The Islet of Vila Franca do Campo's circular lagoon is broken up by a tiny channel that connects it with the ocean.
Archives: Atlas Obscuras
The Undamaged Red Post Box
Discover The Undamaged Red Post Box in Manchester, England: The small bright red pillar survived the 1996 Manchester bombing virtually unscathed.
The Excessive Luxury of the Ousted Ukrainian President’s Former Estate
The public got a look at its long-suspected decadence after the president fled his home to exile in Russia.
Rajaram Meghwal Burial Place
Discover Rajaram Meghwal Burial Place in Jodhpur, India: Legend has it a commoner volunteered to be buried alive in the foundation so that the great fortress could be built.
The Quirky Tale of the Codger Pole
Discover The Codger Pole in Colfax, Washington: A town's monument to a touch-football victory 50 years in the making.
Infinity Climber
Discover Infinity Climber in Jersey City, New Jersey: A playground inspired by differential calculus dangles from the ceiling of the Liberty Science Center.
The General Motors of Pianos
At its height, the New York factory produced 700 pianos a week.
An Exquisite Collection of Glass Paperweights
The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass houses one of the world's largest glass paperweight collections.
Washington, D.C.’s Pedestrian Scramble
The unique traffic pattern found at a Chinatown intersection is also known as the Barnes Dance.
Paulinskill Viaduct
Discover Paulinskill Viaduct in Columbia, New Jersey: Once the world's largest reinforced concrete structure, this abandoned bridge now beckons urban explorers.
Jean Cocteau’s Stained Glass Windows
Their blue-hued cubism has been compared to Cocteau's contemporaries Chagall and Picasso.
Aviator’s Arrow
A giant beacon to guide pilots in the pre-radar era.
San Francisco’s Odd ‘Banker’s Heart’ Monument
Discover Banker's Heart in San Francisco, California: A shining, cold, black organ lies in San Francisco's financial district.
Remembering the First Public Payphone
An easy-to-miss plaque marks the building that once held this 19th-century innovation in telephone technology.
A Dutch Hotel in a 15th Century Gothic Church
The exquisite detailing and decor of the original structure were retained wherever possible.
Café Brasilero
Discover Café Brasilero in Montevideo, Uruguay: The oldest café in Montevideo preserves its history as the city's bohemian hub.
The Strange UFO Room at the Great Orme Summit Complex
Discover Great Orme Summit Complex UFO Room in Conwy, Wales: An unexpectedly extraterrestrial room in a former Victorian resort club.
Abandoned Freeway Stub on State Route 163
Discover Abandoned Freeway Stub on State Route 163 in San Diego, California: The freeway that never was.
Danse Macabre Stained Glass
Discover Danse Macabre Stained Glass in Lübeck, Germany: Dancing skeletal figures pay homage to a medieval mural destroyed during World War II.
These Rare Ancient Mosaics Paint a Stunning Picture of Greco-Roman Daily Life
The floor mosaics of Paphos in Cyprus are considered among the finest in the world.