Stories - Atlas Obscura

24 Extremely Local Cryptids You've Probably Never Heard Of

There are monsters seemingly around every corner.

environmental disasters

The Swap-a-Fish Program That Traded Tilapia for Seafood Contaminated by Agent Orange

New Jersey's Passaic River has been unsafe to fish for decades.

How Much of Ireland’s ‘Bog Butter’ Is Actually Buttery?

The chunks look and smell like rancid dairy, so scientists set out to confirm it.

Found: A Lake in Death Valley, the Hottest and Driest of the U.S. National Parks

It was not a mirage.

Marine Snow Has Cooled the Planet With Dead Plankton for Millions of Years

The bodies of the tiny organisms lock away enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, and they’re in danger.

Waterfalls Can Just Spontaneously Happen

A new study suggests that creating these natural wonders doesn't require external forces.

uncrowded japan

On the Hunt for Japan's Elaborate, Colorful Manhole Covers

Dedicated enthusiasts travel the country and scour the ground to see them.

An Amazing Butterfly Irruption Is Swarming Across California

Painted ladies are taking the skies by storm.

Meet the 'Comet Egg,' Which Definitely Did Not Come From Space

Investigating the old myth that cosmic events can have a fowl impact.

Explore a Bustling Nevada 'Ghost Town'

History comes alive in Virginia City.

New Hampshire’s Mountain-Climbing ‘Railway to the Moon’ Turns 150

The Mount Washington Cog Railway is still chugging.

How Puma Leftovers Help Shape the Forest Ecosystem

They feed loads and loads of beetles, in addition to foxes, bears, and more.

What, Exactly, Are Southern California's Coyotes Eating?

Piles of poop are helping researchers dissect the diet of urban and suburban canids.

Pig Remains Show How Far Prehistoric People Traveled to Visit Stonehenge

Epic Neolithic feasts drew crowds from opposite ends of Britain.

A Dazzling Reindeer Camp in Norway Focuses on Preserving Indigenous Culture

The animals are the main source of livelihood for the Sámi people.

native american cuisine

Indigenous Cuisine Is Being Served in the Back of a Berkeley Bookstore

Café Ohlone features traditional recipes and foraged ingredients.

See an Octopus Change Color as It Sleeps, Perchance Dreams

We know they're smart, but there's still a lot we don't know.

Alexandre Dumas’s Magnum Opus Was a Massive Cookbook

The French literary icon thought this 1,150-page compendium on cookery would be his masterpiece.