Have you ever found yourself wondering how to visit the Gates of Hell, the manmade inferno that’s been burning in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert for more than 50 years? Do you wish you knew what kinds of edible flowers you could forage for that are safe to eat? Or maybe how to photograph the Northern Lights without ruining the experience of watching them?

Welcome to Dear Atlas, a new recurring series from our team of travel experts and professional rabbit hole-divers. We’ve been planning adventures to all corners of the planet for more than a decade, so we figured why not share a little of what we’ve learned. We’re here to answer your most pressing travel questions—the more absurd or, ahem, obscura, the better.

If you’ve got a travel question, drop us a line at places@atlasobscura.com with the subject line “Dear Atlas.” We’ll publish and respond to our favorites. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at Atlas Obscura