Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Devil’s Lapstone

Discover Devil's Lapstone in Peterlee, England: This moss-covered boulder is said to be part of a diabolical plant to sabotage the Durham Cathedral's foundation.

Charles Macdonald Concrete House

Discover Charles Macdonald Concrete House in Centreville, Nova Scotia: Everything in this two-story house—down to the mounted deer head on the wall—was carefully crafted from concrete.

The Golden Lion Tamarins of Poço das Antas

Discover The Golden Lion Tamarins of Poço das Antas in Silva Jardim, Brazil: These small, spectacular monkeys are making a comeback after deforestation destroyed much of their rainforest habitat.

Kenmure Castle

Discover Kenmure Castle in Scotland: Believed to be the birthplace of John Balliol.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Discover Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia: Country fans may flock to Nashville's music scene, but this Appalachian town is where the genre was born.

Polychrome Historic District

Discover Polychrome Historic District in Silver Spring, Maryland: These five Art Deco homes were meant to solve the "small house problem.".

Yiddishland California

Discover Yiddishland California in San Diego, California: The Yiddish language stages a renaissance in a shtetl-inspired cultural center the San Diego coast.

Guess the Greyhound

Discover Guess the Greyhound in Frederick, Maryland: According to local history, this cast-iron canine was nearly melted down for bullets during the Civil War.

Elephant Head Rock

Discover Elephant Head Rock in Gerlach, Nevada: A remote, little-known natural arch in granite in the desert of northwestern Nevada.

Pont du Diable (Devil’s Bridge)

Discover Pont du Diable (Devil's Bridge) in Toulon-sur-Arroux, France: A bridge that dates back to the 12th century is said to have made the devil very angry.

‘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.

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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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