Archives: Atlas Obscuras

‘Nest’

Discover 'Nest' in Pemenang, Indonesia: This underwater sculpture park is the basis for a manmade coral reef.

Usen Castle

Discover Usen Castle in Waltham, Massachusetts: This castle constructed in 1928 was crafted from drawings of Lismore Castle in Ireland.

Parliament Oak

Discover Parliament Oak in Warsop, England: English parliaments were once convened by this ancient oak tree in the heart of Sherwood Forest.

Maine North High School

Discover Maine North High School in Des Plaines, Illinois: Where a brain, a beauty, a jock, a rebel, and a recluse met one Saturday and changed their lives forever.

Silver City Ghost Town

Discover Silver City Ghost Town in Bodfish, California: This ramshackle ghost town is comprised of mining-era buildings collected from around the region.

The Story Stones

Discover The Story Stones in Saint Paul, Minnesota: Each of these 87 large stones has a unique message. Together, they form part of the Minnesota Military Family Tribute.

Hadrianic Aqueduct of Caesarea

Discover Hadrianic Aqueduct of Caesarea in Beit Hanania, Israel: Built by a king and rebuilt by an emperor, this aqueduct transported water for 1,200 years to this ancient Mediterranean hub.

Brusher Mills Grave

Discover Brusher Mills Grave in Brockenhurst, England: This local celebrity earned his fame by doing a job no one else dared.

Warner Castle

Discover Warner Castle in Rochester, New York: This New York estate was designed to resemble a medieval Scottish castle.

Solsbury Hill

Discover Solsbury Hill in Bath and North East Somerset, England: An Iron Age hillfort rooted in Arthurian legend was made famous by musician Peter Gabriel.

Mahwah Museum

Discover Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, New Jersey: This 150-year-old train station and caboose have been turned into a railroad museum, enjoyed by young and old alike.

Tarragona Amphitheater

Discover Tarragona Amphitheater in Tarragona, Spain: This Roman arena once played host to bloody gladiatorial battles.

Souq Wakif Blue Road

Discover Souq Wakif Blue Road in Doha, Qatar: This vibrant side road in Doha was painted light blue to reduce heat.

Umi-Shibaura Station

Discover Umi-Shibaura Station in Yokohama, Japan: Passengers are not allowed to set foot outside this station, but you can still enjoy spectacular views of the sea from the platform.

Kilroot House

Discover Kilroot House in Kilroot, Northern Ireland: This former church is believed to be one of the first Christian sites in Belfast Lough.

J.A. Comenius Museum

Discover J.A. Comenius Museum in Prague, Czechia: Dedicated to the "father of modern education," this museum documents the history of education in Czechia.

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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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