Stories - Atlas Obscura

China Is Banning Erotic Banana Eating on Live Streams

But what of cucumbers?

Experience a Wild Indian Train Ride With This Awe-Inspiring Time Lapse

As a bonus, the video is soundtracked by an excellent tabla piece.

India Wants to Spend $6 Billion for New Forests

A lot of damage has already been done.

Boaty McBoatface is (Mostly) Dead

Long live Boaty McBoatface.

Found: The Secrets of Lost, Underwater Egyptian Cities

You can soon view surviving artifacts.

colonial america

The Hidden Messages of Colonial Handwriting

Back then, penmanship was basically secret code.

This Baby Beaver Won DC's Hearts and Minds After Trying to Take the Metro

"He was a little cutie," observers report.

8 Plane Wrecks That Have Become Their Own Memorials

These abandoned airplanes lie where they landed.

The Origins of 'Horn OK Please,' India's Most Ubiquitous Phrase

Why all of the trucks in India bear one seemingly nonsensical expression.

For Sale: A Giant Piece of Cereal, Signed By Wrestlers

From one of the more insane stunts in wrestling history.

Curious and Compelling Statues in the Czech Republic

The country is home to the world's strangest and most thought-provoking statues.

Oakland's Historic Tribune Tower and the Renegade Artist Who Keeps It Glowing

Inside one of the Bay Area's most iconic buildings.

Help Us Make A Calendar of Fictional Holidays!

Take a second to tell us about your favorite fake holiday from TV, books, and film.

Restoration of Historic Italian Palace Interrupted by Mob Arrests

The Camorra gets into the preservation racket.

The Inter-Amish Language Barriers of Indiana

In the eastern part of the state, a dialect like no other quietly endures. But for how long?

New Wheels Could Cut Deafening Screech of San Francisco Subways

The Story Behind the Incredible Obstacle Course Video That Went Viral

It turns out that military competitions are especially nuts.

Watch a Goofy Bird Do a Hopping Dance to Attract a Mate

Male Jackson's widowbirds go through a complete transformation to find a special friend.