Atlas Of World Wonders

An enticing survey for the general reader. The scope is broad, from discussion of the field of archaeology, and of human origins, to a survey of the early settlements and ancient kingdoms of the world, arranged by region. Thematic "portfolio" sections take up such topics as the origin of writing, metal use, textiles, and the potter's art. Abundantly and spectacularly illustrated. Lacks a bibliography. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

From the team behind the best-selling Atlas of Adventures comes this awe-inspiring journey of discovery. Travel around the world to scale the Eiffel Tower, trek the Great Wall of China, and raft through the Yosemite Valley. Showcasing the globe's most impressive landscapes, iconic buildings and evocative antiquities from both the modern and ancient worlds, this is the most wonderful Atlas adventure yet!

Looking at the natural and human-made features on our planet, this book is organised by the world's seven continents. Each spread contains a computer-generated map with picture icons of landmarks that give the area its character, from spectacular mountains and canyons to castles, temples, monuments and public buildings. Both ancient and modern wonders are covered. All the landmarks on the map are featured on the page, either in the main text, in a factfile or in a Can You Find panel. The book also contains four feature spreads on different types of buildings, palaces, places of worship and the seven wonders of the world.

Set your spirit of adventure free with this lavishly illustrated trip around the world. Whether you're visiting the penguins of Antarctica, joining the Carnival in Brazil, or a canoe safari down the Zambezi River, this book brings together more than 100 activities and challenges to inspire armchair adventurers of any age. Find hundreds of things to spot and learn new facts about every destination. With epic adventures from the four corners of the globe and discoveries to be made on your own doorstep, this book will inspire you to set off on your own journey of discovery. - See more at: http://quartoknows.com/books/9781847806956/Atlas-of-Adventures.html#sthash.kfeVPl0u.dpuf

It's time to get off the beaten path. Inspiring equal parts wonder and wanderlust, Atlas Obscura celebrates over 700 of the strangest and most curious places in the world. Talk about a bucket list: here are natural wonders—the dazzling glowworm caves in New Zealand, or a baobob tree in South Africa that's so large it has a pub inside where 15 people can drink comfortably. Architectural marvels, including the M.C. Escher-like stepwells in India. Mind-boggling events, like the Baby Jumping Festival in Spain, where men dressed as devils literally vault over rows of squirming infants. Not to mention the Great Stalacpipe Organ in Virginia, Turkmenistan's 40-year hole of fire called the Gates of Hell, a graveyard for decommissioned ships on the coast of Bangladesh, eccentric bone museums in Italy, or a weather-forecasting invention that was powered by leeches, still on display in Devon, England. Created by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras and Ella Morton, ATLAS OBSCURA revels in the weird, the unexpected, the overlooked, the hidden and the mysterious. Every page expands our sense of how strange and marvelous the world really is. And with its compelling descriptions, hundreds of photographs, surprising charts, maps for every region of the world, it is a book to enter anywhere, and will be as appealing to the armchair traveler as the die-hard adventurer. Anyone can be a tourist. ATLAS OBSCURA is for the explorer.

This is the first book to catalog comparative maps and tableaux that visualize the heights and lengths of the world's mountains and rivers. Produced predominantly in the nineteenth century, these beautifully rendered maps emerged out of the tide of exploration and scientific developments in measuring techniques. Beginning with the work of explorer Alexander von Humboldt, these historic drawings reveal a world of artistic and imaginative difference. Many of them give way—and with visible joy—to the power of fantasy in a mesmerizing array of realistic and imaginary forms. Most of the maps are from the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection at Stanford University.

This book serves as an introduction and overview of the seven wonders of the natural world. It explains how nature alone carved these sites that we so admire. From the ocean shores to the inland forests, discover how the natural world is a beautiful place.

Armchair archeologists, Indiana Jones fans, and hobbyists with metal detectors will all be intrigued by these accounts of fabulous lost treasures, some recovered in modern times and others still waiting to be found-both underground and beneath the sea. Here are the dramatic stories behind major discoveries, from King Tut's tomb to Afghanistan's Bactrian Hoard. You'll also find unsolved mysteries, such as the disappearance of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia (once numbered among the Seven Wonders of the World) and the Ark of the Covenant. With historic photographs and detailed artists' renderings, this lavish volume takes the reader on a global treasure hunt every bit as exciting as The Da Vinci Code-not in fantasy, but in fact.

Text, maps and illustrations describe the various types of animals found in dirrerent natural environments throughout the world.

New York Times bestseller! The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid is a thrilling expedition to 100 of the most surprising, mysterious, and weird-but-true places on earth. For curious kids, this is the chance to embark on the journey of a lifetime—and see how faraway countries have more in common than you might expect! Hopscotch from country to country in a chain of connecting attractions: Explore Mexico’s glittering cave of crystals, then visit the world’s largest cave in Vietnam. Peer over a 355-foot waterfall in Zambia, then learn how Antarctica’s Blood Falls got their mysterious color. Or see mysterious mummies in Japan and France, then majestic ice caves in both Argentina and Austria. As you climb mountains, zip-line over forests, and dive into oceans, this book is your passport to a world of hidden wonders, illuminated by gorgeous art.