Archives: Atlas Obscuras

St. Leonard’s Court Air Raid Shelter

Discover St. Leonard’s Court Air Raid Shelter in London, England: This small, round building is the entrance to a bomb shelter built in anticipation of World War II.

Fortune Island

Discover Fortune Island in Nasugbu, Philippines: This Filipino island is dotted with Grecian ruins.

Aztalan State Park

Discover Aztalan State Park in Jefferson, Wisconsin: The site of an ancient Mississippian settlement that appears to have flourished during the 10th to 13th centuries.

Palisades State Park

Discover Palisades State Park in Garretson, South Dakota: The cliff and rock formations are made out of Sioux Quartzite.

Virtuoso Sculpture

Discover Virtuoso Sculpture in Houston, Texas: Once seen as a bit of an eyesore, this sculpture has become a staple of downtown Houston.

Josie Lyon Statue and Grave

Discover Josie Lyon Statue and Grave in Evanston, Illinois: In the middle of Calvary Cemetery stands this singular memorial to a small boy who died too young.

The Atom Panopticon

Discover The Atom Panopticon in Laneshawbridge, England: This round structure dotted with portals is one of several pieces scattered throughout Lancashire.

Lyhdynkantajat (The Lantern Bearers)

Discover Lyhdynkantajat (The Lantern Bearers) in Helsinki, Finland: These enormous, stern-faced statues greet visitors with lanterns, and sometimes costumes.

Tour de l’Échangeur

Discover Tour de l'Échangeur in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Also known as the Limete Tower, la Tour de l'Échangeur can be seen from almost everywhere in Kinshasa.

Kingswear Wishing Well

Discover Kingswear Wishing Well in Kingswear, England: Successful single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world in a sailing boat was a wish said to be granted at the well.

Mosaic House of Dunedin

Discover Mosaic House of Dunedin in Dunedin, Florida: In this Florida couple's cottage, nearly every surface—inside and out—is covered in mosaic artwork.

Victorian Bath House

Discover Victorian Bath House in London, England: This 19th-century Turkish bath house survived the Blitz of London and is now an events venue.

‘Bouquet of Tulips’

Discover 'Bouquet of Tulips' in Paris, France: One of Jeff Koons’s largest sculptures and his first commemorative work.

WIENXTRA-Spielebox

Discover WIENXTRA-Spielebox in Wien, Austria: Journey through a mesmerizing array of board games inside this museum.

Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes

Discover Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes in Ogmore-by-Sea, Wales: This huge coastal nature reserve in Wales was a stand-in for the Arabian Peninsula in 'Lawrence of Arabia.'.

Dominguez Palm Tree

Discover Dominguez Palm Tree in Anaheim, California: A family agreed to sell their property to Disney on the condition that this tree, planted as a wedding gift, would not be removed.

Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium

Discover Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium in Muroto, Japan: Sharks, stingrays, and mackerel swim in the pools at this former elementary school.

Menu

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