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Spain - The second largest country in Western Europe is also one if its most culturally diverse. Pictured is the Alhambra Palace in Grenada, Andalusia.

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Spain - Away from the hotter south, northern Spain is sometimes referred to as "Green Spain" and is no less alluring. Pictured is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, in the Basque Country.

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Slovakia -

Once part of Czechoslovakia, the Slovak Republic eventually became known as Slovakia. The capital, Bratislava, is distinguished by its impressive castle (pictured). 

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Slovakia - The National Park of High Tatras is one of the country's most attractive tourist destinations.

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Singapore - The island city-state is one of Southeast Asia's wealthiest go-getting destinations, and a so-called regional economic "tiger."

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Singapore - Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, the country gained its independence in 1963.

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Slovenia - In 1991, Slovenia won independence from Yugoslavia. Ljubljana, the capital, stands on the site of a Roman city called Emona.

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Slovenia - The already picturesque Lake Bled is enhanced by a church located on an islet. The Julian Alps provide a suitable romantic backdrop.

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Saudi Arabia - A sovereign Arab state extending across most of the northern and central Arabian Peninsula.

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Saudi Arabia - Regarded as the birthplace of Islam, the country's Masjid al-Haram Mosque in Mecca is the destination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

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Seychelles - An archipelago and sovereign state scattered across the Indian Ocean, the destination is a luxury tourism hot spot.

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Seychelles - Mahé, home to the capital, Victoria, is the largest island, followed by Praslin Island.

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Switzerland - The Matterhorn, with its near-symmetrical pyramidal peak with a summit at 4,478 m (14,692 ft), is one of the most recognized mountains in the world.

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Switzerland - Zurich, Geneva, and Basel have each been ranked among the top ten cities in the world in terms of quality of life, according to Mercer.

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Scotland - Scotland's Highlands and islands are among the most dramatic and picturesque in the United Kingdom.

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Scotland - The capital city of Scotland is one of the UK's most popular tourist destinations. Reasons to visit include The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival.

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Santa Lucia -

Santa Lucia is a sovereign island country in the West Indies located in the eastern Caribbean Sea.

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Santa Lucia - Part of the Lesser Antilles, its capital is Castries.

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South Africa - South Africa, the southernmost country in Africa, is appreciated for its wines, wildlife, and cities like Cape Town (pictured), situated beneath the landmark Table Mountain.

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South Africa - One of the world's great safari vacation destinations, the country's Kruger National Park is one of Africa's largest game reserves.

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Sweden - Stockholm, the Swedish capital, is known for its colorfully decorated metro, often described as the longest art gallery in the world.

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Sweden - About 15% of Sweden lies north of the Arctic Circle.

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South Korea - The name "Korea" is derived from the word Goryeo, also spelled Koryŏ, a dynasty that ruled from the 10th to 14th centuries.

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South Korea - The 14th-century Haedong Yonggungsa Temple at Busan is especially popular with visitors on Buddha's birthday.

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Senegal - Located on the west coast of Africa, its capital city is Dakar. The Great Mosque is a landmark of Senegal's second city, Touba.

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Senegal - The Gambia River snakes westwards through the country, although the name Senegal comes from the Senegal River.

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Serbia - Located in southeastern Europe, the country was once part of Yugoslavia. Its capital, Belgrade, features the impressive Church of Saint Sava (pictured), among other notable landmarks.

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Serbia - The Tara National Park, in the Dinaric Alps, is blessed with verdant forested slopes, dramatic ravines, and crystal-clear waterways.

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -

Moored in the Caribbean Sea, this sovereign state is part of the Lesser Antilles.

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Boasting French and British colonial history, the state is often referred to as just Saint Vincent. Its capital is Kingstown.

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Swaziland - One of the smallest countries in Africa, Swaziland is known for its homesteads, clusters of traditional beehive huts covered with dry grass.

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Swaziland - The annual Umhlanga, or Reed Dance ceremony, is one of the country's most popular cultural events.

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São Tomé and Príncipe - An African island nation, the islands are part of a volcanic chain located in the Gulf of Guinea.

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São Tomé and Príncipe - Colonized and settled by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the country's capital and largest city is São Tomé.

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Sri Lanka - An island nation anchored off the south of India in the Indian Ocean. Dambulla, in the middle of the country, is celebrated for its cave temple complex (pictured).

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Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan stilt fishing is a tradition that goes back centuries. The beach at Weligama is a good place to see stilt fishermen perched on their wooden poles.

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Saint Kitts and Nevis -

This is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere. The capital, Basseterre, is located on St. Kitts.

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Saint Kitts and Nevis - The smaller islands of Nevis are distinguished by Nevis Peak, a potentially active volcano.

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Suriname - The smallest country in South America has Dutch as its official language, although Sranan Tongo—English-based creole—is the lingua franca.

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Suriname -

A colonial-era gunpowder house in Fort Nieuw Amsterdam disguised as a church. Places of worship were often spared attack during hostilities.

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Sint Maarten - An island country in the Caribbean, Sint Maarten suffered considerable damage in 2017 as a result of Hurricane Irma.

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Sint Maarten - Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and lies on Saint Martin Island.

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Samoa - These Polynesian islands include Savai'i, one of the largest islands in the South Pacific.

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Samoa - Pictured is the Samoa Methodist Church in Apia, the Samoan capital, on Upola Island.

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Sicily - An autonomous region of Italy, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Pictured is Cefalù, with its beach and 12th-century cathedral.

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Sicily - The ancient theater of Taormina, which dates back to the third century BCE, is an island landmark. Mount Etna looms large in the distance.

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Solomon Islands -

The Soloman Islands lie east of Papua New Guinea, the largest of which is Guadalcanal, where the country's capital, Honiara, is situated. 

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Solomon Islands - During WWII, Guadalcanal Island was the scene of the Guadalcanal Campaign, which saw fierce fighting between Japanese and US troops.

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Saint Pierre and Miquelon -

Seldom visited, this French archipelago is located off the Canadian island of Newfoundland.

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Saint Pierre and Miquelon -

The self-governing territory encompasses a number of smaller islands.

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Sudan - The famous and intriguing Meroe pyramids built in the Nubian style amaze visitors and historians alike.

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Sudan -

Equally astounding is the large mud brick temple-tomb known as the Western Deffufa, located in Kerma.

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South Sudan - An aerial view of Juba, South Sudan's capital.

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South Sudan - South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. In 2013 civil war broke out, which has since damaged the young nation.

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Syria -

The historic ruins of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, photographed before its further destruction during the country's civil war.

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Syria -

A view of the temple in 2016. A plan has been drawn up to rebuild the temple using surviving remains.

See also: The best places to go sightseeing by streetcar

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