Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Taforalt (Cave of Pigeons)

Discover Taforalt (Cave of Pigeons) in Berkane, Morocco: This Paleolithic cave may be the oldest cemetery in North Africa.

Ceiling of the Cloister of San Juan

Discover Ceiling of the Cloister of San Juan in Mexico City, Mexico: Inside the cloister of the Temple of San Juan Bautista is a ceiling decorated with gold Baroque illustrations.

Arthur Wharton Mural

Discover Arthur Wharton Mural in Darlington, England: A piece of public art commemorating the world's first Black professional footballer.

Bosco Fontana

Discover Bosco Fontana in Marmirolo, Italy: Once the hunting reserve of a noble family, this is one of the few remnants of Pleistocene planitial forest in northern Italy that still stands.

‘Out of the Earth’

Discover 'Out of the Earth' in Leeds, England: Since 1995, two red-painted metal figures have guarded the entrance to the Northern Ballet.

Blast Furnace No. 2

Discover Blast Furnace No. 2 in Sagunt, Spain: The last of three massive blast furnaces that were once at the foundation of the Port of Sagunto economy.

Soteska Pekel (Hell Gorge)

Discover Soteska Pekel (Hell Gorge) in Borovnica, Slovenia: Apparently, Hell has waterfalls in Slovenia.

Palazzo di Bonifacio VIII

Discover Palazzo di Bonifacio VIII in Anagni, Italy: This former papal residence was the site of an infamous incident known as the “slap of Anagni.”.

Nevada State Route 722

Discover Nevada State Route 722 in Austin, Nevada: US-50 in Nevada is known as "the Loneliest Road in America," but this earlier iteration of the route is even lonelier.

Cowane’s Hospital

Discover Cowane's Hospital in Stirling, Scotland: This figure of a local merchant is said to reanimate and do a dance during Hogmanay.

Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing

Discover Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing in St. Louis, Missouri: This unassuming riverbank is Missouri’s first designated site in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Celadon Terra Cotta Building

Discover Celadon Terra Cotta Building in Alfred, New York: A physical catalog of ceramics made by the now-defunct Celadon Terra Cotta company.

Newcraighall Monuments

Discover Newcraighall Monuments in Edinburgh, Scotland: Mining, a local filmmaker, and a philanthropist doctor all commemorated within a small space in suburban Edinburgh.

Ak Saray Palace

Discover Ak Saray Palace in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan: Home to what was once considered the largest gate in central Asia.

The Sphinx Hotel

Discover The Sphinx Hotel in North Geelong, Australia: A taste of Egypt on the outskirts of Geelong.

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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