Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Hungry Tree

Discover The Hungry Tree in Dublin, Ireland: An 80-year-old plane tree is devouring an iron bench at Ireland's oldest law school.

Al Wukair Scrapyard

Discover Al Wukair Scrapyard in Qatar: Some 20,000 dust-covered unwanted vehicles languish in the desert.

Metallic Tower of Fourvière

Discover Metallic Tower of Fourvière in Lyon, France: Lyon's miniature version of the Eiffel Tower was built as a statement in support of French secularism.

Greater Light

Discover Greater Light in Nantucket, Massachusetts: A pig barn converted into one of the most eclectic residences in Nantucket.

San Pablo Shipwreck

Discover San Pablo Shipwreck in Pensacola, Florida: Though nicknamed the “Russian Freighter,” this ship was actually sunk off the coast of Pensacola by the U.S. government in a top-secret operation.

Hamilton Grange

Discover Hamilton Grange in New York, New York: The only home that Alexander Hamilton ever owned has a history almost as troubled as his own.

The Scripture Rocks of Pennsylvania

Discover Scripture Rocks Heritage Park in Brookville, Pennsylvania: Dozens upon dozens of boulders engraved with scripture tell the story of one man's troubled life.

U.S. Wildlife Forensics Lab

Discover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon: A forensic lab dedicated to fighting crimes against wildlife.

Cosmosphere

Discover Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas: The world’s largest combined collection of U.S. and Russian aircraft got its start in a poultry building.

The Butterfly House

Discover Pacific Grove Butterfly House in Pacific Grove, California: Hopeless romantics will swoon over the sweet story behind this bright and colorful home.

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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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