Stories - Atlas Obscura

botanical gardens

How Hawaiʻi Recognizes Its Best and Brightest … Trees

The state has some strict standards to be named an exceptional tree, and competition is pretty stiff.

endangered animals

After Nearly Going Extinct, Washington’s Pygmy Rabbits Need Room to Grow

Recovering the endangered critters will test society’s willingness to let nature reclaim a landscape.

Found: The First Bee's Nest Made Entirely of Plastic

Researchers in Argentina found the synthetic nest by chance.

The Surprising, Overlooked Artistry of Fruit Stickers

Kelly Angood curates an online museum of little, adhesive marvels.

Solved: A Case of Mistaken Identity in a Madrid Art Museum

Auguste Rodin takes his rightful place in the portrait gallery, evicting King Leopold II of Belgium.

18 of the World's Most Delightful Airport Features

Atlas Obscura readers share their favorite places to kill time while waiting for a flight.

How an Irish Bog Got a Second Life as a Sculpture Garden

At Lough Boora Discovery Park, visitors can meditate on the important role of these wetlands in Ireland.

Win a Trip to Experience Iceland's Hot Springs in the Winter

Learn firsthand why the country is often called the "land of fire and ice."

The Extraordinary ‘Cookbooks’ Left Behind by Prisoners of War and Concentration Camp Victims

Their culinary legacies, written on scraps of paper or fabric, tell stories of hope and resistance.

Ancient Fingerprints Help Unravel Just Who Was Making Pots at Chaco Canyon

New research shows it wasn't as gendered as once thought.

the soviet imprint

How Russia's Space Dogs Inspired a Galaxy of Swag

The cutest little cosmonauts launched a zillion tchotchkes.

In Ancient China, Pet Crickets Spent the Winter in Opulent Gourds

More than functional, these fleshy fruits developed into a striking art form.

The Historic Treaty That Ended Navajo Imprisonment Has Been Returned

One of just two copies thought to survive is back in Navajo Nation.

The Most Remote Places in Britain Are Still Pretty Close to Roads

It's a reminder that there are vanishingly few places on Earth that don’t carry the traces of humans.

Central New Jersey Doesn't Exist, But Don't Tell Central Jerseyans That

Exploring what makes a region distinct.

The Muslims Who Don't Fast During Ramadan

Members of Baye Fall eat, cook, and deliver food in grand processions.

Meet the Mastermind Behind the Plywood Cartoons Invading Portland, Oregon

Bigfoot sightings are about to increase dramatically.

16 Real Castles That Make the World More Wondrous

Atlas Obscura readers recommend their favorites.