Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Sadpol Strawberry

Discover Sadpol Strawberry in Wierzbica, Poland: The giant metal fruit was once the symbol of a large farm.

Ponte di Tiberio (Bridge of Tiberius)

Discover Ponte di Tiberio (Bridge of Tiberius) in Rimini, Italy: This 2,000-year-old Doric bridge is still open to pedestrian traffic to this day.

Amguid Crater

One of the best-preserved impact craters on the planet.

Flies of Saint Narcís

Discover Flies of Saint Narcís in Girona, Spain: These fly sculptures are scattered around the city and represent the patron saint of Girona.

Ha‘amonga ‘a Maui

Discover Ha‘amonga ‘a Maui in Niutoua, Tonga: A massive trilithon nicknamed "Stonehenge of the Pacific.".

Temple of Hera II

Discover Temple of Hera II in Santa Venere, Italy: Also known as the Temple of Poseidon, this is one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world.

Remains of Rajōmon Gate

Discover Remains of Rajōmon Gate in Kyoto, Japan: The site where the famous city gate once stood, now in the middle of a playground.

Museum of Tepexpan

Discover Museum of Tepexpan in Acolman, Mexico: A museum built around the site where the most controversial human remains in the country were found.

The Second Amendment Cowboy

Discover The Second Amendment Cowboy in Amarillo, Texas: This constitutionally sound Muffler Man harkens back to the days these attractions were a must-see.

Hofmann Tower

Discover Hofmann Tower in Lyons, Illinois: A source of civic pride, though the reason for its construction is unknown.

Santa María de Melque

Discover Santa María de Melque in San Martín de Montalbán, Spain: This ancient Visigothic church might hide an ancient treasure.

Bologna Centrale Station Clock

Discover Bologna Centrale Station Clock in Bologna, Italy: Time has been frozen at this station since the bombing in 1980—or so it was believed.

LaGuardia Landing Lights Park

Discover LaGuardia Landing Lights Park in Queens, New York: Nine nice parcels of land along a flight path offer a quiet respite… until a plane soars overhead.

Irwell House Ruins

Discover Irwell House Ruins in Prestwich, England: This grand Georgian manor house was converted to serve as an isolation hospital before it was abandoned and destroyed.

Wiesbaden Kurhaus Spielbank

Discover Wiesbaden Kurhaus Spielbank in Wiesbaden, Germany: A historic casino where Dostoyevsky is said to have lost it all on a single spin of the roulette wheel.

Appia Antica in Itri

Discover Appia Antica in Itri in Itri, Italy: This stretch of the ancient Roman road is preserved in a valley that witnessed many battles and legendary highwaymen.

Menu

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