Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Lyhdynkantajat (The Lantern Bearers)

Discover Lyhdynkantajat (The Lantern Bearers) in Helsinki, Finland: These enormous, stern-faced statues greet visitors with lanterns, and sometimes costumes.

Tour de l’Échangeur

Discover Tour de l'Échangeur in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Also known as the Limete Tower, la Tour de l'Échangeur can be seen from almost everywhere in Kinshasa.

Kingswear Wishing Well

Discover Kingswear Wishing Well in Kingswear, England: Successful single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world in a sailing boat was a wish said to be granted at the well.

Mosaic House of Dunedin

Discover Mosaic House of Dunedin in Dunedin, Florida: In this Florida couple's cottage, nearly every surface—inside and out—is covered in mosaic artwork.

Victorian Bath House

Discover Victorian Bath House in London, England: This 19th-century Turkish bath house survived the Blitz of London and is now an events venue.

‘Bouquet of Tulips’

Discover 'Bouquet of Tulips' in Paris, France: One of Jeff Koons’s largest sculptures and his first commemorative work.

WIENXTRA-Spielebox

Discover WIENXTRA-Spielebox in Wien, Austria: Journey through a mesmerizing array of board games inside this museum.

Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes

Discover Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes in Ogmore-by-Sea, Wales: This huge coastal nature reserve in Wales was a stand-in for the Arabian Peninsula in 'Lawrence of Arabia.'.

Dominguez Palm Tree

Discover Dominguez Palm Tree in Anaheim, California: A family agreed to sell their property to Disney on the condition that this tree, planted as a wedding gift, would not be removed.

Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium

Discover Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium in Muroto, Japan: Sharks, stingrays, and mackerel swim in the pools at this former elementary school.

Zemun Fortress

Discover Zemun Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia: Different sections of the Zemun Fortress were built in the 14th and 15th century as a response to the advance of the Ottoman Empire.

Scioto Lounge Deer Sculptures

Discover Scioto Lounge Deer Sculptures in Columbus, Ohio: Three bronze deer sculptures relax along the Scioto Mile.

The Nashville Clayscape

Discover The Nashville Clayscape in Nashville, Tennessee: An ode to iconic Nashville locations.

Alcove Springs

Discover Alcove Springs in Elm Creek, Kansas: One of the stops along the faithful journey of the Donner Party.

Gravelly Point

Discover Gravelly Point in Newport, Rhode Island: The site of a pirate crews last days.

Artipelag

Discover Artipelag in Stockholm, Sweden: This Stockholm art museum has curated its pieces into its natural landscape.

La Cara del Indio

Discover La Cara del Indio in Isabela, Puerto Rico: La Cara del Indio honors the Taíno chief who fought bravely against the Spanish invasion of Puerto Rico.

Hoover Building

Discover Hoover Building in London, England: A masterpiece of Art Deco architecture hidden in plain sight in West London.

Milledge Fountain

Discover Milledge Fountain in Atlanta, Georgia: After being inoperative for over half a century, this elaborate fountain in Atlanta's oldest park was restored to its former glory.

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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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