Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Discover Aztec Ruins National Monument in Aztec, New Mexico: The remains of a 900-year old ancestral Pueblo great house.

Drumtroddan Standing Stones

Discover Drumtroddan Standing Stones in Mochrum, Scotland: These stones date back to the 3rd or 2nd millennium B.C.

‘Alice’

Discover 'Alice' in Adelaide, Australia: The famed literary character has a unique connection to this city.

Ichimonjiya Wasuke

Discover Ichimonjiya Wasuke in Kyoto, Japan: This 25th-generation family business has been serving sweets for more than a millennium.

Archie’s Corner

Discover Archie's Corner in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania: These ruins of an octagonal stone school that was later used as an A.U.M.P. church exemplify a popular school design from the 1830s.

The Muriquis of Feliciano Miguel Abdala Reserve

Discover The Muriquis of Feliciano Miguel Abdala Reserve in Caratinga, Brazil: A preserved section of the Atlantic Forest is an important habitat for these critically endangered monkeys.

Fort Mojave Twins

Discover Fort Mojave Twins in Fort Mohave, Arizona: Two geoglyphs that are truly unique to North America.

The Sea Factory of the Basques

Discover Albaola Itsas Kultur Faktoria in Pasaia, Spain: Get a close-up look at a 16th-century Basque whaling ship at this factory and museum.

Castello di Poppi

Discover Castello di Poppi in Poppi, Italy: During World War II, a number of important sculptures and paintings were moved to this castle for safekeeping.

Hasting’s Net Shops

Discover Hasting's Net Shops in Hastings, England: During the heyday of fishing in Hastings, there were more than 100 of these storage facilities.

Robert Louis Stevenson Museum

Discover Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in St. Helena, California: This California museum is home to one of the largest collections related to the 'Treasure Island' author.

White Tank Mountains Petroglyphs

Discover White Tank Mountains Petroglyphs in Waddell, Arizona: These petroglyphs created by ancient Arizonians have withstood centuries of exposure to the elements.

Ashoka Pillar, Lumbini

Discover Ashoka Pillar, Lumbini in Lumbini Sanskritik, Nepal: Designed to honor the birthplace of Buddha.

Ramalama Book Exchange

Discover Ramalama Book Exchange in Wonthaggi, Australia: Leaning shelves and books galore, this location is a book lover's utopia.

West Gate Tower Museum

Discover West Gate Tower Museum in Canterbury, England: A defensive structure built during the Hundred Years War has remained useful in one way or another for nearly 700 years.

Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum

Discover Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum in Solsberry, Indiana: A collection of sculptures and trails that appear to change with the seasons.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 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. 474 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. 499 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. 633 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. 135 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. 167 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). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 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. 96 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. 166

PP ToS