Omo Region, Ethiopia, 2000 Photograph by Jodi Cobb In southern Ethiopia's Omo region, a Hamar child peeks out from under her mother's shawl. The Hamar are among the most elaborately attired of Ethiopia's ethnic groups. Daily dress may include piles of beaded necklaces and metal bracelets, beaded belts and headbands, leather skirts or loincloths, and elaborate, sculptured hairstyles. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Enigma of Beauty," January 2000, National Geographic magazine)

Bison Herd, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1996 Photograph by Raymond Gehman Bison thrive in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park years after fires swept through more than a third of the park. Ecologists now regard wildfires as natural and beneficial in forest ecosystems. They return nutrients to the soil by burning dead or decaying matter, burn off disease-ridden plants and insects, and clear thick canopies and undergrowth, allowing a new generation of seedlings to grow. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Essential Element of Fire," September 1996, National Geographic magazine)

Argiope Spider, New Caledonia, 2000 Photograph by Peter Essick An argiope spider awaits prey in its ornate web in the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia. The thick webbing is called stabilimentum, a structural flourish which some scientists think serves to make the webs more visible to birds, which might otherwise fly into them. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "New Caledonia: France's Untamed Pacific Outpost," May 2000, National Geographic magazine)

Monte Carlo Casino and Mercedes, Monaco, 1995 Photograph by Jodi Cobb The shiny finish of a black Mercedes car reflects Monaco's famous Monte Carlo Casino. A tiny Mediterranean principality with an outsize reputation, Monaco draws millions of tourists every year to its luxury amenities, including beachfront hotels, a yacht harbor, the Opera House, and casinos. Not surprisingly tourism and gambling are at the core of Monaco's economy. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Monaco," May 1996, National Geographic magazine)

View of Lagoon, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia, 1996 Photograph by Jodi Cobb This blue-on-blue scene in a Bora-Bora lagoon is interrupted only by a pair of boats, a lone white seabird, and a line of frothy breakers in the distance. Found in French Polynesia 165 miles (265 kilometers) west of Tahiti, the island of Bora-Bora is what remains of an ancient sunken volcano. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "French Polynesia: Charting a New Course," June 1997, National Geographic magazine)

Bike Ride, Napa Valley, California, 2003 Photograph by Catherine Karnow There are more ways to sample Napa Valley than with a glass in your hand. Here, mountain bikers pedal the Oat Hill Mine Trail through a wildflower-lined field in California's storied wine region. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Other Napa," November/December 2003, National Geographic Traveler magazine)

Courtyard, Lucerne, Switzerland, 2003 Photograph by Brooks Walker Switzerland's capital of dirndls and schnitzel, Lucerne is known for the Alpine charm of its snowcapped mountains, green vistas, and slice-of-life vignettes like this cobblestone courtyard. The city of 60,000 sits in the center of Switzerland at the northwest end of Lake Lucerne. Encircled by a photogenic range of mountains and bisected by the River Reuss, Lucerne is beloved for its storybook charm. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Living Lucerne," January/February 2003, National Geographic Traveler magazine)

Switzerland's capital of dirndls and schnitzel, Lucerne is known for the Alpine charm of its snowcapped mountains, green vistas, and slice-of-life vignettes like this cobblestone courtyard. The city of 60,000 sits in the center of Switzerland at the northwest end of Lake Lucerne. Encircled by a photogenic range of mountains and bisected by the River Reuss, Lucerne is beloved for its storybook charm. (Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Living Lucerne," January/February 2003, National Geographic Traveler magazine)

Horse on Waterfront, Thessaloníki, Greece, 2004 Photograph by Massimo Bassano A carriage horse pauses by the waterfront in Thessaloníki, Greece. This northern port city plays second fiddle to glorious Athens, but some say it offers a more authentic Greek experience: milder temperatures, picturesque views of mountains and sea, hidden gardens, ancient ruins, and by some accounts, the country's most flavorful cuisine. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Going Greek," July/August 2004, National Geographic Traveler magazine)

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Lisbon, Portugal, 2001 Photograph by Tino Soriano The Lady of the Hill stands in her illuminated belvedere as the sun descends on Lisbon, Portugal, below. This vantage, called Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte, is the highest of the seven peaks that nestle Lisbon. Built by seafarers where the Tagus River empties into the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon was once Europe's wealthiest capital and the center of world exploration. (Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Soul of Lisbon," January/February 2002, National Geographic Traveler magazine)