Archives: Atlas Obscuras

R2-D2 of Prague

Discover R2-D2 of Prague in Prague, Czechia: Street artists transformed an abandoned air vent into the beloved Star Wars robot.

The Crazy Pinnacle

Discover The Crazy Pinnacle in Derbyshire, England: There's a strange stone hoodoo towering atop a wooded hillside and no one is quite sure how it got there.

Lady of the North

Discover Northumberlandia: Lady of the North in Northumberland, England: A million and a half tons of earth were used to create one of the world's largest land sculptures.

The Stairs of Reconciliation

Discover The Stairs of Reconciliation in Graz, Austria: Double spiral staircases are not unheard of, but they are very rare.

The Ancient Cisterns of Tawila

Discover Cisterns of Tawila in Aden, Yemen: This impressive system of tanks was used to store drinking water as long as 2,000 years ago.

Abandoned Donner Pass Tunnels

Discover Donner Pass Summit Tunnels in Truckee, California: The now-abandoned tunnels were built for the transcontinental railroad on the route where the first wagon train entered California.

Hickam Air Base Scars

Discover Hickam Air Base Scars in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii: The air force base preserves its scars from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Ancient Temple of Segesta

Discover Temple of Segesta in Calatafimi, Italy: This amazingly preserved Doric temple was abandoned before it was ever completed.

Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ)

Discover Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) in Alicante, Spain: Fascinating exhibits of prehistoric and ancient artifacts displayed with a uniquely modern touch.

Cava Museo

Discover Cava Museo in Carrara, Italy: Explore the quarry where the marble was sourced for Michaelangelo's David.

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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