Taranto is a coastal city in Puglia known as the “City of Two Seas,” positioned between the open Mar Grande and the sheltered Mar Piccolo. Its location has shaped a strong maritime identity, with fishing, mussel farming, and naval activity remaining important parts of local life. The historic center occupies an island connected to the newer city by the Ponte Girevole, while the waterfront extends around the two bodies of water.

Nungwi is a coastal village at the northern tip of Zanzibar, facing the Indian Ocean on a peninsula known for sandy beaches, shallow lagoons, and clear tropical waters. It developed from a traditional fishing and dhow-building community into one of northern Zanzibar’s main tourism centres, while retaining working boatyards and local residential areas.

Willamette Valley is a broad agricultural valley in northwestern Oregon, stretching between the Cascade Range and the Coast Range. The Willamette River runs through its center, while fertile farmland, wooded foothills, vineyards, orchards, and small communities fill the surrounding landscape. Portland lies at the valley’s northern end, with Salem and Eugene among its principal cities.

The Saltee Islands are a small archipelago in the Irish Sea off the coast of County Wexford, consisting of Great Saltee and Little Saltee. Great Saltee is the larger island and is known for its low grassy landscape, rocky shoreline, and extensive seabird colonies. The islands are privately owned but Great Saltee is accessible to visitors by boat during suitable conditions.

The Dead Sea lies at the lowest point on Earth, around 430 meters below sea level, and features water with nearly ten times the salinity of the ocean. That level of salinity makes floating on its surface effortless. Visitors can lie back without effort, with views opening across barren hills and reflective water. This shoreline also hosts a mix of minerals collected over millennia and known for their soothing effect on skin and joints.

Douz is a town in southern Tunisia on the edge of the Sahara, where date-palm oases meet the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental. The town is often regarded as a gateway to the sandy desert, with dunes beginning close to the built-up area and extending toward the wider Sahara. Palm groves provide a strong contrast to the surrounding dry landscape, while nearby Chott el-Jerid forms a vast salt depression with bright mineral surfaces and mirages.