Planet Earth is a bottomless treasury that has endowed a person with untold riches and made it possible to use its benefits to create comfortable living conditions. Therefore, the formation of society and its evolution have always occurred in interaction with nature. A clear confirmation of this are the cultural, historical and natural monuments included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Madain Salih Complex, Saudi Arabia
In the northern part of Saudi Arabia, there is a unique complex Madain Salih. It includes more than 100 burials dating back to the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, amazing hydraulic structures that previously served the inhabitants of Hegra - an ancient city that became the center of caravan trade.
More than 50 inscriptions were found on the rocks of the complex, the appearance of which dates back to the Don-Babatean period. In 2008, the amazing Madain Salih complex was added to the UNESCO treasury.
Longmen Grottoes, China
"Dragon Gate" or Longmen Grottoes are located in one of the picturesque Chinese provinces, near the city of Luoyang. An amazing ensemble, consisting of beautiful temples and ancient caves, until 494 was the seat of the rulers of China, representing the Wei dynasty.
After the transfer of the residence to a new city, Buddhist monks settled among the caves and temples. The relief drawings and all kinds of sculptures that adorn the stone ensemble are the work of artisans who lived in the vicinity of the grotto.
2,300 amazing caves, about 80 mausoleums, more than 100,000 Buddhist paintings, a huge statue of the majestic Buddha guarding the entrance to the Fengxianse cave, more than 2,500 inscriptions adorning the rocks along the full-flowing Yishui River - these precious monuments of ancient Chinese culture, constituting a single complex, were introduced to the UNESCO heritage list. 
Bayon Temple, Cambodia
Among the picturesque nature of Angor Toma, the amazing Bayon temple complex, erected in the 7th century AD in honor of Jayavarman, has been preserved. The ancient architectural structure includes three levels of stone buildings surrounded by three monumental walls.
The temple complex is decorated with huge stone faces and drawings depicting the life and life of the Khmers.
In addition to the Bayon temple, on the territory of the Angkor region there are more than a thousand unique temples representing different eras and levels of civilization. Every year millions of curious tourists come here to see firsthand the unique monuments of ancient religious architecture.
Many of them have survived to this day in a dilapidated state, some have been restored, and some have remained a heap of stones, silently resting among the endless fields sown with rice.
Stonehand, UK
Oversized stone structure - Stonehend is located in the lush countryside of Salisbury Plain, in Wilshire County in Great Britain. 150 stones, placed in a certain sequence, are of great interest to scientists and ordinary tourists who come here to look at the amazing creation of man, created in 3000 BC.
Under the influence of time and natural phenomena, the unique monument of antiquity began to deteriorate, so now it is protected with special care. If half a century ago tourists could even climb huge structures, then since 1977 you can only look at them. To touch the stones, you need a special permit, issued throughout the year on the basis of a personal request.
Stonehend was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1986.
Lonely George, Ecuador
The only giant tortoise that represents this species of mammals lives in the National Park, located in Ecuador. The unique animal was found in 1927 on the island of Pinta, located in the northern part of the archipelago, and named after the famous actor George Gobel.
The world's most famous bachelor is in the prime of his life, according to scientists, he is now about 90 years old. It's time to have offspring. George has already found a female that has a genetic similarity with the ancestors of the "groom", so there is every reason to believe that the genus of giant tortoises will continue.
Summer Palace, China
Among the fabulously beautiful landscapes of the imperial garden in Beijing, the magnificent Summer Palace was built in 1750, which to this day keeps the memory of the royal people who lived within its walls.
In 1860, the unique architectural masterpiece was destroyed, and more than 20 years later it was restored.
In 1998, the Summer Palace was added to the list of the UNESO world treasury.
Statue of Liberty, America
The symbol of the United States of America, the Statue of Liberty, is located in one of the largest metropolitan areas of the country and the world - New York. It is a symbolic gift from the French to commemorate the centenary of the American Revolution.
"Lady Liberty" personifies the triumph of democracy, freedom of spirit and is a kind of reminder of the difficult period of the struggle of Americans for their rights.
1984 "Lady Liberty" was added to the list of UNESCO heritage.
Iguazu National Park, Argentina
On the territory of the picturesque province of Misiones, there is a majestic monument of Argentinean nature - Iguazu National Park, which in 1984 was recognized as a unique heritage by UNESCO.
In addition to the diversity of species of birds and the luxury of beautiful exotic vegetation, the park is notable for an incredible number of waterfalls concentrated near the Iguazu River. The number of cascading streams (from 150 to 250 waterfalls) depends on the water level in the river from which they originate.
The territory of the park is an oasis in the center of civilization, which has preserved a huge number of endangered representatives of flora and fauna. A piece of paradise on earth, filled with the outlandish aromas of flowers, the crystal ringing of water and the cheerful singing of colorful birds, annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world, eager to see the riches of the Argentinean region with their own eyes.
Kinderdijk, Netherlands
On the picturesque banks of the canals located near Rotterdam, a series of huge windmills, built several decades ago, rise majestically.
Over a thousand historical structures, named in Kinderdijk, after the village in which they are located, have added to the bottomless treasury of UNESCO.
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
The adornment of the relief landscapes of the Los Glaciares National Park, located in the picturesque province of Santa Cruz, is a huge glacier with the sweet name Perito Moreno. In terms of size, it is second only to the glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland.
An amazing masterpiece created by nature has become not only an adornment of Argentine Patagonia, it has replenished the UNESCO world treasury. The talented creator gave the glacier an amazing architectural form, parts of which are modified under the influence of water flows.
The fact is that from time to time the glacier reaches Lake Argentino and spreads over to the opposite shore, thereby forming a massive dam and dividing the water surface into two parts. This leads to a significant increase in the water level in the southern part of the lake.
Cubic meters of icy liquid press against the walls of the glacier, breaking the constraining barrier. Such an action is a bewitching sight and sometimes happens once a year, and sometimes once every ten years.
Bahai Terraced Gardens, Israel
The picturesque town of Haifa is located in the north of Israel, the territory of which is dominated by the unique terraced gardens created many years ago.
The magnificent Tomb of Bob, the founder of the popular Baha'i religious movement, is buried in the luxury of amazing vegetation.
The majestic symbol of the interaction of nature and man in 2008 was included in the list of unique heritage by UNESCO.
Vatican
The Vatican, a tiny state located on the territory of Rome, is the world center of Christianity. Here is the papal throne and many unique architectural monuments, the main of which is the majestic St. Peter's Square, built in 1667 by the architect Bernini.
Two monumental symmetrical hemispheres connect near St. Peter's Basilica, forming a large-scale square where believers gather to hear and see the pontiff.
The inhabitants of the small state cherish the historical and cultural heritage of previous generations, of which the unique architecture of the country has become a part, and valuable works of art that are kept behind the walls of the sacred basilica.
In 1984, the Vatican was included in the UNESCO lists.
Petra, Israel
The ancient city of Petra is located in the Siq canyon leading to the Arava valley. The residential quarters carved into the sandstones rise at an altitude of about 900 meters above sea level and are small caves connected by narrow paths.
Here, on the territory of modern Jordan, where Petra is located, ancient crypts, amazing temples, erected many centuries ago, have been preserved.
The amazing city of Petra is rightfully included in the UNESCO heritage list, in addition, since 2007 it has been called another "wonder of the world".
Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is a unique system of 3,000 separate coral reefs and over 900 scenic islands. It lies in the waters of the Coral Sea and attracts millions of divers every year, eager to see an amazing masterpiece created by tiny microorganisms.
With over 2,500 kilometers of fabulous flora and amazing underwater fauna, this is the largest coral reef on the planet that can be seen even from space.
In 1981, the Great Barrier Reef was added to the UNESCO treasury, and earlier it was awarded the status of a “wonder of the world”.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus
Belovezhskaya Pushcha is one of the most famous nature reserves in Europe and the largest national park in Belarus. In 1993, it received the status of a biosphere reserve, and a year earlier it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A picturesque nature conservation object is located on the territory of the Brest and Grodno regions, the Polish-Belarusian border passes through it.
In the picturesque landscapes of the amazing area, excellent conditions have been created for the habitation of many species of animals, including those listed in the “Red Book” of Belarus.
In the dense thickets of relict forests that once covered the entire territory of Europe, you can meet their powerful owner - bison, which attracts tourists from all over the world.
Rock carvings in Alta, Norway
Another cultural and historical heritage of UNESCO is rock carvings found in the north of Norway, in the city of Alta. Thanks to this find, it became known about the settlements of ancient people who hunted here during the Iron and Stone Ages. The rock art reflects the way of life of the people living in the coastal zones and on the mainland, their beliefs, traditions and rituals.
More than 5,000 unique images date back to 4200 - 500 BC and prove that the northern parts of the Earth were previously inhabited.
For the first time they started talking about amazing drawings in 1960, it was then that the first petroglyphs were found. In the course of further excavations, one of the largest archaeological sites of Jemmeluft was discovered, on the territory of which the Alta Museum was founded, open to tourists.
Urnes stave church, Norway
Among the grandeur of the silent mountains, on the picturesque Sognefjord, the outlines of the wooden church of Urnes, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, loom. An amazing masterpiece of wooden architecture was built three times in the same place. A church built in 1150 for one of the revered and very influential families has survived to this day.
The craftsmen who worked on the construction of the temple were able to convey the splendor of the architecture of that time and restore the decorative details present on the previously destroyed church.
The durable timber harvested for the construction of the temple in 1130 was able to withstand the influence of time and the effects of the elements. Therefore, the unique Church of Urnes still delights everyone who has at least once been lucky enough to visit the Royal Sognefjord.
Struve arc
A unique geodetic structure, called the Struve Arc, is a network with control points marked on the ground by means of stone cubes, iron crosses made in the rocks of depressions.
The Struve arc was used to establish the size of the Earth and determine its shape. Over 40 years of its existence, an amazing geodetic structure has undergone changes, and today it passes through the territory of Belarus, Norway, Lithuania, Moldova, Latvia, Ukraine, Finland, Russia, Sweden. The total length of the network, on which the triangulation points are located, is 2820 kilometers.
34 strongholds of the Arc, named after one of its creators Vasily Yakovlevich Struve, are now included in the UNESCO world treasury.
Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is a great Christian shrine located on the right bank of the mighty Dnieper. Founded in the 9th century, the monastery has undergone many changes throughout its existence. Today, a unique monument of ancient architecture reverently admires both true believers and ordinary tourists who come from all over the world to admire the golden-domed temple.
The Pechersk Lavra got its name thanks to the caves located on its territory, in which the first hermit monks lived.
From the day of its foundation, the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra became a spiritual and cultural stronghold of Kievan Rus, and its fame resounded far beyond the borders of the state.
Basilica of the Nativity and Pilgrim Trails, Palestine
The Church of the Nativity of Christ, erected in 339 AD, is located a few kilometers from Jerusalem. The place for the founding of the basilica was not chosen by chance, it is believed that it was here that Jesus Christ was born.
In the 6th century AD, the Church survived a fire, after which it was restored. Only the mosaic floors remain from the original structure.
In 2012, the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ, along with pilgrimage paths, bell towers, magnificent terraced gardens, was included in the list of UNESCO heritage sites.
Kakadu National Park, Australia
Kakadu National Park is a unique combination of lush plains and picturesque plateaus, marshland covered with emerald thickets of exotic plants, and rivers flowing through the park filled with life.
Hundreds of rare plant species and critically endangered animals can be seen in the park. An amazing natural complex is located in the north of Australia, where tribes of ancient settlers lived 40 thousand years ago. This is evidenced by the rock paintings found during archaeological excavations. The drawings depict the way of life of a prehistoric society, whose members hunted and were engaged in gathering.
Today, Kakadu Park is an archaeological and natural reserve, in 1981 included in the list of UNESCO sites.
Rainforests of the east coast of Australia
In eastern Australia, along the dizzying cliffs of the Great Dividing Range, there are mysterious rainforests that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
This unique area, which includes several luxurious parks and amazing reserves, is of immense importance to modern science. Indeed, on its territory there are geologically important objects, such as the craters of extinct volcanoes, and dense thickets of rain forests have become home to endemic species that represent the local fauna.
Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia
450 kilometers of tropical rainforest lie along the northeastern coast of Australia. Dense, often impassable, thickets have become a habitat for funny marsupials, exotic songbirds and the rarest representatives of the richest Australian flora and no less diverse fauna.
In 1988, tropical rainforests were added to the treasury of the UNESCO world organization.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, which is over 120 kilometers long, is the largest sandy island on the planet. Its relief surface is covered with moist tall forests, and the golden curves of the dunes are cut by blue-eyed "hanging" lakes filled with fresh water.
In 1992, this amazing natural complex was included in the UNESCO treasury.
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Shark Bay and the surrounding islands are a fabulously beautiful place known for phenomenal gifts from nature itself. Firstly, in the waters washing the coast, more than 10 thousand individuals of the dugong live (the largest population of these animals in the world).
Secondly, in the coastal waters you can see the huge plantations of algae, covering more than 480 thousand kilometers of the seabed.
Thirdly, the surroundings of the bay are decorated with rounded limestone formations - stromatolites. They owe their appearance to the colonies of algae, which are active under water.
Fourthly, several species of rare mammals live on the territory of the bay. In the aggregate, all factors have stopped the bay in the natural treasury, in 1991, replenished the lists of UNESCO.
Macquarie Island
In the endless subantarctic waters, between the two continents Antarctica and Australia, the tiny island of Macquarie is lost. A picturesque piece of land with a length of only 34 kilometers appeared after the collision of the Pacific lithospheric plate with the Indo-Austroalian plate.
As a result of a strong collision on the relief surface of papal, unique basalt rocks stored at a depth of over 6 kilometers in the Earth's mantle. In 1997, Macquarie Island was added to the richest UNESCO treasury.
Sydney Opera House, Australia
Above the azure waters of the Gulf of Sydney rises a snow-white structure, reminiscent of a wind-filled sailing ship, ready to set sail - this is the Sydney Opera House. Situated on solid foundations, the "shells" house a superbly decorated hall and a fine restaurant.
The building, erected in 1973, took its place among the UNESCO sites (in 2007) and became the most grandiose architectural structure of our time.
The talented architect Jorn Utson worked on the implementation of this amazing project. Having changed the traditions of urban planning developed over the years, he created a unique sculptural masterpiece that harmoniously complements the picturesque landscapes of the Pacific coast.
Convict settlements, Australia
Of the thousands of camps established by the British Empire in Austria (18-19 centuries), eleven, located on the islet of Norfolk, Tasmania, around Sydney, were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010.
The prisons were designed to hold hundreds of thousands of convicts by British justice. They were men, women, and even children.
Each correctional institution had its own specifics of work and methods of re-education of criminals.
This unique object is valuable as a reminder of the largest expansion of European states, realized through the deportation and placement of convicted criminals on the territory of colonies.
Leon Cathedral, Nicaragua
Lena Cathedral, erected at the beginning of the 19th century, personifies a transitional period in architecture, when the more progressive neoclassical trends at that time came to replace the baroque traditions. In the design of the exterior and interior, the features of eclecticism are clearly visible, with the refined luxury characteristic of the style and an abundance of decorative details that harmoniously combine into a single ensemble.
Magnificent stained-glass windows, rich ornaments, the use of works of pictorial art (paintings by Antonio Sarria, which depicts the difficult journey to Calvary) - all this gives the cathedral a special flavor, conveying the atmosphere of a difficult era.
The monumental structure of the temple was designed by the Guatemalan architect Diego José de Porres Esquivel.
Since 2011, León Cathedral has been part of the UNESCO Treasury.
Island city of Mozambique
The colorful town of Mozambique, founded in the 16th century, is located on the territory of the island of the same name, which once played an important role in the development of trade relations between Portugal and India.
The tiny town, surrounded by an endless smooth emerald water, framed by the edge of a magnificent sandy shore, is buried in the luxury of exotic plants, many of which are of particular value to science.
But not only the picturesque landscapes of the island are remarkable; the local architecture is of particular interest for tourists and researchers. The buildings, sustained in the same style, were erected from makuti stone and decorated taking into account the building traditions laid down in the 16th century.
In 1991, the amazing island city of Mazambique was added to the list of UNESCO sites.
Pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan
Teotiukan is a sacred city (previously considered the birthplace of the gods), was founded in the 1st century AD, and was completed only by the end of the 7th century. Its location (50 kilometers from Mexico City) and a high level of cultural development made it one of the most influential cities in Central America.
The remarkable architecture of Teotiukan, especially the large-scale monuments, temples and unique pyramids of the Moon and the Sun, designed with the principles of geometry in mind.
Since 1987, the pre-Hispanic city of Teotiucan has been adorned with a UNESCO treasury.
Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve
The eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is decorated with a picturesque biosphere reserve with the symbolic name of Sian Kaan. This is an amazing natural complex, created from tropical forests, mangroves, impenetrable swamps and coral reefs, which have become home to the inhabitants of the nearby water area.
The local flora is amazing and diverse and the fauna of the reserve is no less rich. More than 300 species of outlandish birds enliven with their singing dense thickets of forests, and hydrogeological conditions contribute to the predominance of terrestrial vertebrates, typical of this region.
The picturesque biosphere reserve Sian Kaan was added to the UNESCO treasury in 1987.
Historic city of Meknes, Morocco
Founded in the 9th century AD, the military settlement has blossomed over time and turned into the picturesque town of Maknes. During the reign of the Sultan Moulay Ismail Maknes became the capital of the Moroccan state, and the architecture of the city acquired a pronounced Spanish-Moorish flavor.
Majestic towers, powerful walls, huge gates have survived to this day, carefully preserving the memory of the past centuries of the prosperity of Meknes.
Since 1996, the historic city has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Bikini Atoll
Until 1946, Bikini Atoll could be called a paradise on earth. Beautiful nature, good-natured population, crystal clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. But the beginning of the Cold War put an end to the happy existence of local residents. In 1946, they were relocated from their native island, and the picturesque landscapes and waters became a testing ground for American nuclear weapons.
For 12 years, over 60 nuclear explosions have thundered on the atoll, the first hydrogen bomb was tested here, thereby causing irreparable damage to the geology and nature of the island. The level of radiation in this place is such that nothing living can withstand such exposure.
Silent witnesses of the unfortunate events were the ships that sank during the tests, as well as a huge crater left after the explosion of a nuclear bomb.
Bikini Atoll, as a terrifying symbol of the nuclear age, was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2010.
Lake Malawi National Park
The southern side of the picturesque Lake Malawi has turned into a unique national park, which is home to many interesting representatives of the underwater fauna.
The deep-water lake with the purest water has sheltered dozens of species of endemic fish, and its ichthyofauna is of great interest to scientists studying evolutionary processes on Earth.
The unique lake was added to the UNESCO treasury in 1984.
The old quarters and fortifications of the city of Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a walled city, in different periods, which was part of the Roman Empire, Prussia, Spain, France. Passing into possession from one state to another, the city became more and more fortified, eventually turning into the most protected fortress in Europe.
So it was until 1867, after the fortification was destroyed. Today, the dilapidated remains of a fortress and stone buildings remind of the former might of the architecture of the war era.
The ancient city with its quarters and fortifications was included in the lists of UNESCO sites in 1994.
Curonian Spit
The Curonian Spit is a sandy peninsula 98 kilometers long. The width of the unique strip at different sites ranges from 400 meters to 4 kilometers.
The picturesque landscapes of the peninsula have been actively developed by humans since ancient times. Today, a struggle is being waged to preserve this unique natural masterpiece, exposed to the effects of the winds and the sea. In order to negate the negative impact of natural factors, work is underway to strengthen forest plantations and sand dunes.
In 2000, the Curonian Spit was added to the list of UNESCO heritage sites.
Los Catios National Park, Colombia
The Los Catios National Park is spread over 72 thousand hectares of picturesque Colombian land, which was added to the UNESCO treasury in 1994.
The relief landscapes of the picturesque land are covered with dense forests, humid plains, from time to time turning into low hills.
The territory of the park has become home to a huge number of amazing animals, including rare representatives of the local fauna.
Lake system in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya
The shallow lakes of the Great Rift Valley (Nakuru, Elementaita and Bogoria) are a unique nature reserve, on the territory of which an incredible variety of birds live, including over 12 endangered species. Birds can survive only within the Great Rift Valley, which is safe for them.
The emerald surface of the lakes is surrounded by magnificent landscapes covered with emerald thickets of forests that have become home to a huge number of animals (black rhinoceros, funny Rothschild giraffe, powerful lion, populations of wild dogs and leopards).
Rift Valley is a place where pelican chicks are born and colorful flocks of beautiful flamingos walk in shallow water. This mesmerizing sight annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists eager to see with their own eyes the amazing beauty of the Great Rift Valley and the system of lakes, in 2011, included in the UNESCO list of sites.
About UNESCO World Heritage
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted at the XVII session of the General Conference of UNESCO on November 16, 1972 and entered into force on December 17, 1975. Its main goal is to attract the forces of the world community to preserve the unique objects of culture and nature. In 1975, the Convention was ratified by 21 states, over the 42 years of its existence, 172 states have joined them, and by mid-2017 the total number of states parties to the Convention reached 193. In terms of the number of states parties, the World Heritage Convention, among other international UNESCO programs, is the most personable. To enhance the effectiveness of the Convention, a World Heritage Committee and Fund were formed in 1976.
The first cultural and natural sites were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List two years after the program was established. From natural areas, the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Yellowstone National Parks (USA), Nahanni (Canada) and Seaman (Ethiopia) received the status of heritage. Over the years, the List has become very representative both in terms of the regions of the planet represented and in terms of the number of sites: by mid-2017 it included 206 natural, 832 cultural and 35 mixed natural and cultural sites in 167 countries of the world. Italy, Spain, Germany and France and China (more than 30 each) have the largest number of cultural sites in the List, the USA, Australia, China, Russia and Canada have the largest number of natural World Heritage sites (more than 10 sites each). Under the protection of the Convention are such world-famous natural monuments as the Great Barrier Reef, Hawaiian and Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Baikal.
Of course, it is honorable and prestigious to be on a par with the generally recognized world pearls of nature and culture for any object, but, at the same time, it is a great responsibility. To obtain World Heritage status, a property must be of outstanding human value, undergo rigorous peer review and meet at least one of 10 selection criteria. In this case, the nominated natural object must comply with at least one of the following four criteria:
Vii) include unique natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;
VIII) to present outstanding examples of the main stages in the history of the Earth, including traces of ancient life, serious geological processes that continue to occur in the development of forms of the earth's surface, significant geomorphological or physical-geographical features of the relief;
IX) to provide outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
X) include natural habitats of great importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including habitats of endangered species that are of outstanding world heritage in terms of science or nature conservation.
The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of a property are also important factors to consider when evaluating it prior to inclusion on the List.
The status of a World Natural Heritage Site provides additional guarantees for the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes, increases the prestige of territories, promotes the popularization of sites and the development of alternative types of nature management, and provides priority in attracting funds.
World Heritage Project
In 1994, Greenpeace Russia began work on the World Heritage project aimed at identifying and protecting unique natural complexes that are threatened by a serious negative impact of human activities. Giving natural territories the highest international conservation status for additional guarantee of their safety is the main goal of the work carried out by Greenpeace.
The first attempts to include Russian protected natural areas on the UNESCO World Heritage List were made in the early 1990s. In 1994, an all-Russian meeting "Modern problems of creating a system of objects of the world and Russian natural heritage" was held, at which a list of promising territories was presented. At the same time, in 1994, experts from Greenpeace Russia prepared the necessary documents for inclusion in the UNESCO List of a natural complex named "Virgin Komi Forests". In December 1995, it was the first in Russia to receive the status of a World Natural Heritage Site.
At the end of 1996, Lake Baikal and the Volcanoes of Kamchatka were added to the List. In 1998, another Russian natural complex, the Golden Mountains of Altai, was added to the List; in 1999, a decision was made to include the fifth Russian natural site, the Western Caucasus. At the end of 2000, the Curonian Spit became the first international site in Russia (together with Lithuania) to receive the status of a World Heritage Site according to the "cultural landscape" criterion. Later, the UNESCO List included "Central Sikhote-Alin" (2001), "Ubsunur Basin" (2003, jointly with Mongolia), "Wrangel Island Natural Complex" (2004), "Putorana Plateau" (2010) , "Natural Park" Lena Pillars "(2012) and" Landscapes of Dauria "(2017, together with Mongolia).
Nominations for consideration by the World Heritage Committee must first be included in the national Tentative List. At present, it contains such natural complexes as "Commander Islands", "Magadansky Reserve", "Krasnoyarsk Pillars", "Big Vasyugan Swamp", "Ilmenskie Gory", "Bashkir Ural", "Reserved Kenozero", "Oglakhty Ridge" "And" Bikin River Valley ". Work is underway to expand the territory of the "Golden Mountains of Altai" facility (by including the adjacent territories of China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan). Negotiations are underway with Finland and Norway for a joint nomination for the Green Belt of Fennoscandia.
Russia, of course, is rich in unique natural complexes not affected by economic activity. According to rough estimates, there are more than 20 territories in our country worthy of the status of a World Natural Heritage Site. Among the promising territories, the following natural complexes can be noted: "Kuril Islands", "Lena Delta", "Volga Delta".
Russian cultural sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List include such recognized monuments of history and architecture as the historical center of St. Petersburg, the Kremlin and Red Square, the Kizhi Pogost, the Solovetsky, Ferapontov and Novodevichy monasteries, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye , monuments of Veliky Novgorod, Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Derbent, Bolgar and Sviyazhsk, Struve geodetic arc (together with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova).
Among the most important tourist and recreational resources, which often determine the choice of a travel route by a tourist, are unique natural and cultural landscapes, historical and cultural monuments, which are designated as "natural and cultural heritage" and are declared by many countries to be national treasures. Of particular importance are the sites included by UNESCO in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites began in 1972, when the Convention on the Protection of Outstanding Cultural and Natural Sites was adopted. This includes archaeological sites, unique cultural landscapes, historic city centers and individual architectural monuments that have become the property of all mankind, monuments that represent an example of the traditional way of life, monuments associated with teachings and beliefs of global importance, nature reserves and national parks.
At the beginning of 2010, the list of cultural and natural heritage sites included 890 sites, incl. 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed (natural and cultural). In fact, there are much more of them (over a thousand), tk. some of them include entire complexes and architectural ensembles like the castles of the Loire Valley or palaces and temples in the historic center of St. Petersburg. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in 148, the top twenty of which are presented in table. 4.
Table 4.
There is a clear disproportion in the distribution of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites by parts of the world: 44% of UNESCO sites are in Europe, and another 23.5% - in Asia (Table 5). This contrast is even more noticeable in the distribution of cultural monuments - 3/4 of the world cultural heritage is concentrated in Eurasia (50% in Europe and 25% in Asia). This phenomenon is explained by the Eurocentricity of modern world culture, and the preserved heritage of the ancient civilizations of the East, on the one hand, and the youth of European civilization in America, Australia, and the almost non-preserved heritage of ancient African civilizations, on the other hand.
Table 5.
The leadership in natural monuments in the world is held by America, which is significantly ahead of Europe in this regard. At the expense of natural monuments in the general list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Africa and Australia are also noticeably "catching up".
We also note that in the distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites over the three structural elements of the world economy, there is no such disproportion as in the geography of international tourism. The World Heritage sites are divided approximately in equal proportions between the post-industrial “core”, the industrial “semi-periphery” and the agrarian “periphery” (Table 6).
Table 6.
Distribution of UNESCO World Heritage Sites by structural
elements of the world economic hierarchy
However, additional (relative) indicators of the spread of UNESCO-recognized natural and cultural monuments still indicate their greater concentration in the post-industrial "core". In terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites per unit area, the “core” is almost twice the world average, and in terms of the number of natural and cultural monuments in proportion to the population, it is almost three times.
In terms of the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites (ie, in terms of their number per unit area), the leading positions in the world are occupied by small in area, but densely populated countries of Europe:, and others (Table 7, Fig. 4). In most cases, it is these countries that act as the most famous centers of attraction for foreign tourists in Europe and the world.
Table 7.
Top 20 countries and Russia by the number of World Heritage Sites
UNESCO per unit area and proportion to population
It is quite natural that large countries, such as Russia, USA, Brazil, Australia, etc., occupy rather low positions in the density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For this reason, we propose a different relative indicator characterizing the location of natural and cultural monuments in the world: the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in proportion to the population of states (Table 7, Fig. 5).
Rice. 5. Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites per 10 million inhabitants.
Apparently, the relatively more even distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites across countries and continents in comparison with the current world tourist flows should in the near future affect the increase in the weight of the "semi-periphery" in the tourism industry of the world economy, and in the more distant perspective - and "periphery". Tourism can play the role of a locomotive of post-industrial development in the countries of the "semi-periphery" and "periphery".
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The World Heritage Sites included in the special UNESCO list are of colossal interest for the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural sites make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the capabilities of the human mind.
As of July 6, 2012, there are 962 sites in the World Heritage List (including 745 cultural, 188 natural and 29 mixed) located in 148 countries of the world. Among the objects there are individual architectural structures and ensembles, for example - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, historical centers of cities - Warsaw and St. Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square; and there are also whole cities - Brasilia, Venice together with the lagoon and others. There are also archaeological reserves such as Delphi; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. The states on the territory of which the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations for their preservation.
In this photo selection, you will see 29 sites from different parts of the planet, which are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
1) Tourists visiting Buddhist sculptures Longmen Grottoes ("Dragon Gate") near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. More than 2,300 caves are located in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. For the first time, Buddhism in China was introduced in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. (China Photos / Getty Images)
2) Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are over 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, ranging from the plain heap of bricks and rubble scattered among rice paddies to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples in Angkor have been rebuilt. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel / AFP - Getty Images)
3) One of the parts of the Al-Hijr archaeological site - also known as Mada'in Salih. This complex, located in the northern regions of Saudi Arabia, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (1st century BC - 1st century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dated to the ancient the Nabatean city of Hegra, which was the center of the caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the pre-Babatean period. (Hassan Ammar / AFP - Getty Images)
4) Waterfalls "Garganta del Diablo" ("Devil's Throat" is located in the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2000 varieties of plants and 400 bird species Iguazu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Christian Rizzi / AFP - Getty Images)
5) The mysterious Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure, consisting of 150 huge stones, and located on the Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Matt Cardy / Getty Images)
6) Tourists stroll by the Bafang Pavilion in the Summer Palace, the famous classical imperial garden in Beijing. The Summer Palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. (China Photos / Getty Images)
7) Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", donated to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to the harbor of New York. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig / AP)
8) "Solitario George" (Lone George), the last live giant tortoise of this species, born on the island of Pinta, lives in the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now about 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, but were marked as Endangered in 2007. (Rodrigo Buendia / AFP - Getty Images)
9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk Mills near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk is home to the Netherlands' largest collection of historic mills and is also one of the main attractions in South Holland. The decoration of the holidays taking place here with balloons gives a certain flavor to this place. (Peter Dejong / AP)
10) View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The site was listed as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentinean part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. (Daniel Garcia / AFP - Getty Images)
11) Terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa surround the gold-domed Tomb of the Bab, the founder of the Bahá'í faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Bahá'í religion, the number of which worldwide is less than six million. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008. (David Silverman / Getty Images)
12) Aerial photography of St. Peter's square. According to the World Heritage website, this small state houses a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano / AFP - Getty Images)
13) Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem is home to the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 coral species and 1,500 fish species. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)
14) Camels rest in the ancient city of Petra in front of the main monument of Jordan, Al-Khaznah or the treasury, presumably representing the tomb of the Nabatean king, carved out of sandstone. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is located at the intersection of routes from Arabia, Egypt, and Phenicia. Petra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. (Thomas Coex / AFP - Getty Images)
15) Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, which is the symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. Sydney Opera House was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood / AFP - Getty Images)
16) Rock carvings made by the San people in the Drakensberg Mountains in eastern South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg area for thousands of years, until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible cave paintings in the Drakensberg Mountains, which were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. (Alexander Joe / AFP - Getty Images)
17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. All houses here are built of clay bricks, about 500 houses can be considered multi-storey, since they have 5-11 floors. Often referred to as “the oldest skyscraper city in the world” or “Deserted Manhattan”, Shibam is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa / AFP - Getty Images)
18) Gondolas off the coast of the Grand Canal in Venice. The church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice is a seaside resort, a center of international tourism of world importance, a venue for international film festivals, art and architecture exhibitions. Venice was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987. (AP)
19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues of compressed volcanic ash (moai in Rapa Nui) at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island, 3,700 km off the coast of Chile. Rapa Nui National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. (Martin Bernetti / AFP - Getty Images)
20) Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds in order to defend against the invasion of tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images)
21) Temple in Hampi, near the southern Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the midst of the ruins of Vijayanagar, the former capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. Hampi and its monuments were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP - Getty Images)
22) A Tibetan pilgrim turns prayer mills at the Potala Palace in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex that was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994. (Goh Chai Hin / AFP - Getty Images)
23) Inca Citadel Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cuzco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. 2000 tourists visit the city a day; in order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. (Eitan Abramovich / AFP - Getty Images)
24) Kompon-Daito Buddhist Pagoda on Mount Koya, Wakayama Province, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819 the Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, an offshoot of Japanese Buddhism, settled here first. (Everett Kennedy Brown / EPA)
25) Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the sides of the tower crowning it are depicted "Buddha's eyes" inlaid with ivory. The Kathmandu Valley is about 1300 m high - a mountain valley and historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Bodnath stupa to tiny street altars within the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. (Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)
26) A bird flies over the Taj Mahal - a mausoleum-mosque, located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of the wife of Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP - Getty Images)
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27) Located in northeastern Wales, the 18 km long Pontkisillte Aqueduct is a civil engineering feat from the Industrial Revolution, completed in the early years of the 19th century. More than 200 years after its opening, it is still in use and is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkisilte aqueduct was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as "a milestone in the history of civil engineering in the era of the industrial revolution." This aqueduct is one of the most unusual monuments to plumbing and plumbing. (Christopher Furlong / Getty Images)
28) A herd of elk grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes to the left and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In Yellowstone National Park, which covers almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage Program in 1978. (Kevork Djansezian / AP)
29) Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon promenade in Havana. UNESCO inscribed Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded and has a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of Baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and patios. (Javier Galeano / AP)
Work is underway to submit the following natural objects to the List: Volga delta, Delta Lena, Green Belt of Fennoscandia, Kurile Islands, Valdai - Great watershed, Western Sayan, Beringia and Solovetsky Islands.
Natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage List |
||
| Square | State | |
| Virgin Komi forests | 3.279 million hectares | Inscribed on the World Heritage List (1995) Criteria - N ii, iii |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Pechora-Ilychsky" | 721 322 | |
| 2. National Park "Yugyd Va" | 1 891 701 | |
| 3. Protected zone of the reserve | 666 000 | |
| Lake Baikal | 8.8 million hectares | Included in the List (1996) Criteria - N i, ii, iii, iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Baikalsky" | 165 724 | |
| 2. State Biosphere Reserve "Barguzinsky" | 374 322 | |
| 3. State natural reserve "Baikalo-Lensky" | 660 000 | |
| 4. National Park "Pribaikalsky" | 418 000 | |
| 5. National Park "Zabaikalsky" | 246 000 | |
| 6. Reserve "Frolikhinsky" | 910 200 | |
| 7. Wildlife Sanctuary "Kabansky" | 18 000 | |
| 8. National Park "Tunkinsky" (partially) | ||
| Volcanoes of Kamchatka | 3.996 million hectares | Included in the List (1996). Expanded in 2001 Criteria - N i, ii, iii, iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Kronotsky" | 1 147 619,37 | |
| 2. Natural Park "Bystrinsky" | 1 368 592 | |
| 3. Natural Park "Nalychevsky" | 286 025 | |
| 4. Natural Park "Yuzhno-Kamchatsky" | 500 511 | |
| 5. Reserve of federal significance "Yuzhno-Kamchatsky" | 322 000 | |
| 6. Natural Park "Klyuchevskoy" | 371 022 | |
| Golden Mountains of Altai | 1.509 million hectares | Included in the List (1998) Criterion - N iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Altai" | 881 238 | |
| 2. State Biosphere Reserve "Katunsky" | 150 079 | |
| 3. Natural Park "Mount Belukha" | 131 337 | |
| 4. Natural Park "Ukok" | 252 904 | |
| 5. Buffer zone "Teletskoye Lake" | 93 753 | |
| Western Caucasus | 0.301 million hectares | Included in the List (1999) Criteria - N ii, iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Caucasian" with a buffer zone | 288 200 | |
| 2. Natural Park "Bolshoi Tkhach" | 3 700 | |
| 3. Natural monument "Upper reaches of the Pshekha and Pshekhashkha rivers" | 5 776 | |
| 4. Natural monument "Upper Tsitsa River" | 1 913 | |
| 5. Natural monument "Buiny Ridge" | 1 480 | |
| Curonian Spit(jointly with Lithuania) | 0.031 million hectares | Included in the List (2000) Criterion - C v |
| 1. National Park "Curonian Spit" (Russia) | 6 600 | |
| 2. National Park "Kursiu Nerijos" (Lithuania) | 24 600 | |
| 1.567 million hectares | Included in the List (2001). Expanded in 2018 Criterion - N iv |
|
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Sikhote-Alinsky" | 401 600 | |
| 2. National Park "Bikin" | 1 160 469 | |
| 3. Sanctuary "Goralovy" | 4 749 | |
| Ubsunur Basin(jointly with Mongolia) | 0.883 million hectares | Included in the List (2003) Criteria - N ii, iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina" (Russia) | 73 529 | |
| 2. Biosphere reserve "Uvs Nuur" (Mongolia) | 810 233,5 | |
| Wrangel Island | 2.226 million hectares | Included in the List (2004) Criteria - N ii, iv |
| State Nature Reserve "Wrangel Island" | ||
| Putorana plateau | 1,887 million hectares | Included on the List (2010) Criteria - vii, ix |
| State natural reserve "Putoransky" | ||
| Lena Pillars | 1.387 million hectares | Included on the List (2012) Criteria - viii |
| Natural Park of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) "Lena Pillars" | ||
| Landscapes of Dauria(jointly with Mongolia) | 0.913 million hectares | Included in the List (2017) Criteria - (ix), (x) |
| 1. State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Daursky" | 49 765 | |
| 2. Protected zone of the State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Daursky" | 117 690 | |
| 3. Reserve of federal significance "Dzerena Valley" | 111 568 | |
| Total area in the Russian Federation: | 279 023 | |
| 4. Strictly protected area "Mongol Daguur" | 110 377 | |
| 5. Buffer zone of the strictly protected area "Mongol Daguur" | 477 064 | |
| 6. Natural reserve "Ugtam" | 46 160 | |
| Total area in Mongolia: | 633 601 | |
Natural sites included in the Tentative List |
||
| Objects and their constituent territories | Square | State |
| Valaam archipelago | 0.026 million hectares | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on May 15, 1996. |
| Natural Park "Valaam Archipelago" | ||
| Magadan reserve | 0.884 million hectares | Nomination prepared |
| State natural reserve "Magadansky" | ||
| Commander Islands | 3.649 million hectares | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on 07.02.2005. Nomination prepared |
| State natural reserve "Komandorskiy" | ||
| Great Vasyugan swamp | 0.4 million hectares | |
| State complex wildlife sanctuary of the Tyumen region "Vasyuganskiy" | ||
| Krasnoyarsk pillars | 0.047 million hectares | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation 03/06/2007 |
| State natural reserve "Pillars" | ||
| Ilmen mountains | 0.034 million hectares |
Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on August 11, 2008. Nomination prepared |
| State Natural Reserve of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Ilmensky" | ||
| Bashkir Ural | 0.045 million hectares | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on January 30, 2012 |
Natural sites promising for inclusion in the Tentative List |
||
| Objects and their constituent territories | Square | State |
| Beringia | 2.911 million hectares | Recommended by IUCN for listing |
| 1. National Park "Beringia" (RF) | 1,819,154 ha | |
| 2. National Reserve "Bering Land Bridge" (USA) | 1,091,595 ha | |
| Volga delta | 0.068 million hectares | criterion N iv. Nomination prepared |
| State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Astrakhansky" | ||
| Delta Lena | 1.433 million hectares | Recommended by IUCN for inclusion in the List in accordance with criterion N iv. Nomination prepared |
| State natural reserve "Ust-Lensky" | ||
| Kurile Islands | 0.295 million hectares | Nomination prepared |
| 1. State natural reserve "Kurilskiy" and its buffer zone | 65 365 and 41 475 | |
| 2. Biological reserve "Small Kuriles" | 45 000 | |
| 3. Reserve of regional significance "Urup Island" | 143 000 | |
| Green Belt of Fennoscandia(jointly with Finland and Norway) | 0.541 million hectares | The Russian part of the nomination has been prepared |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Laplandsky" | 278 436 | |
| 2. State natural reserve "Kostomukshsky" | 47 457 | |
| 3. State nature reserve "Pasvik" | 14 727 | |
| 4. Paanajärvi National Park | 104 354 | |
| 5. National Park "Kalevalsky" | 95 886 | |
| Valdai - The Great Divide | 0.183 million hectares | Nomination prepared |
| 1. National Park "Valdai" | 158 500 | |
| 2. State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Central Forest" | 24 447 | |
Natural sites not included in the List |
||
| Objects and their constituent territories | Square | State |
| Vodlozersky National Park | 0.58 million hectares | |
| 1. National Park "Vodlozersky" | 404 700 | |
| 2. Sanctuary "Kozhozersky" | 178 600 | |
| Bashkir Ural | 0.2 million hectares | Not included in the List (1998) |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Shulgan-Tash" | 22 531 | |
| 2. State natural reserve "Bashkir" | 49 609 | |
| 3. National Park "Bashkiria" (strictly protected area) | 32 740 | |
| 4. Sanctuary "Altyn Solok" | 93 580 | |
| Teberda reserve(expansion of the "Western Caucasus" object) | 0.085 million hectares | Not included in the List (2004) |
| State Biosphere Reserve "Teberdinsky" | ||
Russia, of course, is rich in unique and, which is very important, natural complexes not affected by economic activity. According to rough estimates of scientists, in our country there are about 20 territories worthy of the status of a World Natural Heritage Site. The list of the most promising areas was determined during a joint project of UNESCO and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) on boreal forests.