Topic

Geography & Places

A collection of 100 issues

An Island on a Continent: Why No Roads Lead into Suriname

Suriname, a nation blanketed by the Amazon, is uniquely isolated. It has no international road connections to its neighbors. For overland travelers, the journey halts at massive rivers, with the only entry points for vehicles being ferries from Guyana and French Guiana.

The Secret Fortress of Knowledge: Uncovering the Massive Library Hidden Beneath Bryant Park

Beneath NYC's bustling Bryant Park lies the Milstein Research Stacks, a massive, two-level underground facility. This climate-controlled "bunker" holds over 4 million books on 84 miles of shelving, delivered to readers above by a sophisticated conveyor system known as the "book train."

Riding the Waves: The Glorious, Doomed Story of Brighton's Seagoing 'Daddy Long Legs' Railway

In 1896, Victorian inventor Magnus Volk launched the 'Daddy Long Legs,' a remarkable electric train on 23-foot stilts that traveled through the sea off Brighton's coast. This audacious feat of engineering was a popular attraction but was ultimately defeated by storms and coastal defenses.

Saved from the Brink: How the Stunning Pink Pigeon Was Rescued from Extinction

Native to Mauritius, the beautiful Pink Pigeon dwindled to just 10 birds in 1991 due to habitat loss and predators. Thanks to intensive captive breeding and conservation programs, this species was saved from extinction, with its wild population now numbering over 500.

The Six-Day Siege: When an Islamist Coup Unfolded Live on Television in Trinidad

In July 1990, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, a radical Black Muslim group, attempted a violent coup in Trinidad and Tobago. They stormed parliament, took the Prime Minister hostage, and announced control on live TV, leading to six days of chaos before their surrender.

Oceans of Time: The 50,000-Year Gap Between Australia's and New Zealand's First Peoples

The human settlement of Oceania presents a stark contrast: Aboriginal Australians arrived on the supercontinent of Sahul over 50,000 years ago in a slow expansion, while Māori purposefully navigated the vast Pacific to settle Aotearoa (New Zealand) just 700 years ago.

The Strange Tale of Australia's Giant Worm Museum: From Wonderland to Abandonment and Rebirth

In Bass, Victoria, the Wildlife Wonderland Park housed a unique Giant Earthworm Museum. After the park's 2012 closure over welfare concerns, the iconic worm-shaped building was abandoned before being saved and relocated, preserving a piece of weird Australian history.