Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Catholic Church of Agios Georgios

Discover Catholic Church of Agios Georgios in Ano Syros, Greece: On top of a hill, this Catholic church overlooks the most Catholic island in Greece.

Varyag Memorial

Discover Varyag Memorial in Lendalfoot, Scotland: A monument to a Russian cruiser near its final resting place off the Ayrshire Coast.

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Discover Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, Massachusetts: In the middle of a New England forest sit the crumbling ruins of World War II-era ammunition storage bunkers.

Bratislava Old Town Hall’s Cannonball

Discover Bratislava Old Town Hall's Cannonball in Bratislava, Slovakia: Launched by Napoleon's soldiers more than 200 years ago, a cannonball remains embedded in the tower wall.

Snib’s Cave

Discover Snib's Cave in Lendalfoot, Scotland: Near this coastal cave stands a small memorial to the hermit who made it his home for three decades.

Hospicio Cabañas

Discover Hospicio Cabañas in Guadalajara, Mexico: One of the oldest hospitals in the Americas is now decorated in hallucinatory murals.

Barsalloch Fort

Discover Barsalloch Fort in Monreith, Scotland: A 2,000-year-old Iron Age fort offers stunning ocean views.

Thirparappu Waterfalls

Discover Thirparappu Waterfalls in Tiruparapu, India: A handmade waterfall in Kanyakumari.

Viceroy’s Arch

Discover Viceroy's Arch in Velha Goa, India: When new viceroys were elected, they passed through this arch to cement the title.

Vanadislunden Water Reservoir

Discover Vanadislunden Water Reservoir in Stockholm, Sweden: A water reservoir disguised as a castle stands atop a hill in a park in Stockholm city.

Kingshill Miners Memorial

Discover Kingshill Miners Memorial in Allanton, Scotland: A striking statue commemorates the men who worked underground in Kingshill and Allanton.

Shane Confectionery

Discover Shane Confectionery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Step into a pastel time capsule where candy is truly dandy.

Buffalo Soldiers Monument

Discover Buffalo Soldiers Monument in Junction City, Kansas: A monument celebrating the Black soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry.

Catedral de Santa Isabel

Discover Catedral de Santa Isabel in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea: The largest Christian church in the country is a complicated symbol of Spanish colonialism.

Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers

Discover Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers in Les Trois-Moutiers, France: A 2017 crowdfunding campaign saved this historic castle from being destroyed.

Leg o’ Mutton Reservoir and Park

Discover Leg o' Mutton Reservoir and Park in London, England: This unusually-named reservoir found a second life as a nature preserve.

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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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