Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Steins Pillar

Discover Steins Pillar in Prineville, Oregon: This great stone guardian of the forest is a relic from the land's volatile volcanic past.

Jardim Botânico de São Paulo

Discover Jardim Botânico de São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil: A jungle in the heart of São Paulo reminds visitors of what Brazil looked like untouched by man.

Papacqua Fountain

Discover Papacqua Fountain in Soriano nel Cimino, Italy: A stunning fountain depicting a mythological she-goat carved directly into the rocks on the grounds of a Renaissance palace.

Abandoned Deertrail Resort

Discover Abandoned Deertrail Resort in Sooke, British Columbia: A crumbling cliffside ruin hidden in the woods.

Niaux Cave Paintings

Discover Niaux Cave Paintings in Alliat, France: Trek into the depths of the cave where 17,000-year-old paintings exist alongside 400-year-old graffiti.

Brusttuch House

Discover Brusttuch House in Goslar, Germany: A peculiar trapezoidal building covered with wonderful humorous reliefs.

Budville Trading Post

Discover Budville Trading Post in Cibola County, New Mexico: In 1967, murder and mayhem disrupted the tranquility along this quiet stretch of Old Route 66.

Santa Cecilia Necropolis

Discover Santa Cecilia Necropolis in Soriano nel Cimino, Italy: A fascinating assortment of cave dwellings, medieval ruins, and sarcophagi are being devoured by the forest.

John Lennon Street

Discover John Lennon Street in Saint Petersburg, Russia: A small and surprising passageway in Saint Petersburg devoted to the Beatles.

Etruscan Pyramid of Bomarzo

Discover Etruscan Pyramid of Bomarzo in Soriano nel Cimino, Italy: This ancient altar emerges from the thick forests to reveal the mysteries of Etruscan sacrificial rituals.

Mount Roraima Tripoint Marker

Discover Mount Roraima Tripoint Marker in Santa Elena de Uairén, Venezuela: A pyramidal marker where the borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana meet on top of Mount Roraima.

Yurei Izakaya

At this spooky theme bar, patrons can "die" and have their own mock funeral.

Narlai Stepwell

Discover Narlai Stepwell in Narlai, India: Designed to serve primarily the Maharaja, this is an interesting variation on the traditional stepped well.

Horse’s Hoof Temple

Discover Mati Si in Zhangye Shi, China: Monks turned this mountain into a temple by digging grottoes, tunnels, and a huge pagoda-like hall.

The Moai in Vitorchiano

Discover The Moai in Vitorchiano in Vitorchiano, Italy: A lonesome Moai stands in a small Italian town some 9,000 miles away from its Easter Island brethren.

Naturalienkabinett Waldenburg

Discover Naturalienkabinett Waldenburg in Waldenburg, Germany: A wonderfully versatile natural history curio cabinet preserved since the 1840s.

Trsteno Arboretum

Discover Trsteno Arboretum in Trsteno, Croatia: The oldest arboretum on the Dalmatian coast doubles as the gardens of Kings Landing in "Game of Thrones.".

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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

PP ToS