Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Lady in the Woods

Discover The Lady in the Woods in Kent, England: This oak sculpture at the edge of a small woodland is nine feet tall and shrouded in mystery.

Vlora Hanı

Discover Vlora Hanı in Istanbul, Turkey: An Art Nouveau gem hides beneath the layers of city grime obscuring this once-magnificent building.

Hank Williams Death Monument

Discover Hank Williams Death Monument in Oak Hill, West Virginia: A humble plaque marks the site where the country music legend was found dead in his Cadillac.

Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Regatta

Discover Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Goffstown, New Hampshire: Row, row, row your pumpkin quickly down the stream.

Legislative Bell System

Discover Legislative Bell System in Washington, D.C.: An ear-piercing buzzer calls lawmakers to a vote with a series of long and short rings to form coded messages.

Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park

Discover Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park in Tambon Mae Raem, Thailand: You'll never meet anyone this passionate about elephant droppings.

America’s Oldest Spa

Bubbling up from deep underground is the warm crystal clear water that fills the ironically named Jefferson Pools.

Botanical Gardens of Bath

Discover Botanical Gardens of Bath in Bath, England: With lush plants and flowers, huge trees, ponds, and hidden monuments, this place feels a bit like discovering Narnia.

Leuk Charnel House

Discover Leuk Charnel House in Leuk, Switzerland: For centuries no one knew there were hundreds of bones and precious artwork hidden beneath this Swiss church.

Spinnaker Tower

Discover Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, England: This striking observation tower shaped like a spinnaker sail is the newest icon in historic Portsmouth.

USS Balao Conning Tower

Discover USS Balao Conning Tower in Washington, D.C.: Part of a WWII submarine is lurking outside the Washington Navy Yard parking lot.

Allison Mansion

Discover Allison Mansion in Indianapolis, Indiana: This elaborate estate contains a stunning marble aviary, a sunken conservatory, and a magnificent music room with a two-story pipe organ.

The Bigfoot Trap

Discover The Bigfoot Trap in Jacksonville, Oregon: Sasqu(w)atch out!

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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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