Author: Ms. R.

One of the most rigorous climbs in the Caribbean is to the top of Mount Scenery, Saba, at 887 meters or nearly 3,000 feet above sea level. The national park trail takes climbers to the highest point of the island, which is also the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The steep, and sometimes slippery path due to tropical moisture, is a challenging 1000-step ascent to the top with views on clear days of neighboring St. Barts,……

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Two giant cowboys, each 18 feet high each to be exact, have been locked in a standoff since 2016. One cowboy points accusingly at the other who shrugs in confusion. Each stands facing each other across Highway US-285 in New Mexico, about 300 feet apart. The cutouts are based on Mike and Mark Marley, the ranchers who own these plots of land.  The wooden cutout figures were created by artist, John Cerney, best known for his larger-than-life plywood cut-out……

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The Intan is a one-of-a-kind boutique museum with over 5,000 Peranakan artifacts, a unique culture that came to be in the 15th century in Southeast Asia. In a relatively young Singapore, which became an independent sovereign country in 1965, this is quite a rare treat.  The Intan is also nestled in the charming precinct of Joo Chiat which has been designated as Singapore’s first Heritage Town by the government.  The Intan’s curator and owner, Alvin Yapp, lives in the museum…….

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While most ferries used to carry vehicles or pedestrians across a river are powered by a motor or paddles, the Padaliai-Čiobiškis ferry is one of only a handful of its kind in Lithuania that harnesses only the river current. Historical sources mention a ferry used to cross the river Neris at this location as far back as the 19th century. In 1912, the occupying Tsarist Government decided to construct a bridge at this spot instead. However, as the First……

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Despite being nearly obliterated during World War II, St. Bridget’s Church in central Gdańsk was reconstructed in the 1970s based on the original designs dating back to the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Legend has it that this grand church was erected on the grounds of a small chapel where the remains of the 14th-century saint and mystic, Bridget of Sweden, lay for a few days, as they were carried from Rome to Sweden in 1374. This event……

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No one is sure why, but in 1898 Rufus T. Owens of Central City, Colorado (elevation 9,000 feet) decided to build a submarine, which he named the Nautilus. He and a few friends launched it on nearby Missouri Lake. They ballasted it with three tons of rocks. Owens intended to captain the maiden voyage himself, but fortunately for him, the submarine sank before he had a chance to climb inside. For nearly 50 years, the submarine lay on the……

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Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we peek into the life and work of the artist Niki de Saint Phalle, who was behind a strange but wildly popular playground sculpture in Jerusalem. Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating……

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Eight large stones sit in a field outside a hut in Scotland. The biggest one is as tall as Norman Haddow’s knee, yet he lifts it with ease and brings it inside the small turf-roofed building. He then goes back outside to collect the remaining rocks, which are ready to return to their stone shrine. No one knows exactly how many there were when the tradition started, but the small boulder selection today comes in all different shapes and……

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Docked within the Weymouth Fore River is one of the last remnants of the old Fore River Shipyard owned and operated by General Dynamics. The USS Salem (CA-139) was one of three heavy cruisers built for the U.S. Navy and is currently the only surviving example of that class of ship anywhere in the world. Like all museum ships, the Salem carries a unique story about its service and preservation. However, it also has a reputation only a handful of other preserved……

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The plaques are the footprints of several Noble Peace Laureates and peace advocates that form a short trail around Vågen Bay. This path is referred to as the Path of Peace and is an ongoing project by the Point of Peace Foundation, a human rights organization based in Stavanger. The footprints include those of Desmond Tutu, Aung San Suu Kyi, Al Gore, Dr Ime John, and the 14th Dalai Lama. Desmond Tutu got his Noble Peace recognition for his……

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Deep in a forest, near Norway’s eastern border with Sweden, lies a small village. Researchers studying the unexplained, disturbing phenomena here—and their effect on locals—have asked that we not name it. The main drag, such as it is, is lined with trees and well-spaced houses. There’s a gas station, and a church with a tall steeple. One of the largest buildings, a quaint-looking old white farmhouse, contains the town’s grocery store. Ghostbusters and supernatural enthusiasts have flocked to the……

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This place is probably one of the most remote museums that you can find in Estonia. While getting there, you’ll have to get off the tarmac and enjoy the unpaved and curvy roads of Võru County. Just follow the signs and you’ll be fine. It’s not a very big museum, but every available inch of space is used to showcase the history of telecommunications in Estonia. It starts from the Soviet occupation era and covers the transition over the……

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Little Lost Cemetery, Parsippany, New Jersey, is home to just 14 headstones, this small cemetery is thought to have once served an orphanage known as the Morris County Childrens’ Home, prior to the children’s transfer to Ailanthus Hall. When the hall burned, all that remained as a reminder was this burial ground. Once forgotten, it has, in recent times been revived through the efforts of passionate locals….

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At the Centre for Alternative Technology in Pantperthog, you can ride an incredibly steep water-powered cliff railway to a haven full of plants, wildlife, learning, play, and large-scale outdoor displays and experiments. The cliff railway features two carriages, which are linked together by a steel cable. When the railway needs to move, a tank on the upper car fills with water, while the tank on the lower car is emptied. As the water changes the weight distribution between the two……

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This shrine was built during prehispanic times as a way to honor the Mesoamerican creation myth, where Cipactli (a crocodile that represents the earth) was floating on water. From his body, all the land and sky were created. A tetzacualco (shrine) sits at the middle of Nahualac Pond. Archaeologists believe that the place may be a miniature model of the universe, built to represent Cipactli and his role in primordial time and space. The pond and shrine are located at the……

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