Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Jabal al Qahar

Discover Jabal al Qahar in Al Reeth, Saudi Arabia: Climbing the "mountain of frustration" is no easy feat.

Sahalie Falls

Discover Sahalie Falls in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon: Rushing water plunges over a 100-foot drop created by an ancient lava flow at this majestic waterfall.

Stargate Kappern

Discover Stargate Kappern in Kappern, Austria: Is this a portal to another side of the cosmos?

George Wildrick House

Discover George Wildrick House in Frederick, Maryland: An amazing example of Federal-period architecture, truly unique to this region of the state.

Nana Wada

Discover Nana Wada in Pune, India: A combination of Peshwa and British Gothic Revival architecture.

Sudd Wetland

Discover Sudd Wetland in South Sudan: The inhabitants of the world’s largest wetland have learned to navigate its dramatic seasonal changes.

Goz Abu Goma Bridge

Discover Goz Abu Goma Bridge in Kosti, Sudan: One of the largest early 20th-century bridges in Sudan.

John Tyler’s Pet Cemetery

Discover John Tyler's Pet Cemetery in Charles City, Virginia: John Tyler never got to be buried at his beloved home, but every pet his family owned since has been.

Lovelock Airmail Arrow

Discover Lovelock Airmail Arrow in Woolsey, Nevada: A surviving concrete arrow from a 1920s navigational network is preserved right off a modern freeway.

Dropped Triglyphs of Palazzo Te

Discover Dropped Triglyphs of Palazzo Te in Mantova, Italy: An architectural oddity where the triglyphs of the courtyard of walls create an optical illusion.

McKendree Cemetery

Discover McKendree Cemetery in Brandywine, Maryland: This methodist cemetery is slowly receding into the wilderness along a Maryland highway.

Parkchester Terracotta Sculptures

Discover Parkchester Terracotta Sculptures in Bronx, New York: These sculptures were designed to beautify this neighborhood when it was established in the 1940s.

‘Gentle Breeze’

Discover 'Gentle Breeze' in Boise, Idaho: This work of art by Matthew Mazzotta resides in this park dedicated to the first black legislator in Idaho.

Oatman Donkey Town

Discover Oatman Donkey Town in Oatman, Arizona: This once-booming Gold Rush town is now home to a herd of feral donkeys.

Alexander Art Trail

Discover Alexander Art Trail in Alexander, Maine: The largest hand-carved, outdoor sculpture collection in the state of Maine.

DeSellum Family Cemetery

Discover DeSellum Family Cemetery in Gaithersburg, Maryland: This small cemetery remains hidden behind a recreation center.

Cors Dyfi

Discover Cors Dyfi in Machynlleth, Wales: Ospreys visit this location every year to nest.

Memento Mori Pendant

Discover Memento Mori Pendant in London, England: The Ranger’s House exhibits fine mementos collected by Sir Julius Werner during the course of his life, including this infamous pendant.

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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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