Archives: Atlas Obscuras

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.

Ancient Megalithic Observatory at Kokino

Discover Kokino Observatory in North Macedonia: This 3,800-year-old site contains markers used to study the movement of the sun and moon and create a lunar calendar.

The Tangled Trees of Slope Point

Discover Slope Point in Slope Point, New Zealand: The most southerly spot on New Zealand's South Island is home to surreally shaped, permanently mangled trees.

Pantheon of San Fernando

Discover Pantheon of San Fernando in Mexico City, Mexico: The burial place of some of Mexico's most prominent residents is full of macabre stories and hidden masonic symbols.

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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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