Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih)

Brief Description

The Archaeological Site of Al-Hijr (Madâin Sâlih) is the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia. Formerly known as Hegra it is the largest conserved site of the civilization of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan. It features well-preserved monumental tombs with decorated facades dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. The site also features some 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period and some cave drawings. Al-Hijr bears a unique testimony to Nabataean civilization. With its 111 monumental tombs, 94 of which are decorated, and water wells, the site is an outstanding example of the Nabataeans’ architectural accomplishment and hydraulic expertise.

Saudi Arabia

N26 47 1 E37 57 18

Date of Inscription: 2008

Criteria: (ii)(iii)

Property : 1,621 ha

Buffer zone: 1,659 ha

Ref: 1293

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Longmen Grottoes

Brief Description

The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving.

China

Luoyang City, Henan Province

N34 28 0 E112 28 0

Date of Inscription: 2000

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)

Property : 331 ha

Buffer zone: 1,042 ha

Ref: 1003

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Jongmyo Shrine

Brief Description

Jongmyo is the oldest and most authentic of the Confucian royal shrines to have been preserved. Dedicated to the forefathers of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), the shrine has existed in its present form since the 16th century and houses tablets bearing the teachings of members of the former royal family. Ritual ceremonies linking music, song and dance still take place there, perpetuating a tradition that goes back to the 14th century.

Korea, Republic of

Seoul

N37 32 60 E126 58 59.988

Date of Inscription: 1995

Criteria: (iv)

Property : 19 ha

Ref: 738

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Brief Description

The serial site, situated in the state of Rajastahan, includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; Sawai Madhopur; Jhalawar; Jaipur, and Jaisalmer. The ecclectic architecture of the forts, some up to 20 kilometres in circumference, bears testimony to the power of the Rajput princely states that flourished in the region from the 8th to the 18th centuries. Enclosed within defensive walls are major urban centres, palaces, trading centres and other buildings including temples that often predate the fortifications within which developed an elaborate courtly culture that supported learning, music and the arts. Some of the urban centres enclosed in the fortifications have survived, as have many of the site's temples and other sacred buildings. The forts use the natural defenses offered by the landscape: hills, deserts, rivers, and dense forests. They also feature extensive water harvesting structures, largely still in use today.

India

N24 52 60 E74 38 46

Date of Inscription: 2013

Criteria: (ii)(iii)

Ref: 247rev

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

Consisting of eight geographical clusters of protected areas within the boundaries of the Three Parallel Rivers National Park, in the mountainous north-west of Yunnan Province, the 1.7 million hectare site features sections of the upper reaches of three of the great rivers of Asia: the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong and Salween run roughly parallel, north to south, through steep gorges which, in places, are 3,000 m deep and are bordered by glaciated peaks more than 6,000 m high. The site is an epicentre of Chinese biodiversity. It is also one of the richest temperate regions of the world in terms of biodiversity.

China

Lijiang Prefecture, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

N27 53 42 E98 24 23

Date of Inscription: 2003

Minor modification inscribed year: 2010

Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)

Ref: 1083bis

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Agra Fort

Brief Description

Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.

India

Uttar Pradesh, Agra District

N27 10 60 E78 1 60

Date of Inscription: 1983

Criteria: (iii)

Ref: 251

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces

Brief Description

The Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China covers 16,603-hectares in Southern Yunnan. It is marked by spectacular terraces that cascade down the slopes of the towering Ailao Mountains to the banks of the Hong River. Over the past 1,300 years, the Hani people have developed a complex system of channels to bring water from the forested mountaintops to the terraces. They have also created an integrated farming system that involves buffalos, cattle, ducks, fish and eel and supports the production of red rice, the area’s primary crop. The inhabitants worship the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, forests and other natural phenomena including fire. They live in 82 villages situated between the mountaintop forests and the terraces. The villages feature traditional thatched “mushroom” houses. The resilient land management system of the rice terraces demonstrates extraordinary harmony between people and their environment, both visually and ecologically, based on exceptional and long-standing social and religious structures.

China

N23 5 35.8 E102 46 47.93

Date of Inscription: 2013

Criteria: (iii)(v)

Property : 16,603 ha

Buffer zone: 29,501 ha

Ref: 1111

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Old Town of Lijiang

Brief Description

The Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. Lijiang also possesses an ancient water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that still functions effectively today.

China

Lijiang's old town (including the Dayan old town, Basha housing cluster and Shuhe housing cluster)

N26 52 0.012 E100 13 59.988

Date of Inscription: 1997

Minor modification inscribed year: 2012

Criteria: (ii)(iv)(v)

Property : 146 ha

Buffer zone: 582 ha

Ref: 811bis

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing

Brief Description

The Temple of Heaven, founded in the first half of the 15th century, is a dignified complex of fine cult buildings set in gardens and surrounded by historic pine woods. In its overall layout and that of its individual buildings, it symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven – the human world and God's world – which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony, and also the special role played by the emperors within that relationship.

China

Tiantan Park, Beijing

N39 50 44 E116 26 41

Date of Inscription: 1998

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)

Property : 215 ha

Buffer zone: 3,156 ha

Ref: 881

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Chartres Cathedral

Brief Description

Partly built starting in 1145, and then reconstructed over a 26-year period after the fire of 1194, Chartres Cathedral marks the high point of French Gothic art. The vast nave, in pure ogival style, the porches adorned with fine sculptures from the middle of the 12th century, and the magnificent 12th- and 13th-century stained-glass windows, all in remarkable condition, combine to make it a masterpiece.

France

Department of Eure-et-Loire, Centre Region

N48 26 51 E1 29 14

Date of Inscription: 1979

Minor modification inscribed year: 2009

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iv)

Property : 1.06 ha

Buffer zone: 62 ha

Ref: 81bis

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Birka and Hovgården

Brief Description

The Birka archaeological site is located on Björkö Island in Lake Mälar and was occupied in the 9th and 10th centuries. Hovgården is situated on the neighbouring island of Adelsö. Together, they make up an archaeological complex which illustrates the elaborate trading networks of Viking-Age Europe and their influence on the subsequent history of Scandinavia. Birka was also important as the site of the first Christian congregation in Sweden, founded in 831 by St Ansgar.

Sweden

Stockholm County (Region of Uppland)

N59 20 6.504 E17 32 33.504

Date of Inscription: 1993

Criteria: (iii)(iv)

Ref: 555

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

Brief Description

No doubt thousands of statues still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological site, which was not discovered until 1974. Qin (d. 210 B.C.), the first unifier of China, is buried, surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors, at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures are all different; with their horses, chariots and weapons, they are masterpieces of realism and also of great historical interest.

China

Lintong County, Shaanxi Province

N34 22 60 E109 5 60

Date of Inscription: 1987

Criteria: (i)(iii)(iv)(vi)

Ref: 441

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Lushan National Park

Brief Description

Mount Lushan, in Jiangxi, is one of the spiritual centres of Chinese civilization. Buddhist and Taoist temples, along with landmarks of Confucianism, where the most eminent masters taught, blend effortlessly into a strikingly beautiful landscape which has inspired countless artists who developed the aesthetic approach to nature found in Chinese culture.

China

Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province

N29 25 60 E115 52 0

Date of Inscription: 1996

Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)

Ref: 778

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord

 

Situated in south-western Norway, north-east of Bergen, Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, set 120 km from one another, are part of the west Norwegian fjord landscape, which stretches from Stavanger in the south to Andalsnes, 500 km to the north-east. The two fjords, among the world’s longest and deepest, are considered as archetypical fjord landscapes and among the most scenically outstanding anywhere. Their exceptional natural beauty is derived from their narrow and steep-sided crystalline rock walls that rise up to 1,400 m from the Norwegian Sea and extend 500 m below sea level. The sheer walls of the fjords have numerous waterfalls while free-flowing rivers cross their deciduous and coniferous forests to glacial lakes, glaciers and rugged mountains. The landscape features a range of supporting natural phenomena, both terrestrial and marine, such as submarine moraines and marine mammals.

Norway

Counties of Møre & Romsdal and Sogn & Fjordane

N62 7 0.012 E7 10 0.012

Date of Inscription: 2005

Criteria: (vii)(viii)

Ref: 1195

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Works of Antoni Gaudí

Seven properties built by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona testify to Gaudí’s exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These monuments represent an eclectic, as well as a very personal, style which was given free reign in the design of gardens, sculpture and all decorative arts, as well as architecture. The seven buildings are: Parque Güell; Palacio Güell; Casa Mila; Casa Vicens; Gaudí’s work on the Nativity façade and Crypt of La Sagrada Familia; Casa Batlló; Crypt in Colonia Güell.

Spain

N41 24 48.168 E2 9 10.699

Date of Inscription: 1984

Extension: 2005

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iv)

Ref: 320bis

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Vegaøyan -- The Vega Archipelago

A cluster of dozens of islands centred on Vega, just south of the Arctic Circle, forms a cultural landscape of 103,710 ha, of which 6,930 ha is land. The islands bear testimony to a distinctive frugal way of life based on fishing and the harvesting of the down of eider ducks, in an inhospitable environment. There are fishing villages, quays, warehouses, eider houses (built for eider ducks to nest in), farming landscapes, lighthouses and beacons. There is evidence of human settlement from the Stone Age onwards. By the 9th century, the islands had become an important centre for the supply of down, which appears to have accounted for around a third of the islanders’ income. The Vega Archipelago reflects the way fishermen/farmers have, over the past 1,500 years, maintained a sustainable living and the contribution of women to eiderdown harvesting.

Norway

Nordland, Vega

N65 37 0.012 E11 45 0

Date of Inscription: 2004

Criteria: (v)

Property : 103,710 ha

Buffer zone: 28,040 ha

Ref: 1143

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki

 This Bronze Age burial site features more than 30 granite burial cairns, providing a unique insight into the funerary practices and social and religious structures of northern Europe more than three millennia ago.

Finland

Region of Satakunta, Province of Western Finland

N61 7 14.016 E21 46 39

Date of Inscription: 1999

Criteria: (iii)(iv)

Ref: 579rev

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Verla Groundwood and Board Mill

The Verla groundwood and board mill and its associated residential area is an outstanding, remarkably well-preserved example of the small-scale rural industrial settlements associated with pulp, paper and board production that flourished in northern Europe and North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Only a handful of such settlements survive to the present day.

Finland

Municipalities of Jaala and Valkeala, Region of Kymenlaakso, Province of Southern Finland

N61 3 42.984 E26 38 26.988

Date of Inscription: 1996

Criteria: (iv)

Property : 23 ha

Buffer zone: 80 ha

Ref: 751

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat

Situated in the suburbs of Bagerhat, at the meeting-point of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, this ancient city, formerly known as Khalifatabad, was founded by the Turkish general Ulugh Khan Jahan in the 15th century. The city’s infrastructure reveals considerable technical skill and an exceptional number of mosques and early Islamic monuments, many built of brick, can be seen there.

Bangladesh

Khulna District

N22 40 0.012 E89 47 60

Date of Inscription: 1985

Criteria: (iv)

Ref: 321
Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Yakushima

Brief Description

Located in the interior of Yaku Island, at the meeting-point of the palaearctic and oriental biotic regions, Yakushima exhibits a rich flora, with some 1,900 species and subspecies, including ancient specimens of the sugi (Japanese cedar). It also contains a remnant of a warm-temperate ancient forest that is unique in this region.

Japan

Kamiyaku-cho and Yaku-cho, Kumage-gun Kagoshima Prefecture

N30 19 60 E130 31 60

Date of Inscription: 1993

Criteria: (vii)(ix)

Property : 10,747 ha

Ref: 662

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Shiretoko

Brief Description

Shiretoko Peninsula is located in the north-east of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. The site includes the land from the central part of the peninsula to its tip (Shiretoko Cape) and the surrounding marine area. It provides an outstanding example of the interaction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as extraordinary ecosystem productivity, largely influenced by the formation of seasonal sea ice at the lowest latitude in the northern hemisphere. It has particular importance for a number of marine and terrestrial species, some of them endangered and endemic, such as Blackiston’s fish owl and the Viola kitamiana plant. The site is globally important for threatened seabirds and migratory birds, a number of salmonid species, and for marine mammals including Steller’s sea lion and some cetacean species.

Japan

Hokkaido prefecture

N43 56 57.984 E144 57 56.988

Date of Inscription: 2005

Criteria: (ix)(x)

Property : 71,100 ha

Ref: 1193

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Historic City of Trogir

Trogir is a remarkable example of urban continuity. The orthogonal street plan of this island settlement dates back to the Hellenistic period and it was embellished by successive rulers with many fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period.

Croatia

County of Split-Dalmatia

N43 30 45 E16 15 6.012

Date of Inscription: 1997

Criteria: (ii)(iv)

Property : 6.40 ha

Buffer zone: 4.80 ha

Ref: 810

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian

Brief Description

The ruins of Diocletian's Palace, built between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries A.D., can be found throughout the city. The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages, reusing materials from the ancient mausoleum. Twelfth- and 13th-century Romanesque churches, medieval fortifications, 15th-century Gothic palaces and other palaces in Renaissance and Baroque style make up the rest of the protected area.

 

Croatia

County of Split-Dalmatia

N43 30 33.984 E16 26 35.988

Date of Inscription: 1979

Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)

Property : 21 ha

Ref: 97

Source: http://whc.unesco.org

Stari Grad Plain

Brief Description

Stari Grad Plain on the Adriatic island of Hvar is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in the 4th century BC. The original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly centring on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present. The site is also a natural reserve. The landscape features ancient stone walls and trims, or small stone shelters, and bears testimony to the ancient geometrical system of land division used by the ancient Greeks, the chora which has remained virtually intact over 24 centuries.

Croatia

Split and Dalmatia Counties

N43 10 54 E16 38 19

Date of Inscription: 2008

Criteria: (ii)(iii)(v)

Property : 1,377 ha

Buffer zone: 6,403 ha

Ref: 1240
Source: http://whc.unesco.org