Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Stevenson Road

Discover Stevenson Road in Mbala, Zambia: This little-known colonial road helped determine the Zambia-Tanzania border.

Will Scarlet’s Grave

Discover Will Scarlet's Grave in Blidworth, England: A mysterious medieval monument said to mark the final resting place of Robin Hood’s henchman.

The ‘Music Tree’ Chainsaw Art

Discover The Music Tree in New Orleans, Louisiana: A hurricane-stricken oak tree has been reborn as a beautiful chainsaw artwork.

Rufford Abbey

Discover Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire, England: The undercroft is a spectacular example of medieval Cistercian architecture.

‘Jumping Jack’ Power Plant

Discover 'Jumping Jack' Power Plant in Brooklyn, New York: A mysterious, abandoned building rotting on the Brooklyn waterfront.

Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine

Discover Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine in Geneva, Illinois: A hidden grotto on the grounds of the Kane County Government Center.

Coldstones Cut

Discover Coldstones Cut in North Yorkshire, England: A dramatic sculpture high up in Yorkshire with vistas on an industrial scale.

Admiralty House Park

Discover Admiralty House Park in Bermuda: In Bermuda, this formal naval residence has become a go-to for cliff-jumpers and hikers.

Darby’s Bed

Discover Darby's Bed in Snugborough, Ireland: A Neolithic passage tomb said to have sheltered two legendary Irish lovers.

Kasanka Bat Migration

Discover Kasanka Bat Migration in Serenje, Zambia: Zambia's smallest national park is home to one of the world's largest annual mammal migrations.

100,000 Soldiers of Trabuc Caves

Discover 100,000 Soldiers of Trabuc Caves in Mialet, France: This army of concretions is an unexplained geological phenomenon unlike anything else in the world.

Charley the Haunted Doll

Discover Charley the Haunted Doll in Beverly, Massachusetts: Rumored to have tormented a family in the late 1960s, this toy now resides in a quiet little oddities shop.

Chishimba Falls

Discover Chishimba Falls in Kasama, Zambia: Arrogance and quarreling are forbidden near these three sacred waterfalls.

Nao Victoria Museum

Discover Nao Victoria Museum in Punta Arenas, Chile: A display of hand-built replicas of the legendary vessels used by Patagonian and Antarctic explorers.

The Satanic Temple

Discover The Satanic Temple in Salem, Massachusetts: The headquarters in Salem doubles as an occult art gallery.

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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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