Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Donut Hole

Discover Donut Hole in La Puente, California: “It's the quality” (but probably also the drive-through donut tunnel) that has attracted diners since 1968.

Cape Wrath

Discover Cape Wrath in Keoldale, Scotland: The farthest northwesterly point of the British mainland is one of the most remote places in the Scottish Highlands.

Myers Dinner Theater

Discover Myers Dinner Theater in Hillsboro, Indiana: Enjoy classic musicals with a home-cooked meal at this former staple of American social life.

The Bear Inn

Discover The Bear Inn in Oxford, England: This centuries-old pub boasts a collection of more than 4,500 snippets of neckties from around the world.

Tommy the Turtle

Discover Tommy the Turtle in Boissevain, Manitoba: This colossal reptile celebrates the history of the now-defunct Canadian Turtle Derby.

Confederation Bridge

Discover Confederation Bridge in Bayfield, Prince Edward Island: This engineering marvel is the longest bridge in Canada and one of the longest spans in the world.

The Gardener Statue

Discover The Gardener Statue in London, England: A tribute to all the green-thumbed workers who tend London’s public parks and gardens.

Grissel Jaffray Memorial

Discover Grissel Jaffray Memorial in Dundee, Scotland: A pair of mosaics marks the spot where the last accused witch of Dundee was put to death.

Bora Trieste

Discover Bora Trieste in Trieste, Italy: The Adriatic's most famous wind can be reliably experienced in the city's Marina.

Devil’s Bridge

Discover Devil's Bridge in Kirkby Lonsdale, England: A beautiful medieval bridge allegedly constructed by the Devil.

Guru Sweet Mart

Discover Guru Sweet Mart in Mysore, India: At this sweet shop, the descendants of a royal chef serve up the fudge-like dessert his ancestor invented for a king.

Samson and Goliath

Discover Samson and Goliath in Belfast, Northern Ireland: These engineering masterpieces are a dominant feature of the Belfast skyline.

Crooked River Lighthouse

Discover Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle, Florida: Tucked away in the forests of North Florida resides a 19th-century lighthouse.

Zigzag Path

Discover Zigzag Path in Folkestone, England: A winding cave grotto walkway built to provide employment for veterans after World War I.

Nebraska Bridge

Discover Nebraska Bridge in Tionesta, Pennsylvania: For decades, it has disappeared and reappeared as water levels rise and fall.

The Incorrupt Body of Santa Rosa

Discover The Incorrupt Body of Santa Rosa in Viterbo, Italy: The leathery remains of a woman who died in the 13th century now lie in a church named for her.

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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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