7-Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Small limestone islands up to 300 feet in height poke above the waters of the bay along its northwest shores. The limestone in this bay has formed over 500 million years in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the limestone karsts have formed over 20 million years under the impact of tropical wet climate. I spent 21 hours on the bay and among the islands, on a 3-deck ship with 30 passengers. The first (satellite) image shows the area, some 30 miles wide—a shelf extending 15 miles south to the South China Sea. (Adjust your screen brightness as necessary!)