Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Navel of the World

Discover The Navel of the World in Easter Island, Chile: This large round boulder is said to emit spiritual power, but it may just be magnets.

Museum of Memory and Human Rights

Discover Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago, Chile: A museum founded to reflect on and remember the human rights abuses under Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Robinson Crusoe Island

Discover Robinson Crusoe Island in Juan Fernández, Chile: Named for the DeFoe novel inspired by a stranded sailor, this island is known for its rare plants and extreme beauty.

Marble Caves of Chile Chico

Discover Marble Caves of Chile Chico in Puerto Río Tranquilo, Chile: Mother Nature outdoes herself with this stunningly beautiful set of caves carved into marble.

Montaña Mágica Lodge

Discover Montaña Mágica Lodge in Panguipulli, Chile: This odd Chilean waterfall-cano hotel must be entered via a rope bridge.

Termas Geometricas

Discover Termas Geometricas in Panguipulli, Chile: This Japanese-inspired labyrinth of hot springs is hidden in a Chilean forest.

Hand of the Desert

Discover Hand of the Desert in Chile: A sculpture of a giant hand reaches for the stars in the middle of the Atacama desert.

Punta Pite

Discover Punta Pite in Chile: A fantastical group of cliffside stairways, bridges, and twisting paths carved out of stone provide a surreal coastal hike.

World’s Largest Swimming Pool

Discover World's Largest Swimming Pool in Valparaiso, Chile: A record-breaking pool that uses computers to turn ocean water into cleaner, private swimming water.

Orongo

Discover Orongo in Easter Island, Chile: This was once the center of the Birdman cult, and is now a World Heritage Site.

Elevators of Valparaiso

Discover Elevators of Valparaiso in Valparaiso, Chile: What was once a unique system of urban elevators is turning into a mechanical ruin.

Caves of the Villarrica Volcano

Discover Caves of the Villarrica Volcano in Villarrica, Chile: One of Chile's most active volcanoes is riddled with beautiful caves.

Atacama Giant

Discover Atacama Giant in Huara, Chile: One of the largest ancient geoglyphs in the world is a tall desert god used for predicting the weather.

Turkish Baths Harrogate

Discover Turkish Baths Harrogate in Harrogate, England: The last fully working Victorian Turkish bath in England.

The Wormingford Dragon Window

Discover The Wormingford Dragon Window in Wormingford, England: Was the ravaging reptilian from this village's legends a dragon, or an escapee from a London menagerie?

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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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