THE DARVAZA GAS CRATER, DERWEZE, TURKMENISTAN

The Darvaza gas crater, known locally as the Door to Hell or Gates of Hell, is a natural gas field collapsed into an underground cavern located in Derweze, Turkmenistan. Geologists intentionally set it on fire to prevent the spread of methane gas, and it is thought to have been burning continuously since 1971.

​The current flag of Brazil was officially adopted on November 15, 1889. 🇧🇷
The flag is green, symbolic of Brazil's lush fields and forests. Its primary feature is a large yellow diamond, symbolic of Brazil's wealth in gold, and in its center floats a blue celestial globe.
🇧🇷 It includes 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil. The globe displays a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO translation = (Order and Progress.)

TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, CHILE

Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile’s Patagonia region, is known for its soaring mountains, bright blue icebergs that cleave from glaciers and golden pampas (grasslands) that shelter rare wildlife such as llama-like guanacos. Some of its most iconic sites are the 3 granite towers from which the park takes its name and the horn-shaped peaks called Cuernos del Paine

​As one of the more unique country flags, the Antigua and Barbuda flag was designed by a high school art teacher. The sun signifies the dawning of a new era after gaining its independence, the red represents the energy of the people, and the blue signifies hope.

JUJUY PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
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Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina is the country’s interface with the desert: a land remote, arid, and dramatically handsome. An ever changing palette of light, shadow, and color transforms Jujuy (pronounced hoo-hooey) into a photographer’s paradise. The striking salt flats of Salinas Grandes, pictured here, are mined through rectangular pools.

​The current flag of Myanmar has been adopted along with a new constitution in 2010 and it is composed of three horizontal stripes in red, green and yellow colors. In the middle of the flag, a large white five-pointed star is placed. The flag has been inspired by the flag of Burma from the period around the World War II. The yellow stripe refers to solidarity between people, green stands for natural wealth of the country, and the red stripe reminds courage of the local population during numerous fights. The white star symbolizes hope in the unity of all people living in the country.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

A parade of dramatic rocks marches through Utah’s Canyonlands, where you can view the entire park as one dramatic sculpture. It’s a three-dimensional playground of smooth rock, twin rivers, narrow canyons, wildflower gardens, hidden meadows, and otherworldly colors.

​The Nigerian flag comprises three equal-sized vertical stripes. While the green color represents the nation's lush vegetation and its agricultural industry, the white signifies the country’s desire for peace and unity. The flag was adopted on Oct. 1, 1960

.WAITOMO CAVES, NEW ZEALAND

Eerie blue “stars” light up a cave known as the Glowworm Grotto along the Waitomo River on New Zealand’s North Island. A tourist attraction since the 1880s, the grotto and other caves remain a source of wonderment for visitors. The otherworldly glow comes from larval fungus gnats found only in parts of New Zealand and Australia.

​It’s not hard to see that Malaysia has a history with England. The blue square in the upper left originally signified that connection. The 14 stripes represent the 13 member states and the federal district of Kuala Lumpur.