Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Moses Carpenter’s Grave

Discover Moses Carpenter's Grave in Middlesbrough, England: The final resting place of a celebrated First Nations man who traveled through England with a snake oil salesman.

Les Sables du Cul du Chien

Discover Les Sables du Cul du Chien in Noisy-sur-École, France: An unusual sand beach in the middle of a forest.

Ise Grand Shrine

This ancient shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years since the eighth century.

Kick ‘Em Jenny

Discover Kick 'Em Jenny in Grenada: A violent name for a violent volcano.

Ancient Beekeeping Museum

Discover Ancient Beekeeping Museum in Musteika, Lithuania: A tiny traditional village keeps an ancient method of beekeeping alive.

The Ossuary of San Martino

Discover Ossario di San Martino in San Martino della Battaglia, Italy: The skulls and bones of thousands of soldiers line the walls of this small Italian chapel.

Senate Bathtubs

Discover Senate Bathtubs in Washington, D.C.: Senators used to relax in the nearly forgotten marble tubs now hidden in the U.S. Capitol Building's basement.

Sydney Harbour’s Secret Garden

Built over an abandoned train yard, this hidden gem is full of winding paths and offers gorgeous views of the harbor and its iconic bridge.

Blaak House

Discover Blaak House in Rotterdam, Netherlands: Elegant marble and old vaults fill this historic Dutch bank turned office space.

Garden of Constants

Discover Garden of Constants in Columbus, Ohio: This whimsical campus lawn is dotted with large sculpted numbers and hidden mathematical formulas.

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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