Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Bosco Magnano Waterfall

Discover Bosco Magnano Waterfall in Cropani, Italy: The pristine waters crossing this forest form a hidden waterfall among the dense vegetation.

Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces

Discover Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces in Odintsovsky District, Russia: A solemn, monumental, kitschy palace of worship honoring victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Biatec Monument

Discover Biatec Monument in Bratislava, Slovakia: A massive sculpture of an obscure Celtic coin that has become a symbol in Slovakia.

Spillings Hoard

Discover Spillings Hoard in Innerstaden, Sweden: Buried beneath an unassuming Gotland farm was the largest collection of Viking silver, mostly of Islamic origin.

Café Lafitte in Exile

Discover Café Lafitte in Exile in New Orleans, Louisiana: One of the oldest continuously-operated gay bars in the United States is allegedly haunted by Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams.

Son Bhandar Caves

Discover Son Bhandar Caves in Rajgir, India: A pair of mysterious, unusually polished cave temples with an ancient gold legend.

Basshenge

Discover Basshenge in Baudette, Minnesota: A garden full of metal sculptures that celebrate the double bass.

Enlightened Heart Buddhist Temple

Discover Enlightened Heart Buddhist Temple in Tambun, Malaysia: On the outskirts of Ipoh, this sprawling temple complex is home to one of the world's tallest pagodas.

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

Discover Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington: This 22-acre botanical garden is home to the largest collection of rhododendrons in the world.

National Teapot Show

Discover National Teapot Show in Creedmoor, North Carolina: Artisans have been gathering in North Carolina since 1989 to show off whimsical takes on an everyday item.

The Chestnuts

Discover The Chestnuts in Guildford, England: The author of Alice in Wonderland spent his final years at this whimsical Victorian home.

Kitsilano Pool

Discover Kitsilano Pool in Vancouver, British Columbia: This scenic waterfront swimming pool is the longest salt water pool in North America.

Grave of Alexander Csoma de Kőrös

Discover Grave of Alexander Csoma de Kőrös in Darjeeling, India: The Hungarian linguistics expert who wrote the first Tibetan–English dictionary was laid to rest in a remote Indian cemetery.

Royal Mint Jáchymov Museum

Discover Royal Mint Jáchymov Museum in Jáchymov, Czechia: Dedicated to the history of mining and minting in a region rich in silver and radium.

San Gervasio

Discover San Gervasio in Cozumel, Mexico: The ruins of an important pilgrimage destination for worshippers of a Maya fertility goddess.

Sixteen Wells

Discover Sixteen Wells in Kamakura, Japan: This mysterious medieval grotto holds a grid of sacred wells of unknown purpose.

Fort Péninsule

Discover Fort Péninsule in Gaspé, Québec: When World War II came to Canada, Fort Péninsule was part of the first line of defense for Allied shipping convoys.

Taragaon Museum

Discover Taragaon Museum in Kathmandu, Nepal: This Kathmandu museum, built in an Austrian modernist style, looks like a set from Star Wars.

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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