Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Wat Samphran Temple

Discover Wat Samphran Temple in Khlong Mai, Thailand: An enormous dragon scales the walls of this 17-story temple.

Wat Rong Khun

Discover Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand: A white Buddhist temple with a golden restroom.

Red Lotus Lake

Discover Red Lotus Lake in Tambon Chiang Haeo, Thailand: Stunning wetlands ablaze with pink lotus flowers.

The Catawissa Caged Graves

Discover The Catawissa Caged Graves in Catawissa, Pennsylvania: These hooded graves are the only of their kind in the United States.

Nobel Ice Cream

This legendary dessert was served to Nobel laureates for decades.

Flygbussarna

Discover Flygbussarna in Arlandastad, Sweden: Sculpture of a bus made from wrecked passenger cars.

Entreprenörskyrkan

Discover Entreprenörskyrkan in Stockholm, Sweden: When a conglomerate of visionary startups commandeer a disused Greek Orthodox Church, zaniness ensues.

The Tuben or “Elk Showers”

Discover The Tuben or "Elk Showers" in Ludvika, Sweden: Tiny Swedish village with a distinct local phenomenon known as an "Elk Shower.".

Talking Lamp

Discover Talking Lamp in Malmö, Sweden: 20-foot tall lamp mumbles Swedish to celebrate the holidays.

Biologiska Museet

Discover Biologiska Museet in Stockholm, Sweden: Early habitat dioramas and home of the elusive gaff, the skvader.

“Oh Yeah Woo Yeah”

Discover "Oh Yeah Woo Yeah" in Tanumshede, Sweden: The rock carving that became an internet meme.

Stenkullen ACDC Pylons

Discover Stenkullen ACDC Pylons in Lerum, Sweden: Only electricity pylons carrying both AC and DC circuits.

Play Shoreline Monument

Discover Play Shoreline Monument in Gothenburg, Sweden: Dedicated to a song so popular the request to "Play Shoreline" became part of Swedish culture.

Whiskey on the Rocks

Discover Whiskey on the Rocks in Karlskrona Ö, Sweden: A plaque on this tiny Swedish island commemorates an unusual Cold War standoff of Soviet submarine intrigue.

Sverre of Norway Stone

Discover Sverre of Norway Stone in Munkedal, Sweden: Many historians today consider Sverre as Norway's greatest king of all time. .

Where All Powerlines Meet

Discover Where All Powerlines Meet in Gävle, Sweden: Only spot in the world where an HVDC powerline, a single phase AC and a three phase AC powerline all meet.

Grimeton VLF Transmitter

Discover Grimeton VLF Transmitter in Grimeton, Sweden: A Very Low Frequency transmitter you can tune in on your PC.

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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