Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Commemorative Monument of the Battle of the Ebro

Discover Commemorative Monument of the Battle of the Ebro in Tortosa, Spain: This memorial, built by fascist dictator General Franco in 1960, has been repurposed by the people of Catalonia.

World’s Oldest Edible Ham

Discover World’s Oldest Edible Ham in Smithfield, Virginia: The nearly 120-year-old piece of pork wears a brass collar and was once a man's "pet ham.".

De Waag

Discover De Waag in Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam's former hotspot for public executions and dissections.

Birr Castle Box Hedge

Discover Birr Castle Box Hedge in Offaly, Ireland: The world's tallest box hedge is found in a delightful garden.

The First Pirate Bay Server

Discover The First Pirate Bay Server in Linköping, Sweden: From under the bed of one of the co-founders, this server helped launch the notorious file-sharing website.

Chizhik Pyzhik

Discover Chizhik Pyzhik in Saint Petersburg, Russia: Perhaps the tiniest sculpture in Saint Petersburg is a little bronze finch inspired by a song.

Bali’s (Other) Abandoned Plane

Discover Bali's (Other) Abandoned Plane in Kuta, Indonesia: The wing of this deserted Boeing 737 almost touches the Dunkin' Donuts next door.

St Mary The Virgin

Discover St Mary The Virgin in Clophill, England: A reportedly haunted 14th century church is curiously facing the “wrong direction.”.

Reptile Zoo

Discover Reptile Zoo in Monroe, Washington: "The Reptile Man's" very own roadside zoo features an albino alligator.

Seattle’s Wall of Death

Discover The Wall of Death in Seattle, Washington: A "sinister, whimsical, tacky, and really orange" public art installation hidden under a Seattle bridge.

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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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