Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Center of the Universe

Discover Center of the Universe in Albuquerque, New Mexico: A plain concrete tower stands at the epicenter of the cosmos.

Castelvecchio Museum

Discover Castelvecchio Museum in Verona, Italy: This medieval castle was reconstructed by Carlo Scarpa.

Montsalvat

Discover Montsalvat in Eltham, Australia: Australia's oldest artists' colony.

La Nueva Viga Market

Discover La Nueva Viga Market in Mexico City, Mexico: An inland seafood emporium makes more sense than you'd think.

Stone Cutters’ Row

Discover Stone Cutters' Row in Lalitpur, Nepal: An ancient art form is kept alive in this corner of Nepal.

Raymond Island Koala Trail

Discover Raymond Island Koala Trail in Raymond Island, Australia: This area was created to save the region's koala population.

‘Ruined’

Discover 'Ruined' in St Paul's, England: A unique sculpture cemetery dedicated to the region's defunct businesses.

George Washington Turquoise Stone

Discover George Washington Turquoise Stone in Albuquerque, New Mexico: A 6,888-carat piece of turquoise that bears a striking resemblance to the first President of the United States.

Missing Post Office

Discover Missing Post Office in Mitoyo, Japan: A unique art exhibit home to letters addressed to those unable to receive them.

Breckenridge Troll

Discover Breckenridge Troll in Breckenridge, Colorado: Isak Heartstone, a 15-foot wooden troll made out of recycled materials.

Wapping Hydraulic Power Station

Discover Wapping Hydraulic Power Station in London, England: This hydraulic power system in London was, at one time, seen as a rival to electricity and the last of its kind to shut down.

Jerrassic Park – Metal Dinosaur Park

Discover Jerrassic Park – Metal Dinosaur Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia: Metal dinosaurs lurk in a sculpture garden on the outskirts of a popular resort town.

Genbikei Gorge

Discover Genbikei Gorge in Ichinoseki, Japan: A stretch of the Iwai River that features beautiful rocky cliffs, rapids, and flying dango.

The Blue Cottage

Discover The Blue Cottage in Centreville, Nova Scotia: Built more as a work of art than living quarters, this cottage has withstood the test of time.

Cerro Pedernal

Discover Cerro Pedernal in Cañones, New Mexico: A flat-topped butte that makes a constant backdrop for Western art.

Espigueros of Lindoso

Discover Espigueros of Lindoso in Lindoso, Portugal: These narrow stone granaries have been used to store and dry out grain for hundreds of years.

Scaliger Tombs

Discover Scaliger Tombs in Verona, Italy: These elaborate gothic monuments honor Verona's medieval lords.

Nola’s Iris Garden

Discover Nola's Iris Garden in San Jose, California: Exquisite irises bloom every spring in this hillside garden.

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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