Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Yoho National Park

Discover Yoho National Park in Field, British Columbia: Fossils, railroads, and waterfalls!

Redpath Museum

Discover Redpath Museum in Montreal, Québec: One of Canada's oldest museums, the beautiful Redpath has been serving up Natural History and Ethnography since 1882.

Whistler Train Wreck

Discover Whistler Train Wreck in Whistler, British Columbia: The remains of a Canadian train crash are now mouldering beneath layers of rust and graffiti.

Toronto’s Half House

Discover Toronto's Half House in Toronto, Ontario: Willy Wonka would love this weird half-a-home.

Cheltenham Badlands

Discover Cheltenham Badlands in Caledon, Ontario: These strikingly barren, rolling red hills were caused by bad farming practices.

The Little House

Discover The Little House in Toronto, Ontario: Smallest house in Toronto sits on a lot meant to be just wide enough for cars to drive through.

Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree

Discover Fairy Lake Bonsai Tree in Port Renfrew, British Columbia: Defying all odds, this lonely little tree found a home on a log sticking out of a Canadian lake.

City of Waterfalls

Discover City of Waterfalls in Hamilton, Ontario: With well over 130 falls and cascades to brag about, Hamilton, Ontario has earned its stripes as the waterfall capital of the world.

The Shameful Tiki Room

Discover The Shameful Tiki Room in Vancouver, British Columbia: A high point in Vancouver kitsch.

Marché Jean-Talon

Discover Marché Jean-Talon in Montreal, Québec: Montreal's giant farmer's market is a foodie's best friend, especially in the winter months.

Les Jardins de Quatre-Vents

Discover Les Jardins de Quatre-Vents in La Malbaie, Québec: This Quebec estate is home to the elaborate gardens of a self-taught horticulturist.

L’Anse Aux Meadows

Discover L'Anse Aux Meadows in Saint Lunaire-Griquet, Newfoundland and Labrador: An ancient Viking village in North America that predates Columbus by 500 years.

Lower Bay Station

Discover Lower Bay Station in Toronto, Ontario: Lost subway station nestled beneath Toronto's busy commuter line.

The Bruce Peninsula Grotto

Discover The Bruce Peninsula Grotto in Tobermory, Ontario: This natural sea cave hides a small wonderland of natural turquoise beauty.

Riverview Hospital

Discover Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, British Columbia: Historic psychiatric asylum and most-filmed location in the Great White North.

Notre Dame Basilica

Discover Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Québec: A grand Gothic Revival basilica with stained glass depictions of Montreal's religious history has only one soul resting in its crypt.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Discover Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, British Columbia: This expansive bridge in the Canadian wilderness was originally just built for friends.

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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