Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Kemptown Secret Garden

Discover Kemptown Secret Garden in Brighton, England: A hidden sculpture garden tucked within the middle of Brighton.

Tharp’s Log

Discover Tharp’s Log in Three Rivers, California: A 19th-century cabin built into a hollowed-out Sequoia tree.

Lenin Museum

Discover Lenin Museum in Moscow, Russia: One of the last examples of Soviet architectural propaganda has a few technological tricks up its sleeve.

Plaza Santos Degollado

Discover Plaza Santos Degollado in Mexico City, Mexico: A grand entrance to one of the world's smallest Chinatowns.

Qaqortoq Road

Discover Qaqortoq Road in Qaqortoq, Greenland: In a country where driving from one town to another is literally impossible, this small stretch of gravel is a remarkable feat.

Oak Street Alley Murals

Discover Oak Street Alley Murals in Phoenix, Arizona: This small, unassuming street is now a canvas for color and creativity.

Pertosa Caves

Discover Pertosa Caves in Muraglione, Italy: Ride a boat through this magnificent underground world, which now doubles as a theater.

Whitelee Wind Farm

Discover Whitelee Wind Farm in Eaglesham, Scotland: The biggest onshore wind farm in the United Kingdom.

Dumbarton Rock

Discover Dumbarton Rock in Dumbarton, Scotland: This volcanic plug boasts the longest recorded history of any Scottish stronghold.

Tinago Falls

Discover Tinago Falls in Iligan City, Philippines: Hidden deep within a Filipino jungle is an incredible waterfall that plunges into a dazzling blue-green pool.

Pink Floyd Plaque

Discover Pink Floyd Plaque in London, England: This London marker celebrates the spot where the world-famous English band was founded.

Joseph Kraus’s Grave

Discover Joseph Kraus's Grave in Stockholm, Sweden: The composer known as the "Swedish Mozart" arranged to be buried in an unusual spot.

Fazangjiang Temple

Discover Fazangjiang Temple in Shanghai, China: This under-visited temple is nestled within one of Shanghai's traditional shikumen-style residential blocks.

Wooden Animal Sculptures

Discover Wooden Animal Sculptures in Edinburgh, Scotland: Another entry into the world of Edinburgh's pop-up artworks.

Benjamin Orr’s Grave

Discover Benjamin Orr's Grave in Thompson, Ohio: The final resting place of one of the most iconic musicians of the '80s.

Hotel Castillo Santa Cecilia

Discover Hotel Castillo Santa Cecilia in Guanajuato, Mexico: A hotel masquerading as a medieval castle overlooks a Mexican city.

Jacob’s Ladder

Discover Jacob's Ladder in Edinburgh, Scotland: This obscure walkway links Edinburgh’s Old Town with one of the city's prime vantage points.

Dualidad Mural

Discover Dualidad Mural in Mexico City, Mexico: This immense scene of a cosmic battle between a jaguar and serpent illustrates the Aztec concept of the duality of life.

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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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