Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Rocker Grandma

Discover The Rocker Grandma in Madrid, Spain: This amazing abuela became a diehard metal fan late in life and an icon of Madrid's '80s rock scene.

Auto Hawk

Discover Auto Hawk in Albuquerque, New Mexico: A sculpture of a flying hawk made from colorful car doors.

A Kaleidoscopic Bob Dylan Mural

Discover The Times They Are A-Changin' in Minneapolis, Minnesota: This kaleidoscopic mural shows Bob Dylan throughout his transition from young troubadour to Nobel laureate.

Bass Rock

Discover Bass Rock in East Lothian, Scotland: This tiny island is home to the world's largest colony of Northern gannets.

Rockefeller Mansion in Rock Creek Park

Discover Rockefeller Mansion in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.: This leafy estate is worth $18 million and is so grand it has two mailing addresses.

The Golden Boy at Pye Corner

Discover The Golden Boy at Pye Corner in London, England: A portly statue of a golden boy commemorates an unusual cause of the Great Fire of London: the sin of gluttony.

Guatavita la Nueva

Discover Guatavita la Nueva in Guatavita, Colombia: The entire town looks like a slice of Spain that was carted across the ocean and plunked in the Andes.

Oratory of the Sacred Heart

Discover Oratory of the Sacred Heart in Dublin, Ireland: A nun spent 16 years painting the stunning Celtic mural that covers the interior of this WWI memorial.

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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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