Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Dubai Gold Souk

Discover Dubai Gold Souk in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: On any given day this sprawling market houses literally tons of government-regulated gold, gems, and precious metals.

Olmec Head Roundabout

Discover Olmec Head Roundabout in Madrid, Spain: An exact replica of a colossal Olmec head sits atop a pyramid within a Madrid traffic circle.

Masada: Israel’s Ancient Fortress

Discover Masada in Masada, Israel: This daunting 1st century fortress was purportedly the site of one of the most dramatic revolts of the Jewish-Roman wars.

Ecological Plastic Bottle House

Discover Ecological Plastic Bottle House in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina: One family's mission to exemplify sustainability took on a whole new life as a surprisingly beautiful home.

The Ananuri Fortress

Discover Ananuri in Georgia: This architecturally eclectic fortress witnessed centuries of bloody turmoil, including the massacre of its ruling clan.

Torpedo Launch Station

Discover Torpedo Launch Station in Rijeka, Croatia: Now abandoned, the world's first torpedo factory is crumbling into the sea.

Portland’s Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden

Discover Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden in Portland, Oregon: Statues of Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ribsy the dog in the park where their adventures "really happened.".

Abandoned Fairytale Castle of Agrili

Discover Fairytale Castle of Agrili in Agrilos, Greece: A magical, if a bit tacky, 1960s castle conjures up medieval fairytales and Greek mythology.

Waipu Glowworm Caves

Scores of the bioluminescent bugs live deep within the belly of these New Zealand caves.

Bavay Ancient Forum

Discover Bavay Ancient Forum in Bavay, France: These ruins reveal the remarkably intact layout of a Roman marketplace.

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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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