Archives: Atlas Obscuras

‘The Umbrellas’

Discover 'The Umbrellas' in Thessaloniki, Greece: One of the most photographed locations in the entire city.

Quartz Grotto

Discover Quartz Grotto in Bernal, Mexico: At the base of Peña de Bernal, a small business keeps evidence of alleged extraterrestrial visitors on display.

Lockport Cave

Discover Lockport Cave in Lockport, New York: Take an underground boat ride through a former hydraulic raceway that was built in the late 19th century.

Casimir Pulaski Monument

Discover Casimir Pulaski Monument in Buffalo, New York: A monument to a Polish general who fought the American Revolution and became the "Father of the American Cavalry.".

Bufadero La Garita

Discover Bufadero La Garita in Telde, Spain: Nature puts on a spectacular show at this blowhole on the eastern side of Gran Canaria.

Triptyques de Ternant

Discover Triptyques de Ternant in Ternant, France: A small village church is home to two extraordinary triptych altarpieces that date back to the 15th century.

Wadi-e Jinn

Discover Wadi-e Jinn in Saudi Arabia: A phenomenon that appears to make gravity work in reverse has been attributed to jinn, supernatural spirits from Arabian folklore.

La Parguera

Discover La Parguera in Lajas, Puerto Rico: This beachside town is home to a diverse nature reserve, multiple cays, and one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico.

Tregonning Hill Aircraft Crash Site

Discover Tregonning Hill Aircraft Crash Site in Balwest, England: A small stone memorial marks the spot where a Bristol Beaufort aircraft crashed in 1941.

Home of the Holly Hills Gnomes

Discover Home of the Holly Hills Gnomes in Holly Hill, Florida: What started as three small gnomes at the base of a tree has grown into a full-blown gnome home.

Ta’ Hagrat Temples

Discover Ta' Hagrat Temples in Mgarr, Malta: At more than 5,000 years old, these structures are among the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world.

Wayside Inn

Discover Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts: The oldest continuously-operated inn in the United States, once owned by Henry Ford.

Burney Falls

Discover Burney Falls in Burney, California: The flow from this waterfall sometimes comes out of springs below its rim.

Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens

Discover Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens in Temple Ewell, England: Two beautiful Victorian-era parks replete with ornamental waterfalls and lakes.

The Hamble-Warsash Pink Ferry

Discover The Hamble-Warsash Pink Ferry in Hamble-le-Rice, England: A ferry has operated across this river for around 500 years, but its distinctive bubblegum pink color is a more recent addition.

‘Callum’

Discover 'Callum' in Edinburgh, Scotland: This painting of a beloved dog will be on display at the Scottish National Gallery at long as the museum exists.

Micro Masterpieces Art Gallery

Discover Micro Masterpieces Art Gallery in St. Augustine, Florida: Only through the lens of a microscope can visitors see the true treasures inside this museum.

The Faery Cave

Discover The Faery Cave in Great Meadows, New Jersey: A small cave hidden deep within the Jenny Jump State Forest.

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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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