Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Hanging Flume

Discover Hanging Flume in Paradox, Colorado: The decaying ruins of a failed mining company’s water diversion project cling to the side of a desert canyon.

Weir Farm National Historic Site

Discover Weir Farm National Historic Site in Wilton, Connecticut: American artist J. Alden Weir purchased this 60-acre estate for $10 and a painting.

Sad Hill Cemetery

Discover Sad Hill Cemetery in Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain: This haunting location was featured in the final scene of a classic spaghetti western.

Planetenweg Göttingen

Discover Planetenweg Göttingen in Göttingen, Germany: A 1:2 billion-scale solar system leads visitors into this German university town.

Acuario Cafe

Discover Acuario Cafe in New York, New York: A garment factory hides a small Dominican eatery in the hallway to its freight elevator.

Quelfénec Neolithic Site

Discover Quelfénec Neolithic Site in Plussulien, France: This stone quarry was used to make axes and other tools more than 6,000 years ago.

San Francisco Elk’s Lodge #3

Discover San Francisco Elk's Lodge #3 in San Francisco, California: The longest continuously operating Elk's Lodge in the country.

Johnstone History Museum

Discover Johnstone History Museum in Johnstone, Scotland: Learn local history while picking up groceries at this museum tucked inside a supermarket.

Tzistarakis Mosque

Discover Tzistarakis Mosque in Athens, Greece: Legend says it was constructed with the destroyed pillar of an ancient Greek Temple.

Wünsdorf Officer’s House

Discover Wünsdorf Officer's House in Zossen, Germany: A statue of Vladimir Illyich Lenin guards this abandoned building in the "Forbidden City.".

Paska Kaupunni

Discover Paska Kaupunni in Oulu, Finland: This misspelled graffiti reappears every time it is removed.

St Martin’s Kirk

Discover St Martin’s Kirk in Haddington, Scotland: These ruins of a medieval church are full of architectural mysteries.

Temple de la Sybille (The Temple of Sybille)

Discover Temple de la Sybille (The Temple of Sybille) in Paris, France: This structure atop a craggy cliff in one of the most beautiful parks in Paris boasts an unbeatable view.

Durandal’s Mark

Discover Durandal's Mark in Rome, Italy: A deep mark on the remains of a Roman temple, believed to be left by a legendary warrior.

The Animals of Parque España

Discover The Animals of Parque España in Mexico City, Mexico: Some charming, but sadly, unloved animal statues call this park home.

Gauss-Weber Telegraph Memorial

Discover Gauss-Weber Telegraph Memorial in Göttingen, Germany: It commemorates one of the world's earliest telegraphs.

Lake Posta Fibreno

Discover Lake Posta Fibreno in Carpello, Italy: This serene, turquoise lake in an extraordinary nature reserve showcases a rare natural phenomenon.

World Museum of Mining

Discover World Museum of Mining in Butte, Montana: A sprawling museum located on the former site of the Orphan Girl Mine.

Tail of the Dragon

Discover Tail of the Dragon in Forneys Creek, North Carolina: This winding road of 318 curves is a must-visit for (careful) motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts.

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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

PP ToS