Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Tomb of Esther and Mordechai

Discover Tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamedan, Iran: The most sacred Jewish shrine in Iran and a fine example of restoration works gone wrong.

Fountain of the Planet of the Apes

Discover Fountain of the Planet of the Apes in Queens, New York: No monkeying around, this fountain was really named after the classic sci-fi film.

A Famosa

Discover A Famosa in Melaka, Malaysia: Built by the Portuguese in the early 16th century, this fort is the oldest European structure in Southeast Asia.

J. Boom

Discover J. Boom in Alkmaar, Netherlands: A museum-like shop that has been producing clogs, brushes, and ropes for nearly 200 years.

Pidhirtsi Castle

Discover Pidhirtsi Castle in Pidhirtsi, Ukraine: One of the most valuable palace-garden complexes in the eastern borderlands—and one of the most haunted.

Burg Drachenfels

Discover Burg Drachenfels in Königswinter, Germany: A ruined castle stands atop a hill surrounded by dragon lore.

Petrified Tree

Discover Petrified Tree in Anaheim, California: The oldest attraction in Disneyland is a prehistoric stump that Walt may have bought for his wife.

Ponte degli Alpini

Discover Ponte degli Alpini in Bassano del Grappa, Italy: Destroyed numerous times, this centuries-old bridge has always been rebuilt with its original design.

Certosa di San Lorenzo (Padula Charterhouse)

Discover Certosa di San Lorenzo (Padula Charterhouse) in Padula, Italy: An omelette made with over 1,000 eggs may have been prepared when Holy Roman Emperor Charles V visited this monastery.

‘Spirit of Communication’

Discover 'Spirit of Communication' in Morton, Illinois: A Depression-era sculpture by Charles Umlauf survives in a small suburban post office.

Freedom Monument

Discover Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia: This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

Whole Wall Mural

Discover Whole Wall Mural in Concordia, Kansas: This three-dimensional brick mural is the longest of its kind in the United States.

TEPCO Beach

Discover TEPCO Beach in Richmond, California: A porcelain company's former dumping ground, completely covered in pieces of collectible ceramics.

Temple of Jupiter Anxur

Discover Temple of Jupiter Anxur in Terracina, Italy: A Roman temple perched over an Italian town, forgotten several times over.

Statue of Uta von Ballenstedt

Discover Statue of Uta von Ballenstedt in Naumburg, Germany: Is this statue at Naumberg Cathedral the fairest of them all?

Pudding Shop (Lale Restaurant)

Discover Pudding Shop (Lale Restaurant) in Istanbul, Turkey: This crucial gathering spot along the "hippie trail" still displays old notes between traveling beatniks and backpackers.

Portuguese Point

Discover Portuguese Point in Union Township, Missouri: A flat slab of stone perched hundreds of feet above the Gasconade River in the northern Ozark mountains.

Tour Cybernétique

Discover Tour Cybernétique (Cybernetic Tower) in Liège, Belgium: Nicolas Schöffer's massive interactive sculpture was assembled in 1961 and brought back online in 2016.

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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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