Archives: Atlas Obscuras

‘House of Aldus’

Discover 'House of Aldus' in Troy, New York: This stained glass window designed by Tiffany Studios is hidden behind the circulation desk of a public library.

The Lookout-Rubha Hunish

Discover The Lookout-Rubha Hunish in Isle of Skye, Scotland: A former coastal watch post has been turned into a bothy with unrivaled views of the sea and its inhabitants.

World War I Memorial

Discover World War I Memorial in Pune, India: An obelisk designed in memory of the soldiers from the city and district who fought in The Great War.

Bois du Cazier

Discover Bois du Cazier in Charleroi, Belgium: This former coal mine, now a fascinating museum, was the site of Belgium's worst mining disaster.

Coster Avenue Mural

Discover Coster Avenue Mural in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: One of Gettysburg’s least visited battlefield memorials is off the beaten path, but worth a visit.

Bosco di Quercus

Discover Bosco di Quercus in Bienno, Italy: A giant owl named Rocco oversees mythical woodland creatures along these charming mountain trails.

Great Auk Sculpture at Fogo Island

Discover Great Auk Sculpture at Fogo Island in Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador: A memorial to a giant seabird that was hunted to extinction.

Morris Press Cookbook Store

Discover Morris Press Cookbook Store in Kearney, Nebraska: Inside this magical collection, you can buy recipes cooked up by church ladies, motorcycle clubs, and clowns.

McKee Grave

Discover McKee Grave in Arlington, Virginia: In what is rumored to be an intentional act of spite, this memorial almost completely obscures the nearby grave of a senior officer.

Western Deffufa of Kerma

Discover Western Deffufa of Kerma in Kerma Albeled, Sudan: The best-preserved example of a unique structure in Nubian architecture.

Dowden’s Ordinary Park

Discover Dowden's Ordinary Park in Clarksburg, Maryland: This suburban park recalls the history of a famous tavern. Despite the name, it's no ordinary place!

‘Personnages Oiseaux’

Discover 'Personnages Oiseaux' in Wichita, Kansas: Created by Catalan artist Joan Miró in 1978 and made up of 350,000 tiles, this mural is the only large-scale glass mosaic the artist ever created.

Noojee Trestle Bridge

Discover Noojee Trestle Bridge in Noojee, Australia: This remnant of an old railroad is the tallest surviving wooden trestle bridge in Victoria.

El Viejo Hobbit

Discover El Viejo Hobbit in Villa Gesell, Argentina: "Di amigo y entra" at this Argentinian Middle Earth-inspired pub.

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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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