Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Keno City Mining Museum

Discover Keno City Mining Museum in Keno City, Yukon: The resilient spirit of this remote mining town burns bright in its eclectic memorabilia.

Sanatorio Durán (Durán Sanatorium)

Discover Sanatorio Durán (Durán Sanatorium) in Potrero Cerrado, Costa Rica: This abandoned hospital is one of the most haunted places in Costa Rica.

Seneca Quarry

Discover Seneca Quarry in Poolesville, Maryland: This ruined quarry once produced the distinctive red sandstone used for construction projects in Washington, D.C.

David’s Brisket House

Discover David's Brisket House in Brooklyn, New York: A Jewish deli run by Yemeni Muslims in an Afro-Caribbean neighborhood is quintessential Brooklyn.

Port de Pêche

Discover Port de Pêche in Nouakchott, Mauritania: Thousands of colorful pirogues showcase ingenious craftsmanship at the largest fishermen port in Nouakchott.

Valencia de Alcántara Dolmens

Discover Valencia de Alcántara Dolmens in Valencia de Alcántara, Spain: One of Europe's largest groups of dolmens remains largely off the typical tourist track.

Kylie Tennant’s Hut

Discover Kylie Tennant's Hut in Crowdy Bay National Park, Australia: An Australian novelist's cozy coastal retreat, turned campground.

Daffodil Lane

Discover Daffodil Lane in Ballygalley, Northern Ireland: This rustic, flower-lined pathway once had very little in common with its namesake.

Museum of Food and Drink

Discover Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn, New York: Here, exhibits come with a side of edible history.

Upton Chamber

Discover Upton Chamber in Upton, Massachusetts: This mysterious artificial cave has long puzzled New Englanders.

Reliable Market

Discover Reliable Market in Somerville, Massachusetts: Eat first, shop later at this eatery within an Asian grocer.

Bristol Museum Natural History Collection

Discover Bristol Museum Natural History Collection in Bristol, England: It houses a menagerie of wondrous taxidermy specimens from around the world, including the remains of a famous gorilla.

‘Trois Disques’ (‘Three Disks’)

Discover ‘Trois Disques’ ('Three Disks') in Montreal, Québec: A swaggering, monumental souvenir of the most extravagant party Montreal’s ever thrown.

‘The Manuscript of Monte Cassino’

Discover 'The Manuscript of Monte Cassino' in Edinburgh, Scotland: This sculpture of disembodied body parts forms a poignant memory of the horrors of World War II.

Sandgate Castle

Discover Sandgate Castle in Sandgate, England: This Tudor-era castle was once part of King Henry VIII's plan to protect England from invasion.

Brandy Gap Tunnel #2

Discover Brandy Gap Tunnel #2 in Salem, West Virginia: This abandoned train tunnel has been the subject of countless ghost stories for years.

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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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