Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Immigration Museum of São Paulo

Discover Immigration Museum of São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil: This intriguing museum chronicles the history and impact of immigration in Brazil.

The Famous River Hot Dog Man

Discover The Famous River Hot Dog Man in Milford, New Jersey: The only thing better than tubing down New Jersey's scenic Delaware River is doing so while eating a hot dog from a giant floating stand.

London Transport Museum

Discover London Transport Museum in London, England: Its collection includes a broad array of social, geographic, graphic design, and political history.

Tyrone House

Discover Tyrone House in Stradbally West, Ireland: The remains of a majestic house that was once stood in the crosshairs of the Irish Republican Army.

St. Bernard’s Well

Discover St. Bernard's Well in Edinburgh, Scotland: A beautiful Greco-Roman structure houses a well once believed to have healing powers.

Fire Island Lighthouse

Discover Fire Island Lighthouse in Fire Island, New York: A historic lighthouse steeped in rumors of ghost and pirate stories.

Vittangi Snaps Pine

Discover Vittangi Snaps Pine in Kiruna, Sweden: Few remain of these distinctive old trees that once served as natural landmarks for travelers on the road.

Davis-Horton House

Discover Davis-Horton House in San Diego, California: The oldest standing structure in downtown San Diego.

Biblioteca Palafoxiana

Discover Biblioteca Palafoxiana in Puebla, Mexico: The first public library in the Americas has more than 45,000 books dating back to the 15th century.

The World’s Largest Oyster

Discover The World’s Largest Oyster in South Bend, Washington: A giant sculpture dedicated to a staple of South Bend food culture.

‘Journey of Doors’

Discover 'Journey of Doors' in Ballintoy, Northern Ireland: A trail of "Game of Thrones"-themed doors carved from fallen trees from the iconic Dark Hedges.

Cafe Royal

Discover Cafe Royal in Edinburgh, Scotland: Come for the oysters, stay for the priceless art honoring inventors across history and Scotland's favorite outdoor sports.

Basilica of San Crisogono

Discover Basilica of San Crisogono in Rome, Italy: Remnants of a 4th-century church with vivid medieval frescoes and ancient sarcophagi hide beneath this old basilica.

Belfast Titanic Memorial Garden

Discover Belfast Titanic Memorial Garden in Belfast, Northern Ireland: The only monument to name all of the passengers and crew who died on the RMS Titanic.

Mirzoyan Library

Discover Mirzoyan Library in Yerevan, Armenia: One man’s collection of photography books has transformed into a charming exhibition space.

Giant Anteaters of Serra da Canastra

Discover Giant Anteaters of Serra da Canastra in São Roque de Minas, Brazil: This breathtaking national park is one of the best places to see the weird and wonderful giant anteater in the wild.

‘El Yanga’

Discover 'El Yanga' in Yanga, Mexico: A statue of the formerly enslaved person considered "the first liberator of the Americas" stands in the town named after him.

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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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