Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Paris Space Invaders

Discover Paris Space Invaders in Paris, France: The video game-themed street art first popped up in the French city.

Sierra Silver Mine

Discover Sierra Silver Mine in Wallace, Idaho: It was once used as a classroom to teach mining skills to local high school students.

Esrange Rocket Shelters

Discover Esrange Rocket Shelters in Esrange, Sweden: The wilderness of northern Sweden is full of shelters to protect people from sounding rockets returning from space.

‘Halo’

Discover 'Halo' in Haslingden, England: At night, the enormous sculpture looks like a UFO hovering above the English hills.

The Little Falls

Discover The Little Falls in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio: For decades, this waterfall remained hidden because of an artificial dam.

Howler Monkeys of Tikal

Discover Howler Monkeys of Tikal in Tikal, Guatemala: These roaring primates were considered a divine creature in the cosmology of the Maya.

Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art

Discover Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art in Oaxaca, Mexico: An incredible collection of Mesoamerican art assembled by one of Mexico's great artists.

Fudo Myo-o Statue

Discover Fudo Myo-o Statue in Osaka, Japan: A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

Okanagan Sockeye Salmon

Discover Okanagan Sockeye Salmon in British Columbia: Around British Columbia's Osoyoos Lake, community efforts have revived the population of a fluorescent fish.

Kerepesi Cemetery

Discover Kerepesi Cemetery in Budapest, Hungary: Time stands still at this serene burial ground in the center of Budapest.

Anegada Conch Middens

Discover Anegada Conch Middens in Anegada, British Virgin Islands: A mountain of conch shells created by centuries of fishermen.

Cedars of Lebanon State Park

Discover Cedars of Lebanon State Park in Lebanon, Tennessee: This park contains one of the largest concentrations of cedar glades, a unique and rare ecosystem.

Grave of Caroline Walter

Discover Grave of Caroline Walter in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany: Flowers have mysteriously appeared on her effigy every day for the last 150 years.

Rabbit Cemetery

Discover Rabbit Cemetery in Varley, Australia: A unique memorial to the bunnies who died because of Australia's historic Rabbit Proof Fence.

Thursford Collection

Discover Thursford Collection in Thursford, England: A large collection of steam engines, organs, and fairground attractions.

Haddam Shad Museum

Discover Haddam Shad Museum in Haddam, Connecticut: Springtime is go time for this repurposed shack and the fish it venerates.

Jack’s Record Cellar

Discover Jack's Record Cellar in San Francisco, California: This surreptitious shop is only open five hours per week.

‘Terris Novalis’

Discover 'Terris Novalis' in Consett, England: These giant sculptures are supported by a bizarre menagerie of feet.

Northfield Drive-In Theater

Discover Northfield Drive-In Theater in Hinsdale, New Hampshire: This New England drive-in was built to straddle the border between two states.

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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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