Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Godfrey Mister Donut

Discover Godfrey Mister Donut in Godfrey, Illinois: Though it's thrived abroad, this forgotten Dunkin' rival has just one store left in the States.

McNamara Terminal Light Tunnel

Discover McNamara Terminal Light Tunnel in Detroit, Michigan: Inside the Wayne County airport is an amazing collection of lights and sounds.

WWII Royal Air Force Crash Sites

Discover WWII Royal Air Force Crash Sites in Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland: This memorial site offers scenic views and a peaceful place for reflection.

Elephant Rocks

Discover Elephant Rocks in Island Cliff, New Zealand: It took millions of years for these rocks to resemble their mammalian counterparts.

Bab Agnaou

Discover Bab Agnaou in Marrakesh, Morocco: One of the two original gateways into the Kasbah, this gateway is a nesting site for storks.

Fitzgerald Fountain

Discover Fitzgerald Fountain in Mumbai, India: A tribute to one of Bombay's former governors that has withstood the test of time.

‘Conny The Whale’

Discover 'Conny The Whale' in West Hartford, Connecticut: Journey inside the bowels of this sperm whale sculpture.

Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art

Discover Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Maryland: A tribute to two brothers' artistic endeavors.

Nike Missile Control Site N-85

Discover Nike Missile Control Site N-85 in Newport News, Virginia: This former POW camp was transformed into a Cold War missile installation.

Skipping Girl Sign

Discover Skipping Girl Sign in Abbotsford, Australia: Saved by the community from destruction, this sign has become a national treasure.

Knights Ferry Covered Bridge

Discover Knights Ferry Covered Bridge in Knights Ferry, California: The longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi River.

Dunure Castle

Discover Dunure Castle in Dunure, Scotland: Now in ruins, this castle stood for centuries and saw a number of gruesome events.

Cementerio de Sayulita

Discover Cementerio de Sayulita in Sayulita, Mexico: This colorful, ornately-decorated cemetery sits next to a quiet cove known as "the beach of the dead.".

Thousla Cross

Discover Thousla Cross in Rushen, Isle of Man: This concrete memorial commemorates a group of brave locals who saved the crew and passengers of a wrecked ship.

JSQ Lounge

Discover JSQ Lounge in Jersey City, New Jersey: Prank calls to this place, originally the "Tube Bar," inspired the creation of a Simpsons character.

Holliston Moon Tree

Discover Holliston Moon Tree in Holliston, Massachusetts: This American Sycamore was grown from seeds that accompanied the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.

Paul Street Boys Monument

Discover Paul Street Boys Monument in Budapest, Hungary: A scene from one of Hungary's most famous novels.

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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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