Archives: Atlas Obscuras

El Vilsito

Discover El Vilsito in Mexico City, Mexico: By night, this auto repair shop turns into a taquería serving up some of the city's finest al pastor tacos.

Budapest Chairlift

Discover Budapest Chairlift in Budapest, Hungary: A two-way chairlift system between Zugliget and the highest point in the city.

El Jem Amphitheatre

Discover El Jem Amphitheatre in El Jem, Tunisia: The largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheater in Africa was designed to seat 35,000 people.

The Howff Cemetery

Discover The Howff Cemetery in Dundee, Scotland: People leave coins atop an unusual grave marker in one of Scotland's oldest burial grounds.

La Crucecita Church Murals

Discover La Crucecita Church Murals in Crucecita, Mexico: An eclectic blend of esoteric imagery covers its interior.

‘The Swedish Melancholy’

Discover 'The Swedish Melancholy' in Linköping, Sweden: Look closely, and you'll see this rusty man is crying.

Ferryland Lighthouse

Discover Ferryland Lighthouse in Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador: This historic lighthouse has been reincarnated as the perfect picnic place.

Mos Espa

Discover Mos Espa in Tunisia: An abandoned film set location for a remote spaceport in a galaxy far, far away hides in the Tunisian desert.

‘The Motherland Calls’

Discover 'The Motherland Calls' in Volgograd, Russia: The world's tallest statue of a woman wields the world's tallest sword and is at risk of toppling over.

Macaques of Tanaxpillo Island

Discover Macaques of Tanaxpillo Island in Mexico: The population of Southeast Asian primates was introduced to Mexico in the 1970s.

Guangzhou Circle

Discover Guangzhou Circle in Guangzhou, China: The world's tallest circular building is loaded with symbolism, but many just see a big donut.

Mundo Fútbol

Discover Mundo Fútbol in Pachuca de Soto, Mexico: What better place to learn about the beautiful game than an actual soccer ball-shaped building?

The Big Rocking Horse

Discover The Big Rocking Horse in Gumeracha, Australia: You can climb to the top of the world's largest rocking horse.

Lady Kentmores Antiques

Discover Lady Kentmores Antiques in Callander, Scotland: A weird and wonderful collection of items that pique curiosity and haunt nightmares.

The Burney Relief

Discover The Burney Relief in London, England: This bewitching Babylonian goddess haunts a hallway of the British Museum.

Pinakothek der Moderne Futuro House

Discover Pinakothek der Moderne Futuro House in Munich, Germany: One of the most easily accessible examples of the rare 1960s UFO houses.

Margutis Easter Egg

Discover Margutis Easter Egg in Vilnius, Lithuania: A 300-kilogram egg sculpture that embodied a neighborhood revival.

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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