Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Monte Albán

Discover Monte Albán in Monte Albán, Mexico: These sacred Mesoamerican ruins feature peculiar petroglyphs hidden in the stones.

Statue of Unity

Discover Statue of Unity in Narmada, India: The tallest statue in the world is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.

Kyiv Institute of Information

Discover Kyiv Institute of Information in Kyiv, Ukraine: This exquisite, alienesque piece of Soviet architecture is being threatened by modern shopping malls.

Nairobi Animal Orphanage

Discover Nairobi Animal Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya: Located in Nairobi National Park, this animal orphanage is the oldest of its kind in Kenya.

Fleming’s Hotel Paternoster Lift

Discover Fleming's Hotel Paternoster Lift in Frankfurt, Germany: A rare chance to ride one of the few continuous elevators still in operation.

Karen Blixen Museum

Discover Karen Blixen Museum in Nairobi, Kenya: The farmhouse owned by the Danish author who wrote "Out of Africa" is now a museum honoring her legacy.

Blenheim Mineral Springs

Discover Blenheim Mineral Springs in Blenheim, South Carolina: Discovered by a soldier during the Revolutionary War, these springs helped create an iconic South Carolina ginger ale.

Alexander Von Humboldt Monument

Discover Alexander Von Humboldt Monument in Mexico City, Mexico: A bronze statue of the famed Prussian naturalist commemorates the year he spent in Mexico.

Museum of the Infant Jesus

Discover Museum of the Infant Jesus in Prague, Czechia: This Czech church doubles as something of a permanent fashion exhibition for a statue of the Infant Jesus.

David Černý’s Embryo

Discover David Černý's Embryo in Prague, Czechia: One of the famous Czech artist's lesser-known Prague installations appears to be a glowing fetus affixed to a drainpipe.

Old Spanish Fort

Discover Old Spanish Fort in New Orleans, Louisiana: Before becoming a public park, this spot was a shell midden, a fort, and an amusement park.

The Kitty Genovese Residence

Discover The Kitty Genovese Residence in Queens, New York: A young woman's senseless murder led to the controversial psychological theory of the "bystander effect.".

Mogao Caves

Discover Mogao Caves in Jiuquan, China: Hundreds of caves filled with thousands of centuries-old statues and murals.

St. George’s Cathedral

Discover St. George's Cathedral in Georgetown, Guyana: Georgetown’s most impressive building is also one of the tallest wooden churches in the world.

Villa Doria Pamphili Park

Discover Villa Doria Pamphili Park in Rome, Italy: A huge enchanting public park just outside the ancient walls of Rome.

Kiddieland Sign

Discover Kiddieland Sign in Melrose Park, Illinois: The sign to a demolished amusement park now stands in front of a local library.

John Knox House

Discover John Knox House in Edinburgh, Scotland: This charming old building's loose connection with the Scottish Reformer is what saved it from demolition after it split apart.

Pocahontas ‘Meteorite’

Discover Pocahontas 'Meteorite' in Pocahontas, Arkansas: Despite what scientists think, the town still says this is an extraterrestrial rock.

Cagsawa Ruins

Discover Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, Philippines: This belfry is all that remains of the town that was buried by a violent volcano eruption.

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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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