Archives: Atlas Obscuras

United Nations Ceiling

Discover United Nations Ceiling in Geneva, Switzerland: This colorful but controversial ceiling has been likened to a 21st-century Sistine Chapel.

Nikola-Lenivets Art Park

Discover Nikola-Lenivets Art Park in Nikola-Lenivets, Russia: The largest art park on the European continent.

‘The World Turns’

Discover 'The World Turns' in Brisbane, Australia: The sculpture shows a water rat turning the world upside-down, landing an elephant on its head.

Grave of Sting the Dog

Discover Grave of Sting the Dog in Larne, Northern Ireland: A beloved pet is buried in among the many old and famous residents of a Northern Ireland cemetery.

Massachusetts Peace Statue

Discover Massachusetts Peace Statue in Orange, Massachusetts: The official peace statue of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Gordon House

Discover The Gordon House in Silverton, Oregon: The only house in Oregon designed by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Väike-Õismäe District

Discover Väike-Õismäe District in Tallinn, Estonia: Its series of concentric circles represented a bold new experiment in socialist urban planning.

Cheviot Beach

Discover Cheviot Beach in Portsea, Australia: This Australian beach became famous when Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared from its shores.

Järnblocket (Iron Boulder)

Discover Järnblocket (Iron Boulder) in Stockholm, Sweden: A prehistoric geological oddity tucked behind Stockholm's natural history museum.

Sunder Burj

Discover Sunder Burj in New Delhi, India: This beautiful 16th-century necropolis marks an astonishing feat in heritage conservation.

Hudson Chess Park

Discover Hudson Chess Park in Chicago, Illinois: A Japanese temple, old German townhouses, and public chess tables offer a peaceful escape from the bustle of the North Side.

Bosque de las Truchas (Forest of the Trouts)

Discover Bosque de las Truchas (Forest of the Trouts) in San Miguel Regla, Mexico: This active fish farm has opened and expanded its lands to become a multi-faceted tourist attraction.

The Devil’s House

Discover La Casa del Diablo (The Devil's House) in San Luis Tehuiloyocan, Mexico: This house covered in art created with volcanic rocks is shrouded in macabre lore.

Monument to Mohamed Bouazizi

Discover Monument to Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia: A tribute to the man who lit himself on fire and ushered in the Tunisian Revolution.

Volo Auto Museum

Discover Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois: Its eclectic exhibits range from the world’s first motorcycle to Luke Skywalker’s Land Speeder.

‘Penelope’ Sculpture

Discover 'Penelope' Sculpture in Liverpool, England: This whimsical public art installation is a unique homage to Liverpool's industrial heritage.

Streecha

Discover Streecha in New York, New York: A Ukrainian church canteen doles out hearty fare in an East Village basement.

Chit Beer

Discover Chit Beer in Koh Kret, Thailand: On a river island north of Bangkok, a small bar helped lead a home-brewing rebellion.

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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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