Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Edificio Celanese

Discover Edificio Celanese in Mexico City, Mexico: This striking building appears to defy gravity, a tower balancing atop a much smaller cube.

Natur-Park Südgelände

Discover Natur-Park Südgelände in Berlin, Germany: Art installations, derelict railcars, and endangered grasshoppers all call this south Berlin park home.

Garron Point Headland

Discover Garron Point Headland in Carnlough, Northern Ireland: Amazing vistas await visitors to this stretch of coastline.

Barju Taal

Discover Barju Taal in Chimadi, Nepal: This hand-built lake system has become a haven for birds.

Tsuribune Shrine

Discover Tsuribune Shrine in Kochi, Japan: At the "fishing boat shrine," an offering is said to help ward off fevers.

Basotho Hat

Discover Basotho Hat in Maseru, Lesotho: Not only does this shop sell mokorotlo, the traditional hat of Lesotho, the building is shaped like one.

Rookhope Arch

Discover Rookhope Arch in Durham, England: This magnificent arch is all that remains of a former smelt mill.

Tusher Tunnel

Discover Tusher Tunnel in Moab, Utah: A crack flared at the base provides a pathway completely through a sandstone ridge near Moab.

Corrigan Suspension Bridge

Discover Corrigan Suspension Bridge in Balook, Australia: Designed to provide fantastic views of the surrounding rainforest.

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.

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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