Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Mahadji Shinde Chhatri

Discover Mahadji Shinde Chhatri in Pune, India: A magnificent work of architecture designed to honor a former military leader.

Gainesville Solar Walk

Discover Gainesville Solar Walk in Gainesville, Florida: A trek through the solar system here on earth.

The Migrating House

Discover The Migrating House in Baarle-Hertog, Belgium: Not many houses move across borders, this one did it twice.

Kudan Archaeological Site

Discover Kudan Archaeological Site in Kapilvastu, Nepal: The site where Sakyamuni Buddha first met his father after achieving enlightenment.

Eagle Tower

Discover Eagle Tower in Fish Creek, Wisconsin: Walk up a ramp through a forest for panoramic views of Lake Michigan.

Floating Coffin of Pinner

Discover Floating Coffin of Pinner in London, England: One man's attempt to stay one step ahead of the church.

Groudle Glen Water Wheel

Discover Groudle Glen Water Wheel in Douglas, Isle of Man: This Victorian water wheel is affectionately nicknamed "Little Isabella.".

Rice Family Mausoleum

Discover Rice Family Mausoleum in New Orleans, Louisiana: Anne Rice, one of the most influential writers in gothic literature, is buried alongside her husband in a New Orleans cemetery.

Devil’s Lapstone

Discover Devil's Lapstone in Peterlee, England: This moss-covered boulder is said to be part of a diabolical plant to sabotage the Durham Cathedral's foundation.

Charles Macdonald Concrete House

Discover Charles Macdonald Concrete House in Centreville, Nova Scotia: Everything in this two-story house—down to the mounted deer head on the wall—was carefully crafted from concrete.

The Golden Lion Tamarins of Poço das Antas

Discover The Golden Lion Tamarins of Poço das Antas in Silva Jardim, Brazil: These small, spectacular monkeys are making a comeback after deforestation destroyed much of their rainforest habitat.

Kenmure Castle

Discover Kenmure Castle in Scotland: Believed to be the birthplace of John Balliol.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Discover Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia: Country fans may flock to Nashville's music scene, but this Appalachian town is where the genre was born.

Polychrome Historic District

Discover Polychrome Historic District in Silver Spring, Maryland: These five Art Deco homes were meant to solve the "small house problem.".

Yiddishland California

Discover Yiddishland California in San Diego, California: The Yiddish language stages a renaissance in a shtetl-inspired cultural center the San Diego coast.

Guess the Greyhound

Discover Guess the Greyhound in Frederick, Maryland: According to local history, this cast-iron canine was nearly melted down for bullets during the Civil War.

Elephant Head Rock

Discover Elephant Head Rock in Gerlach, Nevada: A remote, little-known natural arch in granite in the desert of northwestern Nevada.

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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

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