<\/p>\n

Just when you think that your city is somewhat unique and interesting, you\u00a0read an article that makes your head explode. Cities with underground offices, street dogs that can navigate the underground transit system, and a\u00a0British-themed residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Shanghai are just\u00a0a few\u00a0of the “10 Weirdest Urban Ecosystems\u00a0On Earth”<\/a>, an article posted on io9.com<\/a>, a new favorite site\u00a0that keeps me updated on random —\u00a0yet useful, especially in conversations with strangers — bits of information.<\/p>\n

For example, when sitting at a bar in downtown-wherever you can lower your voice, look around skittishly and ask: Did you know that\u00a0Centralia, a small-town in Pennsylvania,\u00a0is rumored to have been\u00a0the setting for the Silent Hill video game? Apparently, years ago, some guys set fire to some garbage near an underground bed of coal which caught and has overheated the town ever since (and it’s estimated to do so for another 250 years). The town was evacuated, yet some families still live there. Pretty interesting.<\/p>\n

The Gowanus Canal, Brooklyn, New York. “[O]ne of the most foulest places on Earth,”, yet a hotbed — quite literally — for scientific research. From the depths of the deplorable dark-goo arises the possibility of a cure for diseases. According to the article, life actual can exist in the Canal. Little organisms have “found a way”\u00a0by producing\u00a0a type of antibiotic to combat bacteria and viruses. If harnessed, this proto-antibiotic could be a medical breakthrough. Take that Manhattan!<\/p>\n

Not only is this article absolutely fascinating, but a good resource for the imagination. If you are a story writer, or teller, all of these cities have some serious potential for imaginative creation. Or, if you are just looking for some bizarre places to visit, add any<\/em> of the urban ecosystems\u00a0to your bucket-list.<\/p>\n

*The above photo is of Japan’s ghost-island, Gunkanjima<\/em><\/p>\n

By Brit Weaver<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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About the Author<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

Toronto born and based, Brit is an avid leisure cyclist, coffee drinker and under-a-tree park-ist. She often finds herself meandering foreign cities looking for street eats to nibble, trees to climb, a patch of grass to sit on, or a small bookstore to sift through. You can find her musing life on her personal blog,\u00a0TheBubblesAreDead.wordpress.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just when you think that your city is somewhat unique and interesting, you\u00a0read an article that makes your head explode. Cities with underground offices, street dogs that can navigate the underground transit system, and a\u00a0British-themed residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Shanghai are just\u00a0a few\u00a0of the “10 Weirdest Urban Ecosystems\u00a0On Earth”, an article posted on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1,2561],"tags":[2305,1506,178,1505],"yoast_head":"\n