Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Prison de Kara

Discover Prison de Kara in Meknès, Morocco: Designed as a labyrinth, this subterranean prison was crafted without bars or doors.

Salt & Pepper Museum

Discover Salt & Pepper Museum in Larnaca, Cyprus: More than 20,000 salt and pepper shakers from across the globe call this museum home.

Spider Statue

Discover Spider Statue in Yerevan, Armenia: Destruction from Armenia's 1988 earthquake inspired an artist's sculptures of scrap metal.

Eagle Cliffs

Discover Eagle Cliffs in Sochi, Russia: These limestone cliffs are associated with the Greek myth of Prometheus.

Büyük Han

Discover Büyük Han in Lefkoşa, Cyprus: The largest caravanserai in Cyprus also includes amazing examples of Ottoman architecture.

Landsorts Lighthouse

Discover Landsorts Lighthouse in Landsort, Sweden: The oldest Swedish built lighthouse still guides ships through the archipelago.

Trevi Waterfall

Discover Trevi Waterfall in Rome, Italy: A magnificent waterfall is also home to the remains of a Roman hydraulic engineering system.

Hanmaum Zen Center of New York

Discover Hanmaum Zen Center of New York in Queens, New York: A temple belonging to the largest Buddhist order in South Korea nestled in the middle of New York City.

The York Ghost Merchants

Discover The York Ghost Merchants in York, England: Makers and sellers of the original and finest York Ghosts.

Mar Behnam Monastery

Discover Mar Behnam Monastery in Iraq: The history of Mar Behnam Monastery is that of violence, intolerance, resiliency, and spirituality.

Chinhoyi Caves

Discover Chinhoyi Caves in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe: The stunningly blue waters of these beautiful caves also have a violent past.

Slepianskaya Waterway System

Discover Slepianskaya Waterway System in Minsk, Belarus: A system of constructed rapids and concrete waterfalls in a linear park on the Slepnya River.

Arch of Janus

Discover Arch of Janus in Rome, Italy: This one-of-a-kind Roman arch is not actually dedicated to the god Janus.

Bosco di Sant’Antonio

Discover Bosco di Sant'Antonio in Pescocostanzo, Italy: A fairy-tale-like forest that was sacred to Jupiter and Saint Anthony.

Selva di Malano

Discover Selva di Malano in Soriano nel Cimino, Italy: Ancient, mysterious stone altars are hidden among wild woods in central Italy.

Wells Cathedral Clock

Discover Wells Cathedral Clock in Somerset, England: This astronomical clock is the second oldest in England.

Carrickfergus Witches’ Pillory

Discover Carrickfergus Witches' Pillory in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland: A replica memorializes the site where women were punished after the last witchcraft trial in Ireland.

Greek Revival Folk Art Chicken Coop

Discover Greek Revival Folk Art Chicken Coop in Greenville, South Carolina: This chicken coop pays homage to a classic architectural style made famous throughout the southern United States.

The Tomb of Maid Marian

Discover The Tomb of Maid Marian in Little Dunmow, England: It's believed Matilda Fitzwalter's life was the basis for the famed literary figure.

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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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