Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Duke of Wellington’s Mounting Stone

Discover The Duke of Wellington’s Mounting Stone in London, England: Outside of one of Britain's most renowned social clubs, a step installed specifically for the Duke.

Shfaram Ice Cream

Discover Shfaram Ice Cream in Shefar'am, Israel: Unique flavors and plant sap make this ice cream special.

Tomb of St. Lénard

Discover Tomb of St. Lénard in Andouillé-Neuville, France: This roadside shrine to an unofficial saint has welcomed the wishes and prayers of local believers for generations.

Burr Point

Discover Burr Point in Ballyhalbert, Northern Ireland: The easternmost point on the island of Ireland.

‘Moonwalker’

Discover ‘Moonwalker’ in Houston, Texas: In Houston's airport, a cow is properly equipped to jump over the moon.

Hodgson Water Mill

Discover Hodgson Water Mill in Dora, Missouri: A version of this picturesque mill has existed since the 1800s.

Whorlton Castle

Discover Whorlton Castle in Whorlton, England: An abandoned Yorkshire castle that is hidden in plain sight.

Verzasca Dam

Discover Verzasca Dam in Gordola, Switzerland: If James Bond bungee-jumped off the side of a 720-foot dam, would you do it too?

Joesting-Gorsuch House

Discover Joesting-Gorsuch House in Street, Maryland: Slated for demolition, this house was relocated piece by piece.

Charlotte Forten Grimké House

Discover Charlotte Forten Grimké House in Washington, D.C.: The historic home of an educator, abolitionist, activist, and poet.

Agua Caliente Park

Discover Agua Caliente Park in Tucson, Arizona: Previously a hot spring, this park remains a site of unique history, wildlife, and geology.

Fréjus Place

Discover Fréjus Place in Fredericksburg, Virginia: This plaque celebrates the sister city relationship between Fredricksburg and Fréjus.

U.S. Mint Coin Store

Discover U.S. Mint Coin Store in Washington, D.C.: Coins and medals straight from the mint await visitors to this shop in the nation's capital.

Sanatorium Lake

Discover Sanatorium Lake in Mount Macedon, Australia: This artificial lake was built to provide water for a planned facility that would treat tuberculosis patients.

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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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