Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Elephant Fountain

Discover Elephant Fountain in Catania, Italy: A mysterious ancient elephant said to possess magic powers is now the symbol of a Sicilian city.

Rincón de Parangueo Crater

Discover Rincón de Parangueo Crater in Rincon de Parangueo, Mexico: A dark tunnel leads to a striking white crater that seems to be from another planet.

The Neith of Spetses

Discover The Neith of Spetses in Spetses, Greece: Overlooking the harbor is a beautiful neglected mansion guarded by two Egyptian sphinxes.

Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock

Discover Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock in Kaiteriteri, New Zealand: This unusual rock formation looks like an apple that has been neatly sliced in half.

Insano Body Slide

Discover Insano Body Slide in Aquiraz, Brazil: From 135 feet high riders plunge down the world's tallest freestanding body slide at 65 mph.

SkullStore Oddity Shop

Discover SkullStore Oddity Shop in Toronto, Ontario: A collection of human remains, animal body parts, and other macabre curiosities all legally for sale.

Portraits of Mogarraz

Discover Portraits of Mogarraz in Mogarraz, Spain: Images of neighbors past and present guard the streets of this charming alpine village.

Satan’s Kingdom

Discover Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area in New Hartford, Connecticut: Who knew the Devil's domain was a hot spot for tubing?

Abandoned Eurostar Train

Discover Abandoned Eurostar Train in Valenciennes, France: This is what trains will look like after the zombie apocalypse.

The Damaged Faces of Lichfield Cathedral

Discover Damaged Faces of Lichfield Cathedral in Lichfield, England: These medieval carvings bear scars left by Parliamentarian troops during the English Civil War.

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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

PP ToS