thesmub's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Loading map...
Lospalos, East Timor

Lake Ira Lalaro

This crocodile-infested East Timor reservoir is also home to a spectacular half-sunken forest.
Qesm Saint Katrin, Egypt

Red Sea Blue Hole

The deadliest diving spot in the world is also a stunning geological marvel.
Chesterfield, England

Chesterfield's Crooked Spire

The whimsical twist of this spire was either caused by the Devil, an unexpected virgin, or lead.
Kenilworth, England

Kenilworth Castle

This ruined medieval castle was the scene of Lord Robert Dudley’s seductive reception for Queen Elizabeth I.
North Yorkshire, England

Brimham Rocks

Astonishing rock formations dot the Brimham Moor landscape.
Granada, Spain

Muslim Gravestones of the Alhambra

Spanish architects used seized Muslim gravestones to rebuild parts of the fortress.
Córdoba, Spain

Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba)

Spain's unique Mosque-Cathedral has been a place of worship for both Muslims and Christians throughout its history.
Madrid, Spain

Kilometre Zero

A stone slab in Madrid marks the point from which the distances of Spain's national roads are measured.
Córdoba, Spain

Cross of the Captive

A curious carving hides on a marble column in the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.
Madrid, Spain

Muslim Walls of Madrid

Among the oldest structures in Madrid, these Moorish walls once guarded the medieval city of Mayrit.
Quito, Ecuador

Palacio de Carondelet

Ecuador’s historic seat of government has been quietly looted in recent decades, and no one knows how or by whom.
Quito, Ecuador

El Panecillo

A short volcanic hill in Quito doubles as a stellar observation point of an iconic statue.
Quito, Ecuador

Virgen de El Panecillo

The world's tallest aluminum statue is also the world's tallest image of a winged Virgin Mary.
Quito, Ecuador

La Virgen de Quito

This 12-inch-tall wooden sculpture of a winged Virgin Mary has inspired much devotion and countless replicas.
Quito, Ecuador

Basílica del Voto Nacional

Legend says if this neo-Gothic basilica is ever officially completed, the world will come to an end.
Quito, Ecuador

La Plaza Grande

Quito's historic, main square dates back to the 16th century.
Quito, Ecuador

Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús

It took 160 years to complete the most ornate church in Ecuador.
San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador

Middle of the World

An elaborate shrine dedicated to the four corners of the world unfortunately misses its mark.
San Antonio de Pichincha, Ecuador

Intiñan Solar Museum

Home of the "true" equator.
Little America, Wyoming

Little America

Surrounded by a hundred mile radius of billboards, Little America is a roadside attraction whose primary appeal is hospitality.
Buford, Wyoming

Buford, Wyoming: Population 0

One of the smallest towns in the United States.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Jefferson Rock

This shale formation along the Appalachian Trail once inspired the third president of the United States.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

John Brown's Fort

The last holdout of a pre-Civil War rebel who took the matter of slavery into his own hands.
Luray, Virginia

The Great Stalacpipe Organ

An organ located deep within a cave, whose "pipes" are the geological features of the cave itself.