UNESCO is protecting various landmarks and areas which are having historical, cultural, or scientific significance, these landmarks and areas from all around the world come under World Heritage Sites. To get selected in the list of World Heritage sites, the place or landmark needs to be nominated by its host country and then it is determined by the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, whether that place or landmark is suitable to be on the list of World Heritage sites or not. Based on historical and physical significance after various legal procedures, that particular place or landmark is given the title of World Heritage site by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. Here is the list of 15 World Heritage site and their significance:
Top 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
1. Jurassic coast EKA Dorset and East Devon coast
The Dorset and East Devon coast is in the English Channel coast of South England which comes in the World Heritage site. This cost was added to the World Heritage site list in 2001 mid-December. The Jurassic coast is spread from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset. The total distance is about 154 km. Different types of natural features are seen on this coast including Shallow tropical sea and Marsh, arches, stack rocks, and pinnacles. The various creatures that used to live here, their remains are preserved in these rocks.
Also read : Top 15 Historic Sites in Europe: A Journey Through History
2. Archipiélago de Revillagigedo
A group of four volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean famous for their unique ecosystem is Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. The Revillagigedo islands lie in the South, 458 km away from Socorro Island, and are in the Southwest of Cabo San Lucas. Archipiélago de Revillagigedo is in the Weather 698 to 1092 kilometers from Manzanillo, which was entered into the World Heritage list by UNESCO in 2016. These Islands were discovered by Spanish explorers in the 16 century which are located in the west of Mexico. Before the 16th century, there was no sign of human habitation on the island. These Islands are famous for their unique ecosystem which attracts explorers from all around the world.
3. West tropics of Queensland
The tropical forests of Australia are spread over 8940 kilometers along with the Northeastern portion of Queensland the great dividing range comes under the wet tropics of Queensland. The tropics of Queensland consist of all full criteria which was needed for the selection as a World Heritage site and was declared in 1988. Queensland was added to the Australian National Heritage list on 21st May 2007. There are primitive flowering plant families, animals, and unique plants in the forest of West Tropics. There are many plants and animals in the West that are only found in Queensland.
4. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries
More than 30% of the world’s joint Panda are living a peaceful life in the Sichuan Giant panda sanctuaries. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries are located in the southwest of China and are spread over 9245 kilometers in the Qionglai and Jiajin mountains with nine scenic parks and seven natural reserves. Along with giant pandas the Sichuan Giant Panda sanctuaries, are home to Red Panda, the clouded leopard, and the snow leopard. The centuries were added to the World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2006.
5. Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst
Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst are spread over a long area of 138000 acres. There are almost 1000 karst Caves in the Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst. The names of these caves were added to the World Heritage Site list by UNESCO in 1995.
6. Bialowieza Forest
The Bialowieza Forest is one of the largest forests between Poland and Belarus. More than 800 European bison live in this forest. The Bialowieza Forest are some of the last remaining primary forests and are hosting various new and all-growth vegetation flora and fauna. The Bialowieza Forest which is on the World Heritage site covers an area of 1418.85 kilometers.
7. Lut Desert Eka Dast-e Lut
Lut Desert is located in the reign of Karman and Sistan-Baluchistan, Iran which is a salt desert. This was added to the list of world heritage by UNESCO on 17th July 2016. Lut desert is the World’s 33rd largest desert. The highest temperature of the desert was 70.7 degrees Celsius, which makes it one of the hottest and driest places in the world.
Also read : Top 10 Oldest Cities in the World: Cities with Millennia of History
8. Mount Etna
Mount Etna is located between Messina and Catania City. On the east coast of Sicily, Italy Mount Etna is present which is an active stratovolcano. Mount Etna is one of the tallest active volcanoes in Europe, its current height is 11,165 ft.
9. Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord is a Fjord located in the province of Sunnmore, More og Romsdal, Norway. Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord are in the Stranda municipality. This Fjord was added to the World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2005 and is one of the most visited tourist sites in Norway.
10. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is present in the United States in California. This National Park is managed by the National Park Services and is spread over 759,620 acres. Yosemite National Park was added to the list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO in 1984. There are deep forests, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys, thick forests, and ancient sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park.
11. Danube Delta
After the Volga Delta, the Danube Delta is the second largest river delta in Europe. Most of the Danube Delta lies in Romania, of which a small part is located in Ukraine. The Danube Delta is home for the Pelicans call. It is a Paradise for nature and bird watchers and one of the most diverse and intact deltas in the world. This place is home to more than 300 Pisces birds. Just a Boat right in the rivers and one can spot different kinds of Birds.
12. Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is situated between the federal subjects of Irkutsk Oblast Northwest and the republic of Buryatia to the southeast in southern Siberia, Russia. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and one of the largest freshwater lakes, the volume of Lake Baikal is 23,615.39 Km³. It is one of the oldest lakes in the world and is 25-30 million years old. It was added to the World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1996.
13. Mistaken Point
Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve is the home to some oldest fossils in the world. Mistaken is famous for its well-preserved fossils that are found in the south and tip of Newfoundland. The place is covered by layers of volcanoes so it is not possible to estimate their accurate age; approximately the Mistaken point is 565 million years. The fossils are the oldest and rarest, and if one is planning to visit this Heritage site, a perfect guide is needed so that your tour is fruitful. The mistake and point were added to the list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO recently and is a very famous travel destination.
14. Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay has been added to the list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO and is one of the most popular travel destinations in Vietnam. Ha Long is a part of Van Don District, the meaning of descending dragon. Ha, Long Bay is spread over an area of 1533 kilometers. There are 1,969 islets in Ha Long Bay, in which most of them are limestones. There are almost 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species in Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is one of the top tourist attractions of Vietnam with mystical seascapes. The weather conditions of these islands are very hard because of this they are untouched by humans. During January to March, this place is covered with fog and the beauty of this place is amazing.
15. High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago
Height Coast / Kvarken Archipelago is present in the provinces of Sweden and Finland on the opposite side of the Gulf of Bothnia. Once the areas of the space were covered with thick layers of eyes which have now melted making the place one of the most attractive tourist places. This place is 930 feet above the sea level and is continuously rising every year. The various hilltops, caves, lakes, bays, and beer enhance the beauty of this place. This place comes in the list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO for its geographical shape.
Also read : Top 10 Most Populated Cities in the World in 2024
Conclusion
These are the 15 world heritage sites that are determined by Unesco’s world heritage committee. Each of the sites carries a remarkable significance and serves as the evidence of intellectual history of the planet. One can clearly see the beauty of nature through these heritage sites.
