Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Denver Sluice Complex

Discover The Denver Sluice Complex in Denver, England: This little-known hero has been protecting "The Fens" for close to 400 years, and now from its most powerful challenger yet: climate change.

Carmine Oddities Boutique

Discover Carmine Oddities Boutique in Orlando, Florida: Human skulls and a stuffed goat made into a rocking chair can be found at this strange little store.

The Watford Hornet

Discover The Watford Hornet in Watford, England: Flying high, this unusual hornet statue celebrates the local soccer team formerly owned by Elton John.

São Paio Beach

Discover Praia de São Paio in Labruge, Portugal: Iron Age runes and ruins hide in plain sight along this Portuguese beach.

Harry’s Harbor Bazaar

Discover Harry’s Harbor Bazaar in Hamburg, Germany: A wunderkammer of exoticism immortalized by Tom Waits.

Arabic Inscription of Palermo Cathedral

Discover Arabic Inscription of Palermo Cathedral in Palermo, Italy: Why a column on the entrance is inscribed with a verse from the Quran is one of Sicily's many mysteries.

Salt River Wild Horses

Discover Salt River Wild Horses in Mesa, Arizona: These free-roaming horses were once destined to disappear from the land.

Uniroyal Gal

Discover Uniroyal Gal in Peoria, Illinois: This rare female version of the Muffler Man has its clothes removed each summer to signal the start of pool season.

Stairs Measured By a Lady’s Step

Discover 5th Street Steps in Donora, Pennsylvania: Each step is a mere 4 inches tall, said to be measured by the stride of a woman wearing a hobble skirt.

South Africa’s Fertility Caves

Discover Motouleng Caves in Thabo Mofutsanyane, South Africa: The subterranean sanctuary home to local shamans is a sacred site for people of all religions.

Devil’s Pulpit

Discover Devil's Pulpit in Craighat, Scotland: A strange rock with a sinister reputation lurks within the crimson waters of this Scottish glen.

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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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