Archives: Atlas Obscuras

‘Grandad’s Clock and Chair’

Discover 'Grandad’s Clock and Chair' in Bradford, England: A comfortable-looking armchair and a grandfather clock have been sitting on this sidewalk for the last 30 years.

Ulverston Canal Rolling Bridge

Discover Ulverston Canal Rolling Bridge in Ulverston, England: This unique style of bridge is the last of its kind and runs over the straightest canal in Britain.

TerraVox Winery

Discover TerraVox Winery in Weston, Missouri: A vineyard devoted entirely to an unexplored flavor frontier.

‘Searching for Utopia’

Discover 'Searching for Utopia' in Nieuwpoort, Belgium: A massive, gleaming sea turtle with a rider atop its shell looks out over the horizon.

Aletta Henrïette Jacobs

Discover Aletta Henrïette Jacobs in Amsterdam, Netherlands: This plaque marks the former home of one of the first women physicians in the Netherlands.

Ponte Acquedotto

Discover Ponte Acquedotto in Gravina in Puglia, Italy: An impressive bridge over a ravine also served as an aqueduct.

Asyrmatos Building

Discover Asyrmatos Building in Athens, Greece: A unique housing complex born from the aftermath of the Greek Civil War.

Dig Into the World Soil Museum

Discover World Soil Museum in Wageningen, Netherlands: A Dutch museum preserves the world's most diverse collection of vertical slices of soil.

Joe Gelato

Discover Joe Gelato in Mexico City, Mexico: Worm salt and other local ingredients are on the menu at this cult favorite ice cream shop.

Silvana Nakamura Mosaico

Discover Silvana Nakamura Mosaico in Tupã, Brazil: This artist's studio is decorated inside and out with tiles, mosaics, and ceramic dishware.

Devetashka Cave

Discover Devetashka Cave in Devetaki, Bulgaria: A massive cave once a secret military base is now home to thousands of bats.

The World’s Oldest Retail Bank

First founded in 1472, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is the oldest bank in the world. Its history may explain why we call financial institutions "banks."

Tim Willis’ Junkyard Playground

Discover Tim Willis' Junkyard Playground in Cleveland, Ohio: Old car parts and assorted materials get turned into one man's mechanical treasures on the side streets of Cleveland.

Stone Gargoyle Chair

Discover Stone Gargoyle Chair in Durham, England: An unusual stone chair can be found on the banks of the River Wear, not far from Durham Cathedral.

Transcontinental Railroad Back Country Byway

Discover Transcontinental Railroad Back Country Byway in Corinne, Utah: This now-abandoned part of the original transcontinental railroad route provides a surreal driving and historical experience.

The Tomb Of Hannah Courtoy

Discover The Tomb Of Hannah Courtoy in London, England: According to legend, this tomb holds the secrets to time travel.

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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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