Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Bridge Collection

Discover The Bridge Collection in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal: The history of drinking is told through 1,800 cups, chalices, and glasses at this exhibit.

Dunfermline’s Wallace Well

Discover Dunfermline's Wallace Well in Dunfermline, Scotland: Did the legendary Scottish knight William Wallace actually take refuge here after a major battle?

Blue Spring

Discover Blue Spring in Ellington, Missouri: The deepest spring in Missouri.

Acrotholus Audeti

Discover Acrotholus Audeti in Toronto, Ontario: The remains of the oldest bone-headed dinosaur in North America.

Big Spring

Discover Big Spring in Van Buren, Missouri: Often referred to as the largest spring in America.

Messedamm Underpass

Discover Messedamm Underpass in Berlin, Germany: You've probably seen these distinctive orange-tiled columns on the big screen.

Thomas-Siegler House And Garden

Discover Thomas-Siegler House And Garden in Takoma Park, Maryland: Concerned residents saved this historic house and garden from demolition.

Basho Memorial Statue

Discover Basho Memorial Statue in Tokyo, Japan: Dedicated to one of the greatest Haiku poets of all time.

Jardin du Tripot

Discover Jardin du Tripot in Honfleur, France: An art-filled botanical garden and former dyeworks hiding in plain sight.

Incandescent Rocks

Discover Incandescent Rocks in Sutcliffe, Nevada: Colorful outcrops and cliffs just north of Reno provide a scenic backdrop for hiking and mountain biking.

Sunspot Solar Observatory

Discover Sunspot Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico: High in the Sacramento Mountains, a facility dedicated to studying the sun.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 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. 474 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. 499 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. 633 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. 135 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. 167 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). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 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. 96 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. 166

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