Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Lacy’s Caves

Discover Lacy's Caves in Penrith, England: A series of idealized caves carved to entertain guests.

Abandoned Church

Discover Abandoned Church in Plaisance Ward, Seychelles: In the middle of a busy residential neighborhood, a small roofless church being reclaimed by nature.

The Coronation Stone

Discover The Coronation Stone in London, England: Legend has it that seven Anglo-Saxon kings were coronated on this stone, located in the appropriately-named town of Kingston.

Treasure Hill

Discover Treasure Hill in Taipei City, Taiwan: This densely-packed cluster of buildings was saved from the wrecking ball and turned into an art community.

Three Kids Mine

Discover Three Kids Mine in Henderson, Nevada: This former open-pit manganese mine is now a massive graffiti canvas.

Bantyii Dibiterie

Discover Bantyii Dibiterie in Dakar, Senegal: A smoky doorway in Dakar leads to one of the city’s great communal eating experiences.

‘Alauna Aura’

Discover 'Alauna Aura' in Maryport, England: This sculpture depicting the history of Maryport turns into a light show at night.

National Neon Sign Museum

Discover National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles, Oregon: This rare, carefully curated collection showcases the history of neon inside a grandiose Elks lodge.

‘Anmatjere Man’

Discover 'Anmatjere Man' in Anmatjere, Australia: Along the Stuart Highway, two giant sculptures tower over the roadway.

Fayaz Tepe

Discover Fayaz Tepe in Kaftarhana, Uzbekistan: The foundation of this ancient stupa dates back to the 1st-century.

Gravestone of Christmas Evans

Discover Gravestone of Christmas Evans in Swansea, Wales: Evans's funeral had one of the largest attendances of any funeral in the history of Wales.

Gatherings Cafe

Discover Gatherings Cafe in Minneapolis, Minnesota: An eatery within the Minneapolis American Indian Center writes colonial ingredients out of the story of Native American cuisine.

Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club

Discover Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club in Singapore: Singapore's Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West is a social hotspot for songbirds and their humans.

Alferd Packer Massacre Site

Discover Alferd Packer Massacre Site in Lake City, Colorado: The site of the gruesome massacre—and maybe cannibalism—of five men, a tragedy that made Alferd Packer infamous.

Fort Stachelberg

Discover Fort Stachelberg in Trutnov, Czechia: This fortress was designed to prevent a Nazi invasion but was never used.

Commessaggio Pontoon Bridge

Discover Ponte di Barche in Commessaggio, Italy: A floating bridge leaning on barges allows pedestrians to reach the historical center.

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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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