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World Heritage site
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Ajanta Caves: reclining Buddha Yosemite National Park Geiranger Fjord, southwestern Norway; example of a natural World Heritage site (designated 2005). Aboriginal rock painting, Kakadu National Park, northern Australia; example of a mixed cultural and natural World Heritage site (designated 1981; extended 1987, 1992). Aswān, Egypt: Abu Simbel Abu Simbel
Travel down the Nile to discover important ancient Egyptian cultural sites such as the Pyramids of Giza
Nubia Abu Simbel, Egypt: Great Temple Roman Kiosk, Nile River
For Students
World Heritage site summary
Quizzes
Taj Mahal, Agra, India. UNESCO World Heritage Site (minarets; Muslim, architecture; Islamic architecture; marble; mausoleum)
Wonders of the World Quiz
Colosseum, Rome, Italy. (Flavian Amphitheatre, arena)
World Heritage Sites in Italy Quiz
Queen Victoria's coronation, 1837. The Archbishop of Canterbury placing the crown on Victoria's head in Westminster Abbey.
World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom Quiz 
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris, France.
World Heritage Sites in France Quiz
Related Questions
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News •

Officials to visit doorsteps of Lakkundi residents to collect historical articles on November 24 • Nov. 19, 2024, 6:48 AM ET (The Hindu)
Cultural experts urge UN to shield war-torn Lebanon's heritage • Nov. 17, 2024, 2:15 AM ET (Voice of America)
Western Green Energy Hub plan sees scientist renew calls for Nullarbor World Heritage listing • Nov. 13, 2024, 9:10 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))
Baalbek's ancient ruins at risk by Israeli bombing, archaeologists warn • Nov. 8, 2024, 6:46 AM ET (BBC)
Canal locks should be World Heritage site, says MP • Nov. 6, 2024, 10:23 PM ET (BBC)

A list of select World Heritage sites is provided in the tables. See also list of World Heritage sites.

Selected World Heritage sites in South America
site* country notes
*The spelling or styling of place-names in this table may differ from those given on the World Heritage List; in addition, some place-names represent one or more constituent parts of larger World Heritage sites.
Arequipa Peru colonial architecture
Brasília Brazil urban planning and architecture
Cartagena Colombia colonial port, fortresses, and monuments
Chan Chan Peru ruins of pre-Inca Chimú capital
Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay Portuguese and Spanish colonial architecture
Córdoba Argentina Jesuit institutions and estates
Coro Venezuela Spanish, Dutch, and local architecture
Cuzco Peru Inca and colonial architecture
Darién Panama national park, rainforests, and wetlands
Easter Island Chile monumental sculptures
Galapagos Islands Ecuador national park, unique ecosystem
Huascarán, Mount Peru montane national park
Iguaçu (Iguazú) Brazil and Argentina national parks, waterfalls, and subtropical rainforests
Lima Peru historic city centre
Los Glaciares Argentina national park, glacial lakes, and mountains
Los Katíos Colombia national park, rainforests, and wetlands
Machu Picchu Peru Inca ruins
Nazca Lines Peru extensive geoglyphs
Pantanal Brazil freshwater wetland ecosystem
Potosí Bolivia colonial industrial city
Quito Ecuador colonial city centre
Salvador Brazil historic colonial centre
Tiwanaku Bolivia pre-Columbian ruins
Valdés Peninsula Argentina seals, whales
Selected World Heritage sites in North America
site* country notes
*The spelling or styling of place-names in this table may differ from those given on the World Heritage List; in addition, some place-names represent one or more constituent parts of larger World Heritage sites.
Banff Canada national park, Rocky Mountains
Belize Barrier Reef Belize marine ecosystem
Carlsbad Caverns United States national park, Guadalupe Mountains
Chaco Culture United States national historical park, Pueblo ruins
Chichén Itzá Mexico Mayan-Toltec architecture
Cocos Island Costa Rica national park, forest and marine life
Copán Honduras remains of major Mayan city
Dinosaur Canada provincial park, fossil beds
Everglades United States national park, diversity of aquatic habitats
Glacier Bay United States subarctic national park, preserve
Grand Canyon United States national park
Great Smoky Mountains United States national park, Appalachian Mountains
Havana Cuba colonial city centre
Hawaii Volcanoes United States national park
Jasper Canada national park, Rocky Mountains
Kluane Canada subarctic national park
Kootenay Canada national park, Rocky Mountains
L'Anse aux Meadows Canada remains of medieval Norse settlement in Newfoundland
Mammoth Cave United States cave system and national park
Mesa Verde United States prehistoric cliff dwellings
Mexico City Mexico historic city centre
Monticello United States Neoclassical home of Thomas Jefferson
Palenque Mexico national park, Mayan city
Panama City Panama historic city centre
Redwood United States national park, ancient trees
San Juan Puerto Rico national historic site, fortifications
Santo Domingo Dominican Republic colonial city
Statue of Liberty United States national monument
Taos Pueblo United States adobe settlement
Tatshenshini-Alsek Canada wilderness provincial park
Teotihuacán Mexico extensive pre-Aztec ruins
Tikal Guatemala national park, Mayan ruins
Uxmal Mexico Mayan city and ceremonial centre
Wrangell-St. Elias United States subarctic national park, preserve
Xochimilco Mexico Aztec canals and floating gardens
Yellowstone United States national park, geothermal formations
Yoho Canada national park, Rocky Mountains
Yosemite United States national park, Sierra Nevada range
Selected World Heritage sites in Europe
site* country notes
*The spelling or styling of place-names in this table may differ from those given on the World Heritage List; in addition, some place-names represent one or more constituent parts of larger World Heritage sites.
Acropolis of Athens Greece complex of monuments
Alhambra Spain Moorish palace and fortress
Altamira Spain prehistoric cave paintings
Amiens Cathedral France Gothic style
Arles France Roman, Romanesque monuments
Auschwitz Poland Nazi concentration camp
Avebury England prehistoric megalith group
Bergen Norway Hanseatic wharf
Bern Switzerland medieval city centre
Canterbury England cathedral and abbey
Chartres Cathedral France Gothic architecture
Cologne Cathedral Germany Gothic architecture
Delphi Greece remains of sanctuary complex
Derbent Russia ancient city, fortifications
Eyzies-de-Tayac caves France prehistoric rock dwellings, decorated grottoes
Ferrara Italy Renaissance architecture
Florence Italy historic city centre
Fontainebleau France royal château and gardens
Giant's Causeway Northern Ireland coastal rock formations
Granada Spain Moorish, Andalusian structures
Hadrian's Villa Italy imperial residence
Hadrian's Wall England Roman fortification
Herculaneum Italy ruins of Vesuvius-destroyed town
Istanbul Turkey numerous historic sites
Kew Gardens England botanical gardens
Kraków Poland medieval city centre
Kremlin Russia historical, political, and religious centre
Lascaux France prehistoric cave paintings
Lübeck Germany Hanseatic architecture
Luxembourg city Luxembourg fortifications and old city
Metéora Greece Orthodox Christian monasteries
Mont-Saint-Michel France medieval village and abbey
Naples Italy historic city centre
Olympia Greece ruins of ancient sacred city
Palatine Chapel (Aachen Cathedral) Germany imperial chapel of Charlemagne, Carolingian and Gothic styles
Paris France banks of Seine River, adjacent monuments
Pompeii Italy ruins of Vesuvius-destroyed town
Porto Portugal historic city centre
Prague Czech Republic historic city centre
Red Square Russia historical, political, and religious centre
Reims Cathedral France High Gothic architecture
Rhodes Greece medieval city centre
Rila Monastery Bulgaria cradle of Bulgarian national revival
Saint Petersburg Russia historic city centre and monuments
Salzburg Austria historic city centre
Samos Greece ancient port and temple remains
Santiago Spain old city and pilgrimage route
Segovia Spain old town and Roman aqueduct
Speyer Cathedral Germany burial site of German emperors, Romanesque architecture
Split Croatia ruins of the Palace of Diocletian, other monuments
Stabiae Italy ancient town
Stonehenge England prehistoric megalith group
Tallinn Estonia historic city centre
Toledo Spain historic structures
Torre Annunziata Italy ruins of Vesuvius-destroyed town
Transylvania Romania Saxon fortified churches, villages
Úbeda Spain Renaissance architecture
Vatican City Vatican City seat of Roman Catholic Church
Venice Italy island city and surrounding lagoon
Versailles France royal palace and park
Vienna Austria historic and cultural centre
Vilnius Lithuania historic centre
Visby Sweden historic Hanseatic town
Wartburg Germany castle
Westminster Abbey England Neo-Gothic palace, historic abbey
Selected World Heritage sites in Australia and Oceania
site* country notes
*The spelling or styling of place-names in this table may differ from those given on the World Heritage List; in addition, some place-names represent one or more constituent parts of larger World Heritage sites.
Fraser Island Australia rainforest, dune lakes
Great Barrier Reef Australia marine national park
Lord Howe Island Australia diversity of habitats, rare wildlife
Macquarie Island Australia unique geological landforms
Rennell Island Solomon Islands unique island ecosystem
Shark Bay Australia rare marine and terrestrial life-forms
Tasmanian Wilderness Australia diversity of habitats, rare wildlife
Te Wahipounamu (South West New Zealand) New Zealand Fiordland, Mount Aspiring, Mount Cook, and Westland national parks
Uluru (Ayers Rock) Australia national park, sandstone monolith
Selected World Heritage sites in Asia
site* country notes
*The spelling or styling of place-names in this table may differ from those given on the World Heritage List; in addition, some place-names represent one or more constituent parts of larger World Heritage sites.
Agra India historic fort
Ajanta Caves India rock-cut Buddhist monasteries
Aleppo Syria ancient city
Angkor Cambodia archaeological remains
Anuradhapura Sri Lanka sacred city
Ashur Iraq historic city
Ayutthaya Thailand ruins of capital complex
Baalbek Lebanon ruins of Roman city
Bagerhat Bangladesh historic city, mosque
Baikal, Lake Russia unique freshwater environment
Baku Azerbaijan walled city, tower, and palace
Bamian Afghanistan archaeological remains
Bodh Gaya India ancient Buddhist temple
Borobudur Indonesia Buddhist temple compound
Bukhara Uzbekistan historic city
Byblos Lebanon ruins of ancient city
Chogha Zanbil Iran ruins of Elamite city
Damascus Syria historic city centre
Delhi India historic monuments and tomb
Elephanta Island India Hindu cave temple
Ellora Caves India Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina cave temples
Esfahan Iran historic square
Everest, Mount Nepal montane national park
Fatehpur Sikri India ancient monuments and temples
Forbidden City China imperial palace in Beijing
Great Wall of China China extensive fortification
Ha Long Bay Vietnam picturesque island group
Hatra Iraq ruins of Parthian city
Hiroshima Japan peace memorial
Horyu Temple Japan Buddhist monuments
Huang, Mount China scenic conservation area
Hue Vietnam imperial citadel
Jerusalem Israel Jewish, Christian, and Islamic holy city
Kandy Sri Lanka sacred Buddhist city
Kaziranga India national park, wildlife
Khajraho India ancient temples
Khiva Uzbekistan Islamic architecture
Kyoto Japan historic imperial capital
Lahore Pakistan Mughal fortress, palace, and gardens
Louangphrabang Laos blending of traditional and European architecture
Lu Mountains China scenic conservation area, temple complex
Lumbini Nepal birthplace of the Buddha
Manas India wildlife sanctuary
Nara Japan historic monuments
Nikko Japan shrines and temples
Palmyra Syria ruins of ancient city
Petra Jordan remains of ancient city
Potala Palace China former residence of the Dalai Lama in Lhasa, Tibet
Prambanan Indonesia ancient temples
Qin tomb China archaeological site, terra-cotta army
Samarkand Uzbekistan historic city, Islamic architecture
Sanaa Yemen historic architecture
Sanchi India ancient Buddhist sanctuary
Somapura Mahavira Bangladesh Buddhist monastery
Sundarbans Bangladesh and India national park (India), sanctuary, mangrove forest, and wetlands
Tai, Mount China sacred mountain, temple complex
Taj Mahal India monumental funerary complex
Tyre Lebanon ruins of three millennia of habitation
Ujung Kulon Indonesia national park and nature reserve on Java
Wuyi Mountains China scenic conservation area
Zabid Yemen historic town
Zhoukoudian China early hominin habitation
Selected World Heritage sites in Africa
site* country notes
*The spelling or styling of place-names in this table may differ from those given on the World Heritage List; in addition, some place-names represent one or more constituent parts of larger World Heritage sites.
Abomey Benin royal palace
Abu Ruwaysh Egypt archaeological remains
Abu Simbel Egypt archaeological remains
Abu Sir Egypt archaeological remains
Aksum Ethiopia historic monuments
Aldabra Islands Seychelles atoll, giant tortoises
Carthage Tunisia remains of ancient city
Dahshur Egypt pyramids and funerary complex
Djenné Mali mosque, historic buildings
Garamba Congo (Kinshasa) national park, wildlife refuge
Giza Egypt pyramids and funerary complex
Gorée Island Senegal slave-trading depot
Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe ruins of Shona capital
Hadar Ethiopia early hominin remains
Karnak Egypt Theban temple ruins
Kenya, Mount Kenya national park and forest reserve
Kilimanjaro Tanzania montane national park and forest reserve
Kings, Valley of the Egypt Theban necropolis
Komoé Côte d'Ivoire national park, plants and wildlife
Lalibela Ethiopia rock-hewn medieval churches
Leptis Magna Libya remains of Roman architecture
Luxor Egypt Theban ruins
Marrakech Morocco historic medina
Matopo Zimbabwe granite hills
Memphis Egypt remains of ancient city
Mozambique, Island of Mozambique architecture, including fortifications
Ngorongoro Tanzania wildlife conservation area
Olduvai Gorge Tanzania early hominin remains
Philae Egypt Nubian monuments
Queens, Valley of the Egypt Theban necropolis
Robben Island South Africa apartheid-era prison
Salonga Congo (Kinshasa) national park, tropical rainforest reserve
Saqqarah Egypt step pyramid and funerary complex
Serengeti Tanzania national park, wildlife refuge
Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai South Africa early hominin remains
Thebes Egypt ruins of ancient Egyptian capital
Timbuktu Mali medieval centre of Islamic culture
Victoria Falls Zambia and Zimbabwe national parks, cataracts, Zambezi River, rainforest, and wildlife
Virunga Congo (Kinshasa) national park, diversity of habitats
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
This article was most recently revised and updated by Jeff Wallenfeldt.