Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Bison Coffeehouse

Discover Bison Coffeehouse in Portland, Oregon: This café is dedicated to serving coffee roasted by Native American-owned companies.

Černy’s Buried Soviet Tank

Discover Černy's Buried Soviet Tank in Prague, Czechia: A half-buried vehicle in Prague's is the latest iteration in a long-running piece by Czech artist David Černý.

Whitefish Island

Discover Whitefish Island in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario: Amid rushing rapids, this small bit of land is an important First Nations site on border between Canada and the United States.

Hellemann Tower and City Walls

Discover Hellemann Tower and City Walls in Tallinn, Estonia: Walk along the medieval fortifications that have been protecting Tallinn since the 14th century.

Sneglehuset (The Snail House)

Discover Sneglehuset (The Snail House) in Thyborøn, Denmark: A Danish fisherman spent 25 years covering nearly every inch of his home with tens of thousands of shells as a gift to his wife.

The Insect Asylum

Discover The Insect Asylum in Chicago, Illinois: A small Chicago museum filled with thousands of preserved butterflies, beetles, and more.

Grave of Daniel “Mad Dog” Morgan

Discover Grave of Daniel "Mad Dog" Morgan in Wangaratta, Australia: The burial site of one of the most notorious bushrangers in Australia's history.

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.

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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