Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Platanenkubus

Discover Platanenkubus in Nagold, Germany: A German town is growing a building out of trees.

Grave of Carlos Fitzcarrald

Discover Grave of Carlos Fitzcarrald in Iquitos, Peru: The forgotten tomb of the Peruvian rubber baron who was the inspiration for Werner Herzog's epic film "Fitzcarraldo.".

Garnet Hill Rockhound Area

Discover Garnet Hill Rockhound Area in Ruth, Nevada: Rich red almandine gemstones are waiting inside the volcanic rock strewn across this eastern Nevada hillside.

The Adiyogi Shiva Statue

Discover The Adiyogi Shiva Statue in Booluvampatti, India: The world's largest bust sculpture celebrates the Hindu deity, Shiva.

The Museum of Un-Natural History

Discover Museum of Un-Natural History in Walla Walla, Washington: "Enter and be entertained or annoyed by Dada in Walla Walla.".

Prophet’s Rock

Discover Prophet's Rock in West Lafayette, Indiana: The large rock formation where the Shawnee prophet Tenskwatawa stood and encouraged his warriors during the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Wentworth Woodhouse

Discover Wentworth Woodhouse in Wentworth, England: The UK's largest private house was the subject of a long-lasting political dispute.

The Legs of Myles Standish

Discover The Legs of Myles Standish in Halifax, Massachusetts: A pair of 7-foot legs belonging to the military man of the Mayflower stand jauntily by the side of the road.

Min Kush

Discover Min Kush in Ming-Kush, Kyrgyzstan: This village was once a thriving Soviet uranium mining center, but is now semi-abandoned and desolate.

Maori and Colonial Museum

Discover Maori and Colonial Museum in Okains Bay, New Zealand: One of the largest collections of traditional Māori artifacts in New Zealand.

The First Peanut Museum in the U.S.

Discover First Peanut Museum in the U.S. in Waverly, Virginia: A museum in the heart of Virginia peanut country devoted to the humble goober.

Wainhouse Tower

Discover Wainhouse Tower in Halifax, England: This tallest folly in the world began its life as an elaborate factory chimney.

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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

PP ToS