Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Eastern Sub-Continental Divide Mural

Discover Eastern Sub-Continental Divide Mural in Atlanta, Georgia: A little-known mural reveals the hydrological reason for Atlanta's founding in this location.

Southern Cemetery

Discover Southern Cemetery in Manchester, England: The largest municipal cemetery in the United Kingdom and the second largest in Europe contains some of Manchester’s biggest characters.

Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs

Discover Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile: At this beautifully preserved Pre-Hispanic site, you can see ancient petroglyphs with depictions of llamas and alpacas.

Via Mala

Discover Via Mala in Colere, Italy: A prehistoric route that has claimed many victims is now closed to traffic.

Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine

Discover Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine in Walhalla, Australia: A rare chance to enter an original gold mine from the 1800s.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site

Discover Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff, Alberta: The natural hot spring that was integral to the creation of Canada's first national park.

Wheel of the Exposed

Discover Wheel of the Exposed in Rome, Italy: An unremarkable wooden wheel built into the side of one of Rome's oldest hospitals was part of a policy to reduce infant exposure.

The Monument Tree of Pawiak

Discover The Monument Tree of Pawiak in Warsaw, Poland: A bronze replica of an elm tree that honors the victims that perished in Pawaik Prison.

Stone’s Public House

Discover Stone's Public House in Ashland, Massachusetts: A historic pub with traditional Irish cuisine, fine drinks, and a paranormal past.

The Mermaid Museum

Discover The Mermaid Museum in Berlin, Maryland: Explore the legends surrounding these mythical sea creatures inside this museum.

Columbia Icefield Skywalk

Discover Columbia Icefield Skywalk in Jasper, Alberta: With a floor made of thick glass, this observation deck offers a full view of Sunwapta Valley's mountains and rivers.

The Cedar Hill Rail Yard

Discover The Cedar Hill Rail Yard in North Haven, Connecticut: A once-booming railroad left abandoned next to the Quinnipiac River marshes now intersects with a hiking trail.

Grizzly House

Discover Grizzly House in Banff, Alberta: Try the alligator at this fondue spot, which has been catering to "lovers and hedonists" since 1967.

Skarpnäck Giant’s Kettle

Discover Jättegrytan i Skarpnäck (Skarpnäck Giant's Kettle) in Skarpnäcks Gård, Sweden: This hole formed by a glacier is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in Stockholm.

Ponte da Ajuda

Discover Ponte da Ajuda (Ajuda Bridge) in Portugal: The ruins of a 16th-century bridge loom over Olivença's sovereignty.

St. Louis Cathedral

Discover St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana: This cathedral dedicated to Louis IX, sainted King of France, holds many secrets.

Péndulo de Tequisquiapan

Discover Péndulo de Tequisquiapan in Tequisquiapan, Mexico: This monument marking the center of Mexico might be more political than geographical.

Menu

i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 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. 474 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. 499 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. 633 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. 135 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. 167 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). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 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. 96 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. 166

PP ToS