Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Grave of the Unknown Man

Discover Grave of the Unknown Man in Hardingstone, England: In the 1930s, a mysterious murder shook this Northamptonshire village–the identity of the victim remains a mystery to this day.

Licosa Island

Discover Licosa Island in Castellabate, Italy: According to legend, this small island was home to one of the sirens met by Ulysses in the Odyssey.

The Lone Grave

Discover The Lone Grave in Nevada City, California: A grave dedicated to the pioneers who settled California.

Casa de las Conchas

Discover Casa de las Conchas in Salamanca, Spain: The facade of this 16th-century building is decorated with carvings of 300 seashells.

Royal Armouries Museum

Discover Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England: One of three sites in England that house the National Collection of Arms and Armour.

Edward Everard’s Printing Works

Discover Edward Everard's Printing Works in Bristol, England: This Grade II Listed Building with an Art Nouveau façade once contained a unique print shop.

St Ninian’s Chapel

Discover St Ninian's Chapel in Bigton, Scotland: This former chapel resides on an island connected to the mainland by one of Shetland's iconic beachy tombolos.

Pir-e-Sabz Fire Temple (Chak Chak)

Discover Pir-e-Sabz Fire Temple (Chak Chak) in Iran: This remote mountain shrine is one of the most sacred Zoroastrian temples remaining in the world.

Artpark Tegel

Discover Artpark Tegel in Berlin, Germany: This concrete residential area doubles as an open-air gallery.

Mörksugga Statue

Discover Mörksugga Statue in Avesta, Sweden: A cuddly version of a dark mythological creature now acts as the mascot of a town.

Standing Rock Monument

Discover Standing Rock Monument in Fort Yates, North Dakota: This stone, said to have once been a young woman, is sacred to the Dakota and Lakota nations.

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau Grave

Discover Jean Baptiste Charbonneau Grave in Jordan Valley, Oregon: A ghost town in a remote corner of Oregon hosts a touching tribute to Sacagawea’s son.

The Most Hated Sculpture in Melbourne

Discover 'Vault' in Southbank, Australia: This abstract sculpture was initially so disliked that it got moved to the outskirts of town a few months after installation.

Saint Genadio Cave

Discover Saint Genadio Cave in Priaranza del Bierzo, Spain: The cave where Saint Genadio meditated and played chess.

Al Capone Cherry Tree

Discover Al Capone Cherry Tree in Baltimore, Maryland: This lovely tree was a thank you gift from the man known as "Public Enemy No.1.".

Carmunnock War Memorial

Discover Carmunnock War Memorial in Clarkston, Scotland: This 1920's sandstone war memorial was constructed with an unusual drinking trough for horses.

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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

PP ToS