Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Martins Bank Building

Discover Martins Bank Building in Liverpool, England: Most of Britain's gold reserve was secretly stashed here after the start of World War II.

K’REX

Discover K’REX in Huntsville, Alabama: This 12-foot-tall T-rex is the largest K’Nex skeleton sculpture in the world.

A Tale of Two City Centers

Discover San Fernando Cathedral City Centers in San Antonio, Texas: Conflicting markers on its floor tell a tale of two city centers in San Antonio.

Washington Monument Access Hatch

Discover Washington Monument Access Hatch in Washington, D.C.: Daredevil repair workers can worm their way out the access hatch, loop ropes over the apex and rappel down the monument.

Monte Forato Ring

Discover Monte Forato in Stazzema, Italy: A massive natural rock arch gives the Tuscan mountain its own window to the sky.

Museum im Lagerhaus

Discover Museum im Lagerhaus in St. Gallen, Switzerland: A unique collection of Swiss art brut and naïve art displayed in an old warehouse.

Barzan Towers

Discover Barzan Towers in Umm Salal Muhammed, Qatar: These beautiful historic watchtowers were used for both scanning the desert for enemy invaders and observing the celestial world.

Dunure Labyrinth

Discover Dunure Labyrinth in Dunure, Scotland: This modern labyrinth lies in the shadow of a ruined medieval castle.

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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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