Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Al-Serkal Mosque

Discover Al-Serkal Mosque in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: The largest mosque in Cambodia was built to unite the country's Muslim community but soon sparked division and controversy instead.

Saddell Abbey Grave Slabs

Discover Saddell Abbey Grave Slabs in Saddell, Scotland: The carved medieval stones stand near the ruined abbey's parking lot.

The Preamble in License Plates

Discover The Preamble in License Plates in Washington, D.C.: The preamble to the U.S. Constitution written entirely from vanity license plates hangs in the Smithsonian museum.

Glacier Republic

Discover Glacier Republic in Natales, Chile: An unrecognized micronation declared by Greenpeace to protect the glaciers of Chile.

Gordale Scar

Discover Gordale Scar in North Yorkshire, England: A long, winding trek rewards you with a gorge so captivating it inspired a painting in the Tate.

Puck’s Glen

Discover Puck's Glen in Argyll and Bute, Scotland: This ethereal, rainforest-like gorge is home to waterfalls, quaint bridges, and fairy folk.

Rock Garden Calhoun

Discover Rock Garden Calhoun in Calhoun, Georgia: Incredible miniature towns and buildings created and decorated with thousands of tiny rocks.

La Madone de São Paulo

Discover La Madone de São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil: This giant mural of Santa Muerte in downtown São Paulo reminds passersby of their own mortality.

Tajbeg Palace

Discover Tajbeg Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan: The abandoned palace stands as a wounded but proud beacon of Afghan hope.

Century Tree

Discover Century Tree in College Station, Texas: Campus tradition says couples who walk beneath this enormous oak will stay together forever.

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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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