Jun 16, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: The Bizarre World of Fake Vacation Destinations

Reiner Riedler
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Austrian photographer Reiner Riedler's series Fake Holidays documents artificial travel destinations around the world. Here, families swim at indoor Tropical Islands just outside Berlin.
Reiner Riedler
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At the Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China, a couple gets their photo taken in front of fake Egyptian pyramids.

Reiner Riedler
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Entertainers, dressed as Polynesian dancers, take a break at the Vichy Aqua Park in Lithuania.
Reiner Riedler
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Riedler first became interested in the topic when he saw people going to pop-up, temporary city beaches in Europe.

Reiner Riedler
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After that, he discovered a robust, global business catering to the desire for an immediate getaway—no matter the integrity of the destination. Here, men chat at one of Dubai's indoor skiing halls.
Reiner Riedler
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The indoor skiing halls in Dubai—a desert climate—even have ice caves.

Reiner Riedler
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Over the course of several years Riedler traveled from his native Austria to countries such as Germany, Turkey, the United States, China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Reiner Riedler
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Sun lamps stand in for the tropics at Centerpark Bispingen in Germany.

Reiner Riedler
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At the Titanic Resort Hotel in Turkey, guests can paddle up to a replica of the famous, doomed vessel.
Reiner Riedler
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The Movie Park in Bottrop, Germany, has six different areas with replicas of film sets.

Reiner Riedler
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A guest, clad as Superman, dives over a pool at the World of Wonder's Kremlin Palace in Turkey.
Reiner Riedler
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Diners at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas.

Reiner Riedler
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The Star Trek Experience was a former attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton (it closed in 2008).
Reiner Riedler
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Fake animals and a fake mudslide at the Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China.

Reiner Riedler
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A cosplayer at a convention at the Yomiuri Land amusement park in Tokyo.
Reiner Riedler
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Guests can gaze upon staged crucifixions at The Holy Land Experience, a Christian theme park, in Orlando, Florida.

Reiner Riedler
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Also in Shenzhen is Minsk World, a theme park built around a Russian aircraft carrier from the 1970s that was bought by China in the 1990s.
Reiner Riedler
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Tourists get their photo taken on one of the Minsk World battleships.

Reiner Riedler
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The United States Capitol building and Mount Rushmore, seen at Window of the World in Shenzhen.
Reiner Riedler
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Phantasialand, Germany's answer to Disney World, is a family-friendly resort with fantastical rides and parks.

Reiner Riedler
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A historical Viking reenactment is staged at another cosplay festival, in Austria.
Reiner Riedler
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Spectators marvel at a buffalo parade in a faux old timey western town, in Germany.

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