Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Berend Botje Statue

Discover Berend Botje Statue in Zuidlaren, Netherlands: This monument pays homage to a classic Dutch tune.

Naval Cemetery Landscape

Discover Naval Cemetery Landscape in Brooklyn, New York: What was once a vast naval cemetery is now home to nesting birds and pollinating bees.

John Muir’s Redwood Head

Discover John Muir Statue in Lemon Cove, California: This massive statue of John Muir on the side of a California highway was carved from a redwood tree.

Hesperus Peace Park

Discover Hesperus Peace Park in Durango, Colorado: A quiet rock and botanical garden is the beautiful centerpiece of Fort Lewis College.

Skull Rock (Cleft Island)

Discover Skull Rock (Cleft Island) in Wilsons Promontory, Australia: A unique rock formation that only a few have managed to venture inside.

Nensi the Leganés Monster

Discover Nensi the Leganés Monster in Leganés, Spain: Many miles south of Loch Ness, a similarly-named sea monster stands at the center of a roundabout.

Kokomo Railroad Watchman Tower

Discover Kokomo Railroad Watchman Tower in Kokomo, Indiana: This relic of transportation history still stands in this Indiana city.

Center of the Universe

Discover Center of the Universe in Albuquerque, New Mexico: A plain concrete tower stands at the epicenter of the cosmos.

Castelvecchio Museum

Discover Castelvecchio Museum in Verona, Italy: This medieval castle was reconstructed by Carlo Scarpa.

Montsalvat

Discover Montsalvat in Eltham, Australia: Australia's oldest artists' colony.

La Nueva Viga Market

Discover La Nueva Viga Market in Mexico City, Mexico: An inland seafood emporium makes more sense than you'd think.

Stone Cutters’ Row

Discover Stone Cutters' Row in Lalitpur, Nepal: An ancient art form is kept alive in this corner of Nepal.

Raymond Island Koala Trail

Discover Raymond Island Koala Trail in Raymond Island, Australia: This area was created to save the region's koala population.

‘Ruined’

Discover 'Ruined' in St Paul's, England: A unique sculpture cemetery dedicated to the region's defunct businesses.

George Washington Turquoise Stone

Discover George Washington Turquoise Stone in Albuquerque, New Mexico: A 6,888-carat piece of turquoise that bears a striking resemblance to the first President of the United States.

Missing Post Office

Discover Missing Post Office in Mitoyo, Japan: A unique art exhibit home to letters addressed to those unable to receive them.

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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