Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Panteón Francés de La Piedad

Discover Panteón Francés de La Piedad in Mexico City, Mexico: This French cemetery houses some of the most exquisite examples of funerary art in Mexico City.

Boy Scout Memorial

Discover Boy Scout Memorial in Washington, D.C.: The innocent intentions of this monument are somewhat lost in the sculpture's muscled imagery.

Montpelier Horse Cemetery

Discover Montpelier Horse Cemetery in Montpelier Station, Virginia: The grave of a champion Thoroughbred hides within the former presidential estate.

Carpetana Metro Station Museum

Discover Carpetana Metro Station Museum in Madrid, Spain: Replicas of fossils unearthed during renovation work reveal how this area would have looked millions of years ago.

Montana Vortex and House of Mystery

Discover Montana Vortex and House of Mystery in Columbia Falls, Montana: A classic mystery spot complete with spots that are said to make you shrink or grow when you stand on them.

Ringfort Relic

Discover Ringfort Relic in Walsh Island, Ireland: An unassuming historical marker for an iron age fort leads you to an oddly adorned cemetery for unbaptized children.

Manuel M. Villada Museum of Natural History

Discover Manuel M. Villada Museum of Natural History in Toluca, Mexico: The mummies of a fake priest and bandit's wife are among the abundant curiosities at this museum.

Llotja de Sant Jordi

Discover Llotja de Sant Jordi in Alcoi, Spain: This exhibition space designed to look like the skeleton of a whale is hidden underground.

Lost World Caverns

Discover Lost World Caverns in Lewisburg, West Virginia: Home of a 28-foot tall stalagmite known as the War Club.

Weathervane Restaurant Boulder Fireplace

Discover Weathervane Restaurant Boulder Fireplace in Charlevoix, Michigan: In the main dining room, a nine-ton boulder caps the fireplace designed by local architect Earl Young.

Quantum Cloud

Discover Quantum Cloud in London, England: Sculptor Antony Gormley used chaos theory and fractal growth to design his tallest creation.

The ‘Scribble’

Discover The 'Scribble' in London, England: A giant scrawl on the skyline of south London.

The Fort of Valour

Discover Pratapgad Fort in Mahabaleshwar, India: This fortress played a key role in the battle that would ultimately give rise to the Maratha Empire.

Milner Field Ruins

Discover Milner Field Ruins in Bingley, England: A lavish Victorian mansion wound up inheriting a gruesome reputation that would be its demise.

Camp Grayling Military Cemetery

Discover Camp Grayling Military Cemetery in Grayling, Michigan: At the top of a local ski mountain is a hidden cemetery containing the graves of just two soldiers.

Gap of Dunloe

Discover Gap of Dunloe in Dunloe Upper, Ireland: Traveling this mountain pass reveals quaint stone buildings, stunning Irish scenery, and a bridge said to grant wishes.

Neidpath Train Tunnel

Discover Neidpath Train Tunnel in Peebles, Scotland: An abandoned, desolate train tunnel that was used during World War II.

Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff

Discover Johnny Angel's Ginchy Stuff in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: One Pittsburgh musician's decades-in-the-making memorabilia collection is on display at this rock-n-roll curio shop.

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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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