Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Les Roches Peintes

Discover Les Roches Peintes in Aoussift, Morocco: In this desolate valley resides a gorgeous set of rocks sporting a technicolor design.

Sirenas de Segovia

Discover Sirenas de Segovia in Segovia, Spain: These "mermaids" that surround a plaza in Segovia are rather sphinx-like.

Springkällan (The Spring)

Discover Springkällan (The Spring) in Rättvik V, Sweden: An oil drilling mistake created this fountain that has been spraying water for over 150 years.

AvtoVAZ Museum

Discover AvtoVAZ Museum in Tolyatti, Russia: A collection of iconic Soviet car models on display.

George Bush Statue

Discover George Bush Statue in Fushë Kruje, Albania: In this town's main square resides a statue of none other than the 43rd President of the United States.

Taconic Mountain Ramble Zen Gardens

Discover Taconic Mountain Ramble Zen Gardens in Castleton, Vermont: This magnificent Japanese garden provides a moment of Zen in rural Vermont.

Barkin’ Springs

Discover Barkin' Springs in Austin, Texas: A free, canine-friendly alternative watering hole near the more famous Barton Springs.

El Palmar de Troya

Discover El Palmar de Troya in Utrera, Spain: The cathedral of a controversial, conservative, schismatic sect that declared the Catholic Church heretical and founded its own succession of popes.

Booked Up

Discover Booked Up in Archer City, Texas: A massive collection of rare and antique books in a tiny ranching community in northern Texas.

Staff Sgt. Reckless Monument

Discover Staff Sgt. Reckless Monument in Triangle, Virginia: A memorial dedicated to a highly decorated Marine and Korean War veteran, who also happened to be a horse.

Ethnographic Museum of Krujë

Discover Ethnographic Museum of Krujë in Krujë, Albania: Explore a traditional Albanian dwelling that pays tribute to the region's rich history.

The Blaxhall Stone

Discover The Blaxhall Stone in Blaxhall, England: Blaxhall's burgeoning boulder can't help putting on a few extra stones.

Monumento ad Ayrton Senna

Discover Monumento ad Ayrton Senna in Imola, Italy: Everyday, fans from across the globe visit the statue of one of the greatest Formula One drivers in history.

Haneda Ōtorii

Discover Haneda Ōtorii in Ota City, Japan: A cursed torii gate still stands on the edge of Haneda Airport, decades after its shrine's relocation.

The Roman Baths of Toledo

Discover The Roman Baths of Toledo in Toledo, Spain: The fragmented remains of a massive public bath connected to the city's water supply.

Rocca di Piediluco

Discover Rocca di Piediluco in Piediluco, Italy: The ruins of this medieval castle overlook the lake of Piediluco in what was once a sacred forest.

The Well of the Miracle

Discover The Well of the Miracle in Madrid, Spain: An old, deep well, connected with a miraculous, divine rescue and the patron saint of Madrid.

Saugatuck Chain Ferry

Discover Saugatuck Chain Ferry in Saugatuck, Michigan: This is the last hand-cranked chain ferry of its kind in operation in the United States.

Laugh-O-Gram Studio

Discover Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City, Missouri: This Kansas City studio was home to Walt Disney's first animation business.

Seurat at Saugatuck

Discover Seurat at Saugatuck in Saugatuck, Michigan: In this quiet park a rendition of a classic painting graces the outside of a charming restroom.

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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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