Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Moikeha Canal Bridge

Discover Moikeha Canal Bridge in Kapaʻa, Hawaii: Now a pedestrian bridge, this was once part of a narrow-gauge railroad that ran along the east coast of Kauai.

Historic Wilson Bridge

Discover Historic Wilson Bridge in Hagerstown, Maryland: Once damaged by Hurricane Agnes, this bridge is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

‘Salford First’

Discover 'Salford First' in Salford, England: This statue includes small details that highlight a city of "firsts.".

Mysterious Carved Rocks of Los Alamos

Discover Mysterious Carved Rocks of Los Alamos in Los Alamos, New Mexico: These strange carved boulders in a forested canyon resemble tiny stone villages.

Lion Tombs of Dadan

Discover Lion Tombs of Dadan in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia: Lions carved into the rockface adorn these two tombs built into the mountains of Dadan.

San Juan Sound

Discover San Juan Sound in San Juan, Puerto Rico: At this studio, musicians, engineers, and quite possibly a music-loving ghost carry on Puerto Rico's musical traditions.

Guayacán Centenario

Discover Guayacán Centenario in Guánica, Puerto Rico: A resilient tree that has survived for more than 700 years in Guánica Dry Forest.

Seal Cove Auto Museum

Discover Seal Cove Auto Museum in Tremont, Maine: One of the country's best automotive museums and home to one of the first motor vehicles.

007 Museum-Nybro

Discover 007 Museum-Nybro in Södra Nybro, Sweden: Believed to be the first museum dedicated to the films in the world.

Te Paki Sand Dunes

Discover Te Paki Sand Dunes in Cape Reinga, New Zealand: Mounds of fine golden sand that can rise nearly 500 feet tall.

Gowar School Ruins

Discover Gowar School Ruins in Gower, Australia: This school was established during the height of the Australian Gold Rush.

Kaisariani Shooting Range

Discover Kaisariani Shooting Range in Kesariani, Greece: A memorial dedicated to a tragic event during the Axis occupation of Greece.

Mouse’s Tank

Discover Mouse's Tank in Moapa Valley, Nevada: Named after an outlaw who used the basin as a hideout.

Aberdovey Time and Tide Bell

Discover Aberdovey Time and Tide Bell in Aberdyfi, Wales: According to legend, this bell once belonged to a kingdom now lost beneath the waves.

Kothari Pyau

Discover Kothari Pyau in Mumbai, India: Constructed in 1923, this is one of several heritage drinking fountains across Mumbai.

COURAGE Statue

Discover COURAGE Statue in Fitzroy, Australia: This sculpture was designed to encourage viewers to be true to themselves.

Koutammakou

Discover Koutammakou in Dissani, Togo: The unique building practices of the Batammariba reflect the community's deep reverence for and connection to the earth.

Josephine School Community Museum

Discover Josephine School Community Museum in Berryville, Virginia: A renovated schoolhouse that highlights the history of Clarke County's Black community.

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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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