Each year, Indian's poorest transform into rich, burnt orange oracles in Theyyam. But modernization might spell the festival's end.Source: Wikimedia Commons The gods of Malabar, India come out in December, and they gyrate among villages until the beginning of spring. In long, ornate dances, these sunset-orange apparitions swirl and sing and prophesy and condemn the wrongs of worldly rulers. This is Theyyam — and its days may very well be numbered.

Though the quaint section of Yorkshire's River Wharfe known as the Bolton Strid is only six feet wide, it's unfathomably deep — and known by locals to have a 100 percent mortality rate.The River Wharfe in the Yorkshire region of northern England is the kind of idyllic river that’s perfect for a romantic dip or a pensive walk. The river winds and weaves past tall trees, stony beaches, and bright green moss-covered boulders for 65 miles.

In 1863, a slave known only as Gordon escaped from a Louisiana plantation where he was nearly whipped to death. His story was quickly published — along with a gruesome photo of his injuries.Although little is known of his life, Gordon the slave, a.k.a. “Whipped Peter,” left a critical mark on American history when one haunting image of him opened the eyes of millions to the singular horror of slavery in the United States.

These enthralling history podcasts highlight lesser-known stories that didn't show up in your textbooks.If you’re looking for your next history podcast to listen to on your morning commute, you’re in luck — there’s no shortage of fantastic history shows out there. But it can be hard to narrow down what to listen to next, which is why we’ve come up with this list of the best history podcasts. The podcasts below all cover history in different ways.

Discover why the contests for Miss Fabulous Frankfurter and Miss National Catfish Queen are even stranger than they sound. Contestants in the Miss Lovely Eyes beauty pageant in Florida wear masks to obscure the rest of their faces. Circa 1930. FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images A policeman judges an ankle competition in Hounslow, London. 1930. Fox Photos/Getty Images Actor Geene Courtney models a scarf, skirt, bracelets, and a crown made from hot dogs, frankfurters, and kielbasa in her role as Queen of National Hot Dog Week, as selected by the Zion Meat Products Company.