Author: Ms. R.

In ancient times, Fucine Lake in Abruzzo, Central Italy, was a large endorheic lake with no natural outflow. The lake provided fish and fertile soil but was also the source of malaria and frequently flooded, so the Romans tried to drain the entire basin. To accomplish this ambitious goal, Roman Emperor Claudius commissioned the construction of a system of canals, tunnels, and wells between 41 and 52 CE. Over 30,000 slaves and workmen are believed to have manually dug……

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The northern Glasgow suburb of Milngavie is considered the starting point of the West Highland Way, one of Scotland‘s best-known trails that stretches about 96 miles north of this point. An underpass connecting Milngavie’s main street with its train station is home to a colorful mural that celebrates this trail. This mural is the work of the Art Pistol collective and condenses the 96 miles of the trail into approximately 144 feet (44 meters), depicting the topography and extension……

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Take a stroll through De Schorre Park in Boom, Belgium, to search for giant friendly trolls in the forest. There are seven trolls hidden in this forest waiting to be found. Made out of recycled wood, these statues range in height from seven to 18 meters tall. They’re the work of Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo, who has created incredible outdoor sculptures around the world, and Belgium is one of those lucky places. If you want to jump into a magical……

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Alex Haley’s maternal grandmother told him stories of how his ancestor, Kunta Kinte was brought to America. Haley would later visit Annapolis, Maryland to research his family history. This research would become the backbone for his story Roots. The memorial at the end of the historic City Dock showcases Haley telling his story to future generations. After the success of Roots as a bestseller and hit tv show, a group of Annapolis citizens recognized the city’s role in the……

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The oldest carousel in Iowa features animals from pigs and roosters to dogs (with the classic horse as well) and a spinning tub if you need some more movement. The ride was built in 1913 by the Herschell-Spillman Company, which was known for its elaborate carousels and other amusement park rides. The carousel was originally owned by P.T. Gifford, who toured the Iowa countryside bringing the ride to county fairs and town celebrations. In 1938, the Story City Greater Community……

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The coelacanth fish has inhabited the ocean for over 350 million years and was once thought to have gone extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period. However, on December 22, 1938, a living specimen was discovered among the catch of a fisherman in South Africa. A curator at East London Museum, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer avidly collected local naturalistic specimens, such as rocks, feathers, and shells. One day, she received a call from a local angler, Captain Hendrick Goosen, who……

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The 19th century witnessed a flurry of trading activity throughout the Indian Ocean, and as a result, a sizable Parsee community became established in Aden. A Parsee businessman by the name of Cowasjee Dinshaw Adenwalla bankrolled the construction of a Temple of Fire accompanied by the Tower of Silence. Like other Zoroastrian towers of silence, this site was used as a form of burial known as excarnation. In this practice, the bodies of the deceased were left inside roofless……

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When Gemma Angel met Monsieur Bonheur, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Angel, pursuing her doctorate at the University College London at the time, was studying a collection of hundreds of preserved pieces of tattooed skin from European soldiers, and she was no stranger to the unconventional and the macabre. But her first glimpse of Bonheur, in a private collection in London in 2010, still managed to surprise. “Bonheur was in his library, covered up, just leaning against……

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