Archives: Atlas Obscuras

St. Mawes Castle

Discover St. Mawes Castle in St Mawes, England: A 16th-century artillery fort built to protect England against European invasion.

Snowbird’s Peruvian Tunnel

Discover Snowbird's Peruvian Tunnel in Sandy, Utah: The only ski tunnel in North America provides easy access to amazing snow and beautiful views.

Old Wharf Steps

Discover Old Wharf Steps in Freetown, Sierra Leone: One of the oldest brick structures in Freetown.

Jurong Hill

Discover Jurong Hill in Singapore: This tranquil park with a spiral viewing tower is an off-the-beaten-path area where renowned people have planted a small grove of trees.

Oroville Train Tunnel

Discover Oroville Train Tunnel in Oroville, California: A train tunnel that was made obsolete by the dam it helped create.

‘Encore’

Discover 'Encore' in Washington, D.C.: Washington D.C.'s most famous pianist, composer, and bandleader still tickles the ivories outside Howard Theater.

The Little Red Schoolhouse

Discover The Little Red Schoolhouse in Easton, Maryland: The only one-room schoolhouse remaining in Talbot County, Maryland.

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Wagon-Roof

Discover St. Peter and St. Paul's Wagon-Roof in Shepton Mallet, England: Inside this magnificent 12th-century church is one of the finest carved wagon-roofs in all of England.

Southernmost Point of Continental Asia

Discover Southernmost Point of Continental Asia in Singapore: Across this single-file rope bridge is what has been claimed to be the edge of continental Asia.

Red Planet Books & Comics

Discover Red Planet Books & Comics in Albuquerque, New Mexico: The only Native American comic shop in the world.

The Teahouse Bothy

Discover The Teahouse Bothy in Achnashellach, Scotland: This tiny getaway tucked away in an uninhabited Scottish valley isn't your ordinary teahouse.

Birds of Vermont Museum

Discover Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington, Vermont: Wood carving meets bird conservation at this museum showcasing the life's work of one man.

Puente de Dios

Discover Puente de Dios in Mexico: A spring water stream jumps through a walkable "bridge" cavern and a narrow canyon.

Loup of Fintry

Discover Loup of Fintry in Glasgow, Scotland: This waterfall is one of the most spectacular natural features in the Scottish Lowlands.

Bridge of Peace

Discover Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi, Georgia: With over 10,000 lights, this engineering marvel lights up the city after dark.

Devil’s Punchbowl

Discover Devil’s Punchbowl in Menomonie, Wisconsin: As the glaciers retreated out of northern Wisconsin, this unique natural wonder was crafted.

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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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