Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Labyrinten vid Tibble (The Tibble Labyrinth)

Discover Labyrinten vid Tibble (The Tibble Labyrinth) in Hökåsen-Badelunda, Sweden: This 2,000-year-old stone maze is one of the oldest in the country, but its purpose is still a mystery.

Masson Mill

Discover Masson Mill in Matlock Bath, England: This historic textile mill has been repurposed as a shopping outlet, which houses a textile museum that celebrates its industrial past.

Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site

Discover Hurricane of 1928 Mass Burial Site in West Palm Beach, Florida: This mass grave for victims of a massive hurricane remained hidden until 1991.

Devil’s Lake

Discover Devil's Lake in Baraboo, Wisconsin: A remnant of the last Ice Age, this lake is surrounded by fascinating rock formations.

Hermitage of Saint Michael on Mount Scalambra

Discover Romitorio di San Michele Arcangelo in Serrone, Italy: This small hermitage on Mount Scalambra was built near what some believe is the miraculous imprint of Saint Benedict's hand.

Suriname-Rivier

Discover Suriname-Rivier in Nieuw Amsterdam, Suriname: An old Dutch lightvessel is now stuck in a dock near the mouth of the Suriname River.

Beehive Brick Kiln

Discover Beehive Brick Kiln in Lorton, Virginia: The last of nine massive kilns that produced many of the red bricks for buildings in Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia in the early 20th century.

Andělská Hora Castle

Discover Andělská Hora Castle in Andělská Hora, Czechia: This ruined castle perched atop a rocky peak is a great place for a hike.

Asemapäällikönhovi Building

Discover Asemapäällikönhovi Building in Helsinki, Finland: This building featuring Brutalist architecture has a rich media production history.

Jim Murray Memorial

Discover Jim Murray Memorial in Newmains, Scotland: This bronze statue pays tribute to a Scottish professional boxer, who tragically died following a championship fight.

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.

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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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