Author: Ms. R.

Up a long, steep, and winding mountain road, Dorisa Temple stands overlooking plunging valleys, the Nakdong River, and the distant Gumi cityscape. Known as the birthplace of Korean Buddhism, legend has it that the monk Ado-hwasang (Ado for short) stumbled upon this magical location, where peach and plum trees blossomed all year, around the year 418. Ancient stone stairs lead to the temple’s entrance, where one of Korea’s most famed national treasures was found—a hexagonal sarira reliquary said to contain……

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People have always used images to tell their stories. In Lascaux, France, prehistoric people painted a menagerie of wildlife on their cave walls. Ancient Egyptian tombs, illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages, Industrial Revolution newspapers, and today’s emojis have used illustration to document scenes from our lives and create worlds from our imaginations. Atlas Obscura often draws upon the magic of skilled illustrators to conjure up history, memory, the unknown—and sometimes, just plain cool stuff. While taking readers on……

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Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this classic episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we dive into how one dog’s profound show of devotion for his master transformed him into the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation. 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 people……

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Too many stories of historical Black communities in the United States and across Europe remain hidden from view today. This year Atlas Obscura went in search of some of these overlooked tales of resistance, perseverance, ingenuity, inspiration, glamor, joy, and home runs. Here are a few of our favorites. There are countless more such stories to tell and we’re going to keep seeking them out! At Colonial Williamsburg, a ‘Landscape of Resistance’ Is Thriving Once Again by Omnia Saed……

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Standing at about 300 meters (980 feet) above the ground, Zuma Rock is one of the highest and largest monoliths in the world. The natural monolith is located in the western part of Nigeria, near the capital city of Abuja. The rock was found in the 15th century by the Zuba people of Niger State, who called it zumwa, which could translate to “a place of guinea fowls,” due to their abundance around the rock. The Zuba people settled……

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Every year, from January to May, when the water level of Lake Nukabira decreases, a crumbling structure resembling an ancient Roman aqueduct makes its appearance from beneath the reservoir’s surface: this is the Taushubetsu River Bridge, a lonesome “phantom bridge” doomed to be lost before long. Originally part of the now-discontinued Shihoro Line railway’s route, the bridge was built in 1939 across the Taushubetsu, a small tributary of the Otofuke River. The name means “birch-infested river” in the tongue……

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This work first appeared on Sapiens under a CC BY-ND 4.0 license. Read the original here. “Do you eat guinea pig?” I asked Leonardo. We were perusing the menu in a restaurant in Lima, and I wanted to know what my Peruvian friend thought of the practice of eating cuy (the Spanish term for guinea pig used in parts of the Andes mountains). “The guinea pig is not a pig!” he replied, shaking his head in disgust. “It’s a……

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The story of Hof ter Saksen dates back to the Middle Ages, at which time a hostel and farm building stood where a castle was constructed centuries later in the 1700s.  The castle was known by many names, including “Het Schaak,” “Het Goed Schaeckx,” and “Saeckx” before being dubbed Hof ter Saksen, which means Court of the Saxony. Prior to a 2004 renovation, the castle that stood in this East Flanders park sat empty for an indeterminate period of……

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Toward the end of each day, Atlas Obscura’s editors get together online to workshop headlines for upcoming articles. These little brainstorm sessions can cover anything from sandwich-based rivalries to controversial practices such as “skull blasting.” The best headlines give a sense of the story to come, which might be unpacking a new scientific discovery, investigating an archaeological mystery, or recreating a long-lost recipe, and also might inspire a reader to go “Huh?” (And if they happen to have some……

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Al Karaana Lagoon was once a dumping ground for industrial wastewater but now has been treated and transformed into a beautiful oasis. The lagoon’s name originates from the Arabic term karaa, which means “rainwater” or “freshwater.” Al Karaana was named after a local well that yielded exceptionally clean water. It is a great place to see a wide variety of birds, fishes, and flora as well as an amazing spot for photography. Another great thing about this place is……

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Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dust off those headphones and tune into this classic episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, where we visit the crumbled ruins of the world’s largest flour mill—formerly one of Minneapolis’s most prominent graffiti-writing locations, and later a museum. 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……

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