Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Cyprus Railways Museum

Discover Cyprus Railways Museum in Cyprus: This museum in a shuttered train station remembers the island's forgotten rail system.

The Ancient Windmills of Nashtifan

Discover Nashtifan Windmills in Nashtifan, Iran: The vertical-axis windmills of ancient Persia have been grinding flour for 1,000 years and counting.

Sculptured Rocks

This narrow canyon has been naturally carved by the river into spectacular and curious forms.

Fireworks Battle of Remedios

Discover Parrandas of Remedios in Remedios, Cuba: This Cuban town sets the sky on fire around Christmas each year.

Old Japanese Jail

Discover Old Japanese Jail in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: This jail once controlled by the Japanese military now sits abandoned on a remote Pacific island.

Alcoy and Maigmó Greenways

Discover Alcoy and Maigmó Greenways in Alcoi, Spain: A dictator's failed public works project is reborn as two linked trails through spectacular scenery.

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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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