Year: 2016

Lady of the North

Discover Northumberlandia: Lady of the North in Northumberland, England: A million and a half tons of earth were used to create one of the world's largest land sculptures.

The Stairs of Reconciliation

Discover The Stairs of Reconciliation in Graz, Austria: Double spiral staircases are not unheard of, but they are very rare.

Gettysburg Dime Museum

Discover Gettysburg Dime Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: This recreation of a 19th-century dime museum is full of oddities.

Strada Sforii (Rope Street)

Discover Strada Sforii (Rope Street) in Brașov, Romania: This snug medieval lane is one of the narrowest streets in the world.

Leatherlips Monument

Discover Leatherlips Monument in Powell, Ohio: A monument to a Native American leader who was known for never breaking a promise and met his end after signing a deal with white settlers.

The Old Patent Model Museum

Discover The Old Patent Model Museum in Washington, D.C.: During the Industrial Revolution this “Temple of Invention” was full of intricate miniature machines and gadgets.

Pu o Hiro (Hiro’s Trumpet)

Discover Pu o Hiro (Hiro's Trumpet) in Easter Island, Chile: In the Middle Ages villagers would sound this stone trumpet to boost fertility and coax fish to shore.

Abigail Adams’ Grave

Discover Abigail Adams' Grave in Quincy, Massachusetts: The nation's second-ever First Lady urged the founding fathers to "remember the ladies.".

Leuk Charnel House

Discover Leuk Charnel House in Leuk, Switzerland: For centuries no one knew there were hundreds of bones and precious artwork hidden beneath this Swiss church.

Sekigahara War Land

Discover Sekigahara War Land in Sekigahara-chō, Japan: One of the bloodiest and most important battles in Japanese history is recreated with kitschy concrete statues.

The Fighting Goats of Poznań

Discover The Fighting Goats of Poznań in Poznań, Poland: These mechanical goats first battled it out in the year 1551, all because of an overcooked deer.

Secret Compartment in Leonardo da Vinci Statue

Discover Secret Compartment in Leonardo da Vinci Statue in Fiumicino, Italy: A secret hatch containing two parchments was discovered in this statue over 40 years after its installation.

Museum of Woodcarving

Discover Museum of Woodcarving in Shell Lake, Wisconsin: The world's largest woodcarving collection includes dozens of Bible scenes and a wooden bestiary, all carved by one man.

Rockefeller Mansion in Rock Creek Park

Discover Rockefeller Mansion in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.: This leafy estate is worth $18 million and is so grand it has two mailing addresses.

Ghost Trees of Pescadero Point

Discover Ghost Trees of Pescadero Point in Del Monte Forest, California: Haunting and beautiful trees, doomed to die.

San Thome Basilica

Discover San Thome Basilica in Chennai, India: This Gothic-style church is reputedly built atop the remains of one of Jesus's apostles.

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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