Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Bukovička Banja Park

Discover Bukovička Banja Park in Aranđelovac, Serbia: This spa park features an open-air museum of abstract marble sculptures.

Wampahoofus Trail

Discover Wampahoofus Trail in Underhill, Vermont: This path is named for a mythical half-boar, half-deer creature that once roamed the Green Mountains.

Rainbow Tomatoes Garden

Discover Rainbow Tomatoes Garden in East Greenville, Pennsylvania: This roadside stand packs 300-plus varieties of tomatoes, from "Maiden's Fire" to "Kaleidoscopic Jewel.".

Giant Toonie

Discover Giant Toonie in Campbellford, Ontario: This giant Canadian coin is a monument to the artist who created its iconic emblem.

Hormuz Island

Discover Hormuz Island in Hormuz, Iran: The colorful soil of Iran’s "Rainbow Island" attracts artists and nature lovers.

Cascata Grande di Isola del Liri

Discover Cascata Grande di Isola del Liri in Isola del Liri, Italy: Italy's only urban waterfall has enchanted artists and travelers for centuries.

Der Lichtbringer (The Bearer of Light)

Discover Der Lichtbringer (The Bearer of Light) in Bremen, Germany: A stunning gilt bronze relief denounced by Hitler as "degenerate art"—even though it was dedicated to the Nazi leader.

The Höglund Dugout

Discover The Höglund Dugout in Lindsborg, Kansas: This mid-19th-century dugout was once home to a Swedish family as they erected their homestead.

Castle Lug

Discover Castle Lug in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland: This castle once belonged to one of the most prominent families of medieval Carrickfergus.

‘Ursus’

Discover 'Ursus' in Trieste, Italy: This historic floating crane became an unlikely symbol of the port of Trieste.

African Heritage House

Discover African Heritage House in Mlolongo, Kenya: This beautiful, all-in-one museum, private residence, and bed and breakfast houses a rich collection of African art.

Wheeler Geologic Area

Discover Wheeler Geologic Area in Creede, Colorado: This once-popular otherwordly landscape was formed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history.

Zeniarai Benten Shrine

Discover Zeniarai Benten Shrine in Kamakura, Japan: It is said that coins washed in the waters here will miraculously multiply.

Amandine Museum Ship

Discover Amandine Museum Ship in Ostend, Belgium: The last Oostende trawler to fish off Iceland is now a museum.

Calabacillas Arroyo Artificial Fossils

Discover Calabacillas Arroyo Artificial Fossils in Albuquerque, New Mexico: From a T-rex to a teapot, a cast of artificial fossils illustrates New Mexico's history.

Seashell Gallery

Discover Seashell Gallery in Lisbon, Portugal: In the Monastery of São Vicente resides a gallery devoted to a breathtaking collection of seashells.

St. Petersburg Post Office

Discover St. Petersburg Post Office in St. Petersburg, Florida: A creative deviation in this post office's design was once a source of controversy.

Caldara di Manziana

Discover Caldara di Manziana in Manziana, Italy: This caldera was once associated with the Etruscan god of the underworld.

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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