Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Liverpool Central Library Entrance Riddle

Discover Liverpool Central Library Entrance Riddle in Liverpool, England: The red letters in the literary pavement leading to the library form a mysterious code.

Gaddafi Canal

Discover Gaddafi Canal in Gourma Rharous, Mali: Muammar Gaddafi's well-intentioned investment in his favorite city turned out to be a nightmare.

Man With Fish

Discover Man With Fish in Chicago, Illinois: This awkward aquarium sculpture is one of the strangest statues in Chicago.

The Room of 10,000 Ancient Skulls

Discover The Room of 10,000 Ancient Skulls in Pueblo Libre, Peru: Lima’s Museum of Anthropology is lined with thousands of elongated human craniums.

California’s Stunted Forest

Discover Pygmy Forest Trail in Little River, California: A raised boardwalk winds through a thicket of stunted, century-old trees no more than nine feet tall.

The Wreck of the Zenobia

Discover The Zenobia Shipwreck in Larnaca, Cyprus: The water here is so clear you can see the mysteriously sunken ship from the surface.

Giant Life Savers Roll

Discover Giant Life Savers Roll in Gouverneur, New York: A giant roll of mints marks the birthplace of one of America's most famous candy brands.

Civil War Graffiti at Washington’s Tomb

Discover Civil War Graffiti at Washington's Tomb in Alexandria, Virginia: The tomb was guarded by soldiers from both sides of the war, and some left their initials carved in the brick.

DEVIL-ish Little Things Museum

Discover DEVIL-ish Little Things Museum in Vancouver, Washington: A whimsical menagerie of devils, krampuses, satyrs, and other horned creatures.

Sharpshooter’s Tree

Discover Sharpshooter's Tree in Washington, D.C.: A diminutive plaque recalls the treetop sniper who almost killed Abe Lincoln.

Euston’s Lost Tunnels

Discover Euston's Lost Tunnels in London, England: A network of concealed passageways lies within a busy London Underground station.

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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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