Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Merlin’s Cave

Discover Merlin’s Cave in Tintagel, England: It is said the legendary wizard once lived in this sea cave beneath Tintagel Castle.

Pink Elephant Antique Mall

Discover Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois: Oversized statues are just the tip of this nostalgic Americana roadside attraction.

Karlstein Castle Replica

Discover Karlstein Castle Replica in Batchelor, Australia: This mini version of the famous Bohemian castle was lovingly built by a Czech immigrant and mineworker.

Fountain of Youth

Discover Fountain of Youth in Wexford, Pennsylvania: A stone arch leads to a cavernous 1930s spring house tucked away in the Pennsylvania woods.

Grant’s Headquarters at City Point

Discover Grant's Headquarters at City Point in Hopewell, Virginia: For nearly a year, General Ulysses S. Grant was based here during the American Civil War.

Seattle Labor Temple

Discover Seattle Labor Temple in Seattle, Washington: This historic hub for labor unions has survived the city's changing landscape.

The Toaster

Discover The Toaster in Aachen, Germany: A distinctive former power plant turned university lecture hall looks like it could make you breakfast.

Burntcoat Head Park

Discover Burntcoat Head Park in Maitland, Nova Scotia: The highest tides in the world come in and out here twice a day, allowing you to essentially walk along the ocean floor.

The ‘Hand with Watch’ Sculpture

Discover The 'Hand with Watch' Sculpture in Berlin, Germany: Known simply as "The Hand," this famous public sculpture in Berlin was featured in a Depeche Mode music video.

La Alpujarra Administrative Center

Discover La Alpujarra Administrative Center in Medellín, Colombia: In the heart of Medellín, an artsy urban complex sets the stage for demonstrations and protests.

54 Columns of Atlanta

The strange assortment of concrete pillars inspires reflection in some, confusion in others.

The Well of the Seven Heads

Discover Well of the Seven Heads in Highland, Scotland: This macabre monument atop an ancient well gives a nod to a brutal episode in Scottish clan history.

Our Lady of the Sea

Discover Our Lady of the Sea in Chauvin, Louisiana: Installed as a beacon of hope for a hurricane-racked island, the statue had to be moved multiple times due to the eroding coast.

Italy’s Beautiful Giant Christmas Tree

Discover Mount Ingino Christmas Tree in Gubbio, Italy: The world's largest "Christmas tree" is illuminated by hundreds of lights stretching 2,000 feet up the slope of Mount Ingino.

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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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