Archives: Atlas Obscuras

St Andrew’s Kirk Ports

Discover St Andrew's Kirk Ports in North Berwick, Scotland: The ruins of the second of three churches dedicated to the saint in a touristic Scottish town.

The Narrowest Building in New York

Discover The Narrowest Building in New York in New York, New York: This slender three-story building has also had several famous residents.

Finowfurt Aviation Museum

Discover Finowfurt Aviation Museum in Schorfheide, Germany: This former Soviet military base has over 10 original aircraft and an enormous amount of memorabilia on display.

Minibyen Sæby

Discover Minibyen Sæby in Sæby, Denmark: Residents of this seaside village are building a miniature 1:10 scale version of their historic town.

James Sadler Plaque

Discover James Sadler Plaque in Oxford, England: Site of the first hot air balloon flight conducted by the first English balloonist.

Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park

Discover Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City, Michigan: Once a home for cows and hay, this barn has been transformed into an event cathedral.

The Great Light

Discover The Great Light in Belfast, Northern Ireland: One of the largest lenses of its kind ever created, this former ship beacon has been brought down to Earth.

Sewemup Mesa

Discover Sewemup Mesa in Gateway, Colorado: A remote sandstone plateau named for a legendary cattle rustler.

Geronimo Surrender Monument

Discover Geronimo Surrender Monument in San Simon, Arizona: A stone pillar commemorates the surrender of the extraordinary Apache leader.

DeLorean Museum

Discover DeLorean Museum in Humble, Texas: In the late 1990s a mechanic and fan bought this iconic sportscar back from the dead.

Elkmont Historic District

Discover Elkmont Historic District in Gatlinburg, Tennessee: An abandoned town is hidden in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

London Silver Vaults

Discover London Silver Vaults in London, England: Behind one of the world's most impenetrable vaults is a massive collection of retail silver.

‘A Canine Connection’

Discover ‘A Canine Connection’ in Edinburgh, Scotland: This sculpture commemorates Edinburgh's sister city and their respective celebrity dogs.

Heineman Building

Discover Heineman Building in San Francisco, California: This tall and trim architectural oddity is one of the skinniest buildings in San Francisco.

Rush-Bagot Monument

Discover Rush-Bagot Monument in Washington, D.C.: An overlooked tribute to one of the most important peace deals in American history.

The Awakening II

Discover The Awakening II in Chesterfield, Missouri: A sculpture of a giant man escaping from the depths of the Earth.

Cézembre Island

Discover Cézembre Island in Saint-Malo, France: A small island that was once a key Axis fortification during World War II.

Il Facchino

Discover Il Facchino in Roma, Italy: A statue representing a lost Roman profession that was vandalized for centuries.

Le Roy Lire

Discover Le Roy Lire in Provins, France: An atmospheric, medieval-themed book store hides in a 13th-century underground space.

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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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