Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Grave of the Unknown Woman

Discover Grave of the Unknown Woman in Rahway, New Jersey: The final resting place of a famous 19th-century murder victim whose identity is still a mystery.

Remington Hot Springs

Discover Remington Hot Springs in Bodfish, California: One of the last free public hot springs is decorated with hippie art.

Fortress of Suomenlinna

Discover Fortress of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland: This irregularly shaped sea fortress has defended not one but three different sovereign states.

The Mushroom Building

Discover The Mushroom Building in Dassel, Minnesota: The fungus-shaped vintage gas station has served multiple purposes over its lifetime, and now serves ice cream.

Pin Point Heritage Museum

Discover Pin Point Heritage Museum in Savannah, Georgia: A unique museum dedicated to the Gullah-Geechee people, housed within an old oyster cannery.

Moss Lady

Discover Moss Lady in Victoria, British Columbia: Greenery cloaks this serene sculpture inspired by the famous Lost Gardens of Heligan.

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.

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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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