Archives: Atlas Obscuras

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.

Luoshan Organic Tofu Farm

Discover Luoshan Organic Tofu Farm in Fuli Township, Taiwan: Learn to make this village's specialty: volcanic mud tofu.

Dacha Stalina

Discover Dacha Stalina in Sochi, Russia: One of the notorious Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's many summer retreats.

Stanhope Fossil Tree

Discover Stanhope Fossil Tree in Stanhope, England: This sandstone tree trunk is a relic from a long-past era when England had a more tropical climate.

Tiwai Island

Discover Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone: This river island in Sierra Leone is home to impressive biodiversity and the country's first community conservation program.

Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial

Discover Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial in Montpelier, Vermont: A lonely memorial to the Challenger Space Shuttle, honoring the astronauts who died in 1986.

Garðar Cathedral Ruins

Discover Garðar Cathedral Ruins in Igaliku, Greenland: Walrus skulls and narwhal bones were found here while excavating a 900-year old church.

Kuntsevo Dacha (Stalin Residence)

Discover Kuntsevo Dacha (Stalin Residence) in Sochi, Russia: The historic summer cottage of notorious Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

Seonjeongneung

Discover Seonjeongneung in Seoul, South Korea: The burial ground of two kings and a queen is now a calm city park in the middle of bustling Seoul.

Chamber of the Giants

Discover Sala dei Giganti (Chamber of the Giants) in Mantua, Italy: A room filled with frescos that make it seem like the walls are crumbling down while giants die in despair.

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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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