Archives: Atlas Obscuras

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.

‘Twisted House’

Discover 'Twisted House' in Indianapolis, Indiana: Nature and art meet in this curvy creation.

Malbork Castle

Discover Malbork Castle in Malbork, Poland: This 13th century Gothic brick castle is the largest in the world by surface area.

Árvore dos Desejos (Wish Tree)

Discover Árvore dos Desejos (Wish Tree) in Brasília, Brazil: Brasilia's oldest newsstand is sheltered by a wish-granting tunnel-tree.

Elfin Oak

Discover Elfin Oak in London, England: This ancient oak plays host to carvings of magical elves, gnomes, witches, and other creatures prominent in local folklore.

Kuno II

Discover Kuno II in Jettingen-Scheppach, Germany: The world's first jet-powered aircraft were assembled by the Germans in this secret factory in the forest during WWII.

Raizan Sennyoji Daihioin Temple

Discover Raizan Sennyoji Daihioin Temple in Itoshima, Japan: A culturally significant rural temple in the beautiful mountains of Itoshima.

Huápoca

Discover Huápoca in Mexico: These cliff-dwellings might be Mexico's least visited archaeological site.

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