Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Cow Tower

Discover Cow Tower in Conyers, Georgia: A herd of plastic cows hangs out under this transmission tower in rural Georgia.

The San José Semaphore

Discover The San José Semaphore in San Jose, California: It took years to decode its mysterious messages.

Pohick Church

Discover Pohick Church in Lorton, Virginia: This church is known as "The Home Church of George Washington and George Mason.".

The Lillipad Cafe

Discover The Lillipad Cafe in Sydney, Australia: An indigenous ethnobotanist runs this brunch spot celebrating Australia’s native flavors.

Koboro Station

Discover Koboro Station in Toyoura, Japan: Inaccessible by foot, Japan's most secluded train station sits in the middle of nowhere.

Dosan Seowon

Discover Dosan Seowon in Andong, South Korea: This school was constructed in memory of Korean Confucian scholar Yi Hwang.

B-29 ‘Over Exposed’ Crash Site

Discover B-29 'Over Exposed' Crash Site in Glossop, England: The wreck of a B-29 Superfortress now stands as a memorial left in the moors.

Ruins of Liternum

Discover Ruins of Liternum in Naples, Italy: A former Roman town that was once the home of Scipio Africanus.

Lake Tyrrell

Discover Lake Tyrrell in Sea Lake, Australia: Victoria's largest salt lake is a favorite haunt for photographers and stargazers.

‘Teleport-o-Matic’

Discover 'Teleport-o-Matic' in Cambridge, England: One of several Lilliputian portals that are ready to transport passengers to other dimensions, if they can find them.

Seaman’s Memorial Tower

Discover Seaman's Memorial Tower in Aransas Pass, Texas: A tower that pays homage to local sailors who perished under the waves.

Tolbooth Tavern

Discover Tolbooth Tavern in Edinburgh, Scotland: Now home to a drinking establishment, this building has a macabre history.

Keddie Wye

Discover Keddie Wye in Quincy, California: A showcase of engineering might that was also symbolic of westward expansion.

Silent Green Kulturquartier

Discover Silent Green Kulturquartier in Berlin, Germany: Concerts, art, offices, and a café in what used to be Berlin's first crematorium.

Modhera Sun Temple

Discover Modhera Sun Temple in Modhera, India: An architectural marvel that dates back to the zenith of Indian architecture.

The Skerne Bridge

Discover The Skerne Bridge in Darlington, England: The world's oldest railway bridge in continuous use.

Kizukuri Station

Discover Kizukuri Station in Tsugaru, Japan: A train station decorated by a giant replica of an ancient Shakōki-dogū figurine.

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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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