The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an agency that among other things designates places of scientific and cultural significance. Known as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these areas are broken up in to categories, cultural and natural, or a combination of both. In Japan 14 sites have been designated so far. Italy has the most at 44 followed by Spain and China, with 41 and 35 respectively. America is lower on the list at 20. In total 890 World Heritage Sites exist across the globe as of 2009. All of these designated areas are of “outstanding universal value to humanity,” as the criteria for selection clearly states. Because the UNESCO World Heritage Committee reviews a tentative list of candidate sites on a yearly basis the number continues to grow. For example, in 2000 alone 61 sites gained World Heritage status. By comparison only 13 sites were added last year.
To give you an idea of what places have already qualified, the original list of 12 sites made in 1978 included the Galapagos Islands, Yosemite National Park, the Aachen Cathedral in Germany, and the Historic Center of Krakow, Poland. As more countries ratified UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage Treaty the list came to include more prominent locations such as the Pyramids at Giza, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal. Now practically every renowned monument of antiguity has made the list. Rarely do modern creations qualify though. Some architectural sights like the Sydney Opera House have been selected but Brasilia, Brazil is the only city built in the 20th century to become a chosen site.
As many sites as there are not every famous place has been designated. For years Japanese activist groups have been campaigning to get Mt. Fuji ready for possible selection in 2011. 10 years ago the mountain failed to meet UNESCO’s criteria, much to the bewilderment of the Japanese people. Mt. Fuji is a symbol of the nation, a magnificent conical stratovolcano isolated along the coast. Moreover, it is the tallest point in a long volcanic archipelago, itself marking the precise spot where three tectonic plates from North America, Eurasia and the Philippines meet. So why then was it unworthy? For one there were hundreds of thousands of pounds of illegally dumped trash scattered around the base. Second, it was not considered unique enough of a place.
At the same time many locals worry about the possibility of Mt. Fuji being chosen. There are fears that World Heritage status will draw considerably more tourists and trash to an area that is already overrun during the summer climbing season. Another concern is that part of UNESCO’s criteria states that a site must be properly maintained and protected to keep its status. This puts pressure on the local community and can conflict directly with certain business practices. Two sites have already been delisted for not upholding UNESCO’S standards. The first was the Arabian Onyx Sanctuary in Oman. After its designation in 1984, poaching and continued habitat degradation severely reduced the local Onyx population, thus warranting the decision made by the World Heritage Committee.
There are currently over 30 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage in danger list. Recently, when I was in India I went to an endangered site called Keoladeo National Park. The park gained World Heritage status in 1985 thanks to the varied flora and fauna in the area, particularly the tens of thousands of water foul that winter there following the annual monsoon season. In recent years however poor rainfall has depleted the park’s wetlands causing a reduction in the number of visiting birds. Because the birds and the surface area of wetlands must both be at a certain number to meet the criteria for UNESCO World Heritage status, Keoladeo has been placed on the in danger list. If park officials cannot find a way to improve the water shortage the park will lose it’s status and with it financial support from the UNESCO World Heritage Fund.
Well, since I am on the topic of World Heritage Sites I couldn't help but look back at all the ones I have visited. They are listed below by country. In the case of buildings I may not have entered and toured all of them per say, but I at the very least saw each one from close by. Here they are:
MEXICO
Historic Center of Mexico City
Prehistoric City of Teotihuacan
UNITED STATES
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Chaco Culture (Chaco Canyon)
Grand Canyon National Park
Independence Hall
Mesa Verde National Park
Redwood National and State Parks
Pueblo de Taos
Yosemite National Park
CHILE
Churches of Chiloe
Historic Quarter of the seaport of Valparaiso
URUGUAY
Historic Quarter of the city of Colonia del Sacramento
FRANCE
Cathedral of Notre Dame
Banks of the Seine
ITALY
Historic Center of Rome
Historic Center of Naples
Royal Palace at Caserta
PORTUGAL
Monastery of Hieronymites and Belem Tower
Historic Center of Porto
SPAIN
Alhambra
Burgos Cathedral
Historic Center of Cordoba
Escorial Monastery
Works of Antoni Gaudi (Parque Guell, La Sagrada Familia)
Old Town of Segovia
Historic City of Santiago de Compostela
Historic City of Toledo
Old Town of Caceres
Cathedral, Alcazar and Archivo de Indias in Sevilla
Old City of Salamanca
Archeological Ensemble of Merida
Route of Santiago de Compostela
Historic walled town of Cuenca
Old Town of Salamanca
University and Historic Precinct of Alcala de Henares
Aranjuez Cultural Landscape
INDIA
Agra Fort
Fatehpur Sikri
Taj Mahal
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Elephanta Caves
Humayun’s Tomb
Keoladeo National Park
Red Fort
Qutub Minar
JAPAN
Himeji Castle
Historical Village of Shirakawago
Hiroshima Peace Park
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
Shrines and Temples of Nikko
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
THAILAND
Historic City of Ayutthaya
SOUTH KOREA
Changdeokgung Palace Complex
Jongmyo Shrine
That’s 55 in total. 17 of those I visited in Spain. Having lived in Madrid for a year, I had ample time to tour the many regions of the country and could make side trips to Portugal and Italy where I saw 5 more. At the time I didn't even know I was visiting World Heritage sites. It wasn't until I came to Japan that I really learned what they are. Because the Japanese like to travel and have the money to do so, they make a big deal out of seeing them. Anyhow, Europe is definitely the place to check out World Heritage sites. It has the highest concentration out of the 7 continents.
To take things further I want to list what in my opinion are the most impressive sites I have seen. They are ranked in two separate categories, cultural and natural. I have them ranked from one to three with a description of each site.
Cultural Ranking
1. Basilica of St. Peter and the Vatican (Historical Center of Rome)
The Papal Basilica of St. Peter is the most impressive building I have ever seen. It towers 15 stories high and has a panoramic lookout at the very top of the dome from which all of Rome can be seen. Within the building are incredible sculptures, frescos and other artwork, the most famous of which is Michelangelo’s La Pieta. The expansive interior is bigger than any other Christian church and the basilica stands as the de facto center of Catholicism, the number one religion on the planet.
2. Historic City of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam (modern day Thailand). It flourished for 400 years before falling to the Burmese in the 19th century. Several ruins were left and later repaired following the area's designation as a World Heritage site in 1981. The Ayutthaya Historic Park currently contains palaces, temples, pagodas, Buddha statues, rivers and lush vegetation. When I went there three years ago I was very impressed by the architecture and size of the buildings. I only wish I had more than a few hours to tour the park because there was so much to see. Incidentally, Ayutthaya does not get the recognition it deserves because it is overshadowed by nearby Ankor Wat.
3. Alcazar of Segovia (Old Town of Segovia)
Segovia is a town in Spain that was once a Roman outpost in the Iberian expanse of the empire. Later it fell to the moors before becoming part of the Kingdom of Castille. The Christian Kings who ruled over Castille erected a large fortress at the end of Segovia's natural promontory. The fortress later became a castle-palace which towered above the surrounding countryside. It is unique in that it was built in a shape similar to the bow of a ship. Two large towers mark the extremes of the castle giving it a daunting appearance. The Alcazar of Segovia is the most impressive castle I have visited, and stands out as a remarkable architectural feat.
Natural Ranking
1. Grand Canyon National Park
277 miles in length, 18 miles in width, over a mile deep and 17 million years in the making, the Grand Canyon is beyond a doubt the greatest geological wonder of the world. I have been to the canyon six times visiting both the South and North Rims. On one occasion I caught a rainstorm take hold in the skies above the canyon and witnessed lightning strike down in to the vast depths that spread forth from the precipice I was standing upon. It was a thing of absolute beauty.
2. Route of Santiago Compostela
The Route of Santiago is a pilgrimage that has existed for over a thousand years from the time that a sheep herder claimed to find the long lost resting place of the Apostle James. Countless devout Christians from throughout Europe came to visit the spot thus establishing routes across the continent. The final leg of the pilgrimage begins in Roncesvalles in the Pyrennes Mountains and spans the north of Spain before ending in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral is in Santiago near the northwest tip of the Iberian penninsula. Though most people prefer to go on foot I traveled the entire 800km route by bicycle. Along the way the landscape of northern Spain is majestic. At the start of the route near the French border there are small Basque hamlets nestled in misty valleys. The road continues on extending through hilly territory and vast plains. For the most part the rugged path is for pilgrims travelling on foot. It does parallel a few highways and major cities, but mostly winds through small villages and scenic surroundings. Finally it reaches Galicia where Santiago is. That part of Spain is inundated with heavy rain throughout the year. The forests are thick with underbrush and the skies are dark and unpredictable. It all adds up to a wondrous journey that people have been making for centuries.
3. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
The Carlsbad Caverns are a large network of limestone caves located in southeastern New Mexico. Inside the caves there are stalagmites and stalactites that form very large and interesting formations with names like the Witch’s Finger, Rock of Ages and Bashful Elephant. The largest enclosed space in the cave network is the Big Room which can be entered and self toured. While the Carlsbad Caverns are far from being the largest network of caves in the world there are plenty of well lit chambers accessible to the general public. Moreover, the park features an amphitheater outside a natural opening. In summer hundreds of thousands of Mexican Free-tailed bats come flying out at dusk to feed on insects in the surrounding Guadalupe Desert. Their exodus typically lasts up to three hours and is a unique sight to behold.
Before I finish I would like to make an honorable mention. In my many travels I have seen places that I feel are worthy of UNESCO World Heritage status. Some are on the tentative list for future selections. The current list is comprised of over 14,000 locations from more than 100 countries. Surprisingly, the place that stands out most in my mind is not listed. In other words it will not become a nominated site any time in the near future. The place I am talking about is Monument Valley in southern Colorado. The valley is famous for its massive buttes that rise up over 1,000 feet from a wide wind swept basin. Other geological features in the valley include rock spires, broad mesas and natural arch formations. At ground level the sediment is silt sandstone which contains high levels of iron oxide. Thus, the entire valley and surrounding areas are a vivid orange red. Overhead a deep blue desert sky contrasts sharply with the fire colored earth below. Such scale and beauty, in my opinion, is on par with that of the Grand Canyon.
In Conclusion
I am determined to see 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites by the time I’m 40 years old. Since I started traveling again reaching that number has become an obsession. I plan to go to Egypt in spring where I can visit 5 along the Nile River. Seeing them is the focus of the trip. That would bring me up to 60. Then in summer I could visit China and tally up another 6 or 7. For now though I’m stuck at 55. How about you? How many World Heritage Sites have you seen? Here is the official list for reference:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list
In front of the Tower of Belem
In the Changdeokgung Palace Complex
Feeding the deers in Nara
Posing in front of the Taj Mahal only it cant be seen because of the fog
Posing with friends in Ayutthaya
