Archives: Atlas Obscuras

PSA Flight 182 Crash Site

Discover PSA Flight 182 Crash Site in San Diego, California: An inconspicuous suburban street corner is the site of San Diego's worst air disaster.

Mahakali Caves

Discover Mahakali Caves in Mumbai, India: Nineteen ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves can be found on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Polish War Graves of Newark Cemetery

Discover Polish War Graves of Newark Cemetery in Newark-on-Trent, England: The final resting place of hundreds of Polish airmen who died fighting the Nazis in Britain.

Woods Bay State Park

Discover Woods Bay State Park in Olanta, South Carolina: This natural wonderland is a unique chance to explore a Carolina bay, a mysterious geological formation of unknown origin.

Storelgen (The Big Elk)

Discover Storelgen (The Big Elk) in Stor-Elvdal, Norway: The world's largest elk statue towers above the highway between Oslo and Trondheim.

The Gnome Reserve

Discover The Gnome Reserve in West Putford, England: The world's largest collection of garden gnomes lives among the trees and wildflowers on this woodland reserve.

The Source of the Risco

Discover The Source of the Risco in Mexico City, Mexico: An extravagant 18th-century fountain built with bits of broken ceramic.

Sultan the Pit Pony

Discover Sultan the Pit Pony in Caerphilly, Wales: The enormous earthwork sculpture honors the ponies that lived and worked in the old colliery.

Steel Men Of Wearside

Discover Steel Men Of Wearside in Monkwearmouth, England: This tribute to Sunderland's mining past stands outside the home of its football club.

Manx Giant’s Pillar

Discover Manx Giant's Pillar in St John's, Isle of Man: An unusual monument to a 19th-century circus star.

The Cottingley Fairies

Discover Cottingley Beck in Bingley, England: The photographs of "fairies" that fooled much of the world (including the creator of Sherlock Homes) were taken at this English stream.

Michigan War Dog Memorial

Discover Michigan War Dog Memorial in South Lyon, Michigan: This quaint stretch of road is the final resting place for hundreds of America's four-legged veterans.

Al Wakrah Dhow Harbor

Discover Al Wakrah Dhow Harbor in Wakrah, Qatar: A superb spot to appreciate the traditional boats of the Indian Ocean.

‘King Arthur’s Tomb’

Discover 'King Arthur's Tomb' in Glastonbury, England: In the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey lies the alleged resting place of the legendary king.

Musée Eudore Dubeau

Discover Musée Eudore Dubeau in Montreal, Québec: The only museum about the history of dentistry in Canada.

Rosary Chapel

Discover Rosary Chapel in Puebla, Mexico: The splendor of this 17th century golden chapel has led it to be called the "eighth wonder of the world.".

Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum

Discover Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum in Scituate, Massachusetts: A quaint museum nestled in a former hub of Irish moss harvesting.

Belfast Peace Lines

Discover Belfast Peace Lines in Belfast, Northern Ireland: These barriers stand as stark reminders of Northern Ireland's troubled past.

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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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