Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

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“I’ve always thought they are kind of cooler than a lot of people think,” says author and illustrator Rosemary Mosco.

The Case for Pigeon-Watching

A new book is part ornithology guide, part ode to the misunderstood urban birds.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

Place of the Day

Dofuchi Strait

The world's narrowest strait, in Southern Japan, is often mistaken for a canal.

maritime history

How a Tiny Hamlet's Wondrous Tapestry Preserves a Complex Past

Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, artists and embroiderers in a Newfoundland village commemorated a lost way of life.

December 2, 2021

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Chasing Oregon’s Watery Wonders

Try Historical Food at These 20 Culinary Timewarps

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Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide

A Deep Dive Into the Intersection of Art and Science With an Artist-at-Sea

15 Places That Don't Need the Holidays to Twinkle and Sparkle

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Top Countries

Top Cities

'Axe Majeur' ('Major Axis')

This massive sculptural work outside of Paris was four decades in the making—and it's still not quite complete.

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David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

This wildlife trust is dedicated to orphaned elephant rescue and conservation.

TheDiscoveryService

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New York, New York

WTC Station 'E' Subway Entrance

A remnant of the original World Trade Center complex continues to serve as a commuter gateway.

lampbane

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Stirling, Scotland

The King's Knot

These formal gardens were designed to be admired from the vantage point of the castle.

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Holmdel, New Jersey

Bell Laboratories Transistor Water Tower

This water tower commemorates the invention of the transistor on this site in 1947.

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Podcasting & the Art of the Interview With Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder

Starts Sun, Dec 5

Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown

Starts Mon, Dec 6

$215 per person

+ 3 other dates

Making Music With Nature: Composing Across Species With David Rothenberg

Starts Tue, Dec 7

$220 per person

Feather, Bone, Skin: Taxidermy for Art & Design With Allis Markham

Starts Tue, Dec 7

Online Experience

Atlas Obscura Trivia Night

Gather your team and compete in a weekly contest of wits and educated-guessing.

+ 1 other date

China's Regional Cuisines: Culture Through Food With Xiaokun Song

Starts Wed, Dec 8

$235 per person

Cheese: History, Tasting, and Pairing With Erika Kubick

Starts Wed, Dec 8

Online Experience

Art & Evolution w/ Megan McGrath: Drawing Octopus & Squid

Stories in the Stones: How to Read a Gravestone With Dr. Elise M. Ciregna

Starts Sat, Dec 11

$265 per person

In this four-part course, learn how to decode the stories in gravestones and deepen your understanding of America’s cemeteries.

+ 2 other dates

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Turkmenistan and the Gates of Hell

Mar 18–27, 2022

From $3,475 USD

On this sweeping, eclectic adventure through Turkmenistan, marvel at the towering white-marble structures of Ashgabat, roam through barren deserts and a world-class canyon, and spend the night camped out beside the flaming Gates of Hell.

+ 2 other dates

Pyramids and Petroglyphs of Sudan

Mar 22–Apr 1, 2022

From $5,680 USD

Journey along the Nile, across the Sudanese desert, and discover the pyramids and archaeological treasures of ancient civilizations.

+ 1 other date

The Culinary Crossroads of Marseille

Jun 6–12, 2022

From $5,130 USD

wildlife & nature

Rewilding: Tracking Wolves in the Forests of Sweden

Jul 4–9, 2022

From $3,450 USD

Explore Sweden’s boreal forests by day and hear the howling of wild wolves by night.

+ 2 other dates

Podcast: Abandoned Chacaltaya Ski Resort

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

The Podcast Team December 1, 2021

Excavating the Hawaiian History of Kaua‘i’s ‘Russian’ Fort

A rich local history has long been overshadowed by a few months under a Russian flag.

Sarah Durn November 30, 2021

How a Rebellion Planted Seeds of Revival in Rural Mexico

In 2011, the women of Cherán led a revolt against illegal logging and corruption. Today, the forests are coming back, and the Indigenous community is returning to its roots.

Romina Cenisio November 30, 2021

The Hidden, Magnificent History of Chop Suey

Discrimination and mistranslation have long obscured the dish's true origins.

Miranda Brown November 30, 2021

Podcast: Micropia

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

The Podcast Team November 30, 2021

Our Favorite Gadgets, Cookbooks, and Snacks for the Holidays

A very Gastro Obscura gift guide.

Anne Ewbank November 29, 2021

These Truffle-Eating Marsupials in Australia Are 'Ecosystem Engineers'

There are far fewer northern bettongs than previously thought, but work is underway to save the species.

Lisa Cox November 29, 2021

Podcast: Tree of 40 Fruits

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

The Podcast Team November 29, 2021

How Old Is Zimbabwe’s Famed ‘Big Tree’?

The majestic African baobab has seen several growth spurts over its 1,200 or so years.

Jonathan Moens November 26, 2021

14 Places to Celebrate Native American Heritage Day

Visit one of these historic locations to honor the day.

Jonathan Carey November 25, 2021

Podcast: Looking for Pawpaws

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

The Podcast Team November 25, 2021

The Surprising Resilience of the Hog Island Fig

Virginia's Eastern Shore has rallied around a sweet, centuries-old local delicacy.

Rachel Kester November 24, 2021

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