Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Lord Byron’s Burial Place

The beloved poet, Ada Lovelace, and generations of other Byrons lie within the vaults of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Big Lizzie

Discover Big Lizzie in Red Cliffs, Australia: One of the world's largest tractors was built to replace camel caravans.

The Accidental Buddha Shrine of Oakland

Discover Phap Duyen Tu: The Buddha Shrine of Oakland in Oakland, California: A hardware store Buddha statue installed to deter vandalism wound up attracting Vietnamese immigrants who came to pray.

Peggy Guggenheim’s Grave

Discover Peggy Guggenheim's Grave in Venice, Italy: The only museum with its curator—and her pets—buried inside.

Oberhafenkantine Berlin

Discover Oberhafenkantine Berlin in Berlin, Germany: A portable, wooden replica (minus the hyphen) of Hamburg’s iconic crooked coffee shop.

Glen Jean School

Discover Glen Jean School in Oak Hill, West Virginia: An abandoned 1920s school with a mysterious history.

Miami Showmen’s Association Rest

Discover Miami Showmen's Association Rest in North Miami Beach, Florida: A gaudy painted elephant stands in memory of south Florida's fallen carnies.

Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire

Discover Chesterfield's Crooked Spire in Chesterfield, England: The whimsical twist of this spire was either caused by the Devil, an unexpected virgin, or lead.

Koneswaram Temple

Discover Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: An ancient temple to the Hindu god Shiva surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery.

King Arthur’s Stone

Discover King Arthur's Stone in Cornwall, England: A 6th-century stone lies at the site of the mythical battle waged between King Arthur and his nemesis Mordred.

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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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