Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary

Discover Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary in Amherst, New Hampshire: A 12,000-year-old bog boasting rare plants and fauna.

The King’s Chamber

Discover The King's Chamber in Edinburgh, Scotland: This was once a hall in which a 16th-century royal banquet was hosted by King James VI of Scotland.

Eej Khad (Mother Rock)

Discover Eej Khad (Mother Rock) in Sergelen, Mongolia: Buddhist pilgrims journey to this sacred rock to leave offerings and have their wishes granted.

Martyr’s Mark

Discover Martyr's Mark in Oxford, England: The spot where three Protestant clergymen were burned at the stake during the reign of "Bloody Mary.".

Atlantic City’s First Slot Machine

Discover Atlantic City's First Slot Machine in Atlantic City, New Jersey: Amazingly, this old machine within the Resorts Casino still functions.

Open Chapel Murals of Actopan

Discover Open Chapel Murals of Actopan in Actopan, Mexico: These nearly 500-year-old scenes are largely faded by the ravages of time, yet still maintain their power to horrify.

Bayeux Tapestry

Discover Bayeux Tapestry in Bayeux, France: This enormous "cloth of the conquest" depicts the Norman invasion of England in mind-blowing detail.

Mask of the Bat God

Discover Mask of the Bat God in Mexico City, Mexico: This ancient jade mask depicting the Zapotec bat god was found in the ruins of the pyramids of Monte Alban.

Evelyn’s Mulberry

Discover Evelyn’s Mulberry in London, England: Legend has it this gnarled old tree was planted by Tsar Peter the Great during his visit to London.

Yokai of Mizuki Shigeru Road

Discover Yokai of Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Japan: The hometown of a beloved manga artist created a treasure hunt for his popular ghostly characters.

Gallery of Medieval Art

Discover Gallery of Medieval Art in Warsaw, Poland: One of the world's largest collections of medieval religious art.

Mr. Kaor’s Portrait

Discover Mr. Kaor's Portrait in Volendam, Netherlands: The portrait of a man from Japan who sent weekly letters to a Dutch hotel he never visited.

Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park

Discover Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba: Fort Garry was a pivotal post for the Hudson’s Bay Company and a major factor in the economy and political culture of the area.

The Great Smoky Mountains’ ‘Missing Link’

Discover The Great Smoky Mountains' 'Missing Link' in Townsend, Tennessee: In one of America’s oldest mountain ranges, a long-awaited section of a scenic highway is now open to the public.

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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