Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Panagia tu Araka

Discover Panagia tu Araka in Lagoudera, Cyprus: Breathtaking Byzantine paintings cover the inside of this 12th-century church.

The Eternal Lovers of Valdaro

Discover Lovers of Valdaro in Mantua, Italy: A young Italian couple has been locked in an embrace for over 6,000 years.

Grave of Kelly Mitchell

Discover Grave of Kelly Mitchell in Meridian, Mississippi: The simple gravesite of a Romany clan leader is dotted with offerings, including cans of her favorite drink, Crush orange soda.

Whale Jaw of Schiermonnikoog

Discover Whale Jaw of Schiermonnikoog in Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands: An awe-inspiring giant blue whale jaw bone stands in the center of this Dutch island.

Newberry Library Postcard Collection

Discover Newberry Library Postcard Collection in Chicago, Illinois: Rifle through images of skyscrapers, Worlds Fairs, and more in the largest public postcard repository in America.

The Edinburgh Maiden

Discover The Edinburgh Maiden in Edinburgh, Scotland: This early version of the guillotine was used to execute the man responsible for its construction.

Langue de Barbarie

Discover Langue de Barbarie in Ndieulé Mbam, Senegal: A tree seems to grow from the ocean floor on this strange strip of sand slowly being overtaken by the sea.

Gravity Hill in Wisconsin

Discover Gravity Hill in Wisconsin in Shullsburg, Wisconsin: A remote hill on a stretch of country road where the laws of physics are defied… or so it seems.

Philbrook Museum of Art

Discover Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma: The collection is housed in an exquisite mansion that makes you feel like you've been transported to an Italian villa.

Cârța Monastery

Discover Cârța Monastery in Cârța, Romania: Climbing to the top of the cathedral's bell tower offers sweeping views of these medieval ruins.

Menu

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