Archives: Atlas Obscuras

House of Proclus

Discover House of Proclus in Athens, Greece: Underneath one of the region's most historic roads lies the home of Plato's successor.

Sigtuna Rådhus (City Hall)

Discover Sigtuna Rådhus (City Hall) in Sigtuna, Sweden: A tiny town hall—in Sweden's one-time capital—might be the smallest in Europe.

Renton Public Library

Discover Renton Public Library in Renton, Washington: This unique library spans a mighty river.

Suguksa Temple

Discover Suguksa Temple in Seoul, South Korea: The name of the only golden Buddhist temple in Korea translates as "the temple that protects the country.".

Round Falls

Discover Round Falls in Baltimore, Maryland: Once part of a dam servicing an early 19th century grist mill, the tucked-way falls are a tricky-to-find urban oasis.

Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center

Discover Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center in Fairmont, West Virginia: The center preserves and houses artifacts ranging from the colonial era to modern times from across Appalachia.

Eklutna Tailrace

Discover Eklutna Tailrace in Palmer, Alaska: This popular fishing spot at the outflow of a 4.5-mile long hydroelectric tunnel sports a jetty literally made out of classic cars.

Burial Place of Chief Pontiac

Discover Burial Place of Chief Pontiac in St. Louis, Missouri: A plaque on the side of a parking garage marks the burial place of a great Ottawa chief.

The Burryman

Discover The Burryman in Edinburgh, Scotland: As part of an 800-year-old tradition, a man parades through town covered in a suit made out of spiky burrs.

Stone Pagoda of Hwaeomsa

Discover Stone Pagoda of Hwaeomsa in Gurve, South Korea: An unusual pagoda design in in the northwestern part of Hwaeomsa Temple.

The Gloup Disaster Memorial

Discover The Gloup Disaster Memorial in Shetland Islands, Scotland: A memorial to a 19th-century fishing disaster that had deep repercussions across Shetland.

Houses of the Sun

Discover Houses of the Sun in Latvia: Rent a barrel for a personal view of where the Baltic Sea meets the Gulf of Riga.

Missiri Mosque

Discover Missiri Mosque in Fréjus, France: This mosque was based on Sub-Saharan Islamic architecture and created for the Senegalese Tirailleurs.

Sighthill Stone Circle

Discover Sighthill Stone Circle in Glasgow, Scotland: This astronomically-aligned stone circle was the first of its kind to be built in Great Britain after a 3,000-year hiatus.

Cheonmachong

Discover Cheonmachong in Gyeongju, South Korea: This tomb's name derives from a famous painting of a white horse found inside.

Lamond House

Discover Lamond House in Alexandria, Virginia: Hidden in the forest atop a long, winding driveway is this stately home.

Torquato Tasso’s Oak Tree

Discover Torquato Tasso's Oak Tree in Rome, Italy: The charred, dead skeleton of an oak tree is said to have consoled a dying 16th-century Italian poet.

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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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