Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Discover Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, Germany: An imperial church bombed to ruins during WWII now stands as a jagged memorial.

Witches Gulch

Discover Witches Gulch in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin: Over thousands of years, this slot canyon was carved out of the bed of an ancient lake.

Skemmtigarðurinn Grafarvogi

Discover Skemmtigarðurinn Grafarvogi in Reykjavik, Iceland: This Viking-inspired miniature golf course features a pirate ship and views of Icelandic landscapes.

Torre do Pássaro

Discover Torre do Pássaro in Campinas, Brazil: A giant bird sits atop a tower at one of the largest shopping centers in Brazil.

Idrija Mercury Mine

Discover Idrija Mercury Mine in Idrija, Slovenia: This was the second largest mercury mine in the world and one of the oldest preserved mine complexes in Europe.

Tommy Taylor Grave

Discover Tommy Taylor Grave in Barnsley, England: In this small cemetery lies the grave of one of England's greatest soccer strikers who died too soon.

Fort Lincoln Cemetery

Discover Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Maryland: A historic cemetery with unique artwork, a Civil War fort, and also happens to be the site of the Battle of Bladensburg.

Churchill Tank

Discover Churchill Tank in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland: A restored World War II Churchill Mark VII Tank now stands guard in Carrickfergus.

Crypt of Dr. William Edward Minahan

Discover Crypt of Dr. William Edward Minahan in Green Bay, Wisconsin: The secluded resting place of a local historical figure who perished during the sinking of the Titanic.

Abu Sahiy

Discover Abu Sahiy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan: The heartbeat of modern Uzbekistan’s thriving market culture.

Old Man of the Mountain Replica

Discover Old Man of the Mountain Replica in Hooksett, New Hampshire: After the state would not recreate this beloved rock formation, three New Hampshire brothers took things into their own hands.

Ducal Palace of Lerma

Discover Ducal Palace of Lerma in Lerma, Spain: The former home of a conniving 17th century politician is now a high-end hotel.

Cuyahoga Jack-Knife Bridge #464

Discover Cuyahoga Jack-Knife Bridge #464 in Cleveland, Ohio: An abandoned, rusty old relic of railroad history stands at attention over the Cuyahoga River.

Tateishi Burger Vending Machine

Discover Tateishi Burger Vending Machine in Tokyo, Japan: A charming, homemade vending machine dispenses burgers and sandwiches at this hole-in-the-wall bakery.

Zinc Smelter

Discover Zinc Smelter in Spelter, West Virginia: This former zinc operation has a 90-year toxic history.

The World’s First ‘Cactarium’

Discover Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium in Palm Springs, California: Explore the wide world of desert plants at this unique Palm Springs botanical garden.

Roman Theatre of Sagunto

Discover Roman Theatre of Sagunto in Sagunt, Spain: This ancient amphitheater was restored in the early 1990s.

Fernweh Park

Discover Fernweh Park in Oberkotzau, Germany: Named after the German word for "a longingness to travel," this park brings together thousands of city and street signs from around the world.

Botanical Museum of the National Garden

Discover Botanical Museum of the National Garden in Athens, Greece: This small museum once served as a royal hunting pavilion for King Otto Friedrich Ludwig.

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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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