Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Giro the Dog’s Grave

Discover Giro the Dog's Grave in London, England: The final resting place of a German diplomat's beloved companion.

Aifur

Discover Aifur in Stockholm, Sweden: Dine on food tied to Viking history and legend at this subterranean Stockholm spot.

O’Zone Pizza Pub

A former hospital is now home to a pizza parlor and maybe a few ghosts.

The Abandoned Bangkok Mansions

Discover The Abandoned Bangkok Mansions in Tambon Phra Prathom Chedi, Thailand: Abandoned mini-mansions that were once intended for affluent Bangkok families now sit empty.

Museo Paolo Gorini

Discover Museo Paolo Gorini in Lodi, Italy: A macabre anatomy museum tucked within an old Italian hospital.

No Name Lake

Discover No Name Lake in Oregon: Unknown to many, this sparkling turquoise lake hides amid Oregon's snowcapped mountains.

Iraq al-Amir

Discover Iraq al-Amir in Amman, Jordan: Just outside of Jordan's capital lies an ancient castle and intriguing caves dating back to the Copper Age.

Museo de América

Discover Museo de América in Madrid, Spain: This fascinating and poignant museum chronicles every imaginable aspect of Spanish colonialism in the Americas.

Liliesleaf Farm Museum

Discover Liliesleaf Farm Museum in Rivonia, South Africa: This unassuming farm complex was once the epicenter of an underground liberation group.

Hatshepsut’s Myrrh Tree

Discover Hatshepsut's Myrrh Tree in Luxor, Egypt: This unassuming tree stump reportedly traces its roots to the famous pharaoh queen's reign.

Puquios

Discover Puquios in Nazca, Peru: The sophisticated hydraulic system of the Nazca civilization.

Fort Zombe

Discover Fort Zombe in Zombe, Zambia: The ruins of a massive World War I fort overlook the border between Zambia and Tanzania.

Lake of Guatavita

Discover Lake of Guatavita in Sesquilé, Colombia: Known as the site of 'El Dorado,' this mysterious lake is rumored to hold gold beneath its waters.

Coricancha

Discover Coricancha in Cusco, Peru: A Christian monastery stands on what was once a holy Incan temple.

Peschiera Grande

Discover Peschiera Grande in Caserta, Italy: Nobles would stage mock naval battles on this large lake at the Royal Palace of Caserta.

The Ill-Fated Augustów Canal

Discover Augustów Canal in Belarus: An engineering marvel at the time of its construction, this cross-border waterway sought to connect the Black Sea to the Baltic.

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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