Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Ancient House

Discover The Ancient House in London, England: One of London's oldest houses contains a mixture of both old and modern features.

Húsafell Lifting Stone

Discover Húsafell Lifting Stone in Húsafell, Iceland: Pick up this rock and become an instant legend.

Soda Lakes

Discover Soda Lakes in Fallon, Nevada: Two craters, which probably erupted within the last 1,500 years and are now filled by alkaline lakes, represent Nevada's youngest known volcanic activity.

The Owl Bar

Discover The Owl Bar in Baltimore, Maryland: At this former Prohibition speakeasy, electric birds signaled the arrival of hooch.

Indios Verdes (Green Indians Monument)

Discover Indios Verdes (Green Indians Monument) in Mexico City, Mexico: After several moves across Mexico City, these two statues found a home in Mestizaje Park.

Sword of Okomfo Anokye

Discover Sword of Okomfo Anokye in Kumasi, Ghana: On the grounds of a hospital in Ghana, a legendary sword said to have been plunged into the earth hundreds of years ago.

The Igloo House of Milan

Discover Case a Igloo in Milan, Italy: In the 1940s, Italian architect Mario Cavallè built a dozen of these round homes in northern Milan.

Amani Vanilla

Discover Amani Vanilla in Temerloh, Malaysia: This vanilla farm serves its crops at an on-site café.

Red Rock

Discover Red Rock in Alvie, Australia: One of the youngest volcanic eruption sites in Australia.

North Berwick Law

Discover North Berwick Law in North Berwick, Scotland: An amazing model of a whale's jaw bone pays homage to the region's seafaring traditions.

Ha Baroana Cave Paintings

Discover Ha Baroana Cave Paintings in Metolong, Lesotho: The walls of this sandstone outcropping are covered with 2,000-year-old artwork.

Awhum Waterfall and Cave

Discover Awhum Waterfall and Cave in Ohum, Nigeria: The waters of these secluded falls are said to have healing powers.

Den of Nargun

Discover Den of Nargun in Iguana Creek, Australia: Mind the rock monster at this cave.

Inquisition’s Blazon

Discover Inquisition's Blazon in Barcelona, Spain: On the wall of this medieval square, a symbol of the Spanish Inquisition.

Santa Clara Women’s Club Adobe

Discover Santa Clara Women's Club Adobe in Santa Clara, California: One of the oldest adobe structures in Northern California.

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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