Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen)

Discover Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen) in Tromsø, Norway: This functioning parish church is also the site of many concert performances due to its wonderful acoustics.

Burlington Earth Clock

Discover Burlington Earth Clock in Burlington, Vermont: Stand at the center of this lakefront sundial, and you'll become part of the timepiece.

Poço da Pedreira

Discover Poço da Pedreira in Santa Maria, Portugal: Rainwater transformed this old quarry into a peaceful pond you won't find in most tourist books.

Monument to Yuri Gagarin

Discover Monument to Yuri Gagarin in Barskoon, Kyrgyzstan: A boulder carved into the shape of the cosmonaut's head.

Tower of the Winds

Discover Tower of the Winds in Athens, Greece: An ancient octagonal weather station named for the eight Greek gods of wind.

ALZHIR

Discover ALZHIR in Malinovka, Kazakhstan: A Stalinist prison camp for the wives and children of men accused of betraying the Soviet state is now a memorial museum.

Mayan Stelae at Quirigua

Discover Mayan Stelae at Quirigua in Guatemala: Mesoamerican monoliths and zoomorphic stones covered in royal visages, ancient mythology, and grand celestial events.

Colony of Santa Eulalia

Discover Colony of Santa Eulalia in Sax, Spain: An abandoned socialist utopia built in the late 19th century.

Dan Clancy Memorial Chair

Discover Dan Clancy Memorial Chair in Wicklow, Ireland: A teddy bear sits on a chair watching the sunset from the mountaintop—just as the late Dan Clancy had done since childhood.

Sun Cruise Resort and Yacht

Discover Sun Cruise Resort and Yacht in Gangneung, South Korea: The world's first cruise ship-shaped hotel is perched atop a cliff.

Bunkers of Cape Henlopen State Park

Discover Bunkers of Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware: WWII-era bunkers are hidden under the beaches of this picturesque park, which is still scattered with wartime watchtowers. .

Ness of Brodgar

Discover Ness of Brodgar in Stenness, Scotland: The discovery of this Neolithic settlement, which contained a Stone Age "cathedral," threw archaeologists for a loop.

Grave of Bert Barrett’s Left Arm

Discover Grave of Bert Barrett’s Left Arm in San Jose, California: The rest of him lived another 61 years and was buried elsewhere.

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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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