Archives: Atlas Obscuras

World’s Largest Boot

Discover World's Largest Boot in Red Wing, Minnesota: Inside this museum resides a boot fit for a giant.

Toše Proeski Memorial House

Discover Toše Proeski Memorial House in Krusheva, North Macedonia: The cross-shaped memorial is filled with kitschy tributes to the late pop star.

Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum

Discover Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum in Kahului, Hawaii: Inside, visitors are treated to the rich history of sugar farming and its impact on Hawaiian society.

Watership Down

Discover Watership Down in Ecchinswell, England: This grassy, tree-lined hill shares a name with the much-loved novel that it inspired.

John Callahan Memorial Garden

Discover John Callahan Memorial Garden in Portland, Oregon: This garden is dedicated to a Portland cartoonist who specialized in dark humor.

Statue Of Lenin

Discover Statue Of Lenin in Brest, Belarus: Nearly three decades since the fall of the Soviet Union, the hero of the USSR still stands over Belarus.

‘América Tropical’

Discover 'América Tropical' in Los Angeles, California: One of Los Angeles's first murals once vibrantly depicted the dangers of United States imperialism.

Haven Brothers Diner

Discover Haven Brothers Diner in Providence, Rhode Island: From horses to stainless-steel trucks, this iconic Providence burger wagon is one of the oldest mobile diners in the country.

Cosmic Ray Pavilion

Discover Pabellón Rayos Cósmicos (Cosmic Ray Pavilion) in Mexico City, Mexico: This laboratory has a remarkable concrete roof that measures less than an inch at its thickest point.

Essex Witch Hunt Victims Memorial

Discover Essex Witch Hunt Victims Memorial in Essex, England: Centuries later, the victims of Great Britain's greatest hysteria are finally being remembered.

Robert Y Museum

Discover Robert Y Museum in Su'ao Township, Taiwan: This former factory turned private museum contains surreal and creepy artwork created by Robert Y.

Margaret Corbin’s Grave

Discover Margaret Corbin's Grave in West Point, New York: West Point’s only monument to a woman veteran stands above an empty grave.

Sakagura

Discover Sakagura in New York, New York: More than 250 sakes are available in an izakaya hidden in the basement of a Midtown office building.

La Pozontlería

Discover La Pozontlería in Oaxaca, Mexico: One of the city's few vendors selling the Sierra Norte's ancestral beverage lies within a hidden farmers market.

Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai

Discover Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai in Naples, Italy: An unusual "skull with ears" sits in the crypt of this small church tucked away at the end of a narrow alley.

The Wind Turbine Beach

Discover The Wind Turbine Beach in Hvide Sande, Denmark: Along this stretch of beach in Denmark resides several massive bastions of energy.

L’Oisivethé

Discover L'Oisivethé in Paris, France: This Parisian café is dedicated to great tea and the art of knitting.

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

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