Author: Ms. R.

Across the white expanse of Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf, three figures moved north toward the open water beyond their horizon, and the ship that waited for them there. It was January 1903, and the bright sun of austral summer would not set. A skua, one of the large brownish-gray seabirds common around McMurdo Sound, might have surveyed the trio from overhead, assessing whether there was anything of interest on the sled that two of them pulled. The inquisitive birds……

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Of the three Soviet Memorials in Berlin, the Sowjetisches Ehrenmal in Treptower Park, located just southeast of Central Berlin, is the grande dame. One cannot help but be impressed with the monumental proportions of this solemn memorial to the Soviet soldiers who gave their lives in defense of their homeland during the Battle of Berlin in the closing days of World War II.  The complex is half a kilometer long and is always kept in pristine condition (thanks to it……

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Tucked among the trees in the forest outside of Cheongsong, South Korea, this small body of water has drawn visitors from all over the world. Jusanji Pond is an artificial pond created in 1720 in a forested area that in 1976 became the Juwangsan National Park. The pond was built to serve as a reservoir that could provide a steady supply of fresh water to the lower agricultural land. It’s fairly diminutive, by most standards. When full, Jusanji Pond measures……

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It’s not a stretch to say that Atlas Obscura—as a company and as a community—is full of book fanatics, library lovers, bookstore aficionados, archive haunters, stack lurkers, and bibliophiles of all shapes and sizes. We’re a company dedicated to the idea of exploration, both in words and out in the world. With that in mind we’ve partnered with Literati to bring you Finding Wonder, our first book club. Together, we’re going to go around the world, month after month,……

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In the center of the town of Bastogne, Belgium, stands a damaged Sherman tank and a statue of Anthony McAuliffe, who commanded American troops in the besieged town during the Battle of the Bulge. The American general became famous for his single-word reply to a demand for surrender. On December 22, 1944, American troops received a message from the German forces outside of town. They demanded “the honorable surrender” of the town within two hours. General McAuliffe’s reply was brief……

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Every time a large convention comes to Columbus, Ohio, there will be a line of people waiting to have their picture taken inside this sculpture in the convention center. “As We Are” is a gigantic head with a photo booth inside the neck. Once a person’s image is captured in 3D, the portrait is displayed on the sculpture within a couple of minutes. The exhibit is the work of Matthew Mohr, and artist who teaches at the Columbus College of……

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The town of Pittsburg, Texas, is probably best known for its connection to automotive legend Carroll Shelby or a prosperous poultry pilgrim named “Bo,” who became famous in Pilgrim’s Pride commercials. And while the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum offers nods to these two local boys who made good as well an eclectic array of rustic ephemera, the real reason to visit is a contraption that looks like steampunk meets Bible: the Ezekiel Airship.  The airship was inspired by……

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