Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Castle Otttis

Discover Castle Otttis in St. Augustine, Florida: Two men built this castle on the Florida coast as an artistic “landscape sculpture.”.

Bali’s Black Sand Beach

The inky volcanic sand leads to reefs teeming with aquatic life waiting to be discovered by snorkelers and divers.

A Cactus Oasis in Echo Park

Discover Cactus Store in Los Angeles, California: The neighborhood shop is a sort of tiny cactus museum full of exotic specimens you can take home.

Upside-Down Fig Tree

Discover Upside-Down Fig Tree in Bacoli, Italy: A tree that defies gravity grows in an ancient ruin.

Tito’s Blue Train

Discover Tito's Blue Train in Belgrade, Serbia: Ride in 1960s style on the private luxury train Marshal Josip Tito used to travel around Yugoslavia.

Šalinac Grove

Discover Šalinac Grove in Šalinac, Serbia: An eerie, protected forest of old-growth oak trees, many of which are now dead.

Ballylumford Dolmen

Discover Ballylumford Dolmen in Islandmagee, Northern Ireland: This Bronze Age tomb makes the most unusual front garden fixture.

Dr. Seuss Museum

Discover Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts: A museum dedicated to the quirky and colorful world created by Springfield's favorite son.

Cinnamon Kandy the Circus Elephant

Discover Cinnamon Kandy the Circus Elephant in San Antonio, Texas: For over 75 years, this cute stone statue has warmed the hearts of San Antonio.

Swan Park

Discover Swan Park in Monticello, Minnesota: Thousands of majestic trumpeter swans fill this park, sounding distinctly like a certain brass instrument.

Oranki Art

Discover Oranki Art in Pello, Finland: A little-known sculpture park of contemporary environmental art in a Lapland forest.

Knights of Pythias Cemetery

Discover Knights of Pythias Cemetery in Black Hawk, Colorado: The burial grounds of a secret society includes fences topped with fake Tesla balls.

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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

PP ToS