Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Diana and the Hounds Fountain

Discover Diana and the Hounds Fountain in East Melbourne, Australia: A striking bronze sculpture of a Roman goddess with two hound dogs for company.

Sa Stiddiosa

Discover Sa Stiddiosa in Gadoni, Italy: Greenery covers the face of a gently-dripping waterfall deep in the mountains of central Sardinia.

Cactus Joe’s Blue Diamond Nursery

Discover Cactus Joe's Blue Diamond Nursery in Las Vegas, Nevada: At the base of the Spring Mountains, a unique nursery packed with desert plants.

Birch Alley

Discover Birch Alley in Uppsala, Swedem: A collection of birches from across Sweden.

Olivastri Millenari

Discover Olivastri Millenari in Luras, Italy: At an estimated 3,800 years old, this olive tree is one of the oldest on earth.

Valley of the Gnomes

Discover Valley of the Gnomes in Seattle, Washington: The classic lawn figurine now claims this wooded area as home.

Odessa Cable Car

Discover Odessa Cable Car in Odessa, Ukraine: Built in the Soviet era, this cableway system still runs gondolas from Odessa down to Otrada Beach.

Ura e Terzive

Discover Ura e Terzive in Bishtazhin, Kosovo: This 15th-century Ottoman bridge was modified to keep up with the changing course of the river Erenik.

Llyn Barfog

Discover Llyn Barfog in Tywyn, Wales: According to legend, King Arthur killed a beast that dwelled beneath the waters of this Welsh lake.

The NatWest Hole

Discover The NatWest Hole in Ilkeston, England: How did a literal hole in a wall become one of this town's flagship tourist attractions?

‘Allen the Peregrine Falcon’

Discover 'Allen the Peregrine Falcon' in Broomhall, England: This Sheffield sculpture composed of 17,000 Allen keys honors both urban falcons and a furniture icon.

Grotta del Fico

Discover Grotta del Fico in Santa Maria Navarrese, Italy: Packed with geological formations, an ancient river, and taxidermied seals, this overlooked coastal cave system is worth a spelunk.

Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn

Discover Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn in Boonarga, Australia: A monument to the moth that saved Australia from a cactus crisis.

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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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