Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Lars Homestead

Discover Lars Homestead in Nefta, Tunisia: The original movie set for the home of "Star Wars" hero Luke Skywalker.

Self-Taught Genius Gallery

Discover Self-Taught Genius Gallery in Queens, New York: An exhibition space dedicated to American outsider art created between the 18th and 21st centuries.

Korai 4

Discover Korai 4 in Athens, Greece: Scars of this building's past life as a violent prison still cover its walls.

Lake Abraham

Discover Lake Abraham in Alberta: The frozen bubbles that form on the icy surface of this Canadian lake contain enough methane to create a small explosion.

Gorges du Fier

Discover Gorges du Fier in Lovagny, France: A suspended footbridge allows for traversing this gorge carved through the French Alps.

‘Young Elephant Caught in a Trap’

Discover 'Jeune Éléphant pris au Piège' ('Young Elephant Caught in a Trap') in Paris, France: This emotive sculpture was originally created for the 1878 World's Fair.

Ex Hacienda de Santa Águeda

Discover Ex Hacienda de Santa Águeda in Nativitas, Mexico: The grounds of this former dairy hacienda now contain an entire town inspired by Tuscany, Italy.

Ripatransone’s Narrow Alley

Discover Ripatransone's Narrow Alley in Ripatransone, Italy: Just one of the Italian corridors vying for the title of the country's narrowest.

Toconao Bell Tower

Discover Toconao Bell Tower in Toconao, Chile: This 18th-century tower is locally iconic.

Mausoleum of Illustrious People

Discover Mausoleum of Illustrious People in Zacatecas, Mexico: This grand yet little-visited tomb seems almost carved into the hill it sits on.

Central Station Bicycle Parking

Discover Central Station Bicycle Parking in Utrecht, Netherlands: The world's largest bicycle shelter can hold more than 12,500 bikes.

Gorges de Toull Goulig

Discover Gorges de Toull Goulig in Lanrivain, France: A granite rock formation littered with various species of moss, lichen, and fern.

El Pindal Cave

Discover El Pindal Cave in Pimiango, Spain: These primitive rock paintings include a very beloved depiction of a woolly mammoth.

Great Sand Hills

Discover Great Sand Hills in Prelate, Saskatchewan: These little-known sands dunes are a geological anomaly in Saskatchewan's southern prairies.

Wat Nong Bua Yai

Discover Wat Nong Bua Yai in Nong Bua, Thailand: An underwater temple submerged for 20 years has resurfaced with an extreme drought.

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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