Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Keppel’s Column

Discover Keppel's Column in Rotherham, England: An oddly shaped tower built to mark the acquittal of Admiral Keppel in a controversial 1770s case.

Ust-Kamenogorsk Lock

Discover Ust-Kamenogorsk Lock in Ust'-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan: Tucked away along a riverbend in an area known for its uranium mines is one of the world's tallest locks.

Le Grand K

Discover Le Grand K in Saint-Cloud, France: The former global standard for the exact mass of one kilogram sits under lock and key outside Paris.

Church Hill Tunnel

Discover Church Hill Tunnel in Richmond, Virginia: Under a playground is a little-known sealed train tunnel that likely contains the bodies of workers trapped by cave-ins.

Annora’s Tomb

Discover Annora's Tomb in Oxford, England: The weathered grave of a medieval anchoress who walled herself up in a cell attached to a church.

Frunze Museum

Discover Frunze Museum in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Dedicated to a Bolshevik revolutionary, this museum is a true time capsule of the Soviet era.

Harry’s New York Bar

Discover Harry's New York Bar in Paris, France: A favorite Paris bar for U.S. expats, including Gershwin, Hemingway, and James Bond.

The Newark Castle Remains

Discover The Newark Castle Remains in Newark-on-Trent, England: This English medieval castle is where King John died of dysentery.

The World’s Longest Echo

Discover Inchindown Oil Tanks in Highland, Scotland: This abandoned oil depot produces world's longest echo in a manmade structure.

Imperial Map Monument

Discover Imperial Map Monument in Harhorin, Mongolia: History, geography, and shamanism meet in this eye-catching monument to the greatness of three empires.

Kungens Rondell (King’s Carousel)

Discover Kungens Rondell (King's Carousel) in Norrköping, Sweden: This roundabout was renamed in honor of the Swedish king's royal fender-bender.

Lesia

Discover Lesia in Canora, Saskatchewan: The giantess welcomes travelers to a small Saskatchewan town with a traditional Slavic greeting of bread and salt.

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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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