Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Koukokuji Buddhist Temple

Discover Koukokuji Buddhist Temple in Tokyo, Japan: Inside the columbarium, thousands of colorful, high-tech Buddhas guard the ashes of the dead.

Statue of Elvis Presley

Discover Statue of Elvis Presley in Las Vegas, Nevada: A homage to the King at the hotel where he revived his career.

Red Canyon

Discover Red Canyon in Israel: Squeezing inside this deep, narrow canyon reveals a festival of desert colors.

Bernheim Forest Giants

Discover Bernheim Forest Giants in Shepherdsville, Kentucky: Visitors to this arboretum are greeted by three smiling giants crafted from sustainable materials.

John Brown’s Farm

Discover John Brown's Farm in Lake Placid, New York: It wouldn't be long after purchasing this farm, Brown would lead his siege on Harper's Ferry.

The L. Ron Hubbard House

Discover The L. Ron Hubbard House in Washington, D.C.: Also known as the Founding Church of Scientology.

Kachalka

Discover Kachalka in Kyiv, Ukraine: Kyiv's answer to Muscle Beach is a Soviet-era gym made from scrap metal.

Innocent Railway Path

Discover Innocent Railway Path in Edinburgh, Scotland: The U.K.'s first underground railway line is now a lively thoroughfare for runners and cyclists.

U.S. Route 1 Mile 0 Sign

Discover U.S. Route 1 Mile 0 Sign in Key West, Florida: The highway's southernmost spot is a beloved local attraction.

Bat Bar in Lost Canyon Cave

Discover Bat Bar in Lost Canyon Cave in Ridgedale, Missouri: If there's another drive-through golf-cart bar in a bat-filled cave on top of a mountain, we don't know about it.

Pag Triangle

Discover Pag Triangle in Kustići, Croatia: Just a few miles from Novalja, a strange geological oddity has left scientists baffled.

Alfred Nobel’s Grave

Discover Alfred Nobel's Grave in Stockholm, Sweden: The final resting place of the man whose name has become synonymous with greatness.

Cow Springs Trading Post

Discover Cow Springs Trading Post in Tonalea, Arizona: The graffiti-covered ruins of an abandoned trading post in the middle of Navajo Nation.

Ghost Town Disc Golf

Discover Ghost Town Disc Golf in Central City, Colorado: Toss a Frisbee through the ruins of this Colorado gold mining town.

Warung Selasa

Discover Warung Selasa in Queens, New York: Shop while you wait for a table in this tiny Indonesian eatery within a mini-mart.

Salón de Cabildos (City Hall)

Discover Salón de Cabildos (City Hall) in Mexico City, Mexico: History is on display in this hall, which has served as the seat of city government for centuries.

Kalaloch Tree of Life

Discover Kalaloch Tree of Life in Forks, Washington: This large Sitka spruce that appears to be floating in mid-air, has defied logic for years.

Museum Of Modern Art Dubrovnik (MoMAD)

Discover Museum Of Modern Art Dubrovnik (MoMAD) in Dubrovnik, Croatia: Inside this mansion turned museum, the works of prominent Croatian artists are on full display.

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

PP ToS