Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Niokolo Koba Park

Discover Niokolo Koba Park in Senegal: This park was designated by UNESCO as an Endangered World Heritage site.

Newton’s Apple Tree, Trinity College

Discover Newton's Apple Tree, Trinity College in Cambridge, England: This tree was grafted from the actual tree that led Isaac Newton to ponder the theory of gravity.

Norchia Necropolis

Discover Norchia Necropolis in Viterbo, Italy: One of ancient Etruria's most spectacular archaeological sites with impressive necropolises and rugged landscape.

Franz Sederevičiaus Sculpture Ensemble

Discover Franz Sederevičiaus Sculpture Ensemble in Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania: An impressive ensemble of sculptures that survived the Soviet regime.

Humpback Bridge

Discover Humpback Bridge in Covington, Virginia: The oldest arched-covered bridge in Virginia has truly withstood the test of time.

Hotel Camino Real Polanco

Discover Hotel Camino Real Polanco in Mexico City, Mexico: This hotel is an amazing example of the Escuela Tapatía de Arquitectura movement.

Knill’s Steeple

Discover Knill's Steeple in Carbis Bay, England: A quirky mausoleum celebrated once every five years with young dancing girls, widows, a tax man, and more.

Rio Shipwreck

Discover Rio Shipwreck in Russia: One of the most popular attractions in the small resort town of Kabardinka.

St. Mary’s Well, Jesmond

Discover St. Mary's Well, Jesmond in Newcastle upon Tyne, England: A famous pilgrimage site that remains hidden in the midst of a city.

Huang Kuan Statue

Discover Huang Kuan Statue in Edinburgh, Scotland: The first Chinese student to graduate from a European university.

Novis Mortem Collective

Discover Novis Mortem Collective in Colorado Springs, Colorado: Inside this shop, visitors are treated to a unique blend of natural history and art.

Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries

Discover Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries in Dunfermline, Scotland: Andrew Carnegie funded the building of almost 3,000 libraries across the world, this was the first.

Temple of Mithras, Carrawburgh

Discover Temple of Mithras, Carrawburgh in Northumberland, England: This temple was constructed entirely by Roman soldiers.

Granger Stage Station

Discover Granger Stage Station in Granger, Wyoming: Mark Twain once stopped at this rest station during his journey to Nevada.

Maen Achwyfan Cross

Discover Maen Achwyfan Cross in Pen-yr-Allt, Wales: This mysterious wheel-cross is the tallest in Britain.

John Rattray Statue

Discover John Rattray Statue in Edinburgh, Scotland: The man who helped establish the first rules of golf.

Runstenskullen (The Rune Stone Hill)

Discover Runstenskullen (The Rune Stone Hill) in Lund, Sweden: These ancient rune stones plucked from the countryside now call this university park home.

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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