Varanasi, IndiaHindus perform morning rituals in the Ganges River at one of Hinduism’s most sacred places, the city of Varanasi, known as the city of Lord Shiva. For Hindus, the river itself is a sacred site.

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5-cityphoto tourthrough the lensof our topgeographers.

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Dingle, IrelandIrish pubs have been commodified and placed for consumption in world cities, including Boston, Berlin, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. Dingle supports dozens of Irish pubs like this one where traditional music and décor are maintained in an authentic atmosphere for the enjoyment of tourists and locals.

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Isfahan, Iran The dome of the Imam Mosque, built in 1611, demonstrates the geometric art evident in Islamic architecture. The seven-color mosaic tiles are replaced by hand every 50 years, using techniques developed four centuries ago.

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Timbuktu, Mali Sited along the Niger River on the edge of the Sahara Desert, Timbuktu was a major trade center until the sixteenth century when the development of sea trade routes on the west coast of Africa allowed traders to circumvent the town.

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Humen, ChinaThe 40 or so employees in this small textile factory in Humen make women’s clothes for the French market. Labels with a fancy-sounding Italian name are sewn into each item of clothing. The clothes are sold in Humen for the equivalent of $1.50–$2.00 each, but most of them were destined for France, where they would be sold for 20 times that amount.

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