Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Bodie State Historic Park

Discover Bodie State Historic Park in Bridgeport, California: A former mining town left unchanged since the turn of the 20th-century.

Mottville Camelback Bridge

Discover Mottville Camelback Bridge in White Pigeon, Michigan: The longest structure of its kind ever built in Michigan.

Sugihara House

Discover Sugihara House in Kaunas, Lithuania: Where a Japanese government official issued transit visas to Jews fleeing from Nazi-occupied Poland.

Huaqing Pools

Discover Huaqing Pools in Xian Shi, China: These mountain hot springs have seen power struggles, doomed romances, and a generalissimo's attempted escape from mutiny.

Memphis Gong Chamber

Discover Memphis Gong Chamber in Memphis, Tennessee: Ethereal alien hums and haunting whale songs emitting from…a giant sheet of vibrating metal?

5 de Mayo Food Market

Discover 5 de Mayo Food Market in Queens, New York: Head past the aisles of tropical fruit and imported candy at this bodega to discover a hidden, weekends-only taco stand.

Literature Street

Discover Literatų Gatvė (Literature Street) in Vilnius, Lithuania: Plaques celebrating Lithuanian writers freckle a wall of this picture-perfect path.

Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo

Discover Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico: This baroque wonder is filled with a trove of artistic treasures.

Kika Figures of Erfurt

Discover Kika Figures of Erfurt in Erfurt, Germany: Beloved children's TV characters freckle the German city's streets.

Táin Bó Cúailnge Mosaic

Discover Táin Bó Cúailnge Mosaic in Dublin, Ireland: This colorful and fiery mural depicts the Irish folk story of the beloved hero Cuchulain.

Thanks-Giving Square

Discover Thanks-Giving Square in Dallas, Texas: A serene temple with stunning stained glass hides in downtown Dallas.

Dora Observatory

Discover Dora Observatory in Paju, South Korea: The best place for scenic views of the DMZ and North Korea.

Kavernputt

Discover Kavernputt in Smithfield, Pennsylvania: A miniature golf course crafted inside the world's largest simulated cave.

James Corbett Home

Discover James Corbett Home in Queens, New York: The home of former Heavyweight Boxing Champion, "Gentleman Jim" Corbett.

Inventionland

Discover Inventionland in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: A unique workspace where offices reside on pirate ships and inside gingerbread houses.

Leonard’s Museum

Discover Leonard's Museum in Fort Worth, Texas: This small museum tells the story of Fort Worth's first and largest superstore.

Almansa Town Hall Sculpture Garden

Discover Almansa Town Hall Sculpture Garden in Almansa, Spain: This impressive former palace contains a hidden gem for fans of modern sculpture.

Ottoman Clock

Discover Ottoman Clock in Mexico City, Mexico: This clock was gifted to Mexico as a show of gratitude for its long history of welcoming Arab migrants.

Sherling Backstage Walkway

Discover Sherling Backstage Walkway in London, England: A hidden path at the National Theatre lets you look behind the scenes of the latest productions.

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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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