Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ulele Fairyland Figures

Discover Ulele Fairyland Figures in Tampa, Florida: These former theme park figures have a new lease on life outside a water plant-turned-restaurant.

Secrets of Puebla Tunnels

Discover Secrets of Puebla Tunnels in Puebla, Mexico: A 500-year-old series of tunnels long believed to be folkloric was uncovered beneath the streets of Puebla.

The LAPD Kōban

Discover The LAPD Kōban in Los Angeles, California: Common all over Japan, kōbans are small community police boxes, and now one is guarding one of L.A.’s megamalls.

Rothko Chapel

Discover Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas: The peaceful space is adorned by paintings by the famed abstract artist Mark Rothko.

Penny Hot Springs

Discover Penny Hot Springs in Carbondale, Colorado: A little-known hot spring haven right below the highway.

Nederland Mining Museum

Discover Nederland Mining Museum in Nederland, Colorado: One of the few surviving Panama Canal steam shovels stands outside a tiny Colorado mining museum.

The Huddleston

Discover The Huddleston in Hamilton, New Zealand: A steampunk airship "floats" above Hamilton Gardens delivering plants and compost.

Leaning Mailboxes

Discover Leaning Mailboxes in Taipei City, Taiwan: These charming mailboxes became social media stars after a typhoon failed to topple them.

Mixco Viejo (Jilotepeque Viejo)

Discover Mixco Viejo (Jilotepeque Viejo) in Guatemala: A ruined Maya city that suffered a years-long case of mistaken identity.

Monument of the Anonymous Passersby

Discover Przejście (Passage) in Wrocław, Poland: A striking public sculpture representing the period of martial law in Communist Poland.

The Great Thangka

Stretching almost 2,000 feet, this Tibetan painting is one longest pieces of Buddhist artwork in the world.

Wizard of Oz Metal Statues

Discover Wizard of Oz Metal Statues in Juneau, Alaska: On top of a sheet metal business in Juneau stand nearly a dozen charming Wizard of Oz statues.

The Devil’s Punchbowl

Discover The Devil's Punchbowl in Norfolk, England: A mysterious crater-like pond has a spooky tendency to empty and fill with complete disregard to rainfall patterns.

Ranthambore Fort

Discover Ranthambore Fort in Ranthambhore Fort, India: The evocative ruins of a 1,000-year-old hill fort lie within a popular tiger reserve.

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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