Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ward Beach Boulders

Discover Ward Beach Boulders in Ward, New Zealand: This beach provides a glimpse of the ancient seafloor without getting wet.

Chico Hot Springs Giant Chicken

Discover Chico Hot Springs Giant Chicken in Pray, Montana: The formidable fowl can be found standing near an isolated hiking path.

Taedonggang Brewing Company

Discover Taedonggang Brewing Company in Pyongyang, North Korea: An English brewery transported to North Korea.

Riace Bronzes

Discover Riace Bronzes in Reggio Calabria, Italy: Two of the few remaining life-sized Greek bronzes were submerged in the sea for over 2,000 years.

Castello di Castel d’Ario

Discover Castello di Castel d'Ario in Castel D'ario, Italy: In a tower at this centuries-old castle, members of a noble family were imprisoned and left to starve.

Oswald’s Well

Discover Oswald's Well in Oswestry, England: When King Oswald was killed in battle, an eagle dropped his arm here creating a new spring.

Llao Llao Resort

Discover Llao Llao Resort in Llao Llao, Argentina: One of South America's most exclusive resorts has a storied history dating back to World War II.

Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain

Discover Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain in Washington, D.C.: A spectacular tribute to statesman and philanthropist Andrew Mellon.

‘Iron Henry’

Discover 'Iron Henry' in Sheffield, England: This unique sculpture of a steelworker is hidden amid the trees of Sheffield.

L’Almoina Archaeological Centre

Discover L'Almoina Archaeological Centre in Valencia, Spain: Walk into an underground archeological dig, the site of the Roman Forum that was once the center of Valencia.

Maison de Victor Hugo

Discover Maison de Victor Hugo in Paris, France: A museum dedicated to one of Paris’s most famous residents, tucked into a corner of one of the city’s most famous squares.

East Coast Fishing Disaster Memorial

Discover East Coast Fishing Disaster Memorial in Saint Abbs, Scotland: One of four sister bronze sculptures dedicated to the widows and orphans of an 1881 tragedy.

‘Trionfo della Morte’

Discover 'Trionfo della Morte' in Palermo, Italy: This uncanny fresco celebrating the "triumph of death" was split into four pieces to be moved to another museum.

Tren de Sóller

Discover Tren de Sóller in Palma, Spain: This historic electric train has operated with regularity since the early 1900s.

‘The Snowman’

Discover 'The Snowman' in Manchester, England: This bronze statue stands throughout the year and illustrates an urgent message about the environment.

Svetlogorsk Beach Gondolas

Discover Svetlogorsk Beach Gondolas in Svetlogorsk, Russia: These tiny cabins on a cableway have been carrying visitors at a Baltic resort down to the beach since 1912.

Cape Eleuthera Resort Ruins

Discover Cape Eleuthera Resort Ruins in South Eleuthera, Bahamas: A paradise hotel turned from opulent to overgrown.

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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

PP ToS