Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Okapi Wildlife Reserve

Discover Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Home to pygmy hunter-gatherers, hundreds of animal and bird species, and the strange okapi, or forest giraffe.

Semliki Safari Lodge

Discover Semliki Safari Lodge in Bughendera, Uganda: Nestled in Uganda's Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve, is a one-of-a-kind safari lodge.

Manzanares el Real Castle

Discover Manzanares el Real Castle in Manzanares el Real, Spain: A magnificent, long-abandoned castle built in the wake of the reconquest of Spain.

Tropic of Cancer Monument

Discover Tropic of Cancer Monument in Santiago, Mexico: This spot along the 23.5 degree north parallel marks the northern boundary of the tropics.

Cawdor Castle

Discover Cawdor Castle in Highland, Scotland: The location of this historic castle was inspired by a donkey.

Quetzalpapálotl Palace

Discover Quetzalpapálotl Palace in San Juan Teotihuacan de Arista, Mexico: Dating back to the second century, vestiges of prehispanic mural paintings are found in this underground palace.

Dunrobin Castle

Discover Dunrobin Castle in Highland, Scotland: A castle in the Scottish Highlands has been continuously inhabited since the 1300s.

The Dubai Frame

Discover The Dubai Frame in United Arab Emirates: The world's largest frame offers spectacular views of the city's past and present.

Los Pinos

Discover Los Pinos in Mexico City, Mexico: The official Presidential Residence of Los Pinos became an emblem of Mexico's opulence and presidential corruption.

Belle of Louisville

Discover Belle of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky: The oldest operating Mississippi River–style steamboat still navigates the Ohio River.

Laughlin Labyrinths

Discover Laughlin Labyrinths in Laughlin, Nevada: A series of labyrinths in the Nevada desert inspire meditation and calmness.

Lake Mburo National Park

Discover Lake Mburo National Park in Nyabushozi, Uganda: Uganda's smallest savannah park is home to over 350 species of birds and mammals.

Igongo Cultural Centre

Discover Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara, Uganda: One of the most detailed and historically accurate collections of Ugandan artifacts depicting Bahima tribal history, culture, and daily life.

Virunga National Park

Discover Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of the Congo: The most biologically diverse protected area in Africa is also the most dangerous.

The Ibex of La Pedriza

Discover The Ibex of La Pedriza in Manzanares el Real, Spain: This species of wild goat stars in witchy legends and frolics among the park's eerie rock formations.

Kyiv Crematorium

Discover Kyiv Crematorium in Kyiv, Ukraine: This oddly shaped building is a surprising Soviet-era crematorium.

National Observatory of Colombia

Discover National Observatory of Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia: Erected in 1803, it is the first astronomical observatory that was built in the Americas.

Chincana Ruins

Discover Chincana Ruins in Comunidad Challapampa, Bolivia: Mysterious Incan ruins on a tiny island in Lake Titicaca.

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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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