Topic

Geography & Places

A collection of 100 issues

Kiviak: Unpacking the Fermented, Bird-Stuffed Seal Delicacy of the Arctic

Kiviak is a traditional Greenlandic Inuit delicacy made by fermenting hundreds of seabirds inside a hollowed-out seal skin for months. This unique preservation method creates a pungent, cheese-like dish rich in nutrients, essential for survival and celebration in the harsh Arctic winter.

The Ghost Mountain: Why the World's Highest Unclimbed Peak Will Remain Untouched Forever

Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan is the world's highest unclimbed mountain. Four expeditions failed before Bhutan, viewing its peaks as sacred homes of spirits, banned mountaineering in 1994 and then completely in 2003, ensuring the summit remains a pristine, unconquered mystery.

The Canadian Mountain Named After a Tyrant: Why 'Mount Stalin' Lasted Until 1987

From 1944 to 1987, a peak in British Columbia was named Mount Stalin to honor a WWII ally. This article explores why the name was given and why, despite the Cold War and knowledge of his tyranny, bureaucratic inertia and the mountain's remoteness caused the name to persist for decades.

Vostok Station, 1983: A Journey to the Coldest Moment Ever Recorded on Earth

On July 21, 1983, Antarctica's Vostok Station recorded the coldest air temperature on Earth: -89.2°C (-128.6°F). This record-setting event was a product of extreme altitude, calm skies, and the polar night, pushing the limits of both nature and human survival.

From Savannah to Sand: Unearthing the Lost Green World of Ancient Arabia

Stunning evidence reveals the Arabian desert was a lush, green savannah. Fueled by ancient monsoons, it hosted vast lakes, river networks, and wildlife like hippos, creating a vital corridor for early human migration out of Africa before its dramatic desertification.

The Great Manhattan Giveaway: Why the Dutch Traded New York for a Sugar Colony

In 1674, the Dutch formally traded New Amsterdam (Manhattan) to England for Suriname. While this seems like a colossal blunder today, the immensely profitable sugar plantations of Suriname made it the far more valuable asset in the 17th century—a calculated economic power move.