Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Golden Jubilee Graffito

Discover Golden Jubilee Graffito in Elora, Ontario: Among the cliffs of the Elora Gorge is an oft-overlooked piece of celebratory graffiti.

Burton Street School

Discover Burton Street School in Sheffield, England: It's known as the "Full Monty school" thanks to its role in the beloved British comedy film.

Sinchi Warmi Amazon Lodge

Discover Sinchi Warmi Amazon Lodge in Puerto Misahuallí, Ecuador: An exotic jungle hideaway run entirely by indigenous Kichwa women.

Christ of the Abyss

Discover Christ of the Abyss in Key Largo, Florida: An underwater statue of Christ blesses the depths off Key Largo.

Cementerio la Reina

Discover Cementerio la Reina in Cienfuegos, Cuba: A cemetery full of exquisite statuary, including a monument to a woman some say died of a broken heart.

Devils Kitchen at Caesars Head State Park

Discover Devils Kitchen at Caesars Head State Park in Cleveland, South Carolina: According to local lore, this narrow passageway through two large rocks was accidentally created by the devil himself.

Brazil’s Land of Twins

The mystery of the extraordinary high twinning rate has led to wild theories such as Nazi genetic experiments.

Castle of Light

Discover Castle of Light in Riga, Latvia: Latvia's symbolic mountain-shaped national library is home to millions of cultural tomes.

The Bats of Yolo Causeway

Discover Bats of Yolo Causeway in Davis, California: Each summer, the migratory bats living beneath the bypass form "batnadoes" at dusk.

Puente de Boyacá

Discover Puente de Boyacá in Ventaquemada, Colombia: This small bridge serves as a symbol of South America's independence.

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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