Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ningyocho Mechanical Clock Towers

Discover Ningyocho Mechanical Clock Towers in Tokyo, Japan: When this clock strikes a certain time, puppets showcase a story of life in Edo Japan.

Cova des Coloms

Discover Cova des Coloms in Es Migjorn Gran, Spain: The largest cave on the island of Menorca was likely the site of Iron Age rites and rituals.

Don Quixote Iconographic Museum

Discover Don Quixote Iconographic Museum in Guanajuato, Mexico: The world's largest collection of Don Quixote-inspired art.

Lawrence Brook Carvings

Discover Lawrence Brook Carvings in New Brunswick, New Jersey: A mixture of strange symbols, ciphers, words and cryptograms carved in 1876 remain unsolved to this day.

Foundling Wheel, Mâcon

Discover Foundling Wheel, Mâcon in Mâcon, France: During the 17th-century, orphaned infants were placed in this barrel to be cared for by the hospital.

Lone Tree of Milarrochy

Discover Lone Tree of Milarrochy in Milarrochy, Scotland: A single oak tree rises out of the waters of Loch Lomond.

Soy Bean Chan Flower Shop

Discover Soy Bean Chan Flower Shop in Queens, New York: This New York florist also sells traditional tofu pudding.

Pura Tirta Empul

Discover Pura Tirta Empul in Tampaksiring, Indonesia: One of the holiest places in the region, devotees come to Tirta Empul to bathe in the holy spring water.

Chapel Finian

Discover Chapel Finian in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland: Named after a 6th-century saint, who was also a scholar.

Börje’s Tie Museum

Discover Börje’s Tie Museum in Ramnaklev, Sweden: Around 9,000 ties call this museum home.

Church of Santa Maria di Cartignano

Discover Church of Santa Maria di Cartignano in Bussi Sul Tirino, Italy: The ruins of this once gorgeous medieval church are still standing, despite the region's constant flooding.

King Jamaica Restaurant and Cafe

Discover King Jamaica Restaurant and Cafe in Aswan, Egypt: This eatery is emblematic of the connection between Jamaica and Nubia.

Elite Hall

Discover Elite Hall in Hyrum, Utah: Built in 1917, this building is home to the last working spring-loaded dance floor in Utah.

Tay Bridge Memorial

Discover Tay Bridge Memorial in Dundee, Scotland: Dedicated to one of the nation's worst engineering disasters.

Big Blue Bear

Discover Big Blue Bear in Denver, Colorado: Overlooking the Colorado Convention Center is this giant sculpture made from thousands of triangles.

Sherars Falls

Discover Sherars Falls in Tygh Valley, Oregon: Members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs still net migrating salmon in the traditional way at this cataract on the Deschutes River.

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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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