Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Fior D’ Italia

Discover Fior D' Italia in San Francisco, California: America's oldest Italian restaurant is a San Francisco institution.

Sir Arthur Chichester Mural

Discover Sir Arthur Chichester Mural in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland: A mural commemorating a man who was instrumental in the development and expansion of Belfast.

Fall Creek Falls

Discover Fall Creek Falls in Swan Valley, Idaho: A creek tumbles over a series of step-like rocks to create this scenic water feature.

The Story Bank

Discover The Story Bank in Maryborough, Australia: A museum dedicated to the legacy of writer P.L. Travers and her most beloved character, Mary Poppins.

Teakettle Rock

Discover Teakettle Rock in Jemez Springs, New Mexico: A strange sandstone formation in the middle of nowhere presents an interesting climbing opportunity.

Sharp Top Crash Site

Discover Sharp Top Crash Site in Bedford, Virginia: A glimpse into the sacrifices of military members during World War II.

Mary Church Terrell House

Discover Mary Church Terrell House in Washington, D.C.: The former home of the woman who successfully fought to integrate restaurants in Washington, D.C.

Book and Bed Hostel

Discover Book and Bed Hostel in Tokyo, Japan: If you forgot something to read during your trip to Tokyo, this hostel has you covered.

Stadtpark Mainz

Discover Stadtpark Mainz in Mainz, Germany: Along the banks of the River Rhine lies a park that seems unassuming, but beneath the surface lies a long and fascinating history.

Vic’s Ice Cream Parlor

Discover Vic's Ice Cream Parlor in Sacramento, California: At this 1940s-era neighborhood favorite, you can still drink a cherry phosphate.

Rockdrigo Memorial

Discover Rockdrigo Memorial in Mexico City, Mexico: A statue in Balderas subway station honors the rock star who wrote about it in a song.

Monumento a la Costurera

Discover Monumento a la Costurera (Monument to the Seamstress) in Mexico City, Mexico: This memorial was raised in honor of a group of workers heavily impacted by the 1985 Mexico City earthquake.

Bjørnegrotten

Discover Bjørnegrotten in Odder, Denmark: An abandoned bear enclosure from a 19th-century zoo located in a Danish forest.

‘Living Skeletons Scenes’

Discover 'Living Skeletons Scenes' in Bergamo, Italy: Six paintings reminding you that death is integral part of everyday life.

Guajataca Lake

Discover Guajataca Lake in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico: An unnatural lake in a naturally beautiful setting.

Sorgente del Mercure (Mercure Wellspring)

Discover Sorgente del Mercure (Mercure Wellspring) in Viggianello, Italy: This crystal clear water basin feeds the Lao river and powers a hydroelectric power plant.

Jack Dempsey Birthplace and Museum

Discover Jack Dempsey Birthplace and Museum in Manassa, Colorado: The former home of the "Manassa Mauler" is now a museum dedicated to his legendary boxing career.

Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial

This cairn in Arlington National Cemetery was a gift from Scotland to the United States, in memory of the 270 lives due to a terrorist bombing.

Metro Farm

Discover Metro Farm in Seoul, South Korea: Some of the freshest vegetables in Seoul are grown in a subway station.

Menu

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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