Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Nicopolis

Discover Nicopolis in Preveza, Greece: The ruins of this monumental city founded by the first Roman Emperor are strangely overlooked by most travelers.

Vlissingen Wind Organ

Discover Vlissingen Wind Organ in Vlissingen, Netherlands: A set of 27 bamboo tubes creates an eerie soundscape that changes with the wind.

Howick Falls

Discover Howick Falls in Howick, South Africa: Local lore says a serpent-like beast lurks in the deep basin below the falls.

Octagon House in New York

Discover T.M. Younglove Octagon House in Hammondsport, New York: In the mid-19th century, an eight-sided house was the latest fad.

A Train Station Where They Sell Tiny Trains

Discover Model Train Market at Estació de França in Barcelona, Spain: For one day every month Barcelona's Estació de França transforms into a market for model trains.

Viking Runes at Hagia Sophia

Discover Viking Runes at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey: A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

The ‘Cure Cottages’ of Saranac Lake

Discover Saranac Lake 'Cure Cottages' in Saranac Lake, New York: Dozens of houses in the Adirondack Mountains are reminders of a literal "cottage industry" to cure people of a deadly disease.

Yard Birds Mall

Discover Yard Birds Mall in Chehalis, Washington: A giant roadside black bird marks the location of this eclectic local mall.

World’s Largest Beaver Dam

Discover World's Largest Beaver Dam in Improvement District No. 24, Alberta: The half-mile long structure is so impressive, it even shows up on satellite images.

Fred Hampton Pool

Discover Fred Hampton Pool in Maywood, Illinois: The young Black revolutionary was killed before getting to see a non-segregated pool in his hometown.

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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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