These 26 locations look ordinary – until you see them from above

Sky-high sights

Sky-high sights, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, USA, Nazca Lines, Peru, Palmanova, Italy, Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India, Queen Mary’s Gardens, Regents Park, London, England, UK, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, Tianmen Mountain Road, China, Longleat Hedge Maze, Wiltshire, England, UK, Galesnjak, Croatia, Olympiapark, Munich, Germany, Sacsayhuamán, Peru, Taj Mahal, Agra, India, Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, UK, Esterhazy Palace, Fertőd, Hungary, The Circus, Bath, England, UK, Masone Labyrinth, Fontanellato, Italy, Kayaköy, Turkey, Yan'an Elevated Road Interchange, Shanghai, China, Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA, Ballynoe Stone Circle, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, Circular crops, Colorado, USA, Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery, Madrid, Spain, Green Man Maze, Penpont, Wales, UK

Not all of the world's wonders are visible from the ground. We've scoured the globe for the greatest bird's-eye sights, from intricately designed mazes, roads and heart-shaped islands to surprising new perspectives on famous landmarks.

Click through the gallery for 26 awesome spectacles best seen from the sky... 

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

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No list of stunning bird's-eye sights would be complete without Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. This artificial island is home to super high-end hotels and plush homes, and it was partly constructed from sand dredged up from the bed of the Persian Gulf. Its ringed, palm-tree design is a marvel from above. 

The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, USA

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Even from the ground, the headquarters for the US Department of Defense looks pretty formidable. The Pentagon is built in the pared-back, Stripped Classicism style and it sprawls across a whopping 29 acres. From the air, though, it's even more impressive.

The 1940s building was originally planned for a plot that was bordered by roads on five sides – though it was eventually built elsewhere, architects kept the pentagonal design. In its more recent history, the Pentagon was rocked by the devastating 9/11 attacks.

Nazca Lines, Peru

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Southern Peru's fascinating Nazca Lines are among the most famous geoglyphs in the world. A medley of designs, from bold geometric shapes to animals like hummingbirds, were etched into the desert by the ancient Nazca culture, who thrived some 2,000 years ago.

Why were they created? No one knows for sure. However, some modern archaeologists believe they served as a prayer to the gods for rain and fertile land.

Palmanova, Italy

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The star-shaped city of Palmanova is a wonder from up high. It was built in the 16th century and encapsulated the Renaissance ideal of what a perfect city should be: neatly geometric and bounded by multiple sets of strong walls.

The result was a near impenetrable, fortified city able to see off attacks from the Ottomans. Napoleon ultimately conquered the city in the late 1700s and extended the walls even further. 

Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA

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Lady Liberty is the subject of countless photos, but have you ever seen her snapped from above? An aerial shot shows off the striking, star-shaped fort that serves as her base. Fort Wood dates back to the early 19th century and was built to protect New York from British invasion. 

Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India

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New Delhi's Lotus Temple looks impressive from every angle. Built in the 1980s, the sacred Baháʼí building was designed to look like a lotus flower (as its name suggests) and comprises a neat display of marble "petals" set within manicured gardens.

From above, a breathtaking geometric pattern reveals itself. You can count nine pools surrounding the temple: nine is considered a "perfect" number in Baháʼí faith.

Queen Mary’s Gardens, Regents Park, London, England, UK

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Londoners typically flock to Queen Mary's Gardens to drink in the 12,000 fragrant roses that bloom here each summer. The formal gardens are a joy to explore on foot, but their design can only really be appreciated from above.

A bird's-eye view reveals a pattern of concentric circles, sliced through with trim pathways and surrounded by velvet-like grass. 

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

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Sydney Opera House must be one of the most photographed landmarks in the world but, such is its striking profile, the building is rarely shown off from above. Bird's-eye photos reveal the neat geometry of the tiled shells and the pointed, mountain-like shadows they cast.

Architect Jørn Utzon purportedly wanted the white shells to contrast with "the deep blue of Sydney Harbour", an effect that's even more obvious from above. 

Tianmen Mountain Road, China

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Roads don't come much more hair-raising than this. The route, in China's Tianmen National Park, unravels across Tianmen Mountain like a ball of string – in fact the wiggling road has a whopping 99 bends in total.

Though it makes for a white-knuckle drive, you can only take stock of its hairpin turns and switchbacks with an overhead view.

Longleat Hedge Maze, Wiltshire, England, UK

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Dating back to the 1970s, the Hedge Maze at Longleat adventure park is tipped as the biggest in Britain. Some 16,000 yew trees make up the labyrinth, whose whirling paths wriggle out for more than 1.5 miles (2km).

Best of all, those who finish the maze get to soak in the view from up high: it culminates in a lofty observation tower, which doubles as the way out. 

Galesnjak, Croatia

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It's easy to see why Galesnjak is nicknamed "Lover's Island". The Croatian land mass is known for its ancient burial mounds and olive trees and, most of all, for its defined heart shape, visible from the sky.

It's a tiny isle, only 164 feet (50m) wide, and it went viral around a decade ago when its unique form was pointed out by Google Earth. 

Olympiapark, Munich, Germany

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Olympic stadiums are often fine works of architecture and Munich's Olympiapark, built in the 1970s, is no exception. The standout feature is the Olympiastadion, whose rippling, tent-like roof was the work of German architect Frei Otto.

The futuristic structure, which splays out almost like a spider web, is best viewed from the sky. 

Sacsayhuamán, Peru

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The Incan ruins of Sacsayhuamán typically lie in the shadow of Machu Picchu – but, when viewed from the air, lesser known Sacsayhuamán steals the show. The fort complex, made up of enormous stone blocks, is thought to date from the 15th century.

In this aerial photo, you can make out distinctive patterns and shapes from zigzagging walls to concentric circles and rectangles.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

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India's Taj Mahal is one of the world's most unmistakable landmarks, but it's hardly recognisable when viewed from the sky. An aerial snap allows you to appreciate the monument's near perfect symmetry, from its domes and minarets to its majestic gateways.

A 2015 study discovered that the site's carefully laid-out gardens and pavilions actually align with the path of the sun.

Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, UK

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Take to the skies above Oxfordshire and you'll see an elegant white horse galloping across the chalk hills of Uffington. It's thought that the geoglyph could date back around 3,000 years, making it the oldest of its kind in Britain.

The Bronze Age figure is also joined by an Iron Age hillfort.

Esterhazy Palace, Fertőd, Hungary

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Manicured grounds and spectacular Baroque architecture have earned Esterhazy Palace its reputation as the "Versailles of Hungary". It dates to the 18th century and was once a home to the noble house of Esterhazy, one of the most influential Hungarian families of the time.

From the air you can appreciate the intricate, swirling designs of the formal gardens and the palace's bell-shaped outline.

The Circus, Bath, England, UK

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Bath's Circus isn't a big striped tent in the middle of a field – instead it's an immaculate circle of Grade I-listed, Georgian townhouses designed by architect John Wood, the Elder. Architecture buffs will love poring over the intricate stonework up close. But from the air you can appreciate the satisfying circular arrangement.

A broader view also reveals a key shape, formed with adjoining Gay Street and green Queen Square farther south. 

Masone Labyrinth, Fontanellato, Italy

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A golden pyramid lies at the heart of Masone Labyrinth, a bamboo maze that spreads out for an enormous 20 acres (that's about 10 times the size of a football pitch). It's the vision of publisher and art lover Franco Maria Ricci and it sits within a cultural park that includes a gallery and a library.

The maze's whopping size, neat lines and striking eight-sided star shape look at their best when captured from above. 

Kayaköy, Turkey

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At first it might be hard to tell exactly what this bird's-eye photo depicts. This is the ghost town of Kayaköy, a Turkish village abandoned after the Greco-Turkish war. Now a UNESCO World Friendship and Peace Village, Kayaköy is a haunting place to explore.

From above, however, the scattered, boxy shapes of the ruined buildings look more like an abstract art print than an abandoned village.

Yan'an Elevated Road Interchange, Shanghai, China

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China has little shortage of impressive roadways and Shanghai's Yan'an Elevated Road Interchange is one of the most mind-boggling. Only from above can you appreciate the dramatic way the roads weave together, almost appearing to form a knot at the centre.

The highway is so cinematic that it had a fleeting role in the 2012 James Bond movie Skyfall. 

Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA

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Hulking Fort Jefferson is the star sight in Florida's Dry Tortugas National Park. It dates right back to the 1840s and served as a military prison during the Civil War. The fort is impressive enough from the ground and rangers can be booked to guide travellers around the brooding brick building, telling stories of its construction and its 19th-century heyday.

From above the fort shows off its bold, hexagonal shape and stands in stark contrast with the turquoise waters of the gulf.

Ballynoe Stone Circle, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK

Sky-high sights, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, USA, Nazca Lines, Peru, Palmanova, Italy, Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India, Queen Mary’s Gardens, Regents Park, London, England, UK, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, Tianmen Mountain Road, China, Longleat Hedge Maze, Wiltshire, England, UK, Galesnjak, Croatia, Olympiapark, Munich, Germany, Sacsayhuamán, Peru, Taj Mahal, Agra, India, Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, UK, Esterhazy Palace, Fertőd, Hungary, The Circus, Bath, England, UK, Masone Labyrinth, Fontanellato, Italy, Kayaköy, Turkey, Yan'an Elevated Road Interchange, Shanghai, China, Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA, Ballynoe Stone Circle, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, Circular crops, Colorado, USA, Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery, Madrid, Spain, Green Man Maze, Penpont, Wales, UK

This is one ancient site that looks mighty more impressive from up high. Around 50 stones, some soaring to over six feet (2m), make up Ballynoe Stone Circle, in the southeast of Northern Ireland. The site is thought to date from the late Neolithic Period and the discovery of human remains here suggests that the site was partly used for burial.

An aerial view shows off the near perfect circle of rocks and the curious horse-shoe shape at the centre.

Circular crops, Colorado, USA

Sky-high sights, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, USA, Nazca Lines, Peru, Palmanova, Italy, Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India, Queen Mary’s Gardens, Regents Park, London, England, UK, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, Tianmen Mountain Road, China, Longleat Hedge Maze, Wiltshire, England, UK, Galesnjak, Croatia, Olympiapark, Munich, Germany, Sacsayhuamán, Peru, Taj Mahal, Agra, India, Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, UK, Esterhazy Palace, Fertőd, Hungary, The Circus, Bath, England, UK, Masone Labyrinth, Fontanellato, Italy, Kayaköy, Turkey, Yan'an Elevated Road Interchange, Shanghai, China, Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA, Ballynoe Stone Circle, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, Circular crops, Colorado, USA, Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery, Madrid, Spain, Green Man Maze, Penpont, Wales, UK

These circular swatches are in fact irrigated farmland, created using a process known as centre pivot irrigation. A line of sprinklers rotate around a central pivot point, creating perfect circles of lush green growth that really pops against the arid desert soil when seen from above. Some reach up to 1.85 miles (3km) in diameter.

Here we see a series of pivot farming plots in the desert of Colorado, but the same extraordinary green circles can be seen in other parts of the USA, as well as in other desert areas in countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery, Madrid, Spain

Sky-high sights, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, USA, Nazca Lines, Peru, Palmanova, Italy, Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India, Queen Mary’s Gardens, Regents Park, London, England, UK, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, Tianmen Mountain Road, China, Longleat Hedge Maze, Wiltshire, England, UK, Galesnjak, Croatia, Olympiapark, Munich, Germany, Sacsayhuamán, Peru, Taj Mahal, Agra, India, Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, UK, Esterhazy Palace, Fertőd, Hungary, The Circus, Bath, England, UK, Masone Labyrinth, Fontanellato, Italy, Kayaköy, Turkey, Yan'an Elevated Road Interchange, Shanghai, China, Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA, Ballynoe Stone Circle, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, Circular crops, Colorado, USA, Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery, Madrid, Spain, Green Man Maze, Penpont, Wales, UK

This gigantic cemetery is like no other in the world. Around five million people are buried here and the site is a maze of elaborate marble gravestones punctured by trees and statues. From the ground, though, you might not guess at the cemetery's intricate layout.

In this aerial photo you can appreciate the exacting concentric circles at the centre and the surrounding shapes like clubs on a playing card. 

Green Man Maze, Penpont, Wales, UK

Sky-high sights, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, USA, Nazca Lines, Peru, Palmanova, Italy, Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA, Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India, Queen Mary’s Gardens, Regents Park, London, England, UK, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, Tianmen Mountain Road, China, Longleat Hedge Maze, Wiltshire, England, UK, Galesnjak, Croatia, Olympiapark, Munich, Germany, Sacsayhuamán, Peru, Taj Mahal, Agra, India, Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire, England, UK, Esterhazy Palace, Fertőd, Hungary, The Circus, Bath, England, UK, Masone Labyrinth, Fontanellato, Italy, Kayaköy, Turkey, Yan'an Elevated Road Interchange, Shanghai, China, Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA, Ballynoe Stone Circle, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, Circular crops, Colorado, USA, Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery, Madrid, Spain, Green Man Maze, Penpont, Wales, UK

Look down on Penpont's maze from a height and you'll see someone gazing back. This effigy of the Green Man – a pre-Christian symbol of rebirth and renewal – was created by artist David Eveleigh as a marker of the new millennium.

Beech and yew trees wind in curling patterns, eventually opening out to a wild-flower-filled oasis.

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