Found: The goofiest crab that ever lived

Toxic dust, desert pools, and 14 charming libraries. Email not displaying correctly? View in your browser. April 30, 2019 Goofy Crab In 2005, budding geologist Javier Luque stumbled upon an odd crustacean fossil in the Colombian Andes Mountains. Later named the Callichimaera perplexa, it wasn’t just any other crab: it had the legs of a sea scorpion, the body of a lobster, and the eyes of an enormous larva. Read More → Toxic Dust Central Asia's Aralkum Desert, formerly the world's fourth largest inland body of water, is a barren and salt-scoured wasteland that acts as a key engine for the region's dust storms. Studying its toxic dust on the ground, however, is extremely difficult because of the inhospitable environment. Read more → Desert Pool In the middle of the Texas desert sits a 1.75-acre spring-fed community swimming pool that’s home to endangered pupfish and gambusia, a velvety surface of chara algae—and three diving boards. Read more → 14 Charming Libraries From a private library in North Carolina to a law library in Zurich, Atlas Obscura readers told us about their favorite libraries to get lost in. Read more → SCOTLAND Corryvreckan Whirlpool A fierce whirlpool churns the waters between the Scottish islands of Jura and Scarba. Reportedly the world’s third largest whirlpool, it’s said to have been conjured by a legendary witch to protect Scotland from a nasty pirate. Read more → OSAKA, JAPAN Maishima Plant A whimsical garbage disposal facility is often mistaken for being part of the nearby Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Read more → Food & Drink Awful Awful This Jersey-born frosty drink is now a Rhode Island favorite. According to the origin story, a fan once described the 24-ounce beverage as “awful big and awful good.” Read more → Sponsored by Travel Oregon Voodoo Doughnut Chapel The doughnut shop was founded to fill a void in Portland’s late night dining scene. While the doughnuts are the main attraction, committing to eternal love is also an option thanks to several wedding packages. Read more → Visit AtlasObscura.com · View in Browser · Unsubscribe · See All Newsletters 61 Greenpoint Ave #622, Brooklyn, NY 11222