Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Thompson’s Mills

Discover Thompson's Mills in Shedd, Oregon: The last water-powered mill in Oregon is open daily for free tours and has a surprising history.

‘Winifred’

Discover 'Winifred' in Leeds, England: In a small courtyard resides this large mural that draws inspiration from Leeds and its history.

Singer Castle

Discover Singer Castle in Chippewa Bay, New York: This island castle contains enough secret passageways to support a season of Scooby-Doo episodes.

Carnbooth Anti-Aircraft Battery

Discover Carnbooth Anti-Aircraft Battery in Glasgow, Scotland: This former World War II artillery defense site was built to guard the industrial city of Glasgow.

Brest Railway museum

Discover Brest Railway museum in Brest, Belarus: Dozens of Soviet-era trains and carriages fill this outdoor museum.

Dholavira

Discover Dholavira in Dholavira, India: This archaeological site was once a grand city of the Indus Valley Civilization with a sophisticated system for conserving water.

Takikawa Sky Park

Discover Takikawa Sky Park in Takikawa, Japan: Pilots from around the world come to this park to fly gliders.

Dunbar Outdoor Pool Remains

Discover Dunbar Outdoor Pool Remains in Dunbar, Scotland: This Scottish bay still reveals evidence of its days as a seaside swimming pool.

Magruder’s Blacksmith Shop

Discover Magruder's Blacksmith Shop in Bethesda, Maryland: One of the oldest standing structures in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck

Discover Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck in Valletta, Malta: This church is named for one of the most dramatic tales in the early Christian church.

Abstrakce

Discover Abstrakce in Kladno, Czechia: This abstract sculpture once had a twin in Prague.

Siliserh Lake

Discover Siliserh Lake in Kishanpur, India: In an arid region, this beautiful lake in the Aravalli hills is an unexpected delight.

Santa Maria del Soccorso

Discover Santa Maria del Soccorso in Forio, Italy: A snow-white church overlooking the wonderful Tyrrhenian Sea.

Jeti-Ögüz Rocks

Discover Jeti-Ögüz Rocks in Kyrgyzstan: According to myth, there's a bloody explanation for the beautiful bright red color of this rock formation set amidst alpine vegetation.

Elephant Car Wash Sign

Discover Elephant Car Wash Sign in Seattle, Washington: This giant pink elephant stood in downtown Seattle for more than 60 years.

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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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