Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Sacred Heart Cathedral of Oran

Discover Sacred Heart Cathedral of Oran in Oran, Algeria: This former cathedral is now a bustling library packed with students and pigeons.

Barry Goldwater Memorial

Discover Barry Goldwater Memorial in Phoenix, Arizona: A towering bronze statue memorializes the founding father of postwar American conservatism.

Sneinton Dragon

Discover Sneinton Dragon in Nottingham, England: When the public was consulted about a new piece of street art, they naturally asked for an enormous metal dragon.

Coney Island Museum

Discover Coney Island Museum in Brooklyn, New York: An oasis of calm amid the chaos of the boardwalk, the museum traces the heritage of this beloved beachside amusement park.

Vote Against Prohibition Sign

Discover Vote Against Prohibition Sign in Baltimore, Maryland: A faded sign from the 1920s remembers Baltimore's resistance toward banning alcohol.

Searles Lake

Discover Searles Lake in San Bernardino County, California: This sun-scorched lakebed contains samples of half the natural elements known to humankind.

Library of Mistakes

A collection of thousands of books explaining how to avoid another Great Recession.

Stiffy Green

Discover Stiffy Green in Terre Haute, Indiana: Whether his story is true or not, Stiffy Green is the most beloved bulldog in all of Indiana.

A Stunning Jellyfish Exhibit

Discover Jellyfish Exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California: One of the most elaborate displays of Jellyfish is on display at the aquarium.

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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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