Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Dabous Giraffes

Discover Dabous Giraffes in Niger: These ancient giraffes are the largest known animal petroglyphs in the world.

The Great American Dollhouse Museum

Discover The Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, Kentucky: This museum of miniature displays provides a journey through early American history.

Graycliff House

Discover Graycliff House in Derby, New York: This Frank Lloyd Wright summer house was designed along Lake Erie as a retreat for a client's wife.

The Sacred Tree of Auliyeagash

Discover Kieli Agash (Sacred Tree) of Auliyeagash in Auliyeagash, Kazakhstan: Local lore says this 700-year-old tree has sacred and medicinal properties.

Théâtre Royal de Toone

Discover Théâtre Royal de Toone in Brussels, Belgium: Drink among marionettes at this pub inside a historic puppet theater.

Iviswold Castle

Discover Iviswold Castle in Rutherford, New Jersey: Originally built in 1869, this castle is currently part of Felician University's campus.

Yuncheng Salt Lake

Discover Yuncheng Salt Lake in Yuncheng, China: Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.

Sankt Sakrament Düsseldorf

Discover Sankt Sakrament Düsseldorf in Dusseldorf, Germany: This concrete church spent a period of its history as a World War II bunker.

Frank Sidebottom Statue

Discover Frank Sidebottom Statue in Timperley, England: A statue honoring Frank Sidebottom, a beloved cartoon figure from Timperley.

High Level Bridge

Discover High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta: This unique bridge has been a staple across the Saskatchewan River Valley for more than 100 years.

Carn Brea Castle

Discover Carn Brea Castle in Redruth, England: A 14th century castle built on the seat of a mighty giant.

St. John’s Cemetery

Discover St. John’s Cemetery in Parramatta, Australia: The oldest European burial ground in Australia.

Strater Hotel

Discover Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado: A hotel with a rich Wild West history of miners and bootleggers.

Obsidian Dome

Discover Obsidian Dome in June Lake, California: A natural dome made of volcanic glass in Inyo National Forest.

Luohanyuan Shuangta (Twin Pagodas)

Discover Luohanyuan Shuangta (Twin Pagodas) in Suzhou, China: Two nearly identical Chinese pagodas stand side by side, along with ancient stone relics.

The Irish Elk Collection

Discover The Irish Elk Collection in Dublin, Ireland: These gigantic skeletons tower over visitors and provide insight into the creatures that once ruled over Ireland.

The Liberty Tree

Discover The Liberty Tree in Bayeux, France: This symbol of the French Revolution still stands where it was first planted during the 18th-century.

Guelph Covered Bridge

Discover Guelph Covered Bridge in Guelph, Ontario: One of the last remaining covered bridges in the province of Ontario.

Holy Hill of Zion

Discover Holy Hill of Zion in Harvard, Massachusetts: A short walk through the woods will take you to an unusual flat hill top, used by the Shakers for outdoor worship.

Calla Lily Valley

Discover Calla Lily Valley in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California: This little valley along Highway 1 is engulfed by thousands of lilies during the spring season.

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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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