World-famous sights

Pictures that speak for themselves: Can you identify these places?

Just as the Statue of Liberty is synonymous with New York City, and the Eiffel Tower with Paris, the rest of the cityscapes and landmarks on this list are just as iconic. You've probably seen pictures of them from a dozen different angles; that's how famous they are. Do you think you can place them in their correct city or country? Read on to try the challenge.

You’ve seen this clock tower chiming the hour in countless films, often with red double-decker buses passing by and gray skies overhead. It rises above the River Thames, attached to the Palace of Westminster, where British lawmakers have met for centuries.

Interestingly, "Big Ben" doesn’t actually refer to the tower itself, but to the massive bell inside it, weighing over 13 tons. Its steady chimes have marked historic moments, from wartime broadcasts to New Year celebrations. Of course, it is one of the most famous sights of London, the capital city of the United Kingdom and England.

At first glance, it looks like a painted backdrop, layers of red, orange, and gold stretching endlessly into the distance. But this landscape was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, creating a canyon that is over a mile deep and nearly 300 miles long.

From the rim, the river itself looks surprisingly small. But visitors often say photos never quite capture the scale; it’s something your eyes need time to adjust to. This makes a visit to the Grand Canyon, in Arizona, all the more tempting.

Do those white, curved shapes look like sails catching the wind? Well, that is what Danish architect Jørn Utzon had in mind when he presented his expressionist design for this opera house in the 20th-century, which would stand by the harbor as a tribute to a city so connected to the sea.

Opened in 1973, this performing arts center took over a decade to build and is now one of the most recognizable modern buildings in the world. As many know, it is one of the most iconic sights of Sydney, Australia.

Few cities in the world are as easy to represent as the one that is connected to Marin County by this iconic, bright-red bridge. It is often depicted emerging from a blanket of fog, a weather phenomenon that is characteristic of this bay.

Opened in 1937, this was once the longest suspension bridge in the world, and its unique color is officially called "International Orange." The Golden Gate Bridge is the obvious symbol of San Francisco, located in California, US.

Stone terraces climb a remarkably steep mountainside, surrounded by green peaks and drifting clouds. For centuries, this Incan city remained hidden from the outside world, protected by its remote location high in the Andes.

It had been built in the 15th century and later abandoned, but it wasn’t widely known internationally until the early 1900s. Today, this Peruvian spot is synonymous with one of the most famous trails in the world. Many visitors arrive at sunrise, when mist slowly lifts to reveal the ruins of Machu Picchu, which means "old mountain" in the Quechua language.

Bright, patterned domes in reds, greens, and blues rise into the sky. This cathedral was commissioned in the 16th century by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate a military victory. Each of its nine domes has a different design and corresponds to a separate chapel dedicated to a different saint or occasion. Despite its playful look, St. Basil’s Cathedral has witnessed centuries of Russian history unfold around it, standing at the edge of Moscow’s Red Square.

With arms outstretched, the Christ the Redeemer monument overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, stands high above a city of beaches and bright blue water. Perched atop Corcovado Mountain, it rises about 98 feet tall and has become a symbol of both the city and the country.

Completed in 1931, it was designed to be visible from almost anywhere below. In turn, those who make the climb are rewarded with sweeping views from the base of the monument.

There are no ordinary streets in this city, only narrow waterways. Those characteristic black gondolas know their way past centuries-old buildings. This city was built on more than 100 small islands, connected by bridges instead of roads.

For over a thousand years, it was a major trading power, linking Europe with the East. Today, Venice, in northeastern Italy, is one of the most celebrated tourist destinations in the world, with a nostalgic beauty and a unique charm.

This mountain has been depicted in art, photographs, and postcards for generations. It’s actually an active volcano, though it has been dormant since its last eruption in the early 18th century. On clear days, Mount Fuji, located 62 miles southwest of Tokyo, Japan, can be seen from miles away, and in spring, pictures of it are often framed by blooming cherry blossoms, another unmistakable icon of the Asian country.

These dramatic cliffs, perpetually covered in a green carpet, look over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s easy to recognize the view from films or travel shows, where the wind seems constant, and the horizon stretches endlessly. The cliffs reach heights of over 700 feet, making them among the tallest in Europe. Despite their rugged beauty, the Cliffs of Moher, on the western shores of Ireland, have become one of the most visited natural sites in the country.

These ancient figures stand on a wind-swept island in the Pacific: Easter Island, off the coast of Chile in southwestern South America. Massive stone figures stand in quiet formation, many facing inland as if they were watching over the land.

They are known as Moai, and were carved by the island’s early inhabitants between the 13th and 16th centuries, some weighing over 80 tons. Even today, the mystery of their construction and purpose still sparks curiosity.

If you appreciate the vastness and power of one thunderous waterfall, imagine the impression that a gigantic system of around 275 cascades might cause. At its most powerful point, known as the Devil’s Throat, the force and the roar of the water are almost overwhelming.

The Iguazu Falls, the largest system of waterfalls in the world, sit right on the border between two countries, a wonder shared between Argentina and Brazil.