Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Hippie Tree

Some locals believe the colorful tree is a portal to hell.

The Exact Spot Where WWI Ended in the U.S.

Discover The Spot Where WWI Ended in Bridgewater, New Jersey: American involvement in World War I officially ended in 1921 in New Jersey, three years late and thousands of miles from the battlefield.

American Museum of Western Art

Discover American Museum of Western Art in Denver, Colorado: The huge collection of paintings of the American West is one of Denver's best-kept secrets.

Niue

Discover Niue in Alofi, Niue: A tiny, remote island packed with wonders both natural and geeky.

Nishiki Market

Discover Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Japan: This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

Wiñay Wayna

Discover Wiñay Wayna in Urubamba, Peru: These steeply terraced ruins are a stop along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Fell Family Cemetery

Discover Fell Family Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland: Wedged between two sets of row houses is an awkwardly located family graveyard.

The Great Spring of Boston

A tiny plaque marks the location of the water source that facilitated the birth of the modern metropolis.

The Waterworks

Discover The Waterworks in Waiau, New Zealand: Water-powered gadgets whirr to life in this quirky eco park.

Mazar-e-Quaid

Discover Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi, Pakistan: This commanding mausoleum holds the remains of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Temple of Vaccinia

Discover Temple of Vaccinia in Berkeley, England: The "father of immunology" used this humble hut to offer the local people some of the world's first free vaccinations.

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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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