Archives: Atlas Obscuras

‘Intersection Point Zero’

Discover 'Intersection Point Zero' in Carrizozo, New Mexico: This sculpture is intended to reset a person’s creativity.

Stokesay Castle

Discover Stokesay Castle in Stokesay, England: A 13th-century fortified manor house that was once sieged during the English Civil War.

Torre Di Vernazzano

Discover Torre Di Vernazzano in Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Italy: This lesser-known leaning tower is all that remains of the medieval castle of Vernazzano.

Arco di Trevi

Discover Arco di Trevi in Guarcino, Italy: This mysterious ancient arch is hidden in the forest of Simbruini Mountains Regional Park.

Mama Kannon Temple

Discover Mama Kannon Temple in Komaki, Japan: The only Buddhist temple in Japan dedicated to breasts.

‘Xipe Totec’

Discover 'Xipe Totec' in Mexico City, Mexico: This neon installation is a tribute to a Mexica god, who gave his skin to humanity.

Pavillion Le Corbusier

Discover Pavillion Le Corbusier in Zürich, Switzerland: Constructed along the shores of Lake Zurich, this pavilion is a walk-through work of art.

Wallace Creek

Discover Wallace Creek in Santa Margarita, California: The San Andreas Fault spectacularly offsets this creek.

South Lawn Car Park

Discover South Lawn Car Park in Melbourne, Australia: A unique underground car park that has become a popular filming location.

Dragonfly Trail Petroglyphs

Discover Dragonfly Trail Petroglyphs in Silver City, New Mexico: Hidden in the Chihuahuan Desert resides an amazing collection of petroglyphs.

Kings Norton Stop Lock

Discover Kings Norton Stop Lock in Kings Norton, England: This ingenious engineering solution was built to stop the "theft" of canal water.

The Wooden Man

Discover The Wooden Man in Kværndrup, Denmark: Generations have refused to move this doll from its dusty resting place to preserve a castle from a watery fate.

The Lemp Family Tomb

Discover The Lemp Family Tomb in St. Louis, Missouri: This mausoleum is the final resting place of one of St. Louis's richest and most tragic families.

Nagaoka Hyakuana Burial Mound

Discover Nagaoka Hyakuana Burial Mound in Utsunomiya, Japan: This ancient burial cave along a roadside is also home to several Buddhist sculptures.

The Bridge of Oich

Discover The Bridge of Oich in Highland, Scotland: A double cantilever system bridge that was designed to prevent flood damage.

Kalambo Falls

Discover Kalambo Falls in Zambia: This stunning waterfall is the backdrop to a site that has seen continuous human habitation for 250,000 years.

Menu

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