Environment - Atlas Obscura
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Environment

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forests

Women in Northern Kenya Rally to Save a Forest

Just a few years ago, Samburu women were using Kirisia Forest for firewood and charcoal. Now they're protecting it, and managing it sustainably.
Peyton Fleming July 26, 2021
birds

Rome’s Accidental Lake Is an Urban Refuge and Catalyst for Activism

The body of water, which shouldn’t even exist, has a long history as a source of both controversy and comfort.
Lidija Pisker July 16, 2021
Alpine Shire, Australia

Cresta Valley Ski Resort

This Australian ski resort was forced to close due to changing climate conditions.
Manchester, England

'The Snowman'

This bronze statue stands throughout the year and illustrates an urgent message about the environment.
science

Why Does the Yukon Delta Always Look So Trippy?

The Alaskan delta, one of the world's largest, is a ‘mosaic’ environment best visualized with a psychedelic palette.
Gemma Tarlach June 28, 2021
science

What’s Up With Alaska’s Wild, Wondrous, ‘Warm-Blooded’ Bumblebees?

Extreme environments offer them an unexpected paradise, and now researchers want to get a head count.
Gemma Tarlach June 23, 2021
beaches

How Cows Destroyed an Entire Marine Ecosystem in California

A researcher's quest to understand a mysterious mass extinction leads to cud-chewing culprits.
Jack Tamisiea June 21, 2021
Ojai, California

Matilija Dam

The disdain for this dysfunctional dam is reflected in a giant pair of scissors painted on the concrete face.
mines

In the Andes, Bright Colors Tell the Dark Story of a Dying Lake

Bolivia's Lake Uru Uru faces an uncertain future: a growing city, toxic runoff, and drought worsened by climate change.
Gemma Tarlach May 3, 2021
animals

The Tales Layered Inside Narwhal Tusks

An analysis of the 10-foot-long appendages shows that as the Arctic warms, narwhal diets are changing, and their bodies are accumulating more mercury.
Matt Simon April 19, 2021
islands

What Is Killing Albatross Chicks in the Falkland Islands?

The population is healthy overall, but a mysterious contagion has researchers looking for answers.
Erica Tennenhouse April 15, 2021
wwi

Podcast: Zone Rouge

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team April 12, 2021
Doha, Qatar

Souq Wakif Blue Road

This vibrant side road in Doha was painted light blue to reduce heat.
food

When Life Gave Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternflies, Its Bees Made Spotted Lanternfly Honey

A smoky-sweet flavor, courtesy of an invasive species.
Alexandra Jones March 16, 2021
food

Why a Tiny Island Created the Biggest Marine Sanctuary in the South Atlantic

Tristan da Cunha was first inhabited to keep an eye on Napoleon; now residents are looking out for lobsters.
Luke Fater February 16, 2021
Bronx, New York

Concrete Plant Park

A riverfront park that both remediated and preserved its industrial past.
mythology

La Patasola Is the Vengeful Protector of the Andes

And a scary lesson on humility and respect for the natural world.
Dan O'Sullivan October 26, 2020
hot springs

Did Early Humans Invent Hot Pot in Geothermal Pools?

A mystery microbe found at Olduvai Gorge inspired scientists to speculate about the origins of cooking.
Isaac Schultz September 30, 2020