Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Shorakkopoch Rock

Discover Shorakkopoch Rock in New York, New York: A large boulder marks the place where the island of Manhattan was purportedly "sold" to the Dutch.

‘Cast Away’ Crossroads

Discover 'Cast Away' Crossroads in Neece, Texas: It's where the final scene of the beloved Tom Hanks movie was filmed.

John o’ Groats Marker

Discover John o' Groats Marker in John o' Groats, Scotland: The sign marks one of the endpoints to mainland Britain's longest overland travel route.

‘Scenarie’

Discover 'Scenarie' in Albertslund, Denmark: An artist has turned what most people would consider a bathroom nightmare into a work of political art.

Antofagasta Mountainside Messages

Discover Antofagasta Mountainside Messages in Antofagasta, Chile: Instead of using billboards, some people here relay their messages on the side of a mountain.

The Two Lovers of Teruel

Discover The Two Lovers of Teruel in Teruel, Spain: These magnificently sculpted tombs represent Spain's own legendary version of "Romeo and Juliet.".

Museo del Metro (Metro Museum)

Discover Museo del Metro (Metro Museum) in Mexico City, Mexico: This underground museum highlights the history of Mexico City's subway system.

Museum of the Fur Trade

Discover Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska: This Great Plains museum pays tribute to both the prosperity and tragedy of the North American fur trade.

The Archaearium

Discover The Archaearium in Williamsburg, Virginia: This museum explores the grim reality of life in the earliest British colonies in America.

Mysterious Ruins

Discover Mysterious Ruins in Argentina: Are they the remains of a fallen hotel, or the final stronghold for escaped Nazis?

Tin Horse Highway

Discover Tin Horse Highway in Kulin, Australia: There's a lot of horsing around on this lonely stretch of Australian highway.

Corriganville Park

Discover Corriganville Park in Simi Valley, California: The ruins of the movie ranch owned by actor and stuntman Ray "Crash" Corrigan.

Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum

Discover Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum in Geneva, New York: This museum pays homage to a device that precipitated a watershed moment in Finger Lakes food production.

Leonis Adobe Museum

Discover Leonis Adobe Museum in Calabasas, California: The restored estate of a wealthy rancher was once at the heart of an unprecedented legal victory.

Iran Mall

Discover Iran Mall in Tehran, Iran: One of the world's largest shopping malls covers an area of 15 million square feet—and it's still set to grow.

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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