Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Stone Edge Cupola

Discover Stone Edge Cupola in Chesterfield, England: This chimney is the oldest free standing industrial chimney in Britain.

Lapidarium

Discover Lapidarium in Guča, Serbia: An open-air museum dedicated to tombstones and roadside stone monuments.

Aldwych Tube Station

Discover Aldwych Tube Station in London, England: This Underground station has been a popular filming location for decades, even before it closed.

Ahuehuete de Chalma

Discover Ahuehuete de Chalma in Chalma, Mexico: This specimen of Mexico's national tree is now central to religious pilgrimage and rituals.

Alderley Edge Mines

Discover Alderley Edge Mines in Nether Alderley, England: The oldest known metal-mining site in England dates back to the Bronze Age.

Morritt Arms Hotel Dickens Mural

Discover Morritt Arms Hotel Dickens Mural in Greta Bridge, England: This impressive mural adorns the wall of this 17th-century hotel and honors the literary icon.

Carmelite Monastery

Discover Carmelite Monastery in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California: For almost 100 years, this site of peace and spirituality has existed on the California coast.

Cresta Valley Ski Resort

Discover Cresta Valley Ski Resort in Alpine Shire, Australia: This Australian ski resort was forced to close due to changing climate conditions.

Chatanika Gold Dredge #3

Discover Chatanika Gold Dredge #3 in Fairbanks, Alaska: A hulking remnant of Alaska's industrial gold mining boom in the 1920s.

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.

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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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