Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Bunker Valentin Memorial

Discover Bunker Valentin Memorial in Bremen, Germany: Constructed by forced laborers, this submarine pen is now a museum and war memorial.

Minquiers Toilet

Discover Minquiers Toilet in Minquiers, Jersey: The southernmost toilet in the British Isles.

Longmire’s Rocks

Discover Longmire's Rocks in Ecclerigg, England: These curious rocks located in the Lake District include several strange inscriptions of famous names.

St. John in the Wilderness

Discover St. John in the Wilderness in Hendersonville, North Carolina: This historic church houses the grave of a Scottish soldier who fought in the Battle of Waterloo.

First Dunkin’ Donuts

Discover First Dunkin' Donuts in Quincy, Massachusetts: This small shop walked so America could run on Dunkin'.

Wardrop’s Court Dragons

Discover Wardrop's Court Dragons in Edinburgh, Scotland: A quartet of brightly colored mythical beasts stand sentry at this gateway.

Castle Chichester Tower

Discover Castle Chichester Tower in Whitehead, Northern Ireland: This tower once belonged to a castle fit for a knight.

Norwich Keyboard

Discover Norwich Keyboard in Norwich, England: This imprint of an old computer keyboard has a unique backstory.

Espai Xavier Corberó

Discover Espai Xavier Corberó in Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain: A surrealist labyrinth and museum of contemporary sculptures.

Bundesbank Bunker Cochem

Discover Bundesbank Bunker Cochem in Cochem, Germany: This Cold War–era fallout shelter was actually a storage facility for the nation's emergency currency.

‘BEACHCOMBER’

Discover 'BEACHCOMBER' in Edinburgh, Scotland: A public art installation with a nautical themed poem, enhances this pedestrian street.

Momo Stop

Discover Momo Stop in Irving, Texas: Exceptional Nepalese food can be found in a Texas gas station.

General Sickles’s Wound Marker

Discover General Sickles's Wound Marker in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: This monument marks the beginning journey of a wounded soldier's leg that ended up almost two states away.

Lumiang Cave

Discover Lumiang Cave in Sagada, Philippines: This burial cave houses around 100 ancient coffins, neatly stacked to form a massive wall.

Abukuma-do Caves

Discover Abukuma-do Caves in Tamura, Japan: These wondrously illuminated caverns extend under the mountains of the Fukushima Prefecture.

Chapel of St. Peter on the Wall

Discover Chapel of St. Peter on the Wall in Bradwell-on-Sea, England: Constructed during the 7th century this is one of the oldest largely intact Christian churches in England.

Alpine Inn

Discover Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California: The Internet Age began with a transmission from this biker bar.

Slumgullion Earthflow

Discover Slumgullion Earthflow in Lake City, Colorado: This National Natural Landmark is one of the best examples of a “mass wasting” in the world.

Isthmia Prime Hotel

Discover Isthmia Prime Hotel in Isthmia, Greece: A closer look at this somewhat faded hotel by the Corinth Canal reveals the architectural undertones of a genius.

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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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