Despite lying less than 15 kilometers (10 miles) north of Jelenia Góra, Poland's tallest stone and arch dam at Pilchowice gives the impression of being located in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps it's the narrow, winding forest roads that occasionally abandon pavement for cobblesto … | Continue reading
Cijin Island in Kaohsiung is popular among daytrippers in Kaohsiung for its black sand beaches and the 19th-century lighthouse on its northern tip, which has become a minor tourist attraction. The island also boasts Taiwan's largest collection of shells at the Cijin Shell Gallery … | Continue reading
The earliest version of Crawford Castle consisted of a motte and bailey, with a surrounding ditch. On the remains of the motte stand the ruins of a square enclosure surrounded by a curtain wall. Researchers believe there may have been round towers at each corner of the enclosure … | Continue reading
The François Vase is one of the most notable pieces in the National Archaeological Museum of Florence's collection. Dated to circa 570-560 B.C., this Attic black-figure krater, the oldest of its kind known today, was discovered in an Etruscan necropolis in Chiusi in 1844 and sent … | Continue reading
You’re kicked back in a camp chair, daydreaming about flapjacks and watching the breeze blow through the leaves, when you catch movement in your peripheral vision. You cautiously turn your head to see the prowler. It has feathers, and it’s looking right at you. Quick, what do you … | Continue reading
Nestled in the suburbs, you can find the dam and spillway constraining Lake Lenexa, and the life that flourishes around it. Completed in 2006 as part of the city's Vision 2020 Project, the outfitted dam serves as a functional piece of art. Embellished with fountains, sculptures, … | Continue reading
For many, the ambient sound of the woods—birds chirping, streams gurgling, and leaves rustling in the trees—is one of the main draws of spending a weekend camping. The natural symphony of the forest floor is not just a delightful combination of sounds; it’s been scientifically li … | Continue reading
A pharmacist by profession, Phillip Brown moved to Jacksonville in the 1970s and, while operating a pharmacy, began collecting art in his spare time. Eventually, this art collection superseded the pharmacy, and he began focusing on buying, selling and, sometimes, making art full- … | Continue reading
In October of 2022, the local government of Chattanooga began removing public benches from bus stops and parks because business owners complained that Chattanoogans experiencing homelessness were utilizing them. A group called the Chattanooga Urbanist Society was formed and began … | Continue reading
Many cultures celebrate the New Year twice: once on January 1, and once on a culturally-specific date. Persians have Nowruz, Thais have Songkran, and some Russians celebrate New Year on January 13 or 14, following the old Orthodox Christian calendar. But for the Sakha (or Yakut) … | Continue reading
In the city of Nanjō, Okinawa, the massive Gyokusendō cave system stretches on for over three miles. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, part of it collapsed and gave way to a subtropical jungle, becoming a natural wonder unlike any other. Once you step inside the Valley of Ganga … | Continue reading
THIS ARTICLE IS ADAPTED FROM THE JUNE 15, 2024, EDITION OF GASTRO OBSCURA’S FAVORITE THINGS NEWSLETTER. YOU CAN SIGN UP HERE. The giant Hot Cheeto was mesmerizing. It looked like some sort of fantastical, fractal coral constellation looming over the platters of Wagyu sliders. The … | Continue reading
At the behest of the Indian government, the United Nations declared 2023 to be the “International Year of Millets.” It was just one of many initiatives India has undertaken in the last decade to promote millets, sometimes known as the country’s “forgotten” or “orphan” crops. In f … | Continue reading
In the bustling Guildhall Square, where citizens and visitors of Portsmouth flock, Charles Dickens is immortalized and gazes at the people as they walk the area. Crafted by sculptor Martin Jennings, the Portsmouth Branch of Dickens Fellowship commissioned this magnificent sculptu … | Continue reading
Nestled among the bushes within a small residential neighborhood is a sign that reads "Mill Pond." Markers indicating nearby bodies of water are nothing unusual, but the description on this one reveals something truly peculiar: A legend which has become part of local folklore ove … | Continue reading
In the early morning of October 26, 1975, the city of Ruse, Bulgaria was shaken by the roar of bulldozers. Unexpectedly, the main church of the city, known as "All Saints," was demolished and razed to the ground by the Communist regime. Misfortune would later befall all those inv … | Continue reading
In the attic of a rural cabin, two teenagers are making out. As things get hot and heavy, the camera tracks them with a voyeuristic gaze. Suddenly the young couple spring apart, caught in the act by an unseen interloper. Then the knife comes out, delivering the classic slasher mo … | Continue reading
Prince Morinaga, also known as Prince Moriyoshi and Son of Emperor Daigo II, was a Japanese prince and monk. He is still worshipped today at Kamakura-gū, a shrine founded on the site of a Buddhist temple where he was once imprisoned and executed. Morinaga was a fierce samurai who … | Continue reading
Were you in awe of the summer camp counselor who got a roaring blaze going every night for s’mores and stories with what seemed like zero effort? Surprise: Building a campfire really is easy. We’ve broken it down into four steps—and are sharing some hard lessons others have learn … | Continue reading
This archaeological park, with its partially reconstructed ancient pueblos, botanical garden, and museum, makes for a beautiful and relaxing day trip. Besh-Ba-Gowah was built by the Salado people between 1225 and 1400. A small but fascinating museum features local archeological f … | Continue reading
What this museum lacks in size, it makes up for in quality. The Ethnic Music Museum in the small municipality of Busot is based on a private collection donated by Carlos Blanco Fadol, a long-time resident of Busot originally from Uruguay. Fadol's collection consists mainly of mus … | Continue reading
Standing at the foot of the Bolognese Apennines, surrounded by the peaceful village of Riola di Vergato, is a modern masterpiece of sacred architecture: the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, designed by the Finnish master architect Alvar Aalto upon commission by the Archbishop of Bo … | Continue reading
Even in decay, RKO Proctor's Theatre was magnificent. The skeletal framework of the proscenium arch loomed over the stage, the two steep balcony levels seemed impossibly high, and scraps of gorgeously painted plaster still clung to the ceiling and walls. For as tall and impressiv … | Continue reading
When the Qing Dynasty's defeat in the Second Opium War forced it to open up numerous ports to Western trade, including several in Taiwan, the British quickly established a consulate to protect their interests on the island. Initially established in Taiwan Prefecture (now Tainan) … | Continue reading
The Stavanger Astronomical Society was founded in 1969, making it one of the oldest groups of its kind in Norway. In 1977, the society built their own observatory. That same year, with great pride, they brought home a Dobsoniann telescope. Annie, as they call her, is one of the l … | Continue reading
Behind a popular restaurant on the main shopping street and near a wonderful old church in Cologne, you can find a couple of life-sized bronze statues. These two fictional characters from a 19th-century puppet theater are very well known in the Cologne area. They are based on old … | Continue reading
Each week, Atlas Obscura is providing a new short excerpt from our upcoming book, Wild Life: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders (September 17, 2024). Gruba Kaśka is one of Warsaw’s largest water filtration plants. Every day, it pumps tens of millions of gallons out … | Continue reading
Each week, Atlas Obscura is providing a new short excerpt from our upcoming book, Wild Life: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders (September 17, 2024). Gruba Kaśka is one of Warsaw’s largest water filtration plants. Every day, it pumps tens of millions of gallons out … | Continue reading
An unusual memorial can be found on the wall outside a shop in downtown Køge, Denmark, with a cryptic text that reads: “HERE OCCURRED THE KØGE HUSKORS 1608-1615.” This plaque commemorates a case of demonic possession and haunting, and its tragic aftermath. In the early 1600s, thi … | Continue reading
Nestled in the storied Black Hills of South Dakota, the Homestake Open Cut stands as a colossal testament to human ingenuity and determination. This gaping chasm, plunging 1,250 feet into the earth, is a remnant of the once-thriving Homestake Mine, where fortunes were forged from … | Continue reading
During the decades that Malta was a colony of the United Kingdom, the British government built some extensive structures across the archipelago. One of the largest structures built by the British on the island of Gozo, Malta’s second largest island, was the Gozo Aqueduct. The aqu … | Continue reading
Flags are one of those things most people don’t think much about—except, of course, for vexillologists, who study flag design—but maybe they should. Flags tell fascinating stories. From the Atlas Obscura archives: the weird tales behind some of the world’s most unusual and ugly, … | Continue reading
In 1858, New England quaker John Greenleaf Whittier published a poem in The Atlantic about grief. In sparse verses, he tells of a home where the lady of the house has passed away. A “chore-girl” in mourning goes to the family apiary and drapes “each hive with a shred of black.” S … | Continue reading
Set on expansive grounds with a calm lake, the Upopoy museum complex gives insight into the historical and current lives of the Ainu people, one of Japan's least populous minority groups. The Ainu hail from the northern islands of Japan, including Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and the Kuri … | Continue reading
Kokusai-dōri is the main shopping strip of Naha, Okinawa, a perpetually packed mile of souvenir shops and traditional restaurants. In the midst of this busy, highly touristic area, one quirky café continues to be an oasis from the crowds for locals. Founded in 1974, Inshallah is … | Continue reading
Avoid the hungry hordes lining up for bagels and head next door to this Mediterranean bakery on Massachusetts Avenue. Mahalab Bakery serves a strictly savory array of golden-crusted baked goods. First among them are fatayers, Levantine stuffed pies that come filled with spinach, … | Continue reading
Opened in 1913 by Harry Karandzieff and his best friend Pete Jugaloff, Crown Candy Kitchen is the oldest soda fountain in St. Louis. The two friends used their confectionary skills from Greece to whip up sweets in a family-friendly environment. During the 1950s, Harry’s son Georg … | Continue reading
When you read the words "gamma radiation" or "irradiated ecosystem" your first thoughts might turn towards the Incredible Hulk or Godzilla, two of the most infamous radioactive monsters of pop culture. Science fiction and horror stories and movies featuring atomic-powered beasts … | Continue reading
In the seaside town of Sesimbra, just 24 miles south of Lisbon, resides the charming Chapel of Espírito Santo dos Mareantes (Chapel of the Holy Spirit of the Navigators). Founded by a confraternity of local seafarers and fishermen sometime during the late 14th-15th centuries. The … | Continue reading
Founded circa 1527, Sogen-ji Temple was once a grand Buddhist temple with a mausoleum dedicated to the spirits of the kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom. In 1945, however, the temple was lost during the months-long Battle of Okinawa. All that remained was its First Gate, a triple archwa … | Continue reading
In 1949, when the Kuomintang (KMT) under Chiang Kai-shek fled the communist advance to Taiwan, millions of ROC military personnel and their families found themselves on a strange island without homes. In response to their immediate needs, makeshift communities were constructed ca … | Continue reading
Civitavecchia is an Italian harbor founded around the year 100. In its long history, it has hosted many important and well-known people, including many not of Italian origin. Walk along Corso Guglielmo Marconi and you may find yourself in front of a small corner with the bronze s … | Continue reading
Irani cafes have long been an integral part of the urban culinary landscape in India, particularly in Pune and Mumbai among other places. Several of these establishments have been in existence for most part of the 20th century and are often run by the third or fourth generation m … | Continue reading
As with many iconic American foods, there's a certain amount of debate as to who invented the corn dog. Pronto Pup, in Oregon claims to have invented the corn dog, although most sources point to Carl and Neil Fletcher, who first battered their wieners at the 1942 Texas State Fair … | Continue reading
Founded by the British Colonial government in 1938 to combat diseases and pest affecting the cocoa production of the Gold Coast, this institute has blossomed into a high powered research facility for all things cocoa. After Ghana gained independence in 1957, the institute was ren … | Continue reading
Hidden amidst the lush landscapes of Raiatea in French Polynesia lies Taputapuātea, a place steeped in ancient Polynesian lore. This extraordinary marae, or sacred complex, exudes an aura of reverence and intrigue, captivating all who venture to its grounds. At the heart of Taput … | Continue reading
When the Manila Metropolitan Theater (abbreviated as MET) was formally opened on December 10, 1931, it was considered the country’s first national theater. In 1973, it was inscribed as a National Historic Landmark. The National Museum of the Philippines declared it a National Cul … | Continue reading
He's known by many names. The "Flying Prince, the "Flying Slav," or to some, simply "Obo." Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky was a Russian aristocrat who famously represented England in international rugby. A naturalized Briton, he was a Rurikid prince and lived in the U.K. a … | Continue reading