Standing alone

The name Tahiti may bring to mind beautiful beaches and a laid-back island lifestyle. But a trip to French Polynesia's largest island isn't complete without a peek at this landmark peak. Towering over this part of the world at 7,352 feet, Mont Orohena is the most topographically isolated mountain in the world that isn't a fourteener. Since the nearest landmass to Tahiti is relatively flat Australia, Orohena is the highest point in a 2,500-mile radius. So if you reach the summit on a clear day, get ready for a long, uninterrupted view over the sunny South Pacific.