Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Sir James Murray’s Post Box

Discover Sir James Murray's Post Box in Oxford, England: A letterbox installed specifically for the first editor of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Tinuy-An Falls

Discover Tinuy-An Falls in Bislig, Philippines: Sometimes known as the little Niagara Falls of the Philippines.

Three “Roman” Bridges

Discover Hockenhull Platts in Tarvin, England: Three stone bridges straddling the River Gowy form part of the medieval road from London to Holyhead—despite a common nickname, they're not Roman.

Guiyuan Temple

Discover Guiyuan Temple in Wuhan, China: Count the statues to gain insight into your future from Buddhist disciples.

HomeComputerMuseum

Discover HomeComputerMuseum in Helmond, Netherlands: An interactive museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the home computer.

Polemi Concentration Camp

Discover Polemi Concentration Camp in Stroumpi, Cyprus: The site of a prison camp where Cypriot resistance fighters were held in the 1950s.

Groverake Mine

Discover Groverake Mine in Rookhope, England: Only the headframes remain from this mining operation, once one of the largest in the region.

‘East-West/West-East’

Discover 'East-West/West-East' in Qatar: Four steel monoliths stand in the Qatari desert, in a breathtaking work of large-scale art by Richard Serra.

Gnome Village

Discover Gnome Village in Rangeley, Maine: Hidden among the trees at the Rangeley Lakes Trails Center are more than 20 gnomes in small wooden houses.

Draugarétt (Ghost Fold)

Discover Draugarétt (Ghost Fold) in Húsafell, Iceland: Though they may seem like simple stones, these rocks represent a ghostly legend.

Ingleby Arncliffe Water Tower

Discover Ingleby Arncliffe Water Tower in Ingleby Arncliffe, England: A vintage fire engine is hidden inside this World War I-era water tower.

Zendstation MN7

Discover Zendstation MN7 in Baarle-Hertog, Belgium: A reconstructed World War I-era communications array that was once hidden in plain sight.

First Ancient Theatre of Larissa

Discover First Ancient Theatre of Larissa in Larisa, Greece: Dedicated to the god Dionysus, this theatre was used for both musical and theatrical performances.

Banks Lake

Discover Banks Lake in Mold, Washington: Every drop of water in this 27-mile long reservoir was pumped up from the Columbia River using power from Grand Coulee Dam.

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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

PP ToS