Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Kilcoe Castle

Discover Kilcoe Castle in Cork, Ireland: A stunning medieval castle owned and restored by the famed actor Jeremy Irons.

Khalil Gibran Memorial Monument

Discover Khalil Gibran Memorial Monument in Washington, D.C.: Surrounded by a verdant garden and a backdrop of ivy, a monument to beloved poet Khalil Gibran stands outside of the Lebanese embassy.

Reader Rock Garden

Discover Reader Rock Garden in Calgary, Alberta: A Victorian garden in a harsh climate at the border of the prairies and foothills of the Canadian Rockies.

Zuma Rock

Discover Zuma Rock in Abuja, Nigeria: This igneous rock monolith towers above the surrounding landscape just outside the Nigerian capital.

Taushubetsu River Bridge

Discover Taushubetsu River Bridge in Kamishihoro, Japan: An isolated "phantom bridge" doomed to crumble into ruin.

Kosmik Rum

Discover Kosmik Rum in Copenhagen, Denmark: Visitors are treated to a stained glass kaleidoscope interior inside this work of art.

Hof ter Saksen

Discover Hof ter Saksen in Beveren, Belgium: The ruins of a castle sat decaying in this park for years before a massive renovation restored this area to its past beauty.

Al Karaana Lagoon

Discover Al Karaana Lagoon in Al-Karaana, Qatar: Once a highly polluted body of water has now been transformed into a gorgeous lagoon.

Naval Mine

Discover Naval Mine in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland: This mine was once used to defend the coast from attack during World War II.

Wallowa Lake Tramway

Discover Wallowa Lake Tramway in Joseph, Oregon: The steepest tramway in North America provides stunning views of the out-of-the-way Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon.

Harumi Bridge

Discover Harumi Bridge in Tokyo, Japan: Disused for decades, this freight railway bridge is finally being renovated into a scenic promenade.

World’s Largest Christmas Bauble

Discover World's Largest Christmas Bauble in Groningen, Netherlands: Every winter, this former planetarium is transformed into a massive, brightly-lit Christmas ornament.

The Big Fish Supper Club

Discover The Big Fish Supper Club in Bena, Minnesota: An abandoned fish-shaped drive-in gets a second life as a restaurant.

Shade Tobacco Museum

Discover Shade Tobacco Museum in Havana, Florida: This small museum is dedicated to the history of Havana and Florida's once-booming tobacco industry.

The Santa Claus Museum of Columbus, Texas

Discover Santa Claus Museum in Columbus, Texas: An entire home filled with over 3,000 pieces of Santa memorabilia in glass cases, walls, on Christmas trees, and even in the bathroom.

The Santa Claus Museum of Columbus, Texas

Discover Santa Claus Musem in Columbus, Texas: An entire home filled with over 3,000 pieces of Santas in glass cases, walls, on Christmas trees, and even in the bathroom.

Chow Manderien’s Grave

Discover Chow Manderien's Grave in Boston, Massachusetts: The final resting place of the first documented Chinese person in the United States lies in a Boston cemetery.

Old Stone Church

Discover Old Stone Church in West Boylston, Massachusetts: The only surviving building of historic West Boylston, which was flooded to create the Wachusett Reservoir.

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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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