Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Yagiri no Watashi

Discover Yagiri no Watashi in Tokyo, Japan: The only Edo-period ferry that is still in operation in Tokyo today.

Graffiti Alley

Discover Graffiti Alley in Toronto, Ontario: A fantastic place to see murals, and an important location in the history of Toronto's legal street art scene.

Al Shinanah Historical Tower

Discover Al Shinanah Historical Tower in Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia: This tower has survived the times despite being composed of mud and camel hair.

Portland Puppet Museum

Discover Portland Puppet Museum in Portland, Oregon: A puppeteer’s paradise offering shows, workshops, and an archive of over 2,000 puppets.

Keystone Gallery

Discover Keystone Gallery in Scott City, Kansas: Home to fossils and other specimens from the Western Interior Seaway.

Missouri Mines State Historic Site

Discover Missouri Mines State Historic Site in Park Hills, Missouri: Rusted and decayed, this former mining site is a portal to the past.

Stearns History Museum

Discover Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud, Minnesota: The history of central Minnesota under one roof.

Capernwray Dive Centre

Discover Capernwray Dive Centre in Capernwray, England: Planes, helicopters, and a shipwreck are underwater in this former limestone quarry.

Piñones, Loíza

Discover Piñones, Loíza in Loíza, Puerto Rico: The food capital of Puerto Rico.

Charco Azul

Discover Charco Azul in Almirante Sur, Puerto Rico: A natural swimming pool in the middle of the Carite Forest.

Kioskos de Luquillo

Discover Kioskos de Luquillo in Luquillo, Puerto Rico: 60 family-owned kiosks in Luquillo offer Puerto Rican traditional, delicious drinks and souvenirs.

Ruta de la Longaniza

Discover Ruta de la Longaniza in Orocovis, Puerto Rico: This "sausage route" features gorgeous views and family-owned restaurants.

La Puerta de San Juan

Discover La Puerta de San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico: This colorful gate stands as an entrance to the walled city of Old San Juan.

Hacienda Buena Vista

Discover Hacienda Buena Vista in Ponce, Puerto Rico: This museum preserves the heyday of Puerto Rican coffee.

Smokey Jack Observatory

Discover Smokey Jack Observatory in Westcliffe, Colorado: Located in the world's highest-altitude Dark Sky Community, this observatory welcomes amateur and professional astronomers alike.

La Piedra Escrita

Discover La Piedra Escrita in Jayuya, Puerto Rico: This rock in the middle of a river in Jayuya contains dozens of Pre-Columbian Taíno petroglyphs.

Ute Mountain Tribal Park

Discover Ute Mountain Tribal Park in Towaoc, Colorado: Ute tour guides have been sharing the ancient dwellings and rock art inside this large park with visitors for more than 40 years.

Shoshone Falls

Discover Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho: These falls, sometimes called the "Niagara of the West," still put on a good show at the right time of year.

Shot Tower Historic State Park

Discover Shot Tower Historic State Park in Austinville, Virginia: This tower was once used to create ammunition for early settlers.

Football Monument

Discover Football Monument in Lapovo, Serbia: Dedicated to one of the pioneers of Serbian football.

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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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