Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Beautiful Betsy Crash Site

Discover Beautiful Betsy Crash Site in Valentine Plains, Australia: For nearly 50 years this airplane that crashed during World War II remained missing in the remote Australian backcountry.

Largest Rosary in the World

Discover Largest Rosary in the World in Tagum, Philippines: This massive Roman Catholic rosary is composed entirely of wood.

The Munch Box

Discover The Munch Box in Los Angeles, California: A 1950s Googie burger stand is now a Los Angeles landmark.

‘Axe Majeur’ (‘Major Axis’)

Discover 'Axe Majeur' ('Major Axis') in Cergy, France: This massive sculptural work outside of Paris was four decades in the making—and it's still not quite complete.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Discover David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya: This wildlife trust is dedicated to orphaned elephant rescue and conservation.

WTC Station ‘E’ Subway Entrance

Discover WTC Station 'E' Subway Entrance in New York, New York: A remnant of the original World Trade Center complex continues to serve as a commuter gateway.

The King’s Knot

Discover The King's Knot in Stirling, Scotland: These formal gardens were designed to be admired from the vantage point of the castle.

Bell Laboratories Transistor Water Tower

Discover Bell Laboratories Transistor Water Tower in Holmdel, New Jersey: This water tower commemorates the invention of the transistor on this site in 1947.

Groningen University Museum

Discover Groningen University Museum in Groningen, Netherlands: Preserving the research tools, unexpected inventions, and odd collections of generations of college professors.

Burke and Wills Monument

Discover Burke and Wills Monument in Parkville, Australia: This unusual stone monument marks the starting point of the epic and tragic event.

The Ghost Forest of Nienhagen

Discover Gespensterwald (Ghost Forest) in Nienhagen, Germany: Twisted trees shaped by coastal winds make this woodland look like something from a spooky story.

Walmer Castle and Gardens

Discover Walmer Castle and Gardens in Walmer, England: This curious Tudor-era castle was once home to Napoleon's greatest adversary, the Duke of Wellington.

Town Bridge & Lock-up

Discover Town Bridge & Lock-up in Bradford-on-Avon, England: This bridge later moonlighted as a local jail.

Dofuchi Strait

Discover Dofuchi Strait in Tonosho, Japan: The world's narrowest strait is often mistaken for a canal.

The Wright Tavern

Discover The Wright Tavern in Concord, Massachusetts: The Wright Tavern is possibly the most important building in Concord Massachusetts to the American Revolution.

Mar’s Wark

Discover Mar's Wark in Stirling, Scotland: The main residence of the Erskine family and the hereditary keeper of the nearby royal Stirling Castle.

‘Famntaget’ (‘The Embrace’)

Discover 'Famntaget' ('The Embrace') in Trelleborg Ö, Sweden: This statue standing near Sweden's southernmost point was based on the grandmother of a modern movie star.

Croft Moraig Stone Circle

Discover Croft Moraig Stone Circle in Aberfeldy, Scotland: This Neolithic stone circle is the most complete of its kind in Scotland.

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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