Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Sampson-Clark Toll House

Discover Sampson-Clark Toll House in Export, Pennsylvania: This restored log building was one of the first toll booths for travelers along the Northern Turnpike.

Cemitério da Consolação

Discover Cemitério da Consolação in São Paulo, Brazil: This necropolis is home to eclectic funerary art and is the final resting place for much of the city's nobility.

South Iceland’s Bra Fence

Discover South Iceland's Bra Fence in Reykjavík, Iceland: Along this wire fence, travelers have been leaving a particular memento since 2012.

New Bedford Fire Museum

Discover New Bedford Fire Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts: This museum dedicated to local history is housed in the state's oldest surviving fire station.

Hambach Surface Mine

Discover Hambach Surface Mine in Elsdorf, Germany: This mine is home to the largest man-made hole in Europe.

Woodside

Discover Woodside in Troy, New York: A man used his Civil War-era fortune to build this sanctuary in memory of his wife.

‘América Tropical’

Discover 'América Tropical' in Los Angeles, California: One of Los Angeles's first murals once vibrantly depicted the dangers of United States imperialism.

Robert Y Museum

Discover Robert Y Museum in Su'ao Township, Taiwan: This former factory turned private museum contains surreal and creepy artwork created by Robert Y.

The Wind Turbine Beach

Discover The Wind Turbine Beach in Hvide Sande, Denmark: Along this stretch of beach in Denmark resides several massive bastions of energy.

L’Oisivethé

Discover L'Oisivethé in Paris, France: This Parisian café is dedicated to great tea and the art of knitting.

Planes@Plaza

Discover Planes@Plaza in Schiphol, Netherlands: This old KLM airplane cut into three parts was transformed into an eclectic airport gift shop.

Pre-Hispanic Mine of Taxco

Discover Pre-Hispanic Mine of Taxco in Taxco, Mexico: This centuries-old mine remained hidden beneath a hotel bar until 2013.

The Old Main Bell

Discover The Old Main Bell in Fort Collins, Colorado: After being lost for nearly a century, this historic bell finally returned home after its mysterious theft.

Robert Johnson’s Cenotaph

Discover Robert Johnson's Cenotaph in Morgan City, Mississippi: Contrary to popular belief, this memorial does not actually claim to mark the bluesman's grave.

Odd Mountain

Discover Odd Mountain in Katoomba, Australia: A small curiosity shop with items ranging from antique medical supplies to taxidermied animals.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Discover Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Bhaktapur, Nepal: The former stronghold of the Malla Dynasty has remained virtually unchanged since the 17th-century.

The Crammer

Discover The Crammer in Devizes, England: Legend says the people of Wiltshire got their "Moonraker" nickname from this small pond.

Verde Valley Ancestral Garden

Discover Verde Valley Ancestral Garden in Camp Verde, Arizona: Inside this garden, visitors are offered a glimpse into how inhabitants of the region survived centuries ago.

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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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