Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Historic Occaneechee Speedway

Discover Historic Occaneechee Speedway in Hillsborough, North Carolina: One of the few surviving original NASCAR dirt-track speedways.

Atlanta’s One-Person Jail Cell

Discover Atlanta's One-Person Jail Cell in Atlanta, Georgia: Unruly residents were housed in this one-person cell until the Black Maria arrived.

Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater

Discover Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in New York, New York: This theater opened in 1998, but both the building and the puppeteers who perform there have a distinguished history.

Scala del Paradiso

Discover Scala del Paradiso in Como, Italy: This trail was once used to smuggle cigarettes, sugar, and other black market goods between Italy and Switzerland.

Fort Madison Bridge

Discover Fort Madison Bridge in Fort Madison, Iowa: At a mile long, the Fort Madison Bridge is the largest double-decker swing-span bridge in the world.

Monkey Fingers

Discover Monkey Fingers in Tamellalt, Morocco: Within the Dadès Gorge, amazing vistas and towering cliff faces can be seen at each new curve and bend in the road.

Dunyvaig Castle

Discover Dunyvaig Castle in Isle of Islay, Scotland: It's believed a castle existed at this site since the 12th century.

Reigate Heath Windmill

Discover Reigate Heath Windmill in Surrey, England: The world's first consecrated windmill.

Conewago Potholes

Discover Conewago Potholes in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania: These unique rock formations were created during the Ice Age.

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.".

Menu

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

PP ToS