Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Windows of Tisquizoque

Discover Windows of Tisquizoque in Florián, Colombia: A three-tiered waterfall plummets from a mountain cave with amazing views over the countryside.

‘Hail to the Sunrise’

Discover 'Hail to the Sunrise' in Charlemont, Massachusetts: A monument to the Mohawk people stands along an old Native American trade route.

‘Scary Mountain’

The steep slopes of one of the world's largest sand dunes beckon those willing to take on the challenge of trekking to the summit.

The Old Madrasa of Athens

Discover Old Madrasa of Athens in Athens, Greece: The ruined doorway is a portal to the building's turbulent and torturous past.

Moscow’s ‘Golden Brains’

Discover The 'Golden Brains' in Moscow, Russia: Some Moscow residents once claimed the bizarre, contorted mass of metal on top of the building was used to manipulate minds.

Puppet Cabinet at Monteiro Lobato Library

Discover Puppet Cabinet at Monteiro Lobato Library in São Paulo, Brazil: Dozens of vintage puppets are displayed in an unassuming hallway at the public library.

The Bonaventure Hotel

Discover The Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, California: The space-age building is home to one of the few remaining rotating restaurants in America, and the only one that inspired a 1980s sitcom.

Ubehebe Crater

Discover Ubehebe Crater in Inyo County, California: A massive hydrovolcanic explosion left a half-mile wide crater in Death Valley.

Kessler Park Reservoir

Discover Kessler Park Reservoir in KCMO, Missouri: An abandoned concrete jungle surrounded by a lush park.

Wrong Way Cemetery

Discover Wrong Way Cemetery in Rayne, Louisiana: The above-ground crypts at this Catholic cemetery face north-south instead of the usual east-west.

Quo Vadis

Discover Quo Vadis in Prague, Czechia: A sculpture of the iconic East German car on four legs is a tribute to those who traveled to Prague seeking asylum.

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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

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