Year: 2016

Burn O’Vat

Discover Burn O'Vat in Aberdeenshire, Scotland: A glacial pothole was once a hideout for a notorious Scottish outlaw.

Yangtorp Sanctuary

Discover Yangtorp Sanctuary in Jönstorp, Sweden: A Chinese meditation center in the middle of rural Sweden, partly funded by a member of ABBA.

Sigurdsristningen (Sigurd Carving)

Discover Sigurdsristningen (Sigurd Carving) in Eskilstuna, Sweden: Stone carvings record the Norse myth of Sigurd, providing a glimpse into Scandinavia's transition from paganism to Christianity.

Moving Sand Dunes

Discover Moving Sand Dunes in Poland: These massive moving sand dunes have swallowed an entire village and are still on the run.

Santa Maria dell’Isola Monastery

Discover Santa Maria dell’Isola Monastery in Tropea, Italy: A fairytale-like medieval church perched atop a rocky cliff on Italy's "Coast of the Gods.".

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Discover George Washington Memorial Parkway in Arlington, Virginia: This isn't your average roadway—it's actually a National Park and a transportation pioneer.

Møns Klint

Discover Møns Klint in Borre, Denmark: A natural wonder in south Denmark.

Boblo Island Abandoned Amusement Park

Discover Boblo Island Abandoned Amusement Park in Amherstburg, Ontario: An abandoned Victorian-era amusement park is rusting away amidst luxury houses.

Abandoned German Rocket Factory

Discover Peenemünde Army Research Center in Peenemünde, Germany: The NASA scientists behind Apollo 11 started out developing Nazi weapons at this abandoned German rocket factory.

Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad

Discover Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad in Freeport, Illinois: The only place in America where anyone who wants can shovel coal aboard an antique train.

Longwood

Discover Longwood in Natchez, Mississippi: A grandiose octagonal home crowned by a large dome stands out among the antebellum mansions.

Nazi Rocket Test Site

Discover Nazi Rocket Test Site in Leba, Poland: This open-air museum was originally a World War II testing ground for German missiles and rockets.

Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Factory

Discover Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Factory in Irwindale, California: Fans of the spicy bright-red sauce can tour where it's made.

Route 66 Sidewalk Highway

Discover Route 66 Sidewalk Highway in Miami, Oklahoma: When you can afford only half a road, you build only half a road.

Bock Casemates

Discover Bock Casemates in Luxembourg, Luxembourg: An expansive complex of subterranean tunnels is all that remains of one of Europe's most formidable medieval fortresses.

Leiðarendi Lava Tube

Discover Leiðarendi Lava Tube in Iceland: A winding, blood-red tunnel of hardened lava navigable by foot.

Lut Desert

The Lut Desert, or Dasht-e-Lut, is located in the south-east of the country. Between June and October, this arid subtropical area is swept by strong winds, which transport sediment and cause aeolian erosion on a colossal scale. Consequently, the site pr…

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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