Roman Fish-Salting Factory

Discover Roman Fish-Salting Factory in Puerto de Mazarrón, Spain: Remnants of the rich history of fish salting in this ancient Mediterranean port town.

High Trestle Trail Bridge

Discover High Trestle Trail Bridge in Madrid, Iowa: A half-mile long and three stories high, this bridge over the Des Moines River Valley mimics a descent into a mine shaft.

A Real-Life Fairytale Castle in Romania

Discover Peleș Castle in Sinaia, Romania: This elaborately decorated, fairytale-like Romanian royal palace is one of the most striking castles in Europe.

Fairy Rock

Discover Fairy Rock in Whitehaven, England: Local legends say that fairies used to dance in the moonlight here and invite handsome young men into their grottoes.

Kater-Crafts Bookbinders

Discover Kater-Crafts Bookbinders in Pico Rivera, California: The small family-run business has kept alive the fading art of creating beautiful handmade book covers.

Puerto Maldonado Obelisco

Discover Puerto Maldonado Obelisco in Puerto Maldonado, Peru: This space-age looking obelisk rises over a city in the rainforest, meant to resemble the local castaña tree.

Boy and Frog Fountain

Discover Boy and Frog Fountain in Kansas City, Missouri: A beloved, quirky little fountain featuring a large frog spitting water at a naked boy.

Fetter Lane Moravian Burial Ground

Discover Fetter Lane Moravian Burial Ground in London, England: Some of the earliest leaders of the Moravian congregation are buried here.

The Hass Avocado Mother Tree

Discover The Hass Avocado Mother Tree in La Habra Heights, California: About 80% of all U.S. avocados are descendants of Rudolph Hass's glorious tree.

Inside the Capitol Dome

Discover Inside the Capitol Dome in Washington, D.C.: The walls of the iconic dome are hollow and have a secret stairway.

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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