Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Riel House

Discover Riel House in Winnipeg, Manitoba: The historic home of the pivotal political activist who led the Métis people in rebellion against the Canadian government.

African-American Civil War Memorial

Discover African-American Civil War Memorial in Washington, D.C.: The first memorial dedicated solely to the Black troops who fought for the Union.

Baddesley Clinton

Discover Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire, England: This medieval manor house was equipped with secret compartments for hiding priests.

Castellana Caves

Discover Castellana Caves in Castellana Grotte, Italy: The sunlight passing through the opening of this huge cave system creates a magical effect.

Bogotá Botanical Garden

Discover Bogotá Botanical Garden in Bogotá, Colombia: Colombia's biggest botanical garden contains plants from all across the country.

Birthplace of Padre Pio

Discover Birthplace of Padre Pio in Pietrelcina, Italy: A small town lost in the mountains of southern Italy hosts the childhood home of one of the most famous saints of the 20th century.

‘The Miraculous Journey’

Discover 'The Miraculous Journey' in Doha, Qatar: Fourteen sculptures showing the development of a fetus stand outside a hospital for women and children.

BD Bacatá

Discover BD Bacatá in Bogotá, Colombia: The world's first crowdfunded skyscraper has not gone quite to plan.

Cabezon Peak

Discover Cabezon Peak in New Mexico: This towering volcanic plug stands out among the dramatic formations that dot this otherworldly desert valley.

Marie Curie’s Tree

Discover Marie Curie's Tree in Warsaw, Poland: A tree planted by Marie Curie is treasured by the Radium institute that she set up.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Discover Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba: The world’s first museum dedicated to exploring human rights unleashed a wave of controversy.

Katoghike Church

Discover Katoghike Church in Yerevan, Armenia: This little medieval church hidden in the center of Yerevan was lost and rediscovered—twice.

Shark Island

Discover Shark Island in Luderitz, Namibia: This deceptively beautiful island was once home to a German concentration camp and known as "Death Island.".

Tambomachay

Discover Tambomachay in Cusco, Peru: An Inca spa, military outpost or maybe… both?

Geographic Center of Europe

Discover Geographic Center of Europe in Polotsk, Belarus: A monument in the Belarusian city of Polotsk claims to mark the exact midpoint of the European continent.

Mausoleo de Artigas

Discover Mausoleo de Artigas in Montevideo, Uruguay: The remains of Uruguayan hero José Artigas lie beneath a monument in Montevideo’s main square.

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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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