Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Mauritstoren

Discover Mauritstoren in The Hague, Netherlands: The location of the world's first telescope demonstration.

Hogenakkal Falls

Discover Hogenakkal Falls in Hogenakkal, India: The Kaveri River cuts through the rocky terrain then drops off to form these misty falls.

Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine

Discover Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine in Iwakuni, Japan: A shrine dedicated to the sacred white snakes of Iwakuni, whose albinism has been passed down for generations.

Pons Aemilius

Discover Pons Aemilius in Rome, Italy: The only remaining arch of the oldest stone bridge in Rome stands in the middle of the Tiber.

Ed Young Station

Discover Ed Young Station in Glen Rose, Texas: This abandoned building made of petrified wood was once a hotspot for buying moonshine.

Truxton Canyon Training School

Discover Truxton Canyon Training School in Valentine, Arizona: The remains of a boarding school designed to forcibly assimilate Native American children.

Temple Israel Museum

Discover Temple Israel Museum in Leadville, Colorado: This fully restored synagogue explores the American Jewish experience along the old frontier.

Basilica di San Frances Musical Pillars

Discover Basilica di San Frances Musical Pillars in Ascoli Piceno, Italy: These pillars at the main entrance of this church are actually a hidden musical instrument.

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.

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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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