Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Kaltbach Cave

Discover Kaltbach Cave in Kaltbach, Switzerland: A 22-million-year-old sandstone cave is a natural habitat for award-winning cheese.

Ralston Cairn

Discover Ralston Cairn in Glencoe, Scotland: Nestled atop a wind-swept crag in the Scottish Highlands is a lonely memorial to a beloved hiker.

Mina El Edén Rock and Mineral Museum

Discover Mina El Edén Rock and Mineral Museum in Zacatecas, Mexico: The spectacular subterranean collection includes dazzling minerals, including a piece of "kryptonite.".

The Old Fairy Bridge

Discover The Old Fairy Bridge in Douglas, Isle of Man: This hidden bridge is where local children leave gifts and messages for the island's fay folk.

Kew Gardens Underground Aquarium

Discover Kew Gardens Underground Aquarium in London, England: A marine aquarium with an astounding variety of fish hides in the basement beneath the famous Palm House.

Museo Robert Brady

Discover Museo Robert Brady in Cuernavaca, Mexico: An incredible little museum of interior design full of artifacts collected from around the world.

DC-7 at Epic Flight Academy

Discover DC-7 at Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida: An aviation relic that made coast-to-coast travel possible.

City of 10,000 Buddhas

Discover City of 10,000 Buddhas in Ukiah, California: One of the largest Buddhist communities in the West sits on the site of an old hospital.

Gravesite of Clyde Barrow

Discover Gravesite of Clyde Barrow in Dallas, Texas: The final resting place of infamous outlaw Clyde and Marvin Barrow.

Wikipedia Monument

Discover Wikipedia Monument in Słubice, Poland: The first, and perhaps only, monument dedicated to Wikipedia.

Hartwick Pines Logging Museum

Discover Hartwick Pines Logging Museum in Grayling, Michigan: This museum in the woods evokes the work and lives of Michigan's 19-century lumberjacks.

Pixlart

Discover Pixlart in Østervrå, Denmark: A beautiful photography exhibition space housed in a former church.

Thalpan Petroglyphs

Discover Thalpan Petroglyphs in Chilās, Pakistan: Thousands of ancient rock carvings are scattered just off the highway.

Nano Billiards Cafe

Discover Nano Billiards Cafe in Bronx, New York: A basement pool hall is the front for some of the best Dominican food in New York City.

Durango Walk of Fame

Discover Durango Walk of Fame in Durango, Mexico: A series of sculptures depict the actors who starred in the many cowboy movies shot in this Mexican city.

Little Peeing Monk of Tokyo

Discover Little Peeing Monk of Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan: This Japanese Manneken Pis gets new outfits for every occasion.

Sambar and Wild Dog Diorama

Discover Sambar and Wild Dog Diorama in New York, New York: This taxidermy scene brings the struggle for survival in the Indian jungle to a quiet corner of a Manhattan museum.

Menu

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