This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization maintains the World Heritage List — an index of sites worldwide that boast universal values and meet one of ten criteria. Some sites “represent a masterpiece of human genius,” some testify to lost civilizations, while others feature inspiring natural beauty. In recent years, UNESCO has expanded the catalog to include more examples from traditional cultures worldwide. By maintaining the list, the U.N. draws attention to that which we value as people living in a variety of cultures and ecosystems over a long arc of time. The World Heritage List is also a credible travel resource. AD rounds up 11 fascinating and remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit in 2017.
Iguazu National Park (border of Brazil and Argentina)
Iguazu National Park is located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, where the Iguazu River breaks into majestic cascades and mists the surrounding forest life.
Advertisement
The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica (Poland)
The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica are the largest timber-framed houses of worship in Europe and have stood since the mid-17th century. This incredible wooden architecture was built for Protestant subjects living in a Catholic monarchy.
Advertisement
Al Hijr (Saudi Arabia)
Al Hijr represents the Nabataean civilization, which thrived from the second or third century BCE through the pre-Islamic period. The Nabataean people were adept at creating monumental facades in natural sandstone formations.
Advertisement
Antequera Dolmens Site (Spain)
The Antequera Dolmens Site (3 B.C.) in Southern Spain offers five monuments from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. This site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2016.
Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (Japan)
Traditional villages have survived in a remote, mountainous region of Japan. Gassho-style houses are located in a human environment that has been adapted over centuries.
Advertisement
Maya Site of Copán (Honduras)
The spectacular ruins of Copán evoke the grandeur and mystery of the Mayan Empire, with its step pyramids and hieroglyphs.
Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The Old City of Dubrovnik on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is home to examples of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin features more than 1,600 island and islets, which are predominantly wild and untouched. The islands and limestone pillars are best seen by boat.
This forested mountain region in Jamaica is known not only for its natural beauty and biodiversity, but also for serving as a refuge for enslaved Tainos and later for self-liberated Africans.
The Great Rift Valley (Kenya)
Kenya’s shallow lakes of the Great Rift Valley are home to an exceptional congregation of flamingos, pelicans, black rhinos, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Effective ecosystem management will ensure this site stays on the World Heritage List.
Advertisement
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Japan, and Switzerland)
Another new inscription on the list: 17 examples of architect Le Corbusier’s work. With sites in seven countries, Le Corbusier’s early modernism includes the Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut in France (pictured) and the National Museum of Western Art in Japan.
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.