How a WWI battlefield became a wildlife refuge

Toronto's giant birds, a colossal squid, and when snakes had legs. Email not displaying correctly? View in your browser. December 10, 2019 Battlefield Refuge On February 21, 1916, France’s Verdun Forest became the site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles in World War I. But something surprising happened in the aftermath of the battle. Orchids, bats, and toads—species that did not live there before the battle—moved in and thrived. Read More → When Snakes Had Legs Last month, researchers described a pristinely fossilized skull of a Mesozoic snake with legs. Um, what even is a snake with legs? Read more → Toronto, Ontario Toronto’s Giant Birds Two giant woodpeckers on a 98-foot-tall black steel column standing in the shadow of the CN Tower honor the native North American species. Read more → Video A Colossal Squid Is No Joke Where can you get up close and personal with a sea monster from the deep? You might want to pay a visit to Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, which contains the world’s only preserved complete colossal squid specimen. Watch Now → Snow Dogs The history of dogs in the Arctic is almost impossible to separate from the history of humans there. The two species have long relied on each other for survival and new research shows that Greenlandic sled dogs are the last direct descendants or pre-European dogs in North America. Read more → Atlas Obscura Trips Last Chance: Contemporary Art in Cambodia Join us on an 11-day trip next February as we explore the vibrant art, religion, and food culture of the Kingdom of Cambodia while spending time with the country’s leading artists and performers. Hurry, booking closes December 31st! Learn more → Sharon, Massachusetts A Soldier in Disguise Deborah Sampson Gannett was one of the first women to serve in the American Revolution, and by extension in the United States military in general. She disguised herself as a man, serving under the name Robert Shurtliff. Read more → Visit AtlasObscura.com · View in Browser · Unsubscribe · See All Newsletters 61 Greenpoint Ave #622, Brooklyn, NY 11222