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THE BLACK FOREST
Named for its dark and dense
evergreen forest of pine trees,
the Black Forest—Schwarzwald
in German—stretches west of
the River Rhine and south into
the foothills of Switzerland's
Alpine region. A vast expanse of
hills, valleys, rivers and forests
where, within a short walk, you
can find yourself in the middle of
nature. It is home to the cuckoo
clock that reproduces the song
of the cuckoo bird found within
the Black Forest.
HARDANGERVIDDA
Nestled in one of Norway's most
spectacular regions,
Hardangerfjord is everything you
imagine a dramatic fjord to be,
with its emerald forests and deep
blue waters. From the tiny village
of Eidfjord, ascend Europe's
largest mountain plateau,
Hardangervidda, for sweeping
views of epic landscapes. Here, in
Norway's largest national park you
can discover the wildlife of this
pristine region, as you take in its
staggering beauty.
ALASKA
In Alaska, America's "Last Frontier,"
the call of the wild carries the
promise of exciting new
discoveries, each as extraordinary
as the next. Here, whales traverse
deep waters and eagles circle
snow-capped mountains. Sail into
Yakutat Bay to marvel at the
colossal Hubbard Glacier which
stretches six miles cross and 76
miles into the sea and is the largest
tidewater glacier in North America.
Nicknamed the "Galloping Glacier,"
it is also the fastest moving.
WACHAU VALLEY
Painted greens, golds and every
colour of nature's palette, the
Wachau Valley, though not
untamed, offers timeless
landscapes along an especially
lovely stretch of the river
Danube. Described by UNESCO
as "a basically medieval
landscape which has evolved
organically and harmoniously
over time," both sides are
dotted with ruined castles,
medieval towns and lined with
terraced vineyards.
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ANTARCTICA
There are few places more wild
than Antarctica. Virtually
unexplored just 150 years ago, a
journey into Antarctica is the
ultimate adventure. One of the
world's most remote places, it is
untamed and unimaginably
beautiful. Antarctica is nature at
its most dramatic and
elemental. Snow, ice, water and
rock are home to unique
wildlife; whales, orcas, seals and
penguins. It is hard to capture
on camera the sensation of
feeling like a very small part of a
vast, magical planet, but you
will see sights that do
encapsulate this sense of
majesty and awe.
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