Archives: Atlas Obscuras

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.

Carl Lutz Memorial

Discover Carl Lutz Memorial in Budapest, Hungary: This sculpture honors the man who was known as the "Righteous Among the Nations.".

‘Beetle Sphere’

Discover 'Beetle Sphere' in Amsterdam, Netherlands: A unique work of automotive art calls this shopping center home.

Dunskey Castle

Discover Dunskey Castle in Portpatrick, Scotland: The ruins of a 12th-century seaside castle on the southwest coast of Scotland.

Norsk Museum

Discover Norsk Museum in Sheridan, Illinois: This church doubles a museum dedicated to Norwegian heritage.

Glenwood Hot Springs Pool

Discover Glenwood Hot Springs Pool in Glenwood Springs, Colorado: Take a dip in the world's largest mineral hot springs pool.

The Church of St Nicholas

Discover The Church of St Nicholas in Alassa, Cyprus: These ruins disappear beneath the waves every winter.

Ruins Of Sheffield Ski Village

Discover Ruins Of Sheffield Ski Village in Sheffield, England: Once a training ground for Olympic athletes, this artificial ski slope has fallen into ruin after a fire in 2012.

Kirkcudbright Tolbooth

Discover Kirkcudbright Tolbooth in Kirkcudbright, Scotland: A 17th-century building that once served as the town's courthouse and jail is now a thriving art center.

‘Mater Naturae’

Discover 'Mater Naturae' in Portovenere, Italy: Perched above a grotto, this tribute to Mother Nature looks out into the ocean.

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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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