Destinations from the Atlas
Featured Trips and Courses
Dominican Republic: Beyond the Beach
Trip
The Art of Death With Tessa Fontaine
Course
The Karuk Cook Restoring California’s Native Cuisine, One Acorn at a Time
native americans
Sara Calvosa Olson's cookbook shares delicious recipes and stories celebrating the oak's nut.
Featured Trips and Courses
Dominican Republic: Beyond the Beach
Trip
The Art of Death With Tessa Fontaine
Course
Podcast
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Explore the Atlas
Hidden Wonders
Place of the Day
Asakusa Underground Street
Tokyo, Japan
Stuck in a bygone era, the oldest subterranean shopping street in Japan hides beneath the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo.
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Zurich, Switzerland
Urania Observatory
Switzerland's oldest public observatory is an important part of the Zurich cityscape.
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Wilmington, Delaware
Ashland Bridge
The smallest and oldest covered bridge in Delaware.
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Malacca, Malaysia
Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
This gorgeous Peranakan mansion’s family heritage includes a century-old baby gate, which was also used to keep out irresponsible husbands.
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Itakura, Japan
Thousand-Armed Insect Goddess of Mercy
A bizarre statue of a Buddhist goddess made from 20,000 insects.
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Shoshone, California
Dublin Gulch
A unique collection of old miners' cave homes carved in to the hillside cliffs near Death Valley.
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Rosehearty, Scotland
Pitsligo Castle
The ruins of a 15th-century tower house.
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Loddington, England
Lampy the Garden Gnome
The first German gnome who popularized the garden decoration.
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Iceland
Heinabergslón
A little-known, yet charming glacial lagoon.
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Discover Our Stories
Articles, Videos, and Podcast
law
The Extremely Enchanting, Totally Perplexing, Possibly Never-Ending Quest for the Golden Owl
For 30 years, this labyrinthine treasure hunt has had thousands of players cracking codes and digging up the French countryside. After a sudden death and bitter disputes, will the prize ever be found?
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ecosystems
The World's Rarest Raptor Hangs On Thanks to an Invasive Species -
lakes
Benedict Arnold's Lake Champlain Gunboat Is the Last Shipwreck of Its Kind -
cosmos
Mercury Retrograde Is Ending, and It’s Up to You How to Feel About It -
history
A Map of the 'Disunited States' Shows the Fears of Civil War–Era America -
objects of intrigue
The Living, Breathing Brooches of the Yucatán -
fountains
The Lost Waters of Kathmandu Are Needed Now More Than Ever -
imaginary world
The Center of the Earth Has an Imaginary Island and One Floating Soul
libraries
To Save America's Native Bees, the Oregon Bee Project Is Mapping Every Single One
The project aims to make a complete 'bee atlas,' detailing every single local pollinator.
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cake
Welsh Sheep-Shearing Cake Is a Forgotten Pastoral PleasureBy Jamie Ellis
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maps
Uneven Gravity Makes You Weigh More in Illinois Than in Indiana -
pirates
7 Maps That Can Change How You See the WorldBy April White
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globes
A Square, Flat Earth and Round Heaven Meant the World to Ancient ChinaBy James Hannam
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Podcast
The Fear Lab -
science
To Track Bull Sharks, First Hit Their Snooze Button -
food
Make 19th-Century 'Neapolitan Pizza' for Dessert
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