Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Shelter House

Discover Shelter House in Emmaus, Pennsylvania: A "house to which to flee" for settlers in colonial Pennsylvania.

Mobius Arch

Discover Mobius Arch in Lone Pine, California: This rock formation named for its unique shape is one of many that call the Alabama Hills home.

Torture Museum Bruges

Discover Torture Museum Bruges in Brugge, Belgium: Inside this former medieval prison is a collection of objects designed to inflict unbelievable pain and suffering on the human body and mind.

Martin Luther King Park Statue

Discover Martin Luther King Park Statue in Amsterdam, Netherlands: This bronze statue of Martin Luther King was placed in the park without permission.

‘Fugetsu En’nen’

Discover 'Fugetsu En'nen' in Tokyo, Japan: This strange mural located in the Ueno station is filled with traditional Japanese symbolism.

C-07 Guanajuato Gunship

Discover Buque Cañonero C-07 Guanajuato (C-07 Guanajuato Gunship) in Boca del Río, Mexico: This flagship of the Mexican Navy has had a bumpy second life after being retired from service.

Puente de Sant Jordi

Discover Puente de Sant Jordi (San Jorge Bridge) in Alcoi, Spain: If you like Art Deco you will love this bridge.

Fish Rocks

Discover Fish Rocks in California: This unique graffiti art from the 1940s has become a staple of this local landscape in the remote California desert.

Precious Belt Bridge

Discover Precious Belt Bridge in Suzhou Shi, China: This bridge dates back to the 9th century and allows visitors to walk an ancient path amid modern industrial trappings.

The Sentinel

Discover The Sentinel in Marfa, Texas: With print dying, this local paper keeps the lights on by doubling as a stunning cafe and cocktail bar.

Oberża Pod Czerwonym Wieprzem

Discover Oberża Pod Czerwonym Wieprzem in Warsaw, Poland: Order “Proletariat’s Cutlet” at this communist-themed restaurant allegedly once visited by Lenin.

Shelter of Cervantes

Discover Shelter of Cervantes in Alcoi, Spain: This air raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War is now a museum dedicated to the history of the city's bombardment.

Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge

Discover Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge in Sumpter, Oregon: During its heyday, 72 one-ton buckets from this dredge bore into the Powder River excavating vast gold deposits.

Rosomača Canyon

Discover Rosomača Canyon in Slavinja, Serbia: The ridged layers that make up this river canyon represent Earth's geological history.

United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building

Discover United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building in Boston, Massachusetts: What may be Boston's finest Art Deco building, located in the city's Financial District.

Inverkiething Mercat Cross

Discover Inverkiething Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, Scotland: Aside from denoting a public square or market, this medieval structure was also a sign of a town's prosperity.

Castle of Agia Mavra

Discover Castle of Agia Mavra (Santa Maura) in Greece: A seaside castle complex that stood through centuries of conquests.

Ouzoud Falls

Discover Ouzoud Falls in Ouzoud, Morocco: One of the tallest waterfalls in Africa is also home to a population of monkeys who enjoy the waters and the occasional guest.

Hotel New York

Discover Hotel New York in Rotterdam, Netherlands: This hotel was once home to a steamliner company and became the final rest stop for Europeans heading to the New World.

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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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