59. Needles, United Kingdom

A rock formation made up of three chalk outcrops off the Isle of Wight. Originally there were four, of which the most popular, Lot's Wife, was shaped like a needle. It collapsed in a storm in 1764. None of the remaining rocks are needle-shaped.

58. Sidon, Lebanon

Reputed birthplace of Jezebel, and one of the first cities to produce Tyrian purple (named after another city, Tyre), the dye that established purple's association with royalty. Inside is the Sidon Sea Castle, built offshore in the Mediterranean.

57. Belgrade, Serbia

30% of the world's raspberries come from Serbia, as do 47% of the world's Serbs. The most famous Serb not from Serbia was Nikola Tesla, inventor of the remote-controlled model boat.

56. Hawaii, United States

The ukulele originated in Hawaii as an adaptation of the machete, a type of lute from Madeira. One notable player was Queen Liliʻuokalani, composer of Aloha ʻOe and the last Hawaiian monarch.

55. Roswell, United States

Best known for the 1947 alleged UFO crash, which may have involved leprechauns. Former home of the Jingle Bob Ranch, once the largest ranch in the US, and Pat Garrett, who killed Billy the Kid. Modern Roswell has one of the world's biggest mozzarella factories.

54. Lübeck, Germany

From the Holstentor. Lübeck was capital of the world's first trade bloc, the Hanseatic League, for over 500 years.

53. Barbados

The Caribbean's easternmost island. Originally inhabited by Caribs, the country's first colonial settlement was Jamestown, later renamed Holetown after a period of decline. George Washington once spent six weeks in Barbados, his only trip outside the US.

52. Genoa, Italy

Birthplace of farinata, a delicious savoury pancake, as well as Christopher Columbus. The city's main lighthouse, the Lanterna, was the world's tallest from 1543 to 1902, and is the third oldest lighthouse still standing.