Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Signal Hill

Discover Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: The first transatlantic wireless signal was received at this 17th-century fort.

James Bond Rocks

Discover James Bond Rocks in Antofagasta, Chile: Giant fake rocks that shielded Bond, lie in wait for their next action scene.

Jorck’s Passage

Discover Jorck's Passage in Copenhagen, Denmark: Site of the first radio and telephone broadcasting companies in Copenhagen.

1001 Steps Park

Discover 1001 Steps Park in Surrey, British Columbia: A winding stairway to a secluded beach in a residential neighborhood.

Old Mission General Store

Discover Old Mission General Store in Traverse City, Michigan: Easily overlooked in favor of the wineries that dot the region, this blast from the past is equally worth the visit.

Documentary Center of Historical Memory

Discover Documentary Center of Historical Memory in Salamanca, Spain: An unusual but excellent display created in the 1930s as propaganda against the Freemasons.

Replica Fardier de Cugnot

Discover Replica Fardier de Cugnot in Pinellas Park, Florida: The only known working replica of the world's first self-propelled vehicle.

CIS San Javier

Discover CIS San Javier in Puebla, Mexico: This palatial building has lived many lives as a convent, prison, cultural center, state archives, and government offices.

Liaqat Bagh

Discover Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi, Pakistan: An otherwise ordinary park with a dark past.

Noumin Café

Discover Noumin Café in Tokyo, Japan: This “peasant café” in the middle of Tokyo re-creates the atmosphere of the Japanese countryside.

Lego Atacama Large Millimeter Array

Discover Lego Atacama Large Millimeter Array in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile: A surprisingly detailed model of the world's most powerful radio telescope.

Halton County Radial Railway

Discover Halton County Radial Railway in Milton, Ontario: Take a ride on antique streetcars from across Canada.

Fort St. George

Discover Fort St. George in Chennai, India: The first English fort built in India.

Penitente Canyon Wagon Tracks

Discover Penitente Canyon Wagon Tracks in Del Norte, Colorado: Historic, 19th-century wagon wheel ruts cut into soft volcanic ash.

Abtao Submarine Museum

Discover Abtao Submarine Museum in Lima, Peru: The retired vessel is South America's first floating museum.

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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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