Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Tower of Markellos

Discover Tower of Markellos in Egina, Greece: This pink watchtower served as the seat of the Greek government after independence from the Turks.

Future Forest

Discover Future Forest in Mexico City, Mexico: A colorful "forest" made entirely from three tons of recycled plastic waste.

Klankenbos Sound Forest

Discover Klankenbos Sound Forest in Neerpelt, Belgium: Artwork tucked within the trees greets visitors with surreal sonic experiences.

1960s Hyperbolic Paraboloid Gas Station Canopy

Discover 1960s Hyperbolic Paraboloid Gas Station Canopy in Nottinghamshire, England: One of the earliest large-scale "hyper" roofs in the U.K. is now a derelict roadside attraction.

Punta Borinquen Lighthouse Ruins

Discover Punta Borinquen Lighthouse Ruins in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico: Mother Nature and years of neglect took their toll on this 19th-century lighthouse.

Carmen Tower

Discover Carmen Tower in Tlalpujahua, Mexico: This lonely tower survived the landslide that devastated much of a Mexican mining town.

Newman’s Castle

Discover Newman's Castle in Bellville, Texas: A medieval castle in the middle of rural Texas.

CCEMx Site Museum

Discover CCEMx Site Museum in Mexico City, Mexico: The remains of an Aztec school and various intriguing artifacts lie below a modern cultural center.

C.W. Parker Carousel Museum

Discover C.W. Parker Carousel Museum in Leavenworth, Kansas: This quaint museum lets you take a ride on its antique carousels.

Ute Council Tree

Discover Ute Council Tree in Delta, Colorado: The giant stump of the once towering cottonwood where Ute people held tribal meetings.

Exercise Tiger Memorial

Discover Exercise Tiger Memorial in Devon, England: A disastrous D-Day rehearsal was relatively unknown until this sunken tank was discovered 40 years later.

Mumbai’s Parsi Fire Temples

Discover Mumbai's Parsi Fire Temples in Mumbai, India: The place of worship for Zoroastrians, Mumbai's Parsi fire temples use fire and ash for purification.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum

Discover Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in Portland, Maine: Its unique collection details the history of the state's svelte railroads.

The Crying Giant

Discover The Crying Giant in Wilmington, Delaware: This weeping, 10-foot-tall sculpture was a maquette for a 9/11 memorial.

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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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