June 01, 2022

SHE WAS THERE  The Women Behind A Mongol Empire  Genghis Khan often receives all the glory for founding the largest contiguous land empire the world has ever known, but there was another power behind his throne: Börte, the Grand Empress of the Mongol Empire and his wife. While her husband traveled and fought and conquered, Börte ruled those who remained in Mongolia, managing every aspect of daily life in a massive nomadic camp. Atlas Obscura spoke with Central Asia scholar Anne Broadbridge, author of Women and the Making of the Mongol Empire, about the many roles women had in the Mongol Empire, how society perceived them, and the rise of perhaps the most powerful woman of the medieval world: Töregene.  READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA PUZZLES Honing In Crossword Atlas Obscura’s fortnightly puzzle comes to us from creator Brooke Husic and editor Laura Braunstein, members of Inkubator. Founded in 2018, the organization publishes crossword puzzles by women and nonbinary constructors. Think you have what it takes to solve our crossword? Prove it! Let us know how you get on. READ MORE → FLORENCE, TEXAS ‘It’s Chaos, Be Kind’ This 20-foot-tall obelisk stands in the middle of a small community park surrounded by central Texas farmland. Tall and magnificent, it contains a simple, yet encouraging message: “It’s Chaos, Be Kind!” READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA The Diversity of Native American Cuisine Bison meatballs bathed in blueberry sauce. Roasted fiddlehead ferns. Acorn crêpes topped with maple cream. These are just a few examples of what Indigenous chefs are serving at restaurants across California, with three spots in particular dedicated to championing Native foods and culture in the state. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES 15 June Courses Our online courses offer deep and dynamic learning in under-explored disciplines—from dream science and adobe architecture to beachcombing and honey tasting. Designed and taught by subject-matter experts and experienced educators like science communicator and biologist Dr. Sarah McAnulty and cemetery expert and Harvard professor Dr. Elise M. Ciregna, these live, interactive online courses provide opportunities to explore your curiosities while expanding your mind. EXPLORE ALL COURSES → SGLAND, SWITZERLAND Villa Rose This secret Swiss fortress is disguised as a harmless pink house, complete with fake windows. Built in 1940, the fortification itself was designed to look like a harmless two-story home, but instead of a nuclear family lounging inside, the false house held massive guns. The large green garage door could open to reveal two huge cannons which were assisted by a third hidden behind the shutters of a ground floor window. READ MORE → CLIMATE CHANGE Nepal’s Rammed-Earth Architecture The 15th-century Chhode Monastery is tucked into a side valley of remote Mustang, a district in northern Nepal. Chhode is one of the last learning centers of the Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and the monasteries—at least one in each village of Mustang—also create the tourism revenue that helps sustain the Indigenous community. But though they’ve survived the march of time, these earthen structures might not survive the effects of climate change. If urgent measures aren’t taken for preservation, this heritage may disappear forever. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Plan Your 2023 Adventure Today Travel has a way of expanding your world. Atlas Obscura Trips nurture your curiosity and broaden your sense of wonder. So, where will your curiosity take you in 2023? Maybe to a hidden 16th-century estate in Catalonia to taste some of the world’s most boundary-pushing wines, or to Nova Scotia to hunt for fossils and treasure in the vast tidal zone of the Bay of Fundy. There’s no time like the present to expand your world. Start planning your next adventure today! EXPLORE ALL 2023 TRIPS→ POP CULTURE The Many Lives of Demogorgon If you’re anything like us, you might have been busy consuming the first half of Stranger Things’ fourth season this weekend. Here, we dive deep into the lore of the Demogorgon, who is such a focal point in the TV series. The Demogorgon, however, isn’t a recent invention. His popularity actually dates back to the 1300s, when he began appearing in Latin literature in and around Florence. READ MORE → DUNFERMLINE, SCOTLAND Reliquary of St. Margaret of Scotland St. Margaret, known as ‘The Pearl of Scotland,” was originally from Hungary and married King Malcolm III of Scotland in 1070. They had eight children, all six of the boys became Kings of Scotland and one of her two daughters, Edith, was crowned Queen Matilda of England. Margaret was canonized in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV. Today, some of her sacred remains are sequestered to the right of the main body of the church. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY DISCOVER PUERTO RICO Cueva de las Golondrinas (Cave of the Swallows) Puerto Rico’s northern coast may be known for high waves and choppy seas, but don’t miss out on the lagoons broken by natural rock formations, which create beautiful natural pools and caves. One of them is Cueva de las Golondrinas (Cave of the Swallows) in the town of Manatí. This idyllic cave leads to a beach with crystal clear blue waters and is part of the La Esperanza Nature Reserve. READ MORE →