Archives: Atlas Obscuras

‘Han’ (‘He’)

Discover 'Han' ('He') in Helsingør, Denmark: The shiny silver little brother to Copenhagen's Little Mermaid statue.

Stoke Newington Town Hall

Discover Stoke Newington Town Hall in London, England: You can still see bits of the camouflage used to hide this Art Deco building from bombers during World War II.

Bear Paw Battlefield

Discover Bear Paw Battlefield in Chinook, Montana: This remote Montana battlefield is the site of the Nez Perce Flight of 1877.

Great Emptiness Museum

Discover Great Emptiness Museum in Orto Say, Kyrgyzstan: Where you'll find anything but nothing.

The Candy Church of Lamèque Island

Discover The Candy Church in Petite-Rivière-de-l'Ile, New Brunswick: Inside the simple black-and-white exterior of Église Sainte-Cécile hides a pastel wonderland.

Mačkamama

Discover Mačkamama in Osijek, Croatia: A statue of Paulina Hermann, the eccentric noblewoman known as the "mother of cats.".

Jutulholet

Discover Jutulholet in Vihals, Norway: Local legends say that a giant who tried to destroy a nearby church lived in this rock cave.

Carn Goedog

Discover Carn Goedog in Wales: Stonehenge Bluestone Quarry.

Physics of the Sun

Discover Physics of the Sun in Changikhisarak, Uzbekistan: More than 10,000 small mirrors cover the curved surface of the world's second-largest solar oven, located in a remote village in Uzbekistan.

Charlie the Coal Miner

Discover Charlie the Coal Miner in Shinnston, West Virginia: A 21-foot-tall statue of a miner made of scrap metal stands in this West Virginia coal town.

St. Helena Island

Discover St. Helena Island in Manly, Australia: The ruins of Brisbane’s own Alcatraz now sit in the middle of a national park.

Cirkelbroen (The Circle Bridge)

Discover Cirkelbroen (The Circle Bridge) in Copenhagen, Denmark: This bridge's unique architecture honors nautical heritage and encourages self-awareness.

Profitis Ilias Monastery

Discover Profitis Ilias Monastery in Hydra, Greece: A hilltop monastery on the Greek island of Hydra.

Josiah Henson Museum & Park

Discover Josiah Henson Museum & Park in North Bethesda, Maryland: The location where the famed author and abolitionist began his journey to freedom.

Prince of Wales Fort

Discover Prince of Wales Fort in Churchill, Manitoba: This former outpost was designed to protect the lucrative fur trade of the 18th century.

Maison de la Colombe

Discover Maison de la Colombe in Paris, France: The site where two doves fell in love.

‘Lucky Chimney Sweeper’

Discover 'Lucky Chimney Sweeper' in Tallinn, Estonia: Rubbing the buttons along this statue's coat is considered good luck.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 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. 474 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. 499 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. 633 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. 135 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. 167 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). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 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. 96 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. 166

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