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Set across the mouth of the Sado River in front of the city of Setúbal, the Troia Peninsula is a long, narrow spit of sand that encloses secluded beaches, a nature reserve (the dolphins are the stars), and well-preserved Roman ruins. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

▲Searching for the remote? Sometimes referred to as "Britain's last wilderness," Knoydart is only accessible by boat, or by a 26-km (16-mi) hike over rough terrain. And the road isn't even connected to the UK highway system! But if you're seeking a little Scottish seclusion, Mother Nature will reward you handsomely.

▲The sparse ruins of Renvyle Castle (pictured), the better-known Kylemore Abbey, and Renvyle House (now a hotel: Winston Churchill was a guest) are just a few of the cultural attractions afforded to visitors to this part of the world.

▲Set in Country Kerry on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, the Dingle Peninsula is one of the country's most-celebrated natural landmarks. Places to see include Minard Castle (pictured) and the beach between Slea Head and Dunmore Head, where scenes for the movie 'Ryan's Daughter' (1970) were filmed.

▲Extending 1,247 km (775 mi) from Mexicali in the north to Cabo San Lucas in the south, this long finger of land is famous for excellent wine, pristine natural habitats, and some of the best whale-watching in the world.

▲Its remote location and hostile desert climate has kept this northernmost peninsula of South America largely isolated since colonial times, and therein lies its appeal! Effectively a huge coastal Caribbean desert, Guajira is an ecotourism paradise.

▲A popular destination for residents of nearby Adelaide, this region of Australia offers various active and adventurous options, including fishing, boating, surfing, swimming, camping, and bushwalking.. The Innes National Park is located on the southwest tip of the peninsula.

▲Commonly known as "The Lizard," the most southern point of the British mainland is a picturesque canvas of craggy cliffs, pirates' coves, and isolated beaches.

▲Embroidered with Mediterranean forests and notable archaeological sites including Stageira, Aristotle’s birthplace, and Olynthus, known for its well-preserved mosaic floors, Halkidiki is also blessed with a glorious coastline indented with golden beaches and half-moon bays.

▲Cap-Vert is the westernmost point of mainland Africa. Formed by a cluster of volcanic offshore islands, the peninsula is distinguished by a geological anomaly, Lac Rose, or Pink Lake. Named for its reddish-pink waters, the lake's extraordinary hue is particularly visible during the dry season (from November to June).

▲At the southern end of the peninsula, which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope—the southwestern extremity of the African continent! The point forms part of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, noted for its outstanding variety of flora and fauna.

▲A favorite vacation destination for locals and international tourists, Coromandel is largely cloaked in temperate rain forest, itself worthy of exploration. But it's the numerous small islands and island groups lying offshore that capture the imagination. Hire a canoe to paddle out and see for yourself.

▲Located in southeastern Quebec, the Gaspé Peninsula is home to four national parks and especially noted for its birdlife (Bonaventure-Island-and-Percé-Rock, the summer nesting home of some 200,000 northern gannets, is the North American continent's largest colony of gannet seabirds). Arrive in spring and fall for the annual bird migrations.

▲The small, wooded Urdoviza Peninsula set on the Bulgarian Black Sea wraps itself around the quaint seaside resort of Kiten. During the Soviet era, this area was known as the "Red Riviera" for its spa resorts that catered to wealthy vacationers from the Eastern Bloc.

▲The Lycian Way, one of the world’s great long-distance hiking trails, follows the swollen outline of the Teke Peninsula, between the scenic towns of Fethiye and Antalya. Along the way, look out for ancient sites like Lake Baga’s compelling Neolithic cave paintings.

▲They call the Otago Peninsula on New Zealand's South Island the country's wildlife capital, such is the abundance of amazing flora and fauna to be found. New Zealand's only castle, Larnach Castle, is also located here.

▲The country's northeast region is where you'll find the Samaná Peninsula, an environment embellished with palm-fringed beaches and lauded as the world’s largest breeding ground for humpback whales (from January to March).

▲Some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in Costa Rica can be enjoyed in the pale blue crystalline waters off the Osa Peninsula, which is also the place to go for rain forest exploration.

▲Tucked away in a corner of Maine 6.5 km (4 mi) east of Bar Harbor is the stark, granite-strewn Schoodic Peninsula. A section of the Arcadia National Park is located here, which is more secluded than the main body of the park. Pictured is the Winter Harbor Trail, a meandering coastal footpath that showcases the region's captivating wilderness.

▲Sagres, located in Portugal's Algarve province, marks the extreme southwesternmost point of continental Europe. It's here that Henry the Navigator is said to have built a school of navigation on a windswept promontory in the 15th century. The neighboring lighthouse at Cape St Vincent houses a small museum.

▲The Bicol Peninsula off Luzon Island is characterized by the active volcanoes Mayon and Bulusan. Luzon itself, located in the northern portion of the Philippines Archipelago, is home to the capital, Manila.

▲The Mull of Kintyre, put on the map musically by Paul McCartney in 1978, is sited at the southwesternmost tip of the long, narrow Kintyre Peninsula. Nearby Campbeltown enjoys a reputation as a producer of some of the world's finest single malt whisky.

▲A popular haunt for outdoors enthusiasts, Bruce Peninsula in Ontario lies between Georgian Bay and the main basin of Lake Huron. The much-photographed Cove Island Lighthouse is a familiar landmark.

▲Hon Gom Sandbar is a near-deserted peninsular that stretches 30 km (18.5 mi) into the East Sea. Located two hours north of Nha Trang, this beguiling causeway features a string of secluded coves and dozens of less-trodden beaches.

▲Volcanic in origin and composed mainly of basalt rock, this jagged, sinewy peninsula marks the eastern extremity of the Atlantic Ocean island of Madeira. The hike to the point is invigorating. Out to sea, you may be lucky enough to spot a Mediterranean monk seal, one of the rarest seals in the world.

▲Top activities on the Nicoya Peninsula, which faces Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, include checking out the crowd-pleasing Montezuma waterfall and mingling with sea turtles at Ostional Beach, set within the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge.

▲Iceland's dramatic landscapes are simply awe-inspiring, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is no exception. The views are enhanced by the iconic Kirkjufell, or "church mountain."

▲Rugged yet elegant and soooooo Instagrammable, Monte Argentario is a Mediterranean idyll, a finger of land jutting into the Tyrrhenian Sea decorated with colorful seaside towns and flecked with cypress pines and olive groves. Take the panoramic road Strada panoramica and be enchanted by the jaw-dropping views of the coast and the Tuscan Archipelago.

▲The hot, arid Bukit Peninsula is home to Bali's most dramatic coastal scenery. It's also where you can catch a performance of the traditional Kecak fire dance (pictured), which is staged at Uluwatu Temple.

▲This impressive wedge of land lies across Puget Sound from Seattle in Washington, and contains Olympic National Park. A standout site is the incredible Point of the Arches (pictured), a collection of weird rock formations adjacent to Shi Shi Beach.

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A peninsula is a landform bounded on three sides by water, but is connected to the mainland on one side. Peninsulas very often feature unique geological and cultural characteristics. They can be small, sometimes only large enough to accommodate a lighthouse. But they can also be very large, like the peninsula of Baja California is a good example.

Browse the gallery and marvel at these landmarks that are nearly islands, but not quite!