Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Nyālon (Fish Stone)

Discover Nyālon (Fish Stone) in Kathmandu, Nepal: This small shrine dedicated to a fish is believed to hold the secrets to this historic market's founding.

The Holestone

Discover The Holestone in Doagh, Northern Ireland: This mysterious Bronze Age standing stone has become a place where couples profess their love.

The Queen’s Letter

Discover The Queen's Letter in Sydney, Australia: This letter written by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986 won't be opened until 2085.

All Saints’ Church, Brixworth

Discover All Saints' Church, Brixworth in Brixworth, England: This church is considered the largest and most complete Saxon church in England.

Prayer Mountain Hanwa

Discover Prayer Mountain Hanwa in Zaria, Nigeria: This collection of Christian churches are nestled in the cracks of a rocky hill in Northern Nigeria.

Map of Africa

Discover Map of Africa in Wilderness, South Africa: A beautiful viewpoint on the Garden Route overlooking a naturally-occurring outline of Africa.

Crookston School

Discover Crookston School in Wallyford, Scotland: This former school is now abandoned and a canvas for graffiti artists.

Temple of Hercules Victor

Discover Temple of Hercules Victor in Rome, Italy: This curious, round temple is the oldest still-standing marble building in Rome.

Lund Observatory Clock

Discover Lund Observatory Clock in Lund, Sweden: This antique clock once gave the most accurate time in the area.

Colinton Tunnel

Discover Colinton Tunnel in Edinburgh, Scotland: This former train tunnel is filled with lines from a poem crafted by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Ardmore Ghost Town

Discover Ardmore Ghost Town in Ardmore, South Dakota: Abandoned businesses, homes, and rusted cars are all that remains of this stopover town.

Grave of Võ Thị Sáu

Discover Grave of Võ Thị Sáu in Côn Đảo, Vietnam: Executed at age 19, this Vietnamese schoolgirl is now a national hero and symbol of revolutionary spirit.

Great Falls Nike Fire Control Site W-83

Discover Great Falls Nike Fire Control Site W-83 in Great Falls, Virginia: This former Cold War missile control site played an important role in the creation of GPS.

Re-POP Gifts

Discover Re-POP Gifts in Boise, Idaho: This pop-culture shop also offers the chance to become part of their favorite tv show or movie.

Caldo de Piedra

Discover Caldo de Piedra in Tlalixtac de Cabrera, Mexico: Fiery-hot river rocks make soup sizzle at this restaurant showcasing indigenous Chinantec cuisine.

Pozzo d’Antullo

Discover Pozzo d'Antullo in Collepardo, Italy: An enormous sinkhole that local lore attributes to the anger of the Virgin Mary.

‘Alice Door’

Discover 'Alice Door' in Oxford, England: Inside this church is an obscure piece of art carved by the famous Alice Liddell.

Kozukappara Execution Grounds

Discover Kozukappara Execution Grounds in Tokyo, Japan: This infamous execution site inspired the beginning of Japan's modernization in the late 18th-century.

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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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