Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Puente General Méndez Vigo

Discover Puente General Méndez Vigo in Coamo, Puerto Rico: This ''hidden'' 19th-century bridge played a simple, yet important role during the Spanish-American War.

Highland Park Bowl

Discover Highland Park Bowl in Los Angeles, California: L.A.'s oldest operating bowling alley is a beautifully restored homage to its speakeasy days.

Bielefeld Viaduct

Discover Bielefeld Viaduct in Bielefeld, Germany: This viaduct serves as a reminder of World War II.

Khachkars

Discover Khachkars in Noratus, Armenia: Hundreds of intricately carved Armenian stone crosses can be found within this huge cemetery.

Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice

Discover Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France: This 18th-century sundial was designed to calculate the date of Easter each year.

West Baden Springs Hotel Library

Discover West Baden Springs Hotel Library in West Baden Springs, Indiana: A historic hotel library in Indiana hides more than a few secrets on its shelves.

New Calton Cemetery Watchtower

Discover New Calton Cemetery Watchtower in Edinburgh, Scotland: Overlooking the burial ground is a tower designed to prevent thieves from snatching the recently deceased.

University of Missouri Columns

Discover University of Missouri Columns in Columbia, Missouri: The iconic remains of the original Academic Hall that burned down in 1892.

The Twelve-Angled Stone

Discover The Twelve-Angled Stone in Cusco, Peru: This geometric feat is a testament to the Incas' mesmerizing architectural abilities.

Lake Sirino

Discover Lake Sirino in Nemoli, Italy: This small but lovely sinkhole lake is the last remnant of a great prehistoric water basin.

Mercury Theatre Plaque

Discover Mercury Theatre Plaque in New York, New York: Where the legendary Orson Welles got his theatrical start before "Citizen Kane.".

Cornell Hip Hop Collection

Discover Cornell Hip Hop Collection in Ithaca, New York: This rare archive of original recordings and photos uncovers the early days of hip hop culture.

Cabuya Island Cemetery

Discover Cabuya Island Cemetery in Cabuya, Costa Rica: There is a small island in the Gulf of Nicoya where the only human inhabitants are dead.

Oriental Institute Museum

Discover Oriental Institute Museum in Chicago, Illinois: This surprising gem is a world-class archeological museum hidden at the University of Chicago.

El Ponce

Discover El Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico: The abandoned remains of this once-thriving hotel looms over the city, awaiting an uncertain future.

The Nicholas Building

Discover The Nicholas Building in Melbourne, Australia: A beautiful 1920s tower filled with local hidden gems.

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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