Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Xu Zhimo Memorial

Discover Xu Zhimo Memorial in Cambridge, England: A monument to one of the most famous modernist Chinese poems and its poet.

Norwegian Canning Museum

Discover Norwegian Canning Museum in Stavanger, Norway: A former factory now pays tribute to a local industry fueled by sardines.

Sasso Menicante (Trembling Stone)

Discover Sasso Menicante (Trembling Stone) in Soriano nel Cimino, Italy: This massive rock balanced for thousands of years being tossed here during a volcanic eruption.

People’s Park Complex

Discover People's Park Complex in Singapore: A manifestation of modernist architectural ideas, this massive, multi-purpose building was one of the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Steinerner Mann (Stone Man)

Discover Steinerner Mann (Stone Man) in Augsburg, Germany: Legend says this sculpture commemorates a brave baker who rescued the city in the Thirty Years' War.

Ranibari Community Forest

Discover Ranibari Community Forest in Kathmandu, Nepal: This conservation area filled with colorful birds is the last community forest within the city of Kathmandu.

Chulalongkorn’s Elephant Statue

Discover Chulalongkorn's Elephant Statue in Singapore: This statue was a gift to commemorate the Thai monarch's first visit to a foreign land.

San Severino di Centola

Discover San Severino di Centola in San Severino, Italy: This medieval hilltop village was abandoned at the end of the 19th century, after existing for more than 500 years.

Stockholm Meteorological Station

Discover Stockholm Meteorological Station in Stockholm, Sweden: One of the world's oldest continuously operating meteorological stations sits on a hill in Stockholm.

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.

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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

PP ToS