which provide propulsion by vertical movement. Although Alaska whales generally do not possess hind limbs, some whales (such as sperm whales and baleen whales) sometimes have rudimentary hind limbs; some even with feet and digits. Most species of whale bear a fin on their backs known as a dorsal fin.

Sources  Alaska Collection, Wikipedia

Area 245.46 km²
Population 8,642
Elevation 995–4,807 m

Chamonix is a vibrant town known as both a world-class ski resort and a mountaineering destination. Situated in the Haute-Savoie region of France, it is bordered by Switzerland and Italy and dominated by the incredible Aiguilles de Chamonix mountain chain peaking at the top of Mont Blanc.

Sources   See Chamonix, Wikipedia

Area 7,511 km²
Population 6,583,534
Number of windmills today around 1200

Holland is a geographical region and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th century, Holland proper was a unified political region within the Holy Roman Empire as a county ruled by the counts of Holland.

Historically, the most essential function of windmills in holland is to pumping water out of the lowlands and then back into the rivers beyond the banks so that the land could be farmed. Later, other applications were added, such as making paint, sawing tree trucks, and pressing the oil. Nowadays, those wind-driven water pump has become one of the trademark tourist attractions of the Netherlands.

Sources   Ancient Engineering Technologies, Wikipedia

Built in 1920
Cat population more than 200

Houtong is a small village connected to the Pingxi Railway in Ruifang District in Taipei, famous for its many cats. Once a booming mining town with the most coal production in Taiwan, it has now been converted into a tourist destination for cat lovers.

Black, ginger, tortoise shell, calico, white and grey, fat and fatter, friendly and shy: there are cats of every wondrous kind in Houtong. They can be found lounging in flower pots, loafing on shelves, padding up steps, jumping off roofs and spread out, sleeping, over stalls of kitty-themed souvenirs.

Sources   Foreigners in Taiwan, Lonely Planet

Area 103,125 km²
Population 376,248
Number of volcanoes 130
Number of glaciers 269

A land of otherworldly landscapes and shimmering northern lights, Iceland’s natural wonders are well established among adventure travellers but there is more to Iceland that what nature has bequeathed. The country’s ancient heritage and quirky folklore blends with a modern culture of food, craft beer, and a love and respect for the outdoors.

Iceland is known as “The Land of Fire and Ice” because of its opposing geological features. The fire refers to the multitude of volcanic activity, and the ice obviously refers to the country’s many glaciers, which cover approximately 10% of the island.

Sources   Discover the World, Iceland on the Web, Learnz, Wikipedia

Artwork title South Wind, Clear Sky (also known as Red Fuji)
Artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)
Date 1830–32
Medium Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Mount Fuji is said to have a reddish hue at dawn in early autumn. Known as "Red Fuji," this print presents Hokusai's uncompromising vision of Mount Fuji without a human presence. The majestic snow-capped Mount Fuji embodies an iconic spirituality that approaches the religious. Trees are reduced to tiny triangles of green stretching along Fuji's base, and the blue sky with a white-paper-like pattern of clouds adds a decorative flourish to the design.

Source  The MET

Area 367.53 km²
Population 641,903
Number of licensed gambling places 1,701
Number of slot machines close to 200,000

Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife, with most venues centered on downtown Las Vegas and more to the Las Vegas Strip just outside city limits.

The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is a Las Vegas landmark funded in May 1959 and erected soon after by Western Neon. The sign was designed by Betty Willis at the request of Ted Rogich, a local salesman, who sold it to Clark County, Nevada.

Sources   Trip Savvy, Wikipedia

Area 9,993 km²
Population 5,207,145

Melbourne regularly ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities but it’s not just hipsters and other humans who find the temperate climate of Melbourne so habitable. Despite the industrial, commercial and residential development that comes with being in a big city, Melbourne is still home to many species of Australian native animals. Koalas, like all Australian animals, were an important part of Aboriginal culture and feature in many of their myths and legends.

Sources   Australian Koala Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Wikipedia

Area 268,021 km²
Population 5,339,710
Kiwi bird population 7,000

The kiwi is a unique and curious bird: it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers, strong legs and no tail. Learn more about the kiwi, the national icon of New Zealand and unofficial national emblem.

Here are the five species of kiwi birds in New Zealand:

• Little spotted kiwi/Kiwi Pukupuku – found on several offshore islands.
• Great spotted kiwi/Roroa – found in the northwestern South Island and Arthur’s Pass.
• Brown kiwi – found in the North Island.
• Rowi – found at Okarito and the West Coast of the South Island.
• Tokoeka – found in Fiordland, the Haast Range and on Stewart Island.

Sources   Department for Conservation, New Zealand Trails, Wikipedia

Area 105.4 km²
Population 2,102,650
Eiffel Tower height 1083 feet
Arc de Triomphe height 164 feet
Notre-Dame nave height 115 feet
Notre-Dame tower height 226 feet

Paris, the city of Lights, the fashion capital, the city of Love. All these nicknames are far from enough to reveal all of Paris.

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is known worldwide for the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame cathedral, and the Eiffel tower. It has a reputation of being a romantic and cultural city. The city is also known for its high-quality gastronomy and the terraces of its cafés.

Sources   France Hotel Guide, La Tour Eiffel, The Paris Pass, Wikipedia

Area 734.3 km²
Population 5,917,600

Half fish and half-lion, the Merlion is the image of Singapore, one that you'll find throughout the city. IT was designed in 1964 as the image of the Singapore tourism ministry.

The head of the lion represents the lion the prince Sang Nila Utama discovered ion the 11th century. The fishtail represents the fishing past of the city, when it was still known as Temasek. When Sang Nila arrived in Singapore, he changed the name of Temasek for Singapura (Lion City - Singa means lion and Pura, city).

Sources   Civitatis Singapore, National Parks, Wikipedia

Area 2,500,000 km²
Population 7,000,000
Polata Palace altitude 12,100 feet

The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The complex, comprising the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley. Also founded in the 7th century, the Jokhang Temple Monastery is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex. Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace, constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art. The beauty and originality of the architecture of these three sites, their rich ornamentation and harmonious integration in a striking landscape, add to their historic and religious interest.

Sources   Wonders of Tibet, World Heritage Convention, Wikipedia