Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Wachusett Dam and Reservoir

Discover Wachusett Dam and Reservoir in Clinton, Massachusetts: Once the largest gravity dam in the world.

Wikingerdorf Flake (Flake Viking Village)

Discover Wikingerdorf Flake (Flake Viking Village) in Kochel am See, Germany: The remnants of a fictional Viking village film set now serve as an educational and historical hotspot.

The Art of Dr. Seuss

Discover The Art of Dr. Seuss in New Orleans, Louisiana: Taxidermied cartoon heads, unseen illustrations, and famous characters all reside in this small gallery space.

The Tridge

Discover The Tridge in Midland, Michigan: This unusual three-way wooden foot bridge spans two rivers at once.

Dodona Manor

Discover Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia: Named for a Greek oracle that interpreted the words of Zeus, this beautifully-restored manor home was once home to the architect of the Marshall Plan.

Bird Memorial Clock Tower

Discover Bird Memorial Clock Tower in Walpole, Massachusetts: This clock tower is all that remains of Bird Hall, constructed by one of the founding families of this Massachusetts town.

The FLOAT House

An architectural experiment in New Orlean's Lower Ninth Ward, this row house is capable of floating as high as the Katrina floodwaters.

Lac Salé

Discover Lac Salé in Bangoua Kouni, Comoros: Legend says this remote, “bottomless” lake was created by a curse.

The Lagom Standard Measure

Discover The Lagom Standard Measure in Lund, Sweden: The standard measure of Lagom, a measure of what is enough.

Emsland Maglev-Test Facility

Discover Emsland Maglev-Test Facility in Lathen, Germany: A decomissioned facility where the German "Transrapid" maglev trains were once tested.

Agora of Smyrna

Discover Agora of Smyrna in Konak, Turkey: An underground network of massive stone arches and their skylit vaults support ruins of portico structures above.

Wayside Country Store

Discover Wayside Country Store in Marlborough, Massachusetts: This general store near Boston was once owned by Henry Ford, who had it relocated to a different town using a team of oxen.

James K. Polk Historic Site

Discover James K. Polk Historic Site in Pineville, North Carolina: These cabins mark the site where our 11th president was born (probably).

Torre Vigía de Castilnovo

Discover Torre Vigía de Castilnovo in Conil de la Frontera, Spain: This centuries-old tower hosts endangered bald ibis mating pairs and looms over a pristine beach.

Rainbow Row

Discover Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina: Thirteen pastel palaces in downtown Charleston add a gorgeous splash of color to the city.

Amalias 42

Discover Amalias 42 in Athens, Greece: This building displays the scars of the “Dekemvriana,” a dark time in modern Greek history.

Troglodyte Monastery of Saint Roman

Discover Troglodyte Monastery of Saint Roman in Beaucaire, France: This fascinating abbey is considered the oldest monastery in the region.

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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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