Unexpected Atlases – serie

Traverse the globe and explore the extraordinary. This is a unique, enigmatic collection of 45 meticulously crafted maps for wandering off the beaten track.Embark on an armchair expedition across nations and marvel at astounding spots only ever stumbled upon by chance. The profound histories and distinctive quirks of these happenstances are described in detail alongside evocative black and white photographs.The unexpected places include:   Just Enough Room Island, an aptly named islet that defies spatial conventions The Purple Rock of Madeira, where shipwrecked lovers etched their love story into the annals of history The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered one day by a wayward goat on a meandering path, guiding its keeper to unravel the mysteries of the past Vaseline, where the product that has become a household staple was accidentally discovered Discover destinations both infamous and unknown, where haphazard means have conspired to shape our world's history. This is a tour through the quirks of fate and the marvels of chance.In every tale and map, the world's most astounding, improbable, and, above all, unexpected locations, providing a captivating glimpse into the tapestry of human history and the unpredictability of our planet's hidden wonders. This literary voyage is an ode to the curious and the adventurous, celebrating the unexpected marvels that define our world. This is a literary and visual adventure that will immerse you in far-off lands and obscure discoveries, offering a unique perspective on the world's hidden treasures.

Imagine what the world once looked like as you discover places that have disappeared from modern atlases in this stunningly illustrated and award-winning book.Have you ever wondered about cities that lie forgotten under the dust of newly settled land? Rivers and seas whose changing shape has shifted the landscape around them? Or, even, places that have seemingly vanished, without a trace? Following the international bestselling success of Atlas of Improbable Places and Atlas of the Unexpected, Travis Elborough takes you on a voyage to all corners of the world in search of the lost, disappearing and vanished. Discover ancient seats of power and long-forgotten civilizations through the Mayan city of Palenque; delve into the mystery of a disappeared Japanese islet; and uncover the incredible hidden sites like the submerged Old Adaminaby, once abandoned but slowly remerging.With beautiful maps and stunning colour photography, Atlas of Vanishing Places shows these places as they once were as well as how they look today: a fascinating guide to lost lands and the fragility of our relationship with the world around us.WINNER Illustrated Book of the Year - Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020Also in the Unexpected Atlas series: Atlas of Improbable Places, Atlas of Untamed Places, Atlas of the Unexpected.

Written by the host and creator of That UFO Podcast, Atlas of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), investigates famous incidents and lesser-known sightings worldwide. Arranged in 5 chapters: Crash Retrieval, Abduction, Military, Civilian and Close Encounter and with specially commissioned maps, detailed case studies, photographs and direct witness testimonies, it reveals the global scope of UFO and UAP sightings and encounters.While iconic events like Roswell, the Phoenix Lights, and the Hills abduction have their place in UFO history, this book dives deeper, shedding light on lesser-known but equally significant cases. From the Varginha crash in Brazil to the Tic Tac encounters off California’s coast, this book presents case details, and direct witness testimony, revealing the global scale of this extraordinary phenomenon.Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, Atlas of Unidentified Flying Objects and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena provides an informed perspective on these incidents and is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the full scope of UFO and UAP sightings worldwide.Contents include:Crash Retrieval: Roswell (USA), Kingman (USA), Kecksburg (USA), Varginha (Brazil), Coyame (Mexico)Abduction: The Bass Strait (Australia), Snowflake (USA), Pascagoula (USA), Devil’s Den State Park (USA), Lancaster (USA), Near Kingston (USA)Military: Near San Diego (USA), Washington DC (USA), Rendlesham Forest (England), Shag Harbour (Canada), The Belgian Wave (Belgium), Tehran (Iran), Colares (Brazil), San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina)Civilian: Trans-En-Provence (France), Xiaoshan (China), Mount Rainier (USA), Stephenville (USA), Broad Haven (Wales), New Delhi (India), Dalnegorsk (Russia), Gwangju (South Korea)Close Encounter: Dayton (USA), Melbourne (Australia), Ruwa (Zimbabwe), Voronezh (Russia), Dechmont Woods (Scotland), Socorro (USA), Kofu (Japan)

Explore the places that time forgot. Abandoned, mysterious, sleeping monuments around the world have been relegated to the margins of history, pushed off the map and out of sight.From ancient ruins and crumbling castles to more recent relics – an art deco New York subway station, a Soviet ghost town in the Arctic Circle, a flooded Thai mall teeming with aquatic life – Travis Elborough takes you on a journey into these strange, overlooked and disappearing worlds and immortalises their fates.Original maps and stunning colour photography accompany Travis Elborough’s moving historic and geographic accounts of each site. The featured locations are a stark reminder of what was, and the accounts in this investigative book help to bring their stories back to life, telling us what happened, when and why, and to whom.The book features 40 sites, including: Santa Claus, Arizona, USA: A festive tourist resort turned ghost town deep in the desert where once you could meet Santa Claus any day of the year;Crystal Palace Subway, London, UK: One of the city’s best-kept secrets is an underground, cathedral-like relic from where many Victorian commuters bustled through;Montserrat, West Indies: The small Caribbean island with a population of 5,000 that was evacuated when its volcano erupted in 1995. The volcano is still active and nearly half the island remains a designated exclusion zone;Balaklava Submarine Base, Crimea: The former top-secret Soviet submarine base that was kept off all official maps and known as Object 825 GTS;Volterra Psychiatric Hospital, Tuscany, Italy: Once dubbed ‘the place of no return’, this long-closed lunatic asylum once housed 6,000 patients who were never allowed to leave.Also in the Unexpected Atlas series: Atlas of Improbable Places, Atlas of Untamed Places, Atlas of the Unexpected and Atlas of Vanishing Places (WINNER Illustrated Book of the Year - Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020).

'A delightful compendium of the strangest places on the planet.’ DAILY TELEGRAPH Travel in search of the obscure and bizarre, the beautiful and arcane in a unique atlas showing the modern world from surprising new vantage points. Discover the macabre Island of Dolls. Wonder at San Juan Parangaricutiro’s church tower, the sole survivor in a town sunk by lava. Explore Beijing and Berlin’s labyrinths, home to both refugees and espionage. Marvel at nature’s own extraordinary masterpieces: the magical underground river shaped like a dragon’s mouth in the Philippines and Palmerston, a floating world. The truths and myths behind these hidden lairs, forgotten cities and improbable wonders are as varied and intriguing as the destinations themselves. Acclaimed author and social commentator Travis Elborough is a marvellous travel guide to the world’s most unusual corners on this fascinating voyage through geography, taking travel writing to new heights. ‘This engrossing book traverses the heights and depths, the beauty and terror, of our world.’ THE OBSERVER ‘Understatedly expressive’ NEW YORK TIMES ‘Deeply researched – and really worth your time’GQ

Uncover fascinating paranormal activity on this chilling, nerve-wracking global tour of over 50 paranormal locations, with a brilliant foreword from award-winning writer, Danny Robins.Set out on a uniquely dark armchair journey and witness the shocking supernatural events, ghosts and unexplained phenomena that have captivated humankind for as long as we have told stories to each other, looked to the skies, and wondered whether we really are alone…The paranormal places include:The Chase Vault, a 200-year-old crypt in Barbados with moving coffinsCharleville Castle, the haunted castle in Ireland used by secret societiesThe witch market (El Mercado De Las Brujas) in La Paz, BoliviaGunnuhver Mud Pool in Iceland, infected by the spirit of a maddened criminalTurkmenistan’s Door to Hell, an infernal crater still blazing after half a centuryLegends about spirits that rise from the dead, places where the crops don’t grow or sites where strange lights are seen at night… glaciers that bleed, ghost towns, crumbling castles, disused (and active) cemeteries, eerie forests and freak nature patterns…This cursed collection covers these sites in all their mysterious glory, and recounts what happened, what continues to happen, and what may explain these phenomena. Hauntings, aliens, and all manner of paranormal activity are covered, in manmade as well as natural surroundings.You may not want to read it when you are alone…

Uncover fascinating paranormal activity on this chilling, nerve-wracking global tour of over 50 paranormal locations, with a brilliant foreword from award-winning writer, Danny Robins.Set out on a uniquely dark armchair journey and witness the shocking supernatural events, ghosts and unexplained phenomena that have captivated humankind for as long as we have told stories to each other, looked to the skies, and wondered whether we really are alone…The paranormal places include:The Chase Vault, a 200-year-old crypt in Barbados with moving coffinsCharleville Castle, the haunted castle in Ireland used by secret societiesThe witch market (El Mercado De Las Brujas) in La Paz, BoliviaGunnuhver Mud Pool in Iceland, infected by the spirit of a maddened criminalTurkmenistan’s Door to Hell, an infernal crater still blazing after half a centuryLegends about spirits that rise from the dead, places where the crops don’t grow or sites where strange lights are seen at night… glaciers that bleed, ghost towns, crumbling castles, disused (and active) cemeteries, eerie forests and freak nature patterns…This cursed collection covers these sites in all their mysterious glory, and recounts what happened, what continues to happen, and what may explain these phenomena. Hauntings, aliens, and all manner of paranormal activity are covered, in manmade as well as natural surroundings.You may not want to read it when you are alone…

Uncover fascinating paranormal activity on this chilling, nerve-wracking global tour of over 50 paranormal locations, with a brilliant foreword from award-winning writer, Danny Robins.Set out on a uniquely dark armchair journey and witness the shocking supernatural events, ghosts and unexplained phenomena that have captivated humankind for as long as we have told stories to each other, looked to the skies, and wondered whether we really are alone…The paranormal places include:The Chase Vault, a 200-year-old crypt in Barbados with moving coffinsCharleville Castle, the haunted castle in Ireland used by secret societiesThe witch market (El Mercado De Las Brujas) in La Paz, BoliviaGunnuhver Mud Pool in Iceland, infected by the spirit of a maddened criminalTurkmenistan’s Door to Hell, an infernal crater still blazing after half a centuryLegends about spirits that rise from the dead, places where the crops don’t grow or sites where strange lights are seen at night… glaciers that bleed, ghost towns, crumbling castles, disused (and active) cemeteries, eerie forests and freak nature patterns…This cursed collection covers these sites in all their mysterious glory, and recounts what happened, what continues to happen, and what may explain these phenomena. Hauntings, aliens, and all manner of paranormal activity are covered, in manmade as well as natural surroundings.You may not want to read it when you are alone…

Traverse the globe and explore the extraordinary. This is a unique, enigmatic collection of 45 meticulously crafted maps for wandering off the beaten track.Embark on an armchair expedition across nations and marvel at astounding spots only ever stumbled upon by chance. The profound histories and distinctive quirks of these happenstances are described in detail alongside evocative black and white photographs.The unexpected places include:   Just Enough Room Island, an aptly named islet that defies spatial conventions The Purple Rock of Madeira, where shipwrecked lovers etched their love story into the annals of history The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered one day by a wayward goat on a meandering path, guiding its keeper to unravel the mysteries of the past Vaseline, where the product that has become a household staple was accidentally discovered Discover destinations both infamous and unknown, where haphazard means have conspired to shape our world's history. This is a tour through the quirks of fate and the marvels of chance.In every tale and map, the world's most astounding, improbable, and, above all, unexpected locations, providing a captivating glimpse into the tapestry of human history and the unpredictability of our planet's hidden wonders. This literary voyage is an ode to the curious and the adventurous, celebrating the unexpected marvels that define our world. This is a literary and visual adventure that will immerse you in far-off lands and obscure discoveries, offering a unique perspective on the world's hidden treasures.

Explore the places that time forgot. These abandoned, mysterious, sleeping monuments around the world have been relegated to the margins of history.From ancient ruins and crumbling castles to more recent relics – an art deco New York subway station, a Soviet ghost town in the Arctic Circle, a flooded Thai mall teeming with aquatic life – Travis Elborough takes you on a journey into these strange, overlooked and disappearing worlds and immortalises them in this book of original maps, accompanied by moving historic and geographic accounts of each site.The featured locations are a stark reminder of what was, and the accounts in this investigative book help to bring their stories back to life, telling us what happened, when and why, and to whom. The book features 40 sites, including: Santa Claus, Arizona, USA: A festive tourist resort-turned-ghost town deep in the desert where you could once meet Santa Claus any day of the year; Crystal Palace Subway, London, UK: One of the city’s best-kept secrets is an underground, cathedral-like relic that many Victorian commuters bustled through; Montserrat, West Indies: The small Caribbean island with a population of 5,000 that was evacuated when its volcano erupted in 1995. The volcano is still active and nearly half the island remains a designated exclusion zone; Balaklava Submarine Base, Crimea: The former top-secret Soviet submarine base that was kept off all official maps and known as Object 825 GTS; Volterra Psychiatric Hospital, Tuscany, Italy: Once dubbed ‘the place of no return’, this long-closed lunatic asylum once housed 6,000 patients who were never allowed to leave. From eerie ghost towns to epic undersea monuments, armchair travellers and adventure seekers will be captivated by this curious atlas of strange and surreal abandoned sites across the world. It follows on from the success of the award-winning title Atlas of Vanishing Places, and forms part of an atlas series that offers lesser-known histories of hidden, fascinating locations worldwide.Also in the Unexpected Atlas series: Atlas of Improbable Places, Atlas of Untamed Places, Atlas of the Unexpected and Atlas of Vanishing Places (WINNER Illustrated Book of the Year - Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020).

Explore the places that time forgot. These abandoned, mysterious, sleeping monuments around the world have been relegated to the margins of history.From ancient ruins and crumbling castles to more recent relics – an art deco New York subway station, a Soviet ghost town in the Arctic Circle, a flooded Thai mall teeming with aquatic life – Travis Elborough takes you on a journey into these strange, overlooked and disappearing worlds and immortalises them in this book of original maps, accompanied by moving historic and geographic accounts of each site.The featured locations are a stark reminder of what was, and the accounts in this investigative book help to bring their stories back to life, telling us what happened, when and why, and to whom. The book features 40 sites, including: Santa Claus, Arizona, USA: A festive tourist resort-turned-ghost town deep in the desert where you could once meet Santa Claus any day of the year; Crystal Palace Subway, London, UK: One of the city’s best-kept secrets is an underground, cathedral-like relic that many Victorian commuters bustled through; Montserrat, West Indies: The small Caribbean island with a population of 5,000 that was evacuated when its volcano erupted in 1995. The volcano is still active and nearly half the island remains a designated exclusion zone; Balaklava Submarine Base, Crimea: The former top-secret Soviet submarine base that was kept off all official maps and known as Object 825 GTS; Volterra Psychiatric Hospital, Tuscany, Italy: Once dubbed ‘the place of no return’, this long-closed lunatic asylum once housed 6,000 patients who were never allowed to leave. From eerie ghost towns to epic undersea monuments, armchair travellers and adventure seekers will be captivated by this curious atlas of strange and surreal abandoned sites across the world. It follows on from the success of the award-winning title Atlas of Vanishing Places, and forms part of an atlas series that offers lesser-known histories of hidden, fascinating locations worldwide.Also in the Unexpected Atlas series: Atlas of Improbable Places, Atlas of Untamed Places, Atlas of the Unexpected and Atlas of Vanishing Places (WINNER Illustrated Book of the Year - Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020).

'A delightful compendium of the strangest places on the planet.’ DAILY TELEGRAPH Travel in search of the obscure and bizarre, the beautiful and arcane in a unique atlas showing the modern world from surprising new vantage points. Discover the macabre Island of Dolls. Wonder at San Juan Parangaricutiro’s church tower, the sole survivor in a town sunk by lava. Explore Beijing and Berlin’s labyrinths, home to both refugees and espionage. Marvel at nature’s own extraordinary masterpieces: the magical underground river shaped like a dragon’s mouth in the Philippines and Palmerston, a floating world. The truths and myths behind these hidden lairs, forgotten cities and improbable wonders are as varied and intriguing as the destinations themselves. Acclaimed author and social commentator Travis Elborough is a marvellous travel guide to the world’s most unusual corners on this fascinating voyage through geography, taking travel writing to new heights. ‘This engrossing book traverses the heights and depths, the beauty and terror, of our world.’ THE OBSERVER ‘Understatedly expressive’ NEW YORK TIMES ‘Deeply researched – and really worth your time’GQ

In a world that has increasingly become tamed by human activity, the true wild holds a growing mysticism. Rugged landscapes with unspoilt scenery invoke romantic visions of paradise, but there are also intense and powerful wildernesses that produce fear and awe alike and unexplored zones where feral wildlife roams in the shadows.  Chris Fitch takes you on a journey through the world’s most wild places, visiting immensely diverse floral kingdoms, remote jungles abundant with exotic birds, and both freezing cold and scorching hot inhospitable environments. From these natural havens we travel to the extreme and the incredible: lightening inducing lakes, acidic mud baths, and man-eating tiger kingdoms. As well as those wildernesses being reclaimed by nature, such as Chernobyl, that after being left abandoned for years has returned to a natural wild habitat, free from human intervention. Not forgetting those most bizarre of destinations, such as the tidal surges of the Qiantang River, the bridge to Modo Island that emerges from the sea, and the strange magnetic pull of Jubuka rock.  With beautiful maps and stunning photography, An Atlas of Untamed Places is an intrepid voyage to nature’s most unusual, unpredictable, and extraordinarily wild destinations.