Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Morris Frank and Buddy

Discover Morris Frank and Buddy in Morristown, New Jersey: A trompe-l'oeil statue honoring the first guide dog in North America.

Davenport Pier Beach

Discover Davenport Pier Beach in Davenport, California: Here, visitors can swing with the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Veliki Buk Waterfall

Discover Veliki Buk Waterfall in Strmosten, Serbia: A hidden stream deep in the mountains creates one of the largest tufa waterfalls in Serbia.

Japanese Covered Bridge

Discover Japanese Covered Bridge in Thành phố Hội An, Vietnam: One of Vietnam's most iconic landmarks was built by Japanese merchants and is now in danger of sinking.

Monument to the Fallen of Dogali

Discover Monument to the Fallen of Dogali in Rome, Italy: An ancient Egyptian obelisk is now used to commemorate fallen Italian soldiers.

Carn Laith

Discover Carn Laith in Highland, Scotland: This rare surviving broch is one of Scotland's most impressive Bronze Age structures.

The College of Psychic Studies

Discover The College of Psychic Studies in London, England: This educational institution and reference library specialize in the psychic arts and mediumship.

St. Catherine’s Oratory

Discover St. Catherine's Oratory in Isle of Wight, England: This lighthouse was crafted as penitence for the theft of wine bound for a monastery.

Traffic Control Tower

Discover Traffic Control Tower in Meriden, Connecticut: A human attendant once directed car traffic from this structure before automated stoplights.

Bengtskar Lighthouse

Discover Bengtskar Lighthouse in Rosala, Finland: The tallest lighthouse in the Nordic countries was also the site of a bloody World War II battle.

Monteverde Angel

Discover Monteverde Angel in Genoa, Italy: The "Mona Lisa" of funerary art.

The Whisperer

Discover The Whisperer in Antwerp, Belgium: This interactive sculpture allows visitors to leave a message in case a friend passes by.

Basilica of Agios Nikolaos

Discover Basilica of Agios Nikolaos in Nafplio, Greece: This church is dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers.

Raeapteek

Discover Raeapteek in Tallinn, Estonia: The oldest continuously operating pharmacy in Europe.

Zoological Roundels

Discover Zoological Roundels in Edinburgh, Scotland: These sculptures of various animals adorn the building that houses one of the capital's least known museums.

Vrabac Gočko

Discover Vrabac Gočko in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia: This statue became the mascot of Vrnjačka Banja after Games Without Borders made a stop in this town.

Carnforth Railway Station

Discover Carnforth Railway Station in Carnforth, England: Inside this station, the 1945 film "Brief Encounter" is played on a loop daily.

Rinpoche Bagsha Datsan

Discover Rinpoche Bagsha Datsan in Ulan-Ude, Russia: Located along Lysaya Mountain, this monastery is home to the largest statue of Buddha in Russia.

Yemas de San Leandro

Hidden behind a wall, Spanish nuns dole out their signature sweets on a revolving tray.

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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