Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Laigh Milton Viaduct

Discover Laigh Milton Viaduct in Crosshouse, Scotland: This abandoned bridge over the River Irvine may be the oldest surviving railway viaduct in the world.

Devil’s Head Lookout Tower

Discover Devil’s Head Lookout Tower in Sedalia, Colorado: This Colorado fire station has been in continuous operation for more than a century, and was home to America's first female fire lookout.

Risan Roman Mosaics

Discover Risan Roman Mosaics in Risan, Montenegro: The only known mosaic depicting the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos.

Willey House Site

Discover Willey House Site in Bartlett, New Hampshire: This cabin survived a landslide that killed its owners.

Organ Pipes

Discover Organ Pipes in Keilor North, Australia: Cooled, fractured lava formed this geometric rock feature.

The Man-Killing Clam

Discover The Man-Killing Clam in Cheboygan, Michigan: This small, nautical gift shop is home to a 500-pound behemoth.

Gooderham Building

Discover Gooderham Building in Toronto, Ontario: Known as "Toronto's Flatiron.".

Wenckheim-kastély

Discover Wenckheim-kastély in Szabadkígyós, Hungary: This castle was designed to have as many windows as there are days in the year.

The Funkite Cemetery

Discover The Funkite Cemetery in Germantown, Pennsylvania: Hidden behind an empty field resides this early 19th-century cemetery.

Hōryū-ji

Discover Hōryū-ji in Ikaruga, Japan: Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

Pukkisaari

Discover Pukkisaari in Helsinki, Finland: On a small island, a replica of a Finnish village from the Iron Age.

Salma Palace

Discover Salma Palace in Al-Badie Al-Shamali, Saudi Arabia: Parts of this palace are upheld by merely palm stems or reeds supported by palm tree beams.

L’horloge Fleurie (The Flower Clock)

Discover L’horloge Fleurie (The Flower Clock) in Geneva, Switzerland: The world's largest second-hand graces a clock surrounded by constantly changing flower beds. .

Thomas Isaac Log Cabin

Discover Thomas Isaac Log Cabin in Ellicott City, Maryland: A former pillar of the Black community in Ellicott City.

The King of Olten

Discover The King of Olten in Olten, Switzerland: A bronze statue commemorating his royal meowjesty, Toulouse.

House of Leaves

Discover House of Leaves in Tirana, Albania: A museum dedicated to secret surveillance.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 261 ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 480 iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 514 iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 642 ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 137 v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 172 vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 256 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 151 viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 98 x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 168

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