Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey

Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey

From the World Heritage inscription: The site is located along the Weser River on the outskirts of Höxter where the Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey were erected between AD 822 and 885 in a largely preserved rural setting. The Westwork is the only standing structure that dates back to the Carolingian era, while the original …

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Cultural Landscape of Bali Province

Cultural Landscape of Bali Province UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the World Heritage inscription: Cultural Landscape of Bali: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy forms an acultural landscape of five rice terraces and their water temples that cover 19,500 hectares. The temples are the focus of a cooperative water management system of canals and weirs, known as subak, …

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Varberg Radio Station

Varberg Radio Station UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the Varberg Radio Station World Heritage inscription: The Varberg Radio Station at Grimeton in southern Sweden (built 1922–24) is an exceptionally well-preserved monument to early wireless transatlantic communication. It consists of the transmitter equipment, including the aerial system of six 127-m high steel towers. Although no longer in regular use, the equipment has been …

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Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, Palau

Rock Islands Southern Lagoon UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palau

I visited the rock islands of Palau back in 2007. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in July of 2012. There are few places that were more deserving of World Heritage status than the rock islands of Palau. Despite being one of the smallest countries in the world, the rock islands feature …

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SGang Gwaay

SGang Gwaay UNESCO World Heritage Site, Canada

From the World Heritage inscription for SGang Gwaay: At the village of SGang Gwaay llnagaay (Nan Sdins) the remains of large cedar longhouses, together with a number of carved mortuary and memorial poles, illustrate the art and way of life of the Haida. The site commemorates the living culture of the Haida, based on fishing …

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UNESCO World Heritage Site #1: Volcanoes National Park

From the World Heritage inscription: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park contains Mauna Loa and Kilauea, two of the world’s most active and accessible volcanoes where ongoing geological processes are easily observed. This property serves as an excellent example of island building through volcanic processes. Through the process of shield-building volcanism, the park’s landscape is one of …

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Historic District of Old Quebec

Historic District of Old Quebec UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the World Heritage inscription for the Historic District of Old Quebec: Québec was founded by the French explorer Champlain in the early 17th century. It is the only North American city to have preserved its ramparts, together with the numerous bastions, gates and defensive works which still surround Old Québec. The Upper Town, built …

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Blaenavon Industrial Landscape

Blaenavon Industrial Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage inscription: The Blaenavon landscape constitutes an exceptional illustration in material form of the social and economic structure of 19th-century industry. The area around the Blaenavon ironworks provides an extraordinarily comprehensive picture of the South Wales coal and iron industry in its heyday in the 19th and early 20th …

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Kluane National Park, Yukon

When I tell people about Kluane National Park, I often get a quizzical look. Kluane isn’t well known, even amongst Canadians. I’m guessing this is due to it being in the Yukon which doesn’t have a very large population. Kluane is located in the southwestern most corner of the Yukon, bordering Wrangle-St. Elias National Park …

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