Author: Ms. R.

Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center in Upstate New York, a sprawling museum dedicated to the Seneca-Iroquois Nation. There we learn about “The Creator’s Game”–which evolved into the sport now known as lacrosse–and the Onödowá’ga peoples’ constant fight to be recognized. Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes,……

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Heinabergslón is a glacial lagoon within Vatnajökull National Park. Vatnajökull Park covers approximately 14 percent of Iceland and consists of a stunning mixture of majestic mountains, active volcanoes, massive glaciers, and mesmerizing lagoons.  Heinabergslón Lagoon is fed from the Heinabergsjokull glacier, which is part of the larger Vatnajökull ice cap. When the water melts, it pools in lagoons, such as Heinabergslón. Because of the tumultuous geology of this region, the melting water often carries volcanic dust, making the water……

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Washington Square park located in the Marigny and bordered by the alluring Frenchmen Street, houses a discreet sculpture along the Dauphine Street fence. The New Orleans AIDS Memorial is a Tim Tate design unveiled in 2008 following an international design competition for the memorial. Local artist Mitchell Gaudet cast and built the piece titled “Guardian’s Wall” featuring 34 glass faces set in an 8-foot tall 35-foot-wide structure. The installation alongside neighboring benches with memorial bricks offers a place to……

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Located on the Boulevard of Nikola Tesla, Hotel Yugoslavia is a historic hotel located in Belgrade, the former capital of the state after which the building is named. It holds great cultural and historical significance as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, holding nostalgic value for many people who remember its role as a luxurious meeting place in Yugoslavia. What’s more, it was visited by a plethora of highly renowned international celebrities, politicians, athletes, and artists since its……

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Open since the 1950s, this unique gift shop and roadside attraction is carved into the side of a cave. Originally, this area was a natural feature, locally known as the Ice Cave, carved from the nearby Rio Ruidoso. The land was used by the Mescalero Apache nation and may have been a sanctuary for Geronimo, the legendary Apache leader. Later, it was purportedly used by Billy the Kid as a hideout. These facts are likely “history-ish,” but Billy the……

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Resting about 12 miles from the small subarctic town of Churchill, Manitoba, the MV Ithaka has become one of the area’s iconic landmarks. Although best known for polar bears and beluga whales, Churchill also offers two large wrecks—the Ithaka and the Miss Piggy cargo plane—as tourist attractions. Surrounded by water at high tide, the former may be visited on foot when the tide is out or in winter when the bay freezes. Built as a lake freighter in Quebec,……

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Ting1, completed in 2013 in Örnsköldsvik, is one of Sweden’s most remarkable residential buildings, captivating with its vibrant colors, distinctive architecture, and innovative construction. Its façade of glazed high-gloss ceramics stands in striking contrast to the gray brutalist concrete of the 1967 courthouse it sits on top of. The new building appears perched on the courthouse’s roof, yet no physical contact exists between the two structures due to a discreetly positioned 26-foot by 26-foot base in the old building’s……

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Omar Khayyam, best known for his poetry Rubáiyát, was a Persian polymath learned in the ways of astronomy, philosophy, and mathematics. Born in the ancient city of Nishapur, he died in 1131 B.C. at 83 and was buried in his hometown. The poet’s tomb survived the test of time through Mongol invasions and natural disasters, developing into part of a shrine. In 1934, the Iranian government under the Pahlavi dynasty commissioned the reconstruction of his mausoleum, which would be……

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In August we invited animal lovers to send us their favorite images of creatures they’ve encountered in their explorations. We at Atlas Obscura have always been fascinated by critters big and small—their secret lives, what they tell us about the world and ourselves—so we wanted to know: What in the animal kingdom catches your eye? You showed us horses galloping through fields, lionesses with cubs, and bees on colorful flowers. Most of all, we saw a lot of birds:……

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From ancient Funan to the Siamese kingdom of the current Chakri dynasty, Thailand has had its huge share of diverse monies—a wide variety of oddities in the field of ethnographic numismatics. At the Bangkok Coin Museum, an institution run by the Treasury Department, curious visitors can learn the fascinating history of Thai currencies. Despite its proximity to the National Museum and the Sanam Luang Park, it’s a lesser-known and under-appreciated tourist attraction, making it a neat oasis from the……

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Pune has grown over the centuries under the reign and control of various kingdoms, cultures and empires. Every culture has left its own unique mark on the way the city has taken shape and today one can find history around every corner, quaintly hidden, ready to present itself to curious enthusiasts. Particularly in the older parts of the city, every street, every square, every alley, and every corner has a story to tell.  There are artistic wooden beams next……

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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 visit the small town of Ballyvadlea in County Tipperary, Ireland, where a horrendous murder occurred in March 1895. In front of friends and family, Michael Cleary murdered his wife Bridget after accusing her of being replaced by a fairy. Today the murder tells us far more about sexism than Irish fairy lore. Our podcast is an audio……

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