Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Sears Point Petroglyphs

Discover Sears Point Petroglyphs in Dateland, Arizona: Some 10,000 works of ancient rock art cover these volcanic basalt outcrops near the Gila River.

Hobart Rivulet

Discover Hobart Rivulet in Hobart, Australia: This urban stream flowing underneath Tasmania's capital city is also an unofficial gallery for street artists.

Höckerlinie Westwall

Discover Höckerlinie Westwall in Mettlach, Germany: Now overgrown, these anti-tank barriers from World War II are sometimes called "dragon's teeth.".

Potsdam-Pirschheide Train Station

Discover Potsdam-Pirschheide Train Station in Potsdam, Germany: In a divided Germany, Potsdam's "central" train station was relocated to the city's southern suburbs to avoid West Berlin.

Prospero’s Books

Discover Prospero's Books in Kansas City, Missouri: This unconventional used book store was once in the news for the surprising act of burning books.

Twelve Vultures

Discover Twelve Vultures in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Come for the giant taxidermy lion, stay for the knick knacks at this Minneapolis curiosity shop.

Grant Wood Studio

Discover Grant Wood Studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Grant Wood painted some of his most famous works of art at this studio.

Erratic Rock State Natural Site

Discover Erratic Rock State Natural Site in McMinnville, Oregon: A 36-ton remnant of the last Ice Age now resides amid picturesque vineyards.

Wigwam Village #7

Discover Wigwam Village #7 in San Bernardino, California: Find out what it's like to sleep in a wigwam in this historic Route 66 location.

Cakeland.LA

Discover Cakeland.LA in Los Angeles, California: A cake-themed art installation tucked away in historic Chinatown.

Sö 90 Runestone

Discover Sö 90 Runestone in Eskilstuna, Sweden: This runestone once destroyed by an explosion has been painstakingly reassembled to save its history.

Grave of Gracie Watson

Discover Grave of Gracie Watson in Savannah, Georgia: More than a century after her death, Little Gracie Watson remains one of Savannah's most often-visited residents.

Bombardment Garden

Discover Bombardment Garden in Whitby, England: The recreated ruins of a house designed to memorialize a World War I shelling on the town.

Merlion

Discover Merlion in Singapore: This statue once earned the distinction as one of the "Three Major Disappointments of the World.".

New Gourna Village

Discover New Gourna Village in Al Qarnah, Egypt: There are ongoing efforts to preserve this village, the best known work of Egyptian architect Hasan Fathy.

Hermitage of San Venanzio

Discover Eremo di San Venanzio (Hermitage of San Venanzio) in Raiano, Italy: This hermitage spanning an Italian river gorge draws pilgrims hoping to heal ailments like arthritis and migraines.

Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park

Discover Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park in Sedona, Arizona: This 24-acre park offers a place for meditation in the midst of Sedona's iconic red rocks.

La Trobe’s Cottage

Discover La Trobe's Cottage in Melbourne, Australia: The former home of Victoria's first Lieutenant-Governor.

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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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