Tersey Alatoo mountains by Lake Issyk-Kul, Tien Shan (Tian Shan) Range, Kirghizstan (Kyrgyzstan), FSU, Central Asia, Asia

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on ice at Brown Bluff near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Turquoise hotel and mountain lodge of Lang Tang village, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Hoher Goll mountain range seen from the Rossfeld Panoramastrasse (Rossfeldhoehenringstrasse or Panoramic Highway), Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Traditional South Tirolean house below Siusi village with Alpe di Siusi range above, Dolomites, Alto Adige, Italy, Europe

Homes nestling at the foot of the Twelve Bens mountain range in Connemara National Park, County Galway, Ireland

Homes nestling at the foot of the Maumturk mountain range near Recess in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland

Termite mound at Simpson's Gap, West Madonnell Mountain Range, Australia

Stone house below Pedraforca (Stone Fork) mountain, 2497m, Serra del Cadi mountain range, Catalunya, Spain, Europe

View to the Dreizinnenhütte, Dolomites, South Tyrol

The beautifully decorated doors and ceiling at the entrance to the Rumtek monastery, home of the Karma Kagyu line of Tibetan buddhism, in Gangtok, Sikkim, India. Vertical

Landhaus Christlieger, a country guesthouse in Schoenau on Koenigssee lake, Berchtesgadener Land, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

The empty courtyard of the Rumtek monastery, a tourist attraction and home of the Karmapa and Karma Kagyu order of Buddhism located in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, Asia

Huts on the Seceda under the Geisler peaks, Val Gardena, South Tyrol

Tyrolean house in front of the Wilder Kaiser, Going, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

Gerstruben, a former mountain farming village in the Dietersbachtal valley near Oberstdorf, Allgäu Alps, Allgäu, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Hut in the snow in front of mountains, evening light, view of Rabenkopf and Benediktenwand, Schlehdorf, Alpine foothills, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Village in the shore of Lago Como, in Italy

Mountain stream with Winnebachsee hut and Winnebach peaks with starry sky and Milky Way, Sellrain, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

Open fireplace in a Hessian farmhouse, Hessenpark outdoor museum near Neu-Anspach, Hochtaunuskreis district, Hesse, Germany, Europe

Tourist feeds the birds (pyrrhocorax graculus) at the closed shelter in the Dolomites. Dolomites, Italy, Dolomites, Italy, Europe

Recreational vehicle or motor home, Joekulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, South Iceland, Iceland, Europe

Alpine hut in autumnal mountain landscape with threatening cloudy sky, Pfossental, Merano, Vinschgau, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Way cross with alpine hut in autumnal mountain landscape with threatening cloudy sky, Pfossental, Merano, Vinschgau, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Landhaus Christlieger, a country guesthouse in Schoenau on Koenigssee lake, Berchtesgadener Land, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Tourist camp in a granite landscape, Adrar n'Ahnet, Algeria, Sahara, North Africa

Mayan cemetery, Solola, Guatemala, Central America

Mount Robson, Mount Robson Park, Alberta, Canada

Alpine hut in autumnal mountain landscape with threatening cloudy sky, Pfossental, Merano, Vinschgau, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

John and Bartha Moulton Homestead Mormon Barn in the morning, historic barn of the Mormons in front of the Teton Range, Mormon Row Historic District, Antelope Flats, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States of America, USA

Old cemetery, Hesteyri, Hesteyrarfjoerur or Joekulfirir, Hornstrandir hiking paradise, Westfjords, Iceland, Europe

Alpine hut on the Alpe di Siusi, Sciliar, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Dusk, sunset, sun as star, Tejeda, village, white houses, red roofs, Massif Central, Roque Bentayga, mountain landscape, blue sky, orange clouds, grey clouds, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Mountain landscape with Munkebu mountain hut and small lakes, view from the ascent to Munken, Moskenesoya, Lofoten, Nordland, Norway, Europe

Campervan, camping in the mountains at lake Stavatn, Telemark, Norway, Europe

Cemetery in the High Andes, near Salta, borderland Argentina - Bolivia, South America

Historic tomb, Adrar Tekemberet, Immidir, Algeria, Sahara, North Africa

Lamsenjochhuette, Karwendel Mountains, Karwendel Alpine Park, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

Drive through the Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, North America

Cemetery, San Jeronimo, church, Poconchile village, Atacama Desert, Arica, Norte Grande, northern Chile, Chile, South America

Palm grove, houses, Barranco de Fataga, palm trees, gorge, Massif Central, south coast, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Farmhouse, Wilder Kaiser, St. Johann, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

Lonely house, Achill Island, County Mayo, Connacht province, Republic of Ireland, Europe

Buddhist prayer flags lungta with Om mani padme hum. . mantra written on them in sky over Comic Village. Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Drive through the Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, North America

Ball cactus and volcanic, Fundacion Cesar Manrique, a former home of the artist in Tahiche Manrique, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Rock tombs, Petra, the capital city of the Nabataeans, rock city, UNESCO World Hertage Site, Wadi Musa, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Orient, Middle East, Asia

Nordfjord with colorful wooden huts, Kval√∏ya, Norway, Europe

Engraved sandstone at the portal of a tomb, Little Petra, the capital city of the Nabataeans, rock city, UNESCO World Hertage Site, Wadi Musa, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Orient, Middle East, Asia

Cemetery, in the back the Karwendelgebirge mountains, Wallgau, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Bodega La Geria in the wine growing area of La Geria, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Farmhouse, Wilder Kaiser, St. Johann, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

A pier and a lamp in twilight, in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury region, South Island, New Zealand

Entrance, cemetery, San Jeronimo, church, Poconchile village, Atacama Desert, Arica, Norte Grande, northern Chile, Chile, South America

Cemetery, Tasiilaq, also known as Ammassalik, East Greenland, Greenland

Idyllically situated holiday house on Lake Maggiore, Ranzo, Sant Abbondio, canton of Ticino, Switzerland, Europe

Cemetery, Kulusuk, East Greenland, Greenland

A pier and a lamp in twilight, in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury region, South Island, New Zealand

Young girls hold infant siblings in their home compound, in the Tajik village of Dera Jawal, at the base of the Band-e Baba range, Herat Province, Afghanistan

Striking Mongol features distinguish the face of a woman and her child (who is blind) living in the ruins of the Qala-i-Dokthar (Daughter's Castle), outside of the town of Bamiyan, August 30, 2002. Most of the old town was destroyed and up to 20,000 people of the region might have perished when Bamiyan fell to the Taliban in 2001. Bamiyan Valley is located in the Hazarajat at the edge of the Koh-i-Baba range , the end of the Hindu Kush. Bamiyan was a prosperous Buddhist kingdom on the ancient Silk Road until the 10th century, when the region was converted to Islam; in the 12th century, it was destroyed by Ghengis Khan. Most of the people of this region are of the Hazara tribe, and are Shi'a Moslems who have been persecuted for centuries by many of the Pashtun rulers of Afghanistan, who are from the Sunni sect. They most recently suffered at the hand of the Taliban, who tried for years to ethnically cleanse the region of its Shi'a people.

Striking Mongol features distinguish the face of Hamir Mohammed, his daughter and grandson (who is blind), all living in the ruins of the Qala-i-Dokthar (Daughter's Castle), outside of the town of Bamiyan, August 30, 2002. Most of the old town was destroyed and up to 20,000 people of the region might have perished when Bamiyan fell to the Taliban in 2001. Bamiyan Valley is located in the Hazarajat at the edge of the Koh-i-Baba range , the end of the Hindu Kush. Bamiyan was a prosperous Buddhist kingdom on the ancient Silk Road until the 10th century, when the region was converted to Islam; in the 12th century, it was destroyed by Ghengis Khan. Most of the people of this region are of the Hazara tribe, and are Shi'a Moslems who have been persecuted for centuries by many of the Pashtun rulers of Afghanistan, who are from the Sunni sect. They most recently suffered at the hand of the Taliban, who tried for years to ethnically cleanse the region of its Shi'a people

Young girls peer over the wall of a mud home in the Tajik village of Dera Jawal, at the base of the Band-e Baba range, Herat Province, Afghanistan

Young Tajik man holds his newborn son, in the compound of his home, in the Tajik village of Dera Jawal, at the base of the Band-e Baba range, Herat Province, Afghanistan

A woman packing up camp to head home after a week rock climbing in Titcomb Basin, Wind River Range, Bridger Teton National Forest, Pinedale, Wyoming.

A female hiker on her way to the Wannihorn, a mountain peak in the Swiss Alps, close to Zermatt. In the background is the Weisshorn range. This region of Wallis is home to over 40 of 4000 meter peaks and a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts like climbers, hikers, mountainbikers, trailrunners and nature lovers.