The Nedrema forest meadow in Pärnu County is one of the largest such natural formations in Europe. Due to its uniqueness, Forest Meadow is one of Estonia’s likely candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
UNESCO sites are often targeted by rebels. At the end of July, ancient sacred Muslim buildings in the Malian city of Timbuktu were attacked by Islamists.
26 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites - is that a lot or a little?
Monitoring the World Heritage List is becoming increasingly difficult. At the same time, it is difficult to assert that the objects added to the list are truly unique in the global context or are the best among their own kind.
Using concepts adopted by UNESCO, it is possible to prove the global value of an object according to ten criteria. The integrity and originality of the object, its exemplary maintenance and protection are also important.
When a state submits an application - by the way, the applications are quite voluminous - it is first of all assessed by expert organizations: cultural heritage sites are assessed by ICOMOS, natural sites - by IUCN. Based on the preliminary analysis of experts, the final decision is made by the World Heritage Committee.
Diplomatic relations play a greater role there, despite the fact that this does not always correlate with the idea of the World Heritage Convention and its provisions.
Which Estonian sites can be added to the UNESCO list?
Today in Estonia there are two sites recognized as World Heritage - the Old Town with its well-preserved buildings of both public and sacred and residential purposes and with a partially preserved city wall and city skyline, as well as part of the Struve Arc, a network of 265 triangulation points in 10 countries with a length of more than 2820 kilometers, created to determine the shape and size of the Earth.
The arc is named after the famous astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, who worked at the University of Tartu and led the measurement of the meridian arc in 1816-1855. Locations in Estonia include the observatory in Tartu, pillars in Võivere and Simuna. Both objects are undoubtedly interesting and valuable.
If we talk about plans, then one of the most serious candidates for adding to the list is our forested meadows; there is nothing like it in the world. IN neighboring countries there are one or two similar natural phenomena, but so rich different types There are no forest meadow plants anywhere else.
Their value lies in the fact that they appeared as a result of human activity, who used the land and thus contributed to the emergence of unique plant combinations. And our forested meadows are quite well studied and protected.
What is Estonia's role in the work of UNESCO? What is the membership fee? Who are our experts in this organization?
Estonia is one of 195 UNESCO member countries. The organization's main conference takes place every two years, and each country has the opportunity to participate in programming and plans. The executive council, which includes 58 countries and of which Estonia will become a member next year, has more opportunities.
UNESCO is mainly involved in consulting; in some areas, Estonia's participation is in great demand, and our cooperation is very successful. Partly because we believe it is important to work on intergovernmental expert committees, where, in a highly competitive environment, states can submit applications.
From 2006 to 2010, Estonia was a member of the Spiritual Cultural Heritage Committee, where Estonia was represented by Tartu University professor Kristin Kuutma. Now Estonia is a member of the World Heritage Committee, the expert group from our country included Professor of the Art Academy Mart Kalm and representative of the Ministry of Environment Urve Sinijarv.
Estonia is a member of the coordinating council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program. On the UNESCO Council, consisting of 34 members, Estonia is represented by Tomas Kokovkin, PhD in Geography, member of the Council of the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO.
For better cooperation with the main UNESCO office in Paris, Estonia has a permanent representation there; in Tallinn there is a representative office of the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO, whose activities are mainly aimed at internal Estonian affairs.
Estonia's membership fee in 2012 was 56,158 US dollars and 64,690 euros.
What does it mean to be protected by UNESCO? For example, how does UNESCO protect one of its sites - the Old Town of Tallinn? Are there any tools to punish non-compliance with the terms of the convention?
First of all, the state and its citizens must be responsible for their cultural heritage. The fact that an object is on the World Heritage List means international recognition and a voluntary commitment by the state to maintain and preserve it for future generations. All states make reports on their most significant development projects, the daily organization of monument protection, the impact of tourism, etc.
Sometimes reports can be influenced by the interests of local authorities, so most of the information at UNESCO comes from various civil and specialized associations. The committee's task is to analyze the information received and make decisions on the need to protect a specific object.
If the state is unable to protect it on its own, the object is transferred to the list of endangered, and international assistance can be called upon to protect it. Typically, assistance is limited to expert assistance, but sometimes it also includes financial support.
UNESCO is not a punitive body and cannot make instructions to states. However, UNESCO can remove sites from the World Heritage List.
And Tallinn regularly reports on what is happening here. The last time UNESCO's attention was directed to Tallinn was in connection with the project for an extension to the Viru Hotel, which was canceled at the request of the committee, since its height and architectural design would disrupt the appearance of the Old Town.
Tallinn has in recent years submitted to UNESCO both a plan for the construction of high-rise buildings and a project for the construction of a new town hall, and is drawing up a plan for the protection of the Old Town in accordance with UNESCO requirements, the task of this plan is to combine in one document all activities, from keeping the streets clean to tourist infrastructure , for coordinated defense.
What else does UNESCO do in Estonia?
We proceed from four large areas of UNESCO's activity: education, culture, science and communication. Estonia's priority is, in particular, the preservation of the spiritual and cultural heritage, skills, customs, and knowledge passed on from generation to generation that are still significant today.
For this purpose, a list of Estonian spiritual and cultural heritage and several educational programs have been compiled. We work a lot with children and youth, especially through schools that are part of the Estonian UNESCO network; these schools base their work on the principles of UNESCO, with the goal of raising responsible, inquisitive, empathetic young people. We organize many traditional events for them, such as UN simulations, youth scientific conferences, etc.
From lakes in the desert to peasant huts of the 19th century
In July, at the next UNESCO session, held in Russia for the first time in history, 26 new sites were added to the World Heritage List. Almost all countries of the world have joined the UNESCO convention. Its implementation is monitored by a committee consisting of representatives from 21 countries. Estonia has been a member of the committee for three years.
Among the most interesting new objects this year are pearling sites in Bahrain, the traditional system of rice cultivation in Bali, the reefs of the Pacific archipelago of Palau, the architectural heritage of the Moroccan capital Rabat, combining modernism and colonialism, and 19th-century farmhouses in the Swedish province of Hälsingland.
Among natural objects, the list includes lakes in the Sahara Desert in Chad, archaeological excavation areas in China, where traces of life activity were discovered 530 million years ago, and the Lena Pillars - a geological formation of the same name natural Park in Russia, on the banks of the Lena River.
According to Estonia's Ambassador Extraordinary to UNESCO, Marten Kokk, world heritage is often unprotected in military conflicts. Such objects, due to their cultural and national identity and significance, often become the target of aggressors.
Just two days after a UNESCO committee, at the request of the Mali government, added sacred buildings, cultural monuments and mausoleums to the list in Timbuktu, radical Islamists there destroyed them. According to Kokk, it is necessary to develop better options for quick and practical assistance in such cases.
Four percent of World Heritage sites are at risk of destruction. The cause may be natural phenomena such as floods and storms, but increasingly the danger comes from human activity.
The virgin forests of Komi are under threat due to the growing appetites of business, gold and coal miners, and the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is under threat due to the fact that they want to mine uranium there. The list of cultural sites under threat of destruction is one of the most complex issues causing disagreement and controversy.
According to the convention, this list is not a pillory, it is only a list of objects that require international attention and assistance for their preservation. However, different states interpret this differently, trying to put pressure on committee members, the UNESCO press service reports.
As one of the delegates from Estonia at the last session of UNESCO, professor at the Art Academy Mart Kalm, said, the assessment of objects is increasingly politicized, diplomats are increasingly taking part in country delegations, thanks to whom decisions are becoming more and more compromise.
The Committee was pleased to remove the Rice Terraces in the Philippines and the Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens in Pakistan from the list of endangered sites because these countries had better protected them using expertise and funding.
However, as experts note, it is often difficult to find solutions to protect heritage. For example, in the city of Panama it is necessary to build a new road connecting the areas, which threatens the preservation of the Pacific bay from which ships departing for Europe.
Seville is also on the agenda, where local authorities have been unable to influence developers for years, demanding that they comply with the UNESCO convention: there, a 600-meter skyscraper-new building threatens the appearance of the city, in which the Seville Cathedral, the Seville Alcazar and Archive of the Indies. RM
World Heritage sites included in the UNESCO special list are of enormous interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural objects 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 1, 2009, the World Heritage List included 890 sites (including 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed) in 148 countries: individual architectural structures and ensembles - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, the historical center of Warsaw (Poland) and St. Petersburg (Russia), Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), etc.; cities - Brasilia, Venice along with the lagoon, etc.; archaeological reserves - Delphi, etc.; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. States on whose territory World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.
1) Tourists examine the Buddhist sculptures of the Longmen Grottoes (Dragon Gate) near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. There are more than 2,300 caves 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. Buddhism was first introduced to China 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 more than 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, which range from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel/AFP - Getty Images)
3) One of the parts of the archaeological site of Al-Hijr - also known as Madain Salih. This complex, located in northern regions 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 associated with the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra, which was a center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Pre-Nabatean period. (Hassan Ammar/AFP - Getty Images)
4) "Garganta del Diablo" (Devil's Throat) waterfalls are 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 species 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 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 at the Bafang Pavilion at the Summer Palace, the famous classical imperial garden in Beijing. The Summer Palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and restored 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", which was given to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig/AP)
8) "Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally included on the World Heritage List in 1978, but were listed as endangered in 2007. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP - Getty Images)
9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the area of the Kinderdijk mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk is home to the largest collection of historic mills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decorating 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 Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. This place has been included in the World Heritage List natural heritage UNESCO in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentine 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 golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, founder of the Baha'i faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professers 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 in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, this small state is home to 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 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)
14) Camels are resting in ancient city Peter's in front of Jordan's main monument, Al-Khazneh or the treasury, believed to be the tomb of a Nabatean king carved out of sandstone. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phenicia. Petra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. (Thomas Coex/AFP - Getty Images)
15) The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. Sydney Opera theatre included in the World Heritage Program in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP - Getty Images)
16) Rock paintings made by the San people in the Drakensberg Mountains, located in eastern South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg region for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible rock art in the Drakensberg Mountains, which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. (Alexander Joe/AFP - Getty Images)
17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the Hadhramaut province. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All the houses here are built of clay bricks; approximately 500 houses can be considered multi-story, as they have 5-11 floors. Often called "the world's oldest skyscraper city" or "Desert Manhattan", Shibam is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa/AFP - Getty Images)
18) Gondolas near the shore 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 architectural exhibitions. Venice was included in the UNESCO World Heritage program in 1987. (AP)
19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues made 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 Program 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 to defend against invading 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 South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara - former capital Vijayanagar Empire. Hampi and its monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP - Getty Images)
22) A Tibetan pilgrim turns prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in the capital of Tibet, 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 UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP - Getty Images)
23) Inca citadel Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands that the number of tourists per day be reduced 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 first Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, a branch of Japanese Buddhism, settled here. (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 edges of the tower crowning it are depicted the “eyes of Buddha” inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu Valley, about 1300 m high, is a mountain valley and historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals They 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 his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP - Getty Images)
27) Situated in north-eastern Wales, the 18-kilometre long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a feat of Industrial Revolution-era civil engineering, completed in the early years of the 19th century. Still in use more than 200 years after its opening, it is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte Aqueduct was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a "landmark in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution". This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers 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 occupies 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 added Old Havana and its fortifications to the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded to 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 courtyards. (Javier Galeano/AP)
On any journey, you always want to see the main thing and not miss anything important. But what is the main thing? What can be ignored, and what is a must-see? The abundance of recommendations can make your head spin. That's where the UNESCO World Heritage List, the most authoritative list of the world's best attractions, comes to the rescue.
1. Moscow Kremlin. The largest fortress in Europe, not only preserved as a historical site, but also a working office for the president and a venue for ceremonies.
2. Historical center of St. Petersburg. In 1736, Palace Square was called Admiralty Meadow. This space served as a construction site while the Winter Palace was being built, in honor of which the square received its current name. 
3. Golden Mountains of Altai. The reason for the surprisingly turquoise color of the water in Lake Kucherlinskoye in Altai is limestone deposits. 
4. Ferapontov Monastery known primarily for the frescoes in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, which were created in 1502 by the famous representative of the Moscow school of icon painting Dionysius with his two sons. They worked on them for 34 days. 
5. Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Sergiev Posad. The largest Orthodox male monastery in Russia. In 1380, Dmitry Donskoy received a blessing here when going to the Battle of Kulikovo. He returned here after the victory to remember the fallen soldiers. 
6. Volcanoes of Kamchatka. The UNESCO list includes about 30 active and approximately 300 extinct volcanoes. The area around them gives an idea of the main landscapes of the area, where geysers, mud pots and fumaroles are found. 
7. Natural biosphere reserve “Ubsunur Basin”, Republic of Tyva. Located next to Lake Uvs-Nur. It is home to over 350 species of birds and 80 species of mammals, including irbis (snow leopards) and argali (argali). 
8. Derbent, Dagestan. The southernmost and most Old city Russia. Its unique double defensive wall, the 8th century Naryn-Kala fortress, the Juma Mosque and the Armenian Temple were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. 
9. Virgin forests of the Komi Republic became in 1995 the first Russian natural site included in the World Heritage List. These are the largest intact forests in Europe. From time to time, gold mines are developed on the territory of the reserve, contrary to the law. 
10. Complex of buildings and structures of the Kazan Kremlin is a combination of Russian and Tatar architectural styles. Kazan is the northernmost island of Muslim civilization and at the same time the southernmost point, where there are temples built in the tradition of Pskov-Novgorod architects. 
11. Western Caucasus. The forests and groves of the Caucasus Nature Reserve are the “lungs” of Sochi and its resorts Krasnodar region. And the mountain peaks here are crowned by about 60 glaciers. 
12. The oldest of the Russian Kremlins is the Novgorod Detinets- first mentioned in the chronicle of the 11th century. An unusual architectural detail of Detinets is the gate churches. 
13. Earthen ramparts and defensive ditches around the Suzdal Kremlin have been preserved since the 11th century! 
14. Intercession on the Nerl, Vladimir region. More than two hundred years ago, one of the most beautiful temples The Russians were almost dismantled for building materials for the bell tower of a neighboring monastery. 
15. Novodevichy Convent, Moscow. Founded by Grand Duke Vasily III, it was a privileged institution. Tsarevna Ksenia Borisovna Godunova, the first wife of Peter I Evdokia Lopukhina and his sister Ekaterina lived here. 
16. Kizhi, Karelia. Architectural ensemble The Kizhi Pogost has two unique wooden churches and a bell tower. 
17. Age of Lake Baikal- about 25 million years. The reservoir is surrounded by long-livers: cedar grows on the shore, which at the age of 550 years continues to bear fruit, and sturgeon in the waters of Baikal live for more than 60 years. 
18. Solovetsky Monastery, Arkhangelsk region. Monastery appeared on the Solovetsky Islands in the 1430s. With the Bolsheviks coming to power, it was liquidated, and in 1923, the country’s first special purpose camp was created on its territory, through which hundreds of thousands of political prisoners passed. 
19. Putorana plateau, Krasnoyarsk region. Translated from Evenki, Putorana means “lakes with steep banks.” Thus, the Putorana plateau owes its name to numerous lakes and waterfalls. 
20. Lena Pillars, Yakutia. Their height reaches one hundred meters, they stretch along the right bank of the Lena River, and the approximate age of the unique stones is 400 thousand years! And the Lena Pillars natural park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2012. 
21. Yaroslavl. The radial layout that Catherine II strove for when she carried out urban planning reform in Russia in 1763 has been preserved in the city center. This is clearly visible from the height of the belfry of the Transfiguration Cathedral. 
22. Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region. The elongated peninsula resembles a desert with sand dunes and dunes. And the pine and spruce trees growing unevenly due to strong winds evoke enchanted forests from fairy tales. 
23. Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye, Moscow. The first stone tented church in Russia, erected at the beginning of the 16th century. According to legend, it was built in honor of the birth of Ivan IV, the future tyrant Tsar Ivan the Terrible. 
24. Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve, Far East. This is the habitat of sable, American mink, Amur tigers and dozens of other animals, birds and insects, not to mention thousands of species of different plants. 
25. Wrangel Island, Arctic Ocean. Here you will find the largest number of polar bear dens in the world, the most numerous bird colonies and walrus rookeries in the entire Arctic, and the largest number of rare plants (among the Arctic islands). 
26. Struve geodetic arc, “Point Z”, o. Gogland, Leningrad region. 34 stone cubes placed in the ground to determine the parameters of the Earth are called the Struve Geodetic Arc in memory of its creator, the astronomer Friedrich Struve. Cuba is located in 10 countries. 
HISTORY OF TURKEY originates in the distant past, more distant than you can imagine. This is the land of the Garden of Eden. This is the land that became the cradle of the most ancient cities known to us. The history of the great empires was written here: the Hittites, Lycians, Romans and Ottomans. This is the land of Troy, glorified in the ancient epic. This is the land that unites continents. Now Türkiye is a country for unforgettable travel. Türkiye has perfectly preserved its thousand-year history, allowing us to come into contact with it today. It is a land of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, unique culture and cuisine, turquoise coastlines and incredible adventures.
There are many tourist attractions on the territory of modern Turkey. However, only 18 of them are included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. What are these unique attractions that you should definitely get to know?
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey
Map with UNESCO sites in Turkey. Click on the map to open it in a new window.
1. Hierapolis and Pamukkale
In Pamukkale, water from thermal springs created one of the most impressive landscapes - a dazzling “white castle” of travertine terraces. "Pamukkale" literally means "cotton castle" in Turkish. The beauty of this place was recognized back in the Greco-Roman period. Pamukkale served as a kind of resort and spa center at least 2,200 years ago. Not far from these snow-white terraces in the 2nd century BC. The city of Hierapolis was founded. Its ruins - temples, baths, theater and much more - have been well preserved to this day. When you visit Pamukkale today, you can swim in the same pools used by the Attalid rulers of the 2nd century BC.
2. Selimiye Mosque and its social complex
The Selimiye Mosque was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011. It is located in Edirne, an ancient city in the very west of Turkey. The mosque is the work of the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who considered it his best job. Built between 1569 and 1575, Selimiye features exquisite interior design. Its four slender minarets rise more than 82 meters. They still dominate the skyline of Edirne to this day. The schools, indoor market and libraries surrounding the Selimiye Mosque perfectly complement its social complex.
3. Goreme National Park and Cappadocia rock formations
In the heart of Turkey, in the town of Goreme and its surroundings, there is a unique national park. Goreme is probably one of the most fantastic landscapes on Earth. It is more likely even a piece of the Martian or lunar landscape. Main feature Goreme National Park contains hundreds of stone mushrooms called the “fairy chimneys” of Cappadocia. Formed by thousands of years of erosion, some of these natural structures resemble unstable towers, while others resemble sturdy pyramids. The first settlements in Cappadocia were carved directly into the rocks. These caves served as shelters, storerooms and even monasteries for several centuries. The most romantic way to experience the sights of Cappadocia is a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.
6. Historical districts of Istanbul
Istanbul most likely needs no introduction. Connecting Europe to Asia via the Bosphorus, this city has played a key role in the rise and fall of several world powers. Over its centuries-old history, the city has changed more than one name: from Byzantium and Constantinople to the modern name Istanbul. Its history is incredibly rich. UNESCO identifies four distinct zones in Istanbul:
- Archaeological park, which includes Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome of Constantine and historic churches dating back to the 6th century AD
- Suleymaniye Quarter, including the grand Shehzade and Sulaymaniye Mosques, as well as the Valens Aqueduct
- Zeyrek Quarter, including the Monastery of Pantocrator
- Area of bastions or ramparts, including the remains of fortifications built by Theodosius II, Byzantine Emperor in the early to mid-5th century
7. Ephesus
Ephesus is another place in Turkey whose history has been written for thousands of years. Being the capital of the ancient kingdom of Arzawa, Ephesus already in 1500 BC. fell into Greek dependence. Most of Ephesus's surviving structures and artifacts date back to the Roman period, which began in 129 BC. Ephesus in ancient times had the status legendary city. It was one of the 12 cities of the Ionian League in Ancient Greece. The Temple of Artemis was located in Ephesus - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus also served for a time as the home of the apostles Paul and John. It also became the final resting place of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Today, the main attractions of Ephesus are the Library of Celsus, the large amphitheater, the Basilica or Church of St. John and the nearby Archaeological Museum of Ephesus.
8. Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut rises in the southeast of Turkey on the Eastern Taurus mountain range. Its peak is located at an altitude of 2134 meters above sea level near modern city Adiyaman. At the very top of Mount Nemrut is the tomb of King Antiochus I. It was built in the 1st century BC. in the middle of a huge mound surrounded by artificial terraces and many sculptures. Although the heads of the statues have been toppled onto the lower terrace, overall the entire complex is perfectly preserved. Rediscovered in 1881, Mount Nemrut was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Now it is one of the tourist attractions in Turkey. Mount Nemrut It is accessible to visitors mainly in the summer months, as it is covered with snow in winter. Curious tourists rush to watch the sunrise right at the top of the mountain.
9. Archaeological sites of Troy
When the Greeks sailed across the Aegean Sea in a thousand ships to bring back the beautiful Helen from Troy, their destination was what is now Turkey. After many years of bloody battle, the Greeks resorted to cunning. They pretended to retreat before the valor of the Trojans. As a gift, the Greeks built a large wooden horse for them. We know the further fall of Troy. Whether this is history or myth, or maybe both, no one is sure. Archaeological excavations Troy tells us about the 4000 year history of this region. Now Troy is the most famous attraction in Turkey, visited annually by tourists from all over the world. In the city of Canakkale you can see a Trojan horse, specially created in 2004 for the film “Troy” with the participation of Brad Pitt.
10. Great mosque and hospital in Divrigi
The city of Divrigi is located in east-central Turkey. It was one of the first cities to besieged during the early Turkish conquests in Anatolia. The Great Mosque of Divrigi was built in 1228. Its architecture is impressive with its vaulted ceilings and exquisite stone carvings on the gates and columns. The hospital adjacent to the mosque has an equally unusual architecture. The mountainous terrain of the region creates a feeling of complete remoteness from civilization. The largest one closest to Divrigi locality- city of Sivas. The Ulu-jami (Divrigi) complex is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
11. Pergamon and its multifaceted cultural landscape
Turkey is home to many World Heritage sites related to Greco-Roman history. But Pergamon stands out noticeably against their background. In ancient times, the city was ruled by both Greeks and Persians. The greatest flowering of Pergamum occurred during the Hellenistic era. At that time, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon under the rule of the Greek Attalid dynasty. The city was known in the ancient world as the largest cultural and economic center. The Acropolis of Pergamum was second only to Athens in grandeur and beauty. And the library collected in the city was the second largest after the Alexandria library. The temples, theaters, library and other structures of Pergamum were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014. The ruins of Pergamon are located near the Turkish city of Bergama near the Aegean coast.
12. Neolithic settlement Çatalhöyük
More than 5,000 years ago, people in this part of the world began to do something that had never been done before. They began to lead a settled life. The end of the nomadic way of life led to the emergence of agriculture. This served as the basis for the construction of villages, cities, and ultimately led to the formation of civilizations. Çatalhöyük (Çatalhöyük) is one of the earliest of these cities. Situated near the city of Konya in southern Turkey, it consisted mainly of residential premises. Archaeologists estimate that the population reached 10,000 people. This is an unprecedented metropolis by the standards of that time.
13. Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens
In the city of Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey, ancient and modern times intertwine. Situated on the banks of the Upper Tigris River, modern Diyarbakir covers a vast area of the old city and fortress with preserved walls and watchtowers, ruins and beautiful views of the river basin. Hevsel Gardens form a green corridor that connects the city to the Tigris River. Diyarbakir's strategic location between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers makes it part of the Fertile Crescent, a region considered by historians to be the "cradle of civilization."
14. Bursa and Cumalıkızık: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire
In the vicinity of the modern metropolis of Bursa there is a village that can safely be called the birthplace of the Ottoman Empire. It is here that the tomb of Orhan Ghazi, the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, is located. Walking through the cobbled streets of Cumalıkızık village and admiring the perfectly preserved Ottoman-era architectural style, you can feel as if time has stopped here. When visiting Cumalıkızık in winter, be sure to visit the nearby Bursa ski resort on Mount Uludag.
15. Xanthos and Letoon
South of modern Fethiye there are ruins ancient city Xanthos (Xanth). Xanthos was the center of Lycia, a late Bronze Age civilization in southern Turkey. In 540 BC. the city fell under the onslaught of the Persians. It was subsequently captured by the Greeks and then by the Romans. Next to Xanthos is the Letoon sanctuary, dedicated to the goddess Leto, the mother of the twins Apollo and Artemis. Xanthos is the place for those interested ancient history and the heritage of ancient Lycia.
16. Historical city of Ani
One of the new UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey - ruins medieval city Ani. This attraction is located near the city of Kars in eastern Turkey. The history of settlement in this place dates back perhaps to 500 BC. However, the city only became widely known around 900 AD. The Great Trade Route passed through this region. Silk Road. All that remains of Ani today are ruins, but they are significant. Here you will see examples of architectural styles that later became known in Europe as Gothic. Of particular note is the well-preserved Ani Cathedral. It was built by the same architect who worked on the renovation of the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul in the 10th century AD.
If you want to visit Ani, you will probably do it through the city of Kars. While in Kars, be sure to try the local specialty - the traditional Swiss Gruyère cheese. The recipe for this cheese was brought to the region by German immigrants from Russia more than 100 years ago. The expression "East meets West" is not just a cliché in these parts.
17. Aphrodisia
In the southwest of Turkey there is another attraction included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2017. The ruins of the ancient city of Aphrodisias are located 166 km from resort town Kusadasi, near the village of Geyre. Aphrodisia was first the center of the cult of the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar, and then Aphrodite. Temple, dedicated to the goddess love to Aphrodite, was built here around the 3rd century BC. And a century later, the city itself grew around the sanctuary. Fame and fame came to Aphrodisias thanks to the marble quarries and the art of his sculptors. During the Roman period, the city was the cultural center of the province of Asia, which was visited by Julius Caesar. Today, the attractions of Aphrodisia are the ruins of the temple of Aphrodite, the large baths of Hadrian, a stadium that could accommodate about 30 thousand spectators and a theater, which is considered one of the best preserved monuments of ancient architecture.
18. Gobekli Tepe
In the upper reaches of the Euphrates River, in southeastern Turkey, lost among many hills small town Sanliurfa. One of the significant archaeological discoveries of our time was made 18 kilometers from it. For thousands of years, the Göbekli Tepe mound hid what today archaeologists consider the oldest religious building of mankind. This temple complex is older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt and consists of complex monumental structures. The sanctuary was used by hunters and gatherers of Upper Mesopotamia during rituals that were probably funerary in nature. T-shaped stone columns rise along the walls and in the center of these ancient megalithic structures. On these pillars, pictograms and relief images of animals are well preserved.
Göbekli Tepe allowed archaeologists to take a fresh look at the course of history. The construction of a religious complex of this scale confirms that the social stratification of society occurred long before generally accepted dates. And this proves that religious beliefs existed even before the creation of the first cities. This is the newest World Heritage Site in Turkey. Göbekli Tepe was added to the UNESCO list in 2018.
GOOD TO KNOW 
In Turkey, 18 sites have already been recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as masterpieces of human genius or natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance. And another 77 sites in Turkey are on the preliminary list of candidates.
Which of Turkey's UNESCO World Heritage Sites have you already visited? Why not save this list to visit these attractions on your next trip to Turkey?
Full list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey: http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/tr
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