Atlas of Unexpected Places

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.

Introduction
Accidental Discoveries
Madeira Archipelago — Portugal, Atlantic Ocean
Derinkuyu Underground City — Cappadocia, Turkey
Vaseline — Titusville, Pennsylvania, USA
The Dead Sea Scrolls — Qumran, Israel
Cahokia Mounds — Illinois, USA
Pompeii — Naples, Italy
Fly Geyser — Nevada, USA
Galápagos Islands — Ecuador, Pacific Ocean
Strange Roots
Georgia Colony — Savannah, Georgia, USA
Chemainus — Vancouver Island, Canada
Buzludzha Monument — Stara Zagora Province, Bulgaria
Freetown — Sierra Leone, West Africa
Freshkills Park — New York City, USA
Fort House — Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
Chess City — Elista, Kalmykia, Russia
Fordlândia — Pará, Brazil
Gibsonton — Florida, USA
Nowa Huta — Kraków, Poland
Haphazard Destinations
Naft Daslari — Azerbaijan, Caspian Sea
Manshiyat Naser — Cairo, Egypt
Caleta Tortel — Capitán Prat Province, Chile
Jaisalmer Fort — Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
Just Room Enough Island — St. Lawrence River, New York, USA
Spiegelhalter’s Jewellers — East London, England, UK
Monemvasia — Laconia, Greece
Uros Floating Islands — Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru
Cliff of Bandiagara — Mopti, Mali
Korowai Treehouses — Province of Papua, Indonesia
Cavernous Locations
Lascaux Caves — Montignac, France
Xuankong Si (Hanging Temple) — Shanxi Province, China
Matmata Village — Matmata, Tunisia
Shell Grotto — Margate, Kent, England, UK
Coober Pedy — South Australia
Movile Cave — Constan¿a County, Romania
The Petrifying Well — Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England
Aogashima — Philippine Sea, Japan
Serendipitous Spaces
Zhangye Danxia Landform — Gansu, China
Slope Point — South Island, New Zealand
Glass Beach — Fort Bragg, California, USA
Lake Hillier — Western Australia
Grüner See — Styria, Austria
Cat Island (Tashirojima) — Japan
Tsingy de Bemaraha (Grand Tsingy) — Melaky, Madagascar
Hitachi Seaside Park — Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan
Canfranc Station — Canfranc, Spain
Selected Bibliography
Picture Credits
Acknowledgements
Index