Quartzsite, Arizona, USA

According to geographer James Parsons (Landscape 30:1/1988), mountain monograms are "a conspicuous and durable part of the identity of many communities, fortifying institutional allegiances and the sense of place. . . . for travelers in the arid West the letters are 'anchors to the eye,' adding diversity and interest to the natural beauty of the landscape." [2015]

Schaan, Liechtenstein

February is all about the number two, and 2/22 is a palindrome too! Two problems with this steeple-bound clock: (1) the church and (2) the mountains. The former preaches a timeless eternity. The latter observes a different measure of time. Be sure to see tomorrow's post. [1984]

Manitou Springs, Colorado, USA

It's only a row of storefronts along the town's main street. What sets it apart? Its physical geography. Not every town has such a dramatic backdrop, the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Not every town can be home to the North Pole, either. Oh, wait, the North Pole in Manitou Springs is an amusement park! [2005]

Imlil, Morocco

The Atlas Mountains are full of villages like this, and so many are still inaccessible by paved road. All, however, are connected by pistes, walking trails that lead you over one ridge and then another, all with belles vues to stun and inspire. [2017]

Pas de la Casa, Andorra

It is almost as if the tower crane has been moved in to build the mountains, in this case, the Pyrenees. But, in reality, it is the passage into France that needs to up-size. The town of Pas de la Casa seems to have graduated into the "big 'n tall" department. [2005]

La Verkin, Utah, USA

Thanks to so much public land, there are large areas of Utah where you can pitch a tent and watch the snow melt. In this case, the meltwater of the Pine Valley Mountains feeds the Virgin River, a tributary of the Colorado, which has formed a spectacular canyon of its own just southwest of here. Not far away is the Grand Canyon. [2019]

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Mt. Teide last erupted in 1909, and everything around the peak is volcanic in origin, including the Roque Cinchado, which has become a symbol of the Canary Islands. It's actually a remnant of an old volcanic surface from which the current cone arose. The national park is one of the most visited in the world, complete with a teleferico to the top. [2017]

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Given its shape, there is no doubt that Mt. Teide, now the focal point of a World Biosphere Reserve, is volcanic (active!) and high enough to rise above the tree line. The white cloud bank frequently obstructs views of the coast from the sunny interior. Do you remember the name of the cold current that chills the coast and precipitates the fog? [2017]

High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

At 8,000 feet, in Toubkal National Park, you reach the col that divides the Imlil Valley from the Azadn Valley. Let's hope you have made arrangements for a Berber picnic in advance. Then, it's time to turn around and and head down. For some, that may be more risky than going up! As for Toubkal itself: well over 13,000 feet. [2017]

High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

As the piste continues, the valley floor and its villages are soon dwarfed by peaks on all sides, and you're not yet to the border of the national park. It's a hiker's dream, enough to keep Brits like this one coming back for decades. There is still a long way to go, though, until you summit and cross the divide into the next valley. [2017]

High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Jebel Toubkal is Morocco's highest peak, but if you want to ascend even the foothills, you have to do it on foot. Here, the piste to Toubkal National Park is just getting a started. At 6,000 ft., the valley bottoms are given over to walnuts, apples, and cherries. New construction, such as the mosque, has been stimulated by new roads serving the Imlil Vallley. [2017]

Tsovagyugh, Armenia

Tsovagyugh sits on a small plateau, really a pediment, overlooking Lake Van, one of the 'great lakes' of historical Armenia. Soon the snows will be returning to the Caucasus, not to disappear until next summer. [2015]

Zagora, Morocco

Before there was the town of Zagora, there was Jebel Zagora. Wedged between the mount and the river Draa is the palmarie, where every square inch of space must be devoted to agricultural production. But, wait! Do you see the castle in the middle? It's a tourist hotel. [1989]

Pas de la Casa, Andorra

It is not easy entering Andorra from France. You have to wind your way up the north flank of the Pyrenees and through the 'pass of the house.' One shepherd's hut, however, has become a frontier town and ski resort complete with a touch of America. At more than 9,000 feet above sea level, this might be the highest McDonald's in Europe. [2005]

Taipei, Taiwan

Find the H. You've just found the helipad on top of Taipei's City Hall. And, you've just found one more bit of evidence that English has become the lingua franca of the world. Taiwan, after all, is a Chinese-speaking country. The view from the top of Taipei 101 makes the city's other skyscrapers look like upstarts. [2012]

Les Escaldes, Andorra

With its stupa-like glitz, Les Escaldes' mirrored phantasm does nothing more than cover the hot springs that give the town its name. High-rise reflective surfaces bring the surrounding mountains right into the heart of the valley. When you are not shopping, hiking, or skiing in Andorra, feel free to soak up the warmth of the Caldea, Europe's largest spa complex. [2005]

Andorra La Vella, Andorra

Look at that scree! No, scree isn't the Catalan word for 'church.' It's the geographer's word for downslope accumulations of rocky detritus (a.k.a. talus). You can see how weathering and erosion are tearing down the Pyrenees and making it difficult for vegetation to get a foothold on these active slopes. As for the church, it's Sant Esteve. [2005]

Fallen Leaf Lake, California, USA

Let's set the stage for a play. In the role of Nemesis: Mother Nature. In the role of Narcissus: Humankind.  Mother Nature lures Humankind to the pool of life. We look in, see our own reflection, become infatuated with ourselves, can do nothing but reflect on how great we are, and then we die.  We fall like a leaf on Fallen Leaf Lake and are seen no more. [2006]

Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei took the honor away from Kuala Lumpur in 2004, and Dubai took the honor away from Taipei in 2010.  What honor?  That of having the world's tallest building.  Taipei 101 is 1667 feet tall (to the top of the spire).  Want to guess how many floors it has above ground?  [2012]

Ourika Valley, Morocco

The road from Asni to Imlil in Morocco's High Atlas is lined with villages like this, all perched above scenic fields where Berber inhabitants unlock the productive capacities of nature. But there are no 'picture windows' to bring the magnificent scenery into these homes. Why not? What story are the windows trying to tell? [2005]