Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Abandoned Dudik Memorial in Croatia

Discover Dudik Memorial Park in Vukovar, Croatia: Built as an anti-fascist tribute, this surreal Yugoslav memorial became an unwelcome symbol after the Croatian war for independence.

Red Rock Coulee

Discover Red Rock Coulee in Orion, Alberta: Huge spherical rocks in the middle of the prairie.

A Church Within a Church

Discover Ruins of St Andrew's Covehithe in Covehithe, England: A 17th-century church is nestled within the walls of a 15th-century ruin.

The Pest House Cemetery

Discover The Pest House Cemetery in Provincetown, Massachusetts: A 19th-century smallpox cemetery is being reclaimed by scrub forest and sand dunes.

Dancing Forest of Russia

The reason for the strange contortions in the trunks of these "drunken" pine trees is still a mystery.

St. James Episcopal Cemetery

Discover St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia: An elegant Georgian cemetery best known for the grave of the little girl whose murder on Christmas Day remains unsolved.

Swiss Museum of Games

Discover Swiss Museum of Games in Lac Léman, Switzerland: A Swiss board game museum housed inside a picture-perfect castle.

Traitors’ Gate

Discover Traitors' Gate in London, England: The watery entrance for condemned prisoners heading to the Tower of London is still visible along the Thames.

Not Quite the Continental Divide

Discover Mule Pass: Not Quite the Continental Divide in Bisbee, Arizona: A mistaken marker makes an erroneous claim along the historic Old Divide Road.

Pre’s Rock

Discover Pre's Rock in Eugene, Oregon: A memorial for the mustachioed record-setting runner.

The Living Fence

Discover The Living Fence in Ohrdruf, Germany: Made from trees and then abandoned, this fence is still growing along a path in Germany.

The Ruins of the Beaumaris Zoo

Discover The Ruins of the Beaumaris Zoo in Queens Domain, Australia: The abandoned remains of a once popular zoo, and the grave of the last known Tasmanian Tiger.

Nêgo’s Garden

Discover Jardim do Nêgo (Nêgo's Garden) in Nova Friburgo, Brazil: Moss-covered sculptures fill this small Brazilian gorge.

Lee’s Ferry and Lonely Dell

Discover Lee's Ferry and Lonely Dell in Marble Canyon, Arizona: This isolated outpost was once the only place to cross the Colorado River for hundreds of miles.

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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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