Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ura e Terzive

Discover Ura e Terzive in Bishtazhin, Kosovo: This 15th-century Ottoman bridge was modified to keep up with the changing course of the river Erenik.

Llyn Barfog

Discover Llyn Barfog in Tywyn, Wales: According to legend, King Arthur killed a beast that dwelled beneath the waters of this Welsh lake.

The NatWest Hole

Discover The NatWest Hole in Ilkeston, England: How did a literal hole in a wall become one of this town's flagship tourist attractions?

‘Allen the Peregrine Falcon’

Discover 'Allen the Peregrine Falcon' in Broomhall, England: This Sheffield sculpture composed of 17,000 Allen keys honors both urban falcons and a furniture icon.

Grotta del Fico

Discover Grotta del Fico in Santa Maria Navarrese, Italy: Packed with geological formations, an ancient river, and taxidermied seals, this overlooked coastal cave system is worth a spelunk.

Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn

Discover Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn in Boonarga, Australia: A monument to the moth that saved Australia from a cactus crisis.

Harlequin Puppet Theatre

Discover Harlequin Puppet Theatre in Colwyn Bay, England: Britain's oldest permanent theatre designed and built for puppets.

BAM Hamm Archives

Discover BAM Hamm Archives in Brooklyn, New York: A collection of playbills, photographs, and other memorabilia from the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Tallinn Black Angus Sculpture

Discover Tallinn Black Angus Sculpture in Tallinn, Estonia: A unique sculpture calls the outside of this steakhouse home.

RONDO Distributing Co.

Discover RONDO Distributing Co. in Atlanta, Georgia: For the last eight decades, this curious shop has been ridding Atlanta of bad juju.

Spiller Field Magnolia Trees

Discover Spiller Field Magnolia Trees in Atlanta, Georgia: This pair of centuries-old magnolia trees was once struck by a Babe Ruth home run.

St Drostan’s Well

Discover St Drostan's Well in Scotland: Belied to be the site where St. Drostan performed baptisms.

Snowy Farr Sculpture

Discover Snowy Farr Sculpture in Cambridge, England: An unusual artwork dedicated to a unique man that entertained people visiting Cambridge while raising money for charity.

Working Mens Institute

Discover Working Mens Institute in New Harmony, Indiana: Home to a collection of artifacts and specimens from one of the world's preeminent geologists.

Bridge Of Sighs

Discover Bridge Of Sighs in Chester, England: Once the last route taken by condemned prisoners.

The Mother Spring

Discover The Mother Spring in Pagosa Springs, Colorado: No one knows exactly how deep the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring is.

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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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