Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Maison du Charolais

Discover Maison du Charolais in Charolles, France: An interactive museum and restaurant devoted to a prestigious breed of cattle.

The Shelter Cocktail Lounge

Discover The Shelter Cocktail Lounge in Tucson, Arizona: This bomb shelter-themed bar has barely changed since it opened.

Plumb Beach

Discover Plumb Beach in Brooklyn, New York: Now owned by the National Park Service, this location was once home to illegal boxing matches.

Audiorama Parque España

Discover Audiorama Parque España in Mexico City, Mexico: This tiny garden was built specifically to provide a place of peace and serenity away from the busy city streets.

Museum of Historic Annapolis

Discover Museum of Historic Annapolis in Annapolis, Maryland: A quick journey through the history of Annapolis.

Lamoille Canyon

Discover Lamoille Canyon in Lamoille, Nevada: Drive up a paved road into "Nevada's Yosemite" for exquisite views and mountain hiking in an alpine setting.

Brooks Mansion

Discover Brooks Mansion in Washington, D.C.: This historic building is now home to the Public Access Corporation for the District of Columbia.

Subeng River Dinosaur Prints

Discover Subeng River Dinosaur Prints in Jonathans, Lesotho: Take a step into the Cretaceous Period with these preserved dinosaur tracks.

Dos du Dragon

Discover Dos du Dragon in Ivoini, Comoros: This moss-covered, rocky outcropping looks like a mythical beast resting in the water.

Galeria Atotonilco

Discover Galeria Atotonilco in Atotonilco, Mexico: Inside this gallery is amazing folk art from across Mexico.

Edificio Celanese

Discover Edificio Celanese in Mexico City, Mexico: This striking building appears to defy gravity, a tower balancing atop a much smaller cube.

Natur-Park Südgelände

Discover Natur-Park Südgelände in Berlin, Germany: Art installations, derelict railcars, and endangered grasshoppers all call this south Berlin park home.

Garron Point Headland

Discover Garron Point Headland in Carnlough, Northern Ireland: Amazing vistas await visitors to this stretch of coastline.

Barju Taal

Discover Barju Taal in Chimadi, Nepal: This hand-built lake system has become a haven for birds.

Tsuribune Shrine

Discover Tsuribune Shrine in Kochi, Japan: At the "fishing boat shrine," an offering is said to help ward off fevers.

Basotho Hat

Discover Basotho Hat in Maseru, Lesotho: Not only does this shop sell mokorotlo, the traditional hat of Lesotho, the building is shaped like one.

Rookhope Arch

Discover Rookhope Arch in Durham, England: This magnificent arch is all that remains of a former smelt mill.

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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