Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Weeping Icon of Saint Nicholas

Discover The Weeping Icon of Saint Nicholas in Tarpon Springs, Florida: No one knows how or why this painting appeared to produce crystallized tears.

Cittadella of Alessandria

Discover Cittadella of Alessandria in Alessandria, Italy: One of the best-preserved modern fortresses was part of a pivotal moment in the Italian Risorgimento.

The Black Prince

Discover The Black Prince in Leeds, England: This sculpture of Edward of Woodstock is surrounded by eight Victorian lamp bearers.

Shiprock, Palm Springs

Discover Shiprock, Palm Springs in Palm Springs, California: A 250 million-year-old rock formation has earned a rather unique nickname.

Frederic Remington Art Museum

Discover Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, New York: Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, this mansion is home to a massive art collection.

Bloch Cancer Survivors’ Plaza

Discover Bloch Cancer Survivors' Plaza in Columbus, Ohio: This small plaza encourages people diagnosed with cancer to never give up hope.

Old Fourah Bay College

Discover Old Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone: The first European-style university in western Sub-Saharan Africa.

Taiyoshi Hyakuban

Discover Taiyoshi Hyakuban in Osaka, Japan: This brothel-turned-restaurant features plenty of surprises and elaborate, extravagant architecture.

Thapathali Durbar Temple

Discover Thapathali Durbar Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal: This is one of the last surviving structures of a once vast palace complex.

Templo Expiatorio Clock

Discover Templo Expiatorio Clock in Guadalajara, Mexico: For decades, the parade of apostles that left the Expiatory Temple of Guadalajara remained hidden inside one of the towers.

The Walrus Heads of the Financial District

Discover The Walrus Heads of the Financial District in San Francisco, California: These six walrus head statues harken back to a time when this area wasn't far from the oceanfront.

Quadrophenia Alley

Discover Quadrophenia Alley in Brighton, England: This tiny alleyway is now a shrine to a subculture riot between the mods and rockers.

La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná

Discover La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná in Trinidad, Paraguay: Of the many Jesuit missions in South America, this complex is one of the best preserved.

Ottoman Fountains of Nafplio

Discover Ottoman Fountains of Nafplio in Nafplio, Greece: Public water fountains built during the Ottoman Era still stand throughout this seaside town.

Neil Armstrong Footprints

Discover Neil Armstrong Footprints in West Lafayette, Indiana: Walk in the footsteps of the famed astronaut at Purdue University.

Dolina del Revotano

Discover Dolina del Revotano in Province of Rieti, Italy: This enormous sinkhole hides a secret world created from divine wrath.

Daisy Airgun Museum

Discover Daisy Airgun Museum in Rogers, Arkansas: Learn all about this iconic air rifle without putting an eye out.

Lioness of Gobedra

Discover Lioness of Gobedra in Ethiopia: According to one local legend, this image was created during a battle between a wild lioness and the archangel Michael.

DuPont Explosives Depot Ruins

Discover DuPont Explosives Depot Ruins in Juneau, Alaska: The crumbling remains of Juneau's explosives storage site.

Heart Mountain Relocation Center

Discover Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Powell, Wyoming: An unusual geological feature towers over the remains of a dark episode in United States history.

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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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