Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Geelong Bollards

Discover Geelong Bollards in Geelong, Australia: More than 100 colorful residents stand post in this seaside Australian city.

The Well at Meligalas

Discover The Well at Meligalas in Messinia, Greece: A somber memorial at the site where hundreds of prisoners and civilians were executed in the aftermath of World War II.

The Mountain Sphinx

Discover The Mountain Sphinx in Bușteni, Romania: Conspiracy theories and occult legends surround this mysterious natural rock formation.

Roman Circus of Toledo

Discover Roman Circus of Toledo in Toledo, Spain: The ruins of an ancient stadium that hosted gripping chariot and horse races.

Site of the Union Station Train Crash

Discover Site of the Union Station Train Crash in Washington, D.C.: A 1,100-ton train fell through the floor in 1953. Workers got it patched up in just 72 hours.

Imsil Cheese Theme Park

Discover Imsil Cheese Theme Park in Imsil-gun, South Korea: A 32-acre fun park dedicated to all things cheese.

Lois Lane

Discover Lois Lane in Worcester, Massachusetts: A comic book store got the road by its shop officially renamed after Superman's girlfriend.

Captain James Cook National Historic Site

Discover Captain James Cook National Historic Site in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador: A statue of the early navigator stands overlooking the land he first surveyed.

Skookumchuck Narrows

Discover Skookumchuck Narrows in Egmont, British Columbia: The water swaps direction twice a day, whipping into a frenzy of whirlpools and rapids.

Penitente Morada of Abiquiú

Discover Penitente Morada of Abiquiú in Abiquiu, New Mexico: The building stands within a quiet, postcard-perfect New Mexico village.

Remains of the Whitefriars Friary

Discover Remains of the Whitefriars Friary in Coventry, England: The historic site where Queen Elizabeth I once gave a searing speech.

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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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