Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Enchanted Forest

Discover Enchanted Forest in Whitethorn, California: A grove of "candelabra redwoods" deep in California's Lost Coast.

Church of Agia Kyriaki

Discover Church of Agia Kyriaki in Athens, Greece: A tiny Greek Orthodox church from the Ottoman era hides on a busy city street.

‘The Colleen Bawn’ Bust

Discover 'The Colleen Bawn' Bust in Tiervarna, Ireland: A monument to a 19th-century Irish woman whose murder inspired several literary works.

‘The Babies’

Discover 'The Babies' in Palm Springs, California: Instead of faces, these sculptures have barcodes—statements on societal dehumanization.

Moqui Cave

Discover Moqui Cave in Kanab, Utah: This ancient cave is home to a museum, bar, and is filled with fluorescent minerals.

Prospect Hill Tower

Discover Prospect Hill Tower in Somerville, Massachusetts: This tower commemorates the spot where George Washington hoisted the Grand Union flag.

Castell Aberlleiniog

Discover Castell Aberlleiniog in Llangoed, Wales: A little-known castle set in a nature reserve.

Skulptur i Pilane

Discover Skulptur i Pilane in Pilane, Sweden: This Swedish sculpture park is a unique combination of ancient ruins and modern art.

Hermitage of San Giovanni all’Orfento

Discover Hermitage of San Giovanni all'Orfento in Caramanico Terme, Italy: You can only access this hermitage by crawling under a ledge suspended above an overhang.

Diósgyőr Castle

Discover Diósgyőr Castle in Miskolc, Hungary: This castle played host to the largest great hall found in medieval Central Europe.

Buddha Peace Park

Discover Buddha Peace Park in Mahamanjushree Nagarkot, Nepal: This park in Nagarkot boasts one of the best views in all of Nepal.

Preston Market Cross

Discover Preston Market Cross in Prestonpans, Scotland: Reportedly the "most handsome" market cross in Scotland.

Sinclair Gas Station

Discover Sinclair Gas Station in Elberta, Utah: This lonely gas station has stood at this location since 1917.

Zhang Heng Seismoscope

Discover Zhang Heng Seismoscope in Shanghai, China: A replica of the first seismoscope ever invented.

Arnside Bore

Discover Arnside Bore in Arnside, England: This rare aquatic phenomenon is one of the more accessible tidal bores in Morecambe Bay.

Three Sisters Lighthouses

Discover Three Sisters Lighthouses in Eastham, Massachusetts: These three lighthouses played a fundamental role in the maritime life of Eastham.

Lincoln Park Nursery Ruins

Discover Lincoln Park Nursery Ruins in Lemont, Illinois: This former nursery supplied plants for the creation of Chicago's largest park.

Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery

Discover Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in Cannock, England: Austrian and Germans who died on British soil during World War I and II are buried here.

Phimeanakas

Discover Phimeanakas in Angkor, Cambodia: A secluded, little-known temple hidden amid the dense jungle.

Former Pittsburgh Stock Exchange

Discover Former Pittsburgh Stock Exchange in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: When oil was discovered just outside of Pittsburgh, the city became home to this regional stock market.

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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