Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Devil’s Throat

Discover Devil's Throat in Bunkerville, Nevada: An unexpected sinkhole in a desert flat within Gold Butte National Monument.

Conata

Discover Conata in Conata, South Dakota: A ghost town now swarming with dozen of prairie dogs.

HGTV Art Cars

Discover HGTV Art Cars in Winslow, Arizona: A unique collection of artistic rides.

Daylesford Convent

Discover Daylesford Convent in Daylesford, Australia: This former convent has been reimagined as a community center for artists.

‘Corporate Head’

Discover ‘Corporate Head’ in Los Angeles, California: This sculpture presents commentary on a life in pursuit of profits.

Rhyl Miniature Railway

Discover Rhyl Miniature Railway in Wellington, England: Britain's oldest miniature railway.

Three Valley Gap

Discover Three Valley Gap in British Columbia: A historic ghost town still worth a visit.

Jabal al Qahar

Discover Jabal al Qahar in Al Reeth, Saudi Arabia: Climbing the "mountain of frustration" is no easy feat.

Sahalie Falls

Discover Sahalie Falls in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon: Rushing water plunges over a 100-foot drop created by an ancient lava flow at this majestic waterfall.

Stargate Kappern

Discover Stargate Kappern in Kappern, Austria: Is this a portal to another side of the cosmos?

George Wildrick House

Discover George Wildrick House in Frederick, Maryland: An amazing example of Federal-period architecture, truly unique to this region of the state.

Nana Wada

Discover Nana Wada in Pune, India: A combination of Peshwa and British Gothic Revival architecture.

Sudd Wetland

Discover Sudd Wetland in South Sudan: The inhabitants of the world’s largest wetland have learned to navigate its dramatic seasonal changes.

Goz Abu Goma Bridge

Discover Goz Abu Goma Bridge in Kosti, Sudan: One of the largest early 20th-century bridges in Sudan.

John Tyler’s Pet Cemetery

Discover John Tyler's Pet Cemetery in Charles City, Virginia: John Tyler never got to be buried at his beloved home, but every pet his family owned since has been.

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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

PP ToS