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10 Places That Will Make You Believe Aliens Are Real

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The truth is out there.

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Machu Colca

Urubamba, Peru

This archaeological site features an early version of today’s refrigerators.

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Kolomyya, Ukraine

Pysanka Museum

Welcome to the world's only museum dedicated to the Ukranian Easter egg.

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Sam
Denver, Colorado

International Church of Cannabis

A technicolor place of worship for Elevationists.

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Lew Blank
Hay-on-Wye, Wales

The Kingdom of Books

In 1977, an eccentric book lover formed a micronation for book lovers.

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Amargosa Valley, Nevada

Big Bovine of the Desert

This enormous fiberglass cow near Death Valley National Park once graced a casino roof in Las Vegas.

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Andrea Leigh
Turkey

Ancient City of Magnesia

These ancient ruins include a stadium dating back to 400 BC.

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Brussels, Belgium

Commemoration of Peter the Great's Vomit

When you're a great Russian Tsar, even your vomit gets a statue.

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Baltimore, Maryland

Grave of John Wilkes Booth

A blank headstone topped with a pile of pennies marks the final resting place of the infamous assassin.

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Epifanio
Old Bethpage, New York

Baseball Fields at Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Time travel back to the 19th century and catch an old-timey baseball game at a 209-acre recreated village.

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deangordon2000

Virgin, Utah

Fort Zion

A kitschy stop on the way to Zion National Park.

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Maya Levine
La Rochelle, France

Le Bunker De La Rochelle

Under the streets of La Rochelle, a former wartime bunker holds some surprising secrets.

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Formia, Italy

Parco Naturale Regionale di Gianola e Monte di Scauri

This little visited park is a treasure trove of ancient Roman ruins.

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London, England

The Euston Tap

The last vestiges of a magnificent Victorian-era train station can be found in this pub.

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Wabash, Indiana

The Lincoln Monument

Abraham Lincoln never visited Wabash, but his statue found a home there.

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Menawali, India

Portuguese Bell at Menavali Ghat

Taken as a war trophy in 1739, this Portuguese bell now hangs in an ancient Hindu temple.

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London, England

Vaulty Towers

Run by the same people as a subterranean art space, this pub does double-duty as a Cave of Wonders.

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Tunja, Colombia

El Pozo de Hunzahúa (Hunzahúa Well)

This well in the former capital of Colombia's Muisca people is the setting for a steamy legend.

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Ada Blackjack, pictured with the rest of the expedition to Wrangel Island.

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Ada Blackjack, the Forgotten Sole Survivor of an Odd Arctic Expedition

In the early 1920s, 23-year-old Blackjack endured a two-year stay on frosty Wrangel Island.

Written By

Tessa Hulls

December 6, 2017

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This 1,700 Year Old Egg Never Broke—And Now It’s Further Stunning Scientists
By Colleen Kelly
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7 Unexpected Easter Traditions
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Raising a Ghost Town From the Dead
By Matthew Christopher
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Jump Shots at 6,000 Feet: Inside Oaxaca's Love of Hoops
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Cracking Open Evolution’s Black Box on 'Lizard Island'
By Partner Story
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A Guide to the Gingers of the World
By Andrew Coletti
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Dear Atlas: Can You Recommend Haunted Accommodations for Paranormal Enthusiasts?
By Danielle Hallock

The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.

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Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.

Toxicologist Liz Dauncey invites you to admire the marvels of plants (carefully).

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Andrew Coletti

April 18, 2025

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In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
By Jessica Furseth
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Dear Atlas: Can You Recommend Haunted Accommodations for Paranormal Enthusiasts?
By Danielle Hallock
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Cracking Open Evolution’s Black Box on 'Lizard Island'
By Partner Story
disasters
Titanic's Legacy: Our Favorite Reads
By Michelle Cassidy
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Jump Shots at 6,000 Feet: Inside Oaxaca's Love of Hoops
By Sam Lin-Sommer
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A Surprising New Tail From Jurassic China
By Andrew Coletti
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This Italian Town Really, Really Likes Ocarinas
By Vittoria Traverso

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Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia

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Sea Critters of Charlotte Harbor

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The Wild Life book lays on a bright blue surface next to a pair of binoculars and a foldable field guide for small critters.

Our Newest Book: Wild Life

An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders

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