Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Dolly Parton Statue

Discover Dolly Parton Statue in Sevierville, Tennessee: An ode to "The Queen of Appalachia.".

Scoresby’s Polar Bear

Discover Scoresby's Polar Bear in Whitby, England: A monument to the real explorer and bear who inspired characters in Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials.'.

Golden Ball Tavern

Discover Golden Ball Tavern in Weston, Massachusetts: This historic Massachusetts tavern played a critical role in the start of the American Revolution.

Greenwood Stack

Discover Greenwood Stack in Greenwood, British Columbia: This former smelting facility is a crumbling ruin, with the exception of its towering smokestack.

Hope Iron Furnace

Discover Hope Iron Furnace in New Plymouth, Ohio: The remains of a massive blast furnace in what was once one of the country's largest iron-producing regions.

Hall of Fake Presidents

Discover Hall of Fake Presidents in Washington, D.C.: Where you can hail your favorite fictional commanders-in-chief.

Piel Island

Discover Piel Island in Walney, England: On this small spit of land, the person who runs the public house is considered the King of Piel Island.

The Bear Pit

Discover The Bear Pit in Belfast, Northern Ireland: Once home to a local bear named "Bruno.".

National Coracle Centre

Discover National Coracle Centre in Cenarth, Wales: A museum dedicated to Wales’ favorite—and strangest-looking—watercraft.

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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

PP ToS