Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Bart Simpson Etching

Discover Bart Simpson Etching in Portland, Oregon: Forever immortalized in concrete, this Simpsons etching was crafted by show creator Matt Groening.

Eagle Ironworks

Discover Eagle Ironworks in Oxford, England: A little piece of Oxford's overlooked industrial heritage.

Ashfall Fossil Beds

Discover Ashfall Fossil Beds in Royal, Nebraska: When an ancient supervolcano erupted, some of Nebraska's prehistoric animals were forever preserved in ash.

Xaman-Há Ruins

Discover Xaman-Há Ruins in Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Few of the many visitors to this resort town know of its hidden Maya ruins.

‘El Vochol’

Discover 'El Vochol' in Mexico City, Mexico: A Volkswagen Beetle decorated with millions of beads connects Mexico's past and future.

Sander Court

Discover Sander Court in Asheville, North Carolina: Asheville, North Carolina, was the the second place in the world to enjoy Kentucky Fried Chicken's secret recipe.

Spitting Caves

Discover Spitting Caves in Honolulu, Hawaii: A unique set of caves that spits waves back out into the ocean.

CSI Medak Cathedral

Discover CSI Medak Cathedral in Medak, India: The single largest diocese established on the Asian continent.

Foxburg Country Club

Discover Foxburg Country Club in Foxburg, Pennsylvania: The oldest continually operating golf course in the United States.

Rewley Road Swing Bridge

Discover Rewley Road Swing Bridge in Oxford, England: The remnants of this unusual bridge await an uncertain fate.

Sanford & Son Antiques

Discover Sanford & Son Antiques in Tacoma, Washington: This three-story antique market and curiosity emporium claims to be "the largest singly owned antique shop in the Pacific Northwest.".

Otto Wagner Villa I (Ernst Fuchs Museum)

Discover Otto Wagner Villa I (Ernst Fuchs Museum) in Vienna, Austria: This grand manse has been transformed into a museum devoted to one of the founders of Fantastic Realism.

Vintage Sewing Center and Museum

Discover Vintage Sewing Center and Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Its incredible collection preserves 170 years of sewing machine history.

Cafe Pho Co

Discover Cafe Pho Co in Hanoi, Vietnam: Walk through a clothing store, across a courtyard, and up several flights of stairs for delicious coffee with a side of beautiful views.

Palazzo Altieri

Discover Palazzo Altieri in Oriolo Romano, Italy: This palatial building houses a remarkable gallery of papal portraits.

Santiago Carbonell Foundation-Museum

Discover Santiago Carbonell Foundation-Museum in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico: An elegant space dedicated to a master of romanticism and minimalism.

F-14 Grumman Memorial Park

Discover F-14 Grumman Memorial Park in Calverton, New York: A tribute to the hard-working men and women of Grumman, who crafted F-14 fighter jets.

Aqueduct Veluwemeer

Discover Aqueduct Veluwemeer in Harderwijk, Netherlands: While most bridges allow roads to pass over water, this one allows water to pass over a road.

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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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