The most famous World Heritage Sites in the world. Russian World Heritage Sites
At present, the human environment is changing rapidly and at an increasing rate. The task of mankind is to maintain nature on the globe in a condition necessary for life, health and well-being. It is also necessary to preserve, as far as possible, at least the most unique places in nature, which are of particular value from scientific point vision, areas constituting areas of valuable or endangered species of plants and animals. There are many unique places in nature, the disappearance of which would be an irreparable loss not only for the country in which they are located, but for all mankind as a whole.In most countries of the world, networks of so-called "specially protected natural areas" (SPNA) have been created for these purposes. These include the following natural objects:
Nizhnesvirsky Nature Reserve, Leningrad Region
Reserves are created with the aim of preserving or restoring some or all of the components of nature and to maintain the overall ecological balance. Some types of economic activity are limited in these territories.
Gladyshevsky reserve, Leningrad region
Natural monuments are small territories, including objects of natural value: caves, rocks, waterfalls, groves of rare tree species, river valleys, lakes, etc.
Natural monument "Hawk Lake", Leningrad region
Natural parks serve to protect natural complexes of ecological, historical and aesthetic value. They are staffed with special staff.
Nature Park Veppsky Forest, Leningrad Region
B Have you ever visited one of the protected areas? What do you remember about this place?
In these territories, people preserve both rare, unique and typical areas of forests, swamps, meadows, reservoirs and other natural ecosystems, rare and common species of plants and animals in their natural habitat, bird flight paths, fish spawning routes and others. natural objects and processes.
All the nature of our planet is priceless and unique. Of course, it is difficult to single out some of the most outstanding and valuable corners of nature of “exceptional importance” from the natural areas subject to special protection, which are vitally necessary to preserve for the present and future generations. This is the subject of a special UNESCO program, which is the so-called World Heritage List.
The UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage entered into force in 1975. Its main goal is to attract the forces of the world community to preserve unique objects of culture and nature. By mid-2012, the total number of countries party to the Convention had already reached 189. Among international programs UNESCO this program is the most representative. In order to improve the efficiency of the work of the Convention, the Committee and the World Heritage Fund were formed in 1976.
World natural heritage is made up of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, islands, forests, caves, reefs, national parks, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries.
Of course, being on a par with the universally recognized world pearls of nature and culture is honorable and prestigious, but at the same time it is a great responsibility. To receive World Heritage status, an object must be of outstanding universal value, undergo a thorough expert assessment. At the same time, the nominated natural object must meet at least one of the following four criteria:
Include unique natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;
Present outstanding examples of major 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 physiographic features of the relief;
Present 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;
Include natural areas of great conservation importance biodiversity, including areas of endangered species that represent outstanding global heritage from the point of view of science or nature conservation.
The status of a world natural heritage site provides additional guarantees for the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes, increases the prestige of the territories, promotes the popularization of objects and the development of alternative types of nature management, and ensures priority in attracting financial resources.
The first cultural and natural sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List two years after the creation of the program. Of the natural areas, the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), the national parks Yellowstone (USA), Nahanni (Canada) and Seamen (Ethiopia) received heritage status. Over the past years, the List has become very representative both in terms of the regions of the planet represented and in terms of the number of objects: by mid-2012, it already included 188 natural objects. Most of them are located in the USA and Australia (more than 10 objects in each country). Under the protection of the Convention are such world-famous natural monuments as the Great Barrier Reef, the Hawaiian Islands, the Grand Canyon, Mount Kilimanjaro. Video 62.
In Russia, the initiator of the inclusion of natural objects in the World Heritage List is primarily Greenpeace. By joining this program, UNESCO was opened new page in the field of nature conservation in Russia.
Russian World Natural Heritage Sites
There are inaccuracies on the map, since at the moment 11 objects are already included in the list, including the Putorana Plateau and the Lena Pillars Natural Park. The first in our country to receive the status of a world natural heritage site in 1995 was a natural complex called "Virgin Komi Forests".
The territory of this object is the largest of the remaining massifs of primary forests in Europe, the appearance of which is almost not changed by human influence. Video 63.
The virgin forests of Komi are a real taiga treasury. There are more than 40 species of mammals here (including brown bear, sable, elk), 204 species of birds (including the white-tailed eagle and osprey listed in the Red Book of Russia), 16 species of fish, the most valuable of which are considered glacial relics - char palia and Siberian grayling.
This territory stretches along the western slope of the Subpolar and Northern Urals for more than 300 km. The Ural mountain system has a significant impact on the climate. In places, natural complexes form a complex mosaic: along narrow river valleys, taiga vegetation rises high into the mountains.
The main tree species - spruce and fir - are accompanied by Siberian cedar. Here it originates and receives the crystal clear tributaries of the Pechora. Now the territory of the World Heritage Site "Virgin Komi Forests" is in danger due to illegal gold mining unfolding here (1).Greenpeace Russia and other non-governmental organizations will fight to stop any nature-destroying activity on its territory.
Lake Baikal
Baikal is one of the greatest lakes on the planet, the lake " superlatives": the deepest (1637 meters), the oldest (about 25 million years), with the most diverse flora and fauna among fresh water bodies. Video 64.
The lake has a unique fresh water supply in terms of volume and quality - more than 20% of the world's reserves). The Baikal depression is the central link of the Baikal rift zone, one of the largest in the world ancient system faults. The lake, together with its entire basin, is a peculiar and very fragile natural ecosystem that provides a natural process of formation purest waters. For Siberia, the climate of the Baikal coasts is comparatively mild. For example, the amount sunny days per year is higher than in many Black Sea resorts.One of the richest and most unusual freshwater fauna in the world has been formed in the anciently isolated Baikal depression, which is of exceptional value for study. evolutionary processes.
Of the more than 2,630 species and subspecies of animals and plants found so far in the lake, more than 80% are found nowhere else in the world. Who has not heard of the famous Baikal omul or Baikal sturgeon? Two unique species of viviparous fish, representatives of the family endemic (2) for Baikal, the big and small golomyanka, are known to ichthyologists all over the world. The pyramid of the lake ecosystem is crowned by a mammal of typically marine origin - the seal, or the Baikal seal.
Unfortunately, the unique nature of Baikal is under threat (3).
With Have you heard about the actions that the public is taking to protect Lake Baikal from pollution by the pulp and paper mill?
Another danger for Baikal is the planned development of deposits, illegal logging, forest fires, poaching, and oil spills.
Volcanoes of Kamchatka
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located at the junction tectonic plates in the zone of active volcanism, where modern natural processes and the history of our planet are inseparable. Video 65.
Here on limited area concentrated 30 active and about 300 extinct volcanoes, as well as more than 150 groups of thermal and mineral springs. Dozens of geysers, hot springs, fumaroles (4), cascades of waterfalls, sharp peaks of ridges, mud pots and turquoise lakes, carpets of colorful algae give a fabulous look to the famous Valley of Geysers
The richest life is represented in the seas washing the coast of Kamchatka. Here are the growth zones of king crab larvae, places of entry for spawning of salmon fish and their juveniles rolling into the sea. From summer to the beginning of winter, an amazing natural phenomenon can be observed on the rivers of the peninsula: millions of salmon in a continuous mass move along the rivers against the current to their spawning grounds.
Golden Mountains of Altai
The nature of this mountainous area, located at the junction Central Asia and Siberia, is distinguished by its bright originality. There are few places in the world with such a contrasting combination of different landscapes in such a small space. Video 66.
The flora and fauna of the region are diverse and in many ways unique. Here, the most significant subalpine and alpine meadows in terms of area in the mountains of Siberia. The color of the vegetation of the Southern Altai, where semi-deserts, steppes and tundra coexist, is also unique. The diversity of landscapes contributed to the emergence and preservation of endemics in Altai, often occupying very small areas. Among the rare species of mammals, the snow leopard should be singled out; this is one of the most beautiful cats in the world fauna. Very few of these animals have survived in Altai.
The geological history of the region is unique, “recorded” in the rocks of different ages that make it up and imprinted in unusual landforms. Such, for example, are the high terraces of the Katun River, striking in their grandeur. The grandiose Mount Belukha is the highest peak in Siberia (4506 meters). The Altai river valleys are narrow deep canyons.
The diversity of nature has left its mark on the culture and religion of the indigenous population of this territory - the Altaians. The achievements of Altai traditional medicine are highly valued. As the outstanding philosopher, writer, traveler H.K. Roerich, "many peoples passed through Altai and left traces: Scythians, Huns, Turks." Gorny Altai is called an open-air museum.
Western Caucasus
The western part of the Greater Caucasus in terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, their preservation is unparalleled not only in Caucasus region, but also among other mountainous regions of Europe and Western Asia. Video 67.
This is an area where a large number of endangered rare, endemic and relict species of plants and animals are concentrated. It is especially important that the little-altered habitat of the most vulnerable large mammals has been preserved here: bison, Caucasian red deer, Western Caucasian tur, chamois, Caucasian subspecies of brown bear, wolf and others.
The Caucasian reserve is practically the only habitat of the mountain bison in the world; outside this territory, it is almost completely exterminated by poachers.
The territory is rich in picturesque objects: powerful waterfalls, pointed mountain peaks (up to 3360 meters), turbulent mountain rivers with clear water, clear mountain lakes, huge trees (majestic firs up to 85 meters high and more than 2 meters in diameter), rare plants (orchids, etc.). .) and many others. An invaluable unique natural complex has been preserved in the Western Caucasus.
curonian spit
The relief of this territory, located in the Kaliningrad region, is unique. solid strip sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, some of which are close to the highest in the world (up to 68 m), stretches along the peninsula for 70 km. Video 68.
Thanks to his geographic location and orientation from the northeast to the southwest, the spit serves as a "guide line" for many bird species migrating from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. Every year in spring and autumn 10 - 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stops here for rest and feeding. Among the birds flying here are many rare and endangered species listed in the Red Books of Russia, Europe and the world.
It is especially interesting that the spit is rich in objects cultural heritage. These are defensive structures unique in their scale, extremely valuable from the point of view of history, science and art; fishermen's settlements harmoniously integrated into the landscape; archaeological sites and monuments of religious architecture. The many-sided dune relief of the Curonian Spit, combined with the greenery of forests, the whiteness of sandy beaches and the boundless blue of the Baltic Sea, has a high aesthetic value.
Central Sikhote-Alin
This area is located in the south Far East within Russia, is one of the largest and least human-modified centers of conservation of communities of ancient coniferous-deciduous and broad-leaved forests. Video 69.
It presents a lot of rare and endangered animal species, a significant part of which is preserved only within its boundaries. The mountainous country of Sikhote-Alin is the last large integral territory in the world inhabited by the Amur tiger. Many other rare and endangered plant and animal species endemic to the region also need protection.
scenic landforms, deep rivers in combination with the exceptional diversity of flora and fauna, the presence of plants and animals of exotic appearance, reminiscent of the tropics, give the nature of the Sikhote-Alin completely unique features. There are many objects of aesthetic and recreational value here: rock massifs, picturesquely standing out among the taiga, waterfalls, lakes and rapids, reefs, sandy bays of the coast of the Sea of Japan.
Ubsunur basin
The Ubsunur basin, located on the territory of Mongolia and Russia, is one of the most original and unusual places in Central Asia. Video 70.
This region has preserved a unique complex of neighboring, closely interacting, extremely contrasting ecosystems - from the taiga to the desert. Glaciers, snowfields, mountain tundra of the alpine belt and subalpine meadows turn into a vast mountain taiga belt, which gives way to forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and even loose sandy ridges, creating a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and diversity. It is impossible to see such diverse landscapes in such close proximity anywhere else in Eurasia. An unusually high species richness for temperate latitudes reigns in this territory.
Relative sparsely populated territory, the absence of industrial facilities make it possible to preserve the basin as a natural laboratory for the study of biospheric processes
However, the value of the territory lies not only in the unique nature of the Ubsunur basin. Cultural heritage sites located here are of great importance - archaeological sites, many of which have not yet been studied. Nowhere else in Central Asia are barrows found in such a concentration as here (according to a rough estimate, there are up to 20 thousand of them); most of them are old Egyptian pyramids. Thousands of rock paintings and stone sculptures, the remains of medieval settlements and Buddhist chapels form a unique natural and cultural landscape.
The natural system of the reserve "Wrangel Island"»
The Wrangel Island Reserve is located on the border of the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas on the Wrangel and Herald Islands with a 12-mile sea area adjacent to them. Video 71.
The 180th meridian passes through Wrangel Island, so that the island lies in both the Western and Eastern hemispheres. The relief is predominantly mountainous, strongly dissected, with coastal lowlands in the north and south. There are 1400 rivers and streams on the island, about 900 small lakes. A unique combination of natural-historical and landscape-climatic conditions, as well as inaccessibility, have led to a large number of endemic, rare and relict plant species on the islands. On the islands, as parts of the ancient land that once united the Eurasian and North American continents, both Euro-Asian and American species of flora and fauna are widely represented.
Putorana Plateau
The plateau is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It is a large basalt plateau, located on the northern limit of the taiga and almost completely unaffected. economic activity person. Video 72. Unusual and extremely interesting are the trap relief forms (5), crossed by huge canyons. The scale and number of waterfalls are impressive (the highest concentration in Russia). Here is a 108 m high waterfall - one of the highest in our country. There are many lakes on the plateau with depths up to 400 m, lake fjords are very picturesque.More than 1300 plant species have been recorded on the Putorana Plateau. Here is the northern limit of the distribution of flying squirrel, lynx, sable, stone capercaillie. The migration route of the world's largest population of wild reindeer, the Taimyr one, runs through the plateau. A little-studied, extremely interesting local form of the bighorn sheep also lives here.
Lena Pillars
The Lena Pillars Natural Park is located in Central Yakutia, in the middle reaches of the Lena River. Video 73.
The park got its name because of the unique ridge of rocks - fabulous stone sculptures in the form of pillars and towers stretch along the banks of the Lena for tens of kilometers. Some are up to 100 meters high. This natural monument is composed of Cambrian limestones - rock formed over 500 million years ago.
In addition, in the park there are small areas of the desert landscape - unique permafrost ecosystems, as well as waving sands-tukulans - isolated and independently developing sandy ridges with slopes practically not fixed by vegetation. In the area of the Lena Pillars, scientists discovered burials of bone remains of ancient fauna: mammoth, bison, Lena horse, woolly rhinoceros.
21 species of rare and endangered "Red Book" plants grow in the park. In the basin of the middle reaches of the Lena River, the fish fauna includes 31 species. Nesting of 101 species of birds has been established in the park. Animals such as sable, brown bear, squirrel, elk, red deer, chipmunk, musk deer, mountain-forest form of wild reindeer are common here.
Work to continue the inclusion of new areas in the World Heritage List continues. According to the rules, nominations for consideration by the World Heritage Committee must first be included in the national Tentative List. They are presented on the World Natural Heritage map of Russia (see above).
Obviously, the effective protection of such territories is impossible without the active involvement of public organizations as many citizens of the country as possible. Let us remember that we have an individual and collective responsibility for the preservation of natural complexes.
Read the resolution of the International NGO Forum on World Heritage Sites (6).
What can we, the people of Russia, do to support the conservation and development of specially protected natural areas?
Each of these places is unique in its own way, and all together they function, making up the unity and integrity of the life support system on the Planet. They create its unique, still far from fully unraveled and known appearance.
During the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, which is taking place these days in Cambodia, the UNESCO World Heritage List was replenished with 19 new items - these are 14 cultural and 5 natural sites. In addition, the boundaries of three objects were expanded.
To date, the World Heritage List has 981 sites in 160 member countries of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage - 759 cultural, 193 natural and 29 mixed sites. During the 37th session, which will last until June 27, 5 natural objects of Europe, Asia, South America and Africa were added to the list.
Natural objects:
Tajik National Park "Pamir Mountains" (Tajikistan)
"Pamir Mountains" is the first natural site of Tajikistan in the World Heritage List. The total area of the park is over 2.5 million hectares. It is located in the east of Tajikistan, in the center of the so-called Pamir mountain junction, from which the highest mountain ranges of Eurasia diverge. Alpine plateaus are located in the eastern part of the object, and pointed peaks are located in the western part, the height of some of them exceeds 7 thousand meters. There are 170 rivers, more than 400 lakes and at least 1,085 glaciers, including the longest glacier outside the polar regions in mountain valley. The park also serves as a habitat for rare and endangered species of birds and mammals in Tajikistan.
For example, the Marco Polo mountain sheep (Ovis ammon polii), the snow leopard irbis and the Siberian mountain goat live here. Since it is not uncommon in this area strong earthquakes, the territory of the park is sparsely populated and practically does not experience the influence of agriculture and permanent settlements. The park provides unique opportunities for studying the overlay and plate tectonics of the earth's crust.
El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve and Gran Desierto de Altar (Mexico)
The object with a total area of 714,566 hectares consists of two separate parts. To the east is a rocky desert and a hardened volcanic plateau formed by black and red lava flows, to the west is the Gran Desierto de Altar desert with a variety of dunes constantly changing shape, some of which reach 200 m in height. Dunes wandering here various shapes- linear, star-shaped and domed - adjacent to dry granite massifs up to 650 m high, which, like islands, rise against the background of the sandy sea, enhancing the amazing contrasts of this area. The massifs contain astonishingly diverse communities of plants and animals, including some endemic species, such as the pronghorn Antilocapra americana sonoriensis, which lives only in the north of the Sonoran Desert and in the southwest of Arizona, USA.
Another distinguishing feature of the object, emphasizing its exceptional beauty, are 10 huge deep craters almost perfectly round shape, formed, presumably, as a result of eruptions and collapses. The unique combination of the characteristics of the object determines not only its beauty, but is also of great scientific interest.
Mount Etna (Italy)
The 19,237 hectare site includes an uninhabited area located at the highest point of Mount Etna on the east coast of Sicily. Etna is the highest island mountain in the Mediterranean and the most active stratovolcano in the world. It has been established that the history of the eruptions of this volcano is 500 thousand years old, and there is documentary evidence of the volcanic activity of Etna for at least the last 2700 years. The almost continuous volcanic activity of Etna continues to influence the development of volcanology, geophysics and other earth sciences. The volcano determines the basis for the existence of important terrestrial ecosystems and some endemic plant and animal species.
Etna's activity has turned it into a natural laboratory for the study of ecological and biological processes. With a range of diverse and observable volcanic features, such as summit craters, ash cones, a lava sheet, and a caldera known as the Valley of the Buffaloes (Valle de Bove), the site has become an important site for research and educational activities.
Namib Desert (Namibia)
The site, which is the world's only coastal desert, includes an area of more than 3 million hectares and a buffer zone of 899,500 hectares. There are extensive dune fields formed under the influence of fogs, and two dune systems stand out: on top of the old, semi-fixed sands, there are younger mobile dunes. The peculiarity of the object is that its dunes are formed by sand brought by rivers, ocean currents and wind from areas located thousands of kilometers away from the coast.
The property also contains coastal lowlands and pebbly fields, rocky hills rising above the sands, coastal lagoons, dry rivers and other landscapes that combine to create an exceptionally beautiful spectacle. The main source of water in the Namib Desert is fog, which has created a completely unique environment in which endemic species of invertebrates, reptiles and mammals live, able to adapt to constant changes in the microclimate and ecological niches.
Xinjiang - Tien Shan (China)
The object with a total area of 606,833 hectares includes several parts: Tomur Peak (Pobeda Peak), Kalajun Steppe, Syuelin Ridge, Bayanbruk Nature Reserve and Bogdo-Ula. They are part of the world's largest mountain system, the Tien Shan, located in Central Asia. Xinjiang - Tien Shan has unique physical and geographical characteristics and is distinguished by picturesque landscapes, including amazing mountain peaks crowned with snow and ice, forests and meadows that have not been touched by a human hand, transparent rivers and lakes, red rock canyons. Next to them are vast desert areas, which creates a vivid visual contrast between the zones of heat and cold, dry and humid climate, desert and abundance of life.
The relief and ecosystems of the object have come down to us since the Pliocene epoch and represent a unique monument of continuous biological and ecological evolutionary processes. The site also includes part of one of the world's largest alpine deserts, Takla Makan, famous for its giant dunes and violent sandstorms. In addition, Xinjiang - Tien Shan serves as an important habitat for endemic and relic plant species, some of which are rare and endangered.
World Heritage is a variety of natural or man-made objects that need to be preserved for future generations due to their special cultural, historical or environmental significance. As of 2012, there are 962 items on this list, 754 of them are cultural monuments, 188 are natural and 29 are mixed.
UNESCO was established in 1945 and its purpose is to protect and preserve places of special value or physical significance for all mankind. In 1954, during the construction aswan dam Abu Simbel, a man-made temple carved into the rock, fell under the flood. The responsible organization allocated money for the building to be dismantled and moved to a more high place. This unprecedented action took four years, and highly qualified specialists from 54 countries of the world were involved in its implementation in a short time.
Today, on the pages of the Forum-Grad, we will discuss a rather entertaining topic - the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Aldabra atoll
The atoll consists entirely of corals and is a group of four islands separated by narrow straits. It is located north of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Belongs to the State of the Seychelles.
Aldabra is considered the second largest in the world after Christmas Island (Kiritimati) in the Kiribati archipelago. Its dimensions are: 34 km in length and 14.5 km in length, height above sea level is up to 8 m. The area of the inner lagoon is 224 square meters. km.
Since the 17th century, it has been used by the French to hunt giant sea turtles, as their meat was considered an exquisite delicacy. For a long time, pirates also ruled in these places, because the atoll is far from populated areas.
In 1982, this paradise was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique natural monument. This is one of the few islands on our planet not affected by civilization. Currently, it is home to a huge population of giant sea turtles (more than 152 thousand) and two completely unique species of bats. Entry into this nature reserve tightly controlled, and all approaches by sea are guarded.
Giant statue in China
The huge Maitreya Buddha is carved into the rock at the confluence of three rivers - Minjiang, Qingyijiang and Daduhe near the city of Leshan in China. According to ancient legend, a famous monk named Haithong of the Tang Dynasty, worried about the frequent shipwrecks and deaths in the whirlpool just opposite this rock, vowed to carve a stone statue of a seated Buddha. He raised funds and began construction, and his followers completed this work. The largest monument in the world was built over 90 years - from 713 to 803.
For the convenience of visiting visitors, a special path "Nine Turns" was built here, consisting of 250 steps. Near the trail there is a pavilion where tourists can relax and admire the face of the giant up close.
Almost to middle of the XIII centuries, a huge seven-story wooden structure covered the statue from the weather, but over time it collapsed, and the structure remained defenseless against natural elements. Garbage left by tourists began to accumulate at the foot, the waters of three rivers washed away the base in the form of a lotus.
The local department hired 40 workers to restore the unique statue to its former grandeur. Approximately $700,000 was invested in the project and another $730,000 was invested in security improvements.
Every year, more than 2 million travelers from all over the world come to see the sitting Buddha and add about 84 million dollars to the budget of the Leshan City Tourism Department.
Hatra, or El-Khadr
This is an ancient ruined city Parthian kingdom, the ruins of which are still located on the territory of Northern Iraq in the province of Nineveh to the North-West of the capital of the country, the city of Baghdad. It was founded in the III century, and its heyday fell on the period of the II-I centuries BC.
The total area was about 320 hectares, in shape it resembled an oval, surrounded by a double line of high stone walls with four gates oriented to the cardinal points. The most powerful defensive wall two meters high was made of stone, behind it there was a deep ditch up to 500 meters wide. At a distance of 35 meters from each other there were 163 defensive towers.
The city belonged to the Arab princes, who regularly paid tribute to the warlike Persians, and was located at the crossroads of the main trade routes of that time. In the center there was a palace and temple complex with an area of about 12,000 square meters. meters. Due to its transit location, El-Khadr included religious buildings of different directions, it was even called the "House of God".
Thanks to good defensive structures and vigilant round-the-clock protection, the ancient city withstood even the attack of the legionaries of the Roman Empire in 116 and 198 of the new era, but in 241 Hatra fell during the siege of the Persian ruler Shapur and was soon destroyed and forgotten.
Schroeder House by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld
This house in 1924 was specially built for the 35-year-old widow Truus Schröder-Schrader and her three children in the small Dutch town of Utrecht. The building is distinguished by innovative solutions in the original and unusual exterior design for those times, as well as the view of spacious balconies and huge windows.
The project and the entire interior layout were developed by the novice architect Gerrit Thomas Rietveld. The widow proposed a number of unusual innovations, which it was also decided to implement. So, in the kitchen on the first floor, an elevator was built, in which ready-made dishes were served upstairs directly to the set table. All interiors of the first level are quite traditional for that time. The walls are made of old bricks.
But on the second floor, the entire space, according to the idea of the hostess of the house, remained completely open, and at any time it can be divided into several rooms using sliding walls. All wardrobes and beds are transformers, assembled during the day and unfolded at night. Instead of the usual curtains, like all the neighbors, multi-colored plywood shields were used.
Currently, the unique house belongs to the Central Museum of the city of Utrecht and it hosts guided tours that take about an hour.
This building is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List because it had a significant impact on future architectural trends, and also became the first open-plan house in the world history of architecture.
Krak des Chevaliers
Krak des Chevaliers (or Krak de l'Hospital) is a unique building of the crusaders, located in the state of Syria on the top of a cliff 650 meters high. The nearest city of Homs is located 65 km east of the castle.
This is one of the well-preserved fortresses of the Order of Hospitallers in the world. In the 10th century, this castle became his headquarters, where during the crusade a garrison of 2000 soldiers and 60 knights could be accommodated.
In addition to the powerful walls, many buildings in the Gothic style were reconstructed and restored. This is a large conference room, water storage tanks, a chapel, an internal aqueduct, storage rooms and two stables that could contain up to 1000 horses. In the rock mass under the building, underground storage facilities for food and water supplies were made, which could be enough for a long siege for 5 years.
At the end of the 12th century, during the next crusade, King Edward I of England saw the impregnable fortress, and soon his castles appeared in Wales and England, very similar in structure to Krak.
Monastery of Alcobaça
The Cistercian monastery "de Santa Maria de Alcobaça", located in the Portuguese city of Alcobaça, was founded by King Afonso Henriques in 1153 and served as a tomb for the rulers of Portugal for two centuries. The cathedral is the first building in the Gothic style, built on the territory of the ancient state.
Historically valuable is the architecture. The two wings of the main facade are made in the Baroque style, and between them there is a church, the facade of which, as it were, connects these two directions. At the top is a balcony supported by four statues - they symbolize the main virtues: justice, fortitude, prudence and sobriety.
In 1755, the whole country was shaken by the great Lisbon Earthquake, which was very destructive, but the temple survived - only the sacristy and part of the service buildings were damaged. However, the original appearance of the historical site could not be restored. Near the entrance to the church is the Hall of the Kings, where there are statues of all the monarchs of Portugal, and the history of this place is written on the walls with the help of blue and white azuleijos tiles of the 18th century.
After examining this masterpiece of early Gothic, other interiors of the famous cathedrals of Europe seem gloomy and not so aesthetic. These buildings demonstrate the perfect skills and dedication of medieval craftsmen. And the entire ensemble "de Santa Maria de Alcobaça" is one of the most beautiful monuments of Portuguese art.
Monte Alban
According to prominent scientists of world renown, this is a rather large settlement of ancient people in the southeast of Mexico, the state of Oaxaca. Only 9 km from the state capital on a low ridge mountain range passing through the valley, there is a man-made plateau. It was the very first city in the entire historical region, which played a significant role as a socio-political and economic center of the Zapotec civilization.
In the early 1930s, the ruins of this ancient settlement were discovered by the Mexican archaeologist Alfonso Caso. Many pundits equate this discovery with the sensational discovery of the true location of the legendary Troy.
"Mexican Troy" turned out to be a city high culture, local craftsmen already in 200 BC could already process rock crystal and make unique gold jewelry.
During the excavations, 150 four-chamber crypts, palaces and pyramids, very similar to those built by the Mayan tribe, an ancient observatory, a giant amphitheater with 120 rows for spectators, powerful stone stairs 40 meters wide, a structure resembling a stadium and much more were discovered.
The walls of the buildings are decorated with frescoes, relief images of human figures and stone mosaics. Peculiar burial ceramic urns in the form of gods and various animals were found.
Impressive center ruins ancient civilization Monte Alban are located in such a way that they are visible from anywhere in the central part of the Oaxaca Valley
Lalibela
This is a small town in northern Ethiopia, located in the Ahmara region at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level. It is the center of pilgrimage for the entire population of the country, because almost all the inhabitants of the town are Christians of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Lalibela was built as the New Jerusalem in response to the capture by Muslims of the shrine of Christians in the State of Israel, so many historical buildings have names and types of architecture similar to the ancient buildings of Jerusalem.
According to 2005 data, the population of the city was 15 thousand people, of which the majority (about 8,000) are women. This medieval religious center is known for its monolithic, three-nave churches carved into volcanic tuff, built at the turn of the 11th-13th centuries. in bas-reliefs and wall painting these ancient structures mix Christian and pagan symbols and motifs.
Thirteen temples seem to grow out of the ground. "Bete Mariam" is considered the oldest, and "Bete Medhane Aley" - the largest church in the world, carved into the rock. According to legend, in the last of the churches carved into the rocks, "Bete Golgotha", the ashes of King Lalibela rest.
These unique works of architecture by ancient craftsmen are also engineering monuments of medieval Ethiopia - near many of them there are wells that are filled with water using a complex system based on the use of artesian wells.
Eight hundred years ago, people could supply water to a height of 2500 meters!
Ellora
This is a simple village in the state of Maharashtra, India, not far from the city of Aurangabad. It is famous for the fact that cave temples of different religions are carved in the rocks nearby, the creation of which dates back to the 6th - 9th centuries of a new era. Of the 34 caves of Ellora, 12 in the south are Buddhist, 17 in the center are dedicated to Hindu gods, and 5 to the north are Jain.
Most of the ancient shrines have their own names, the most famous being "Kailas". This beautiful, well-preserved example of ancient architecture is considered one of the most precious monuments in India. In the granite canopy above the entrance to this holy place for all Hindus, colossal statues of Shiva, Vishnu and other gods revered in the country are carved.
This is followed by the huge goddess Lakshmi - she reclines on lotus flowers, and majestic elephants stand around. From all sides the temple is surrounded by monumental lions and vultures, they are frozen in different poses, and guard the peace of the heavenly kings.
One of the legends says that this paradise was built by one raja - Elichpur Edu - in gratitude for healing with water from a source located on the territory of the temple.
"Vishvakarma" has a multi-storey entrance and a large hall, in which there is a sculpture of Buddha, giving a sermon.
"Indra Sabha" is a two-level monolithic Jain temple.
"Kailasanatha" is the central place of the entire sacred complex, and during the construction of this miracle in the town of Ellora, more than 200,000 tons of rock were removed.
Ancient Building Complex in Wudang Mountains
The Wudangshan Mountains in China are famous for their ancient monasteries and temples. Once upon a time, a university was founded here to research medicine, pharmacology, nutrition systems, meditation and martial arts.
Even during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the first religious center was opened in this area - the Temple of the Five Dragons. Large construction on the mountain began in the 15th century, when the Yongle Emperor called 300,000 soldiers and built complexes. At that time, 9 monasteries, 36 sketes and 72 shrines, many pavilions, bridges and multi-tiered pagodas were built, forming 33 architectural ensembles. The construction lasted 12 years, and the complex of structures covered the main peak and 72 small peaks - the length was 80 km.
The Golden Hall is one of the most famous, it took 20 thousand tons of copper and about 300 kg of gold to make it. According to scientists, it was forged in the capital of China, Beijing, and then delivered in parts to the Wudang Mountains.
The Purple Cloud Temple consists of several halls - Dragon and Tiger Hall, Purple Sky Hall, East, West and Parent Halls. The shrines of Wu Zhen have been kept here since the day of its foundation.
AT troubled times cultural revolution in China (1966-1976), many places of worship were destroyed, but later restored, and now the complex is visited by tourists from all over the world.
Architecture ancient complex Wudang Mountains combines the most best achievements Chinese traditions over the past one and a half thousand years.
"Valley of the Whales" in Egypt
40 million years ago, "Wadi Al-Hitan" was the bottom of the World Ocean, so hundreds of skeletons of ancient mammals have been preserved here. This unique valley is located 150 km southwest of the capital of Egypt - Cairo. Many whale remains belong to the extinct suborder Archaeoceti, representing one of the milestones evolution: the rebirth of terrestrial multi-ton monsters into marine mammals.
Fossil skeletons clearly show the appearance and lifestyle of these giants in their transitional period. In addition, they are all located in a convenient for study and, importantly, vigilantly protected area.
In addition, there are the remains of Sirenia sea cows and Moeritherium elephant seals, as well as prehistoric crocodiles, sea snakes and turtles. Some specimens are so well preserved that you can study the contents of their vast stomachs.
All together helps scientists unravel the mystery of the evolution of these largest mammals on the planet that still exists.
The pristine exotics of the rainforests
The Kerchin-Seblat National Park is the largest reserve on the island of Sumatra, its area is about 13.7 thousand square meters. km. Here you can see more than 4,000 species of plants, including the world's largest flower - Rafflesia Arnold, its diameter is 60-100 cm, and its weight reaches up to 8 kg. In addition, about 370 species of birds and rare animals (Sumatra tigers, elephants and rhinoceros, Malayan tapir) live in this area. There are also hot springs, the highest caldera lake and the highest peak on the island. And recently a muntjac deer was seen here, the species of which was considered extinct in the 30s of the last century.
The second largest is Gunung Leuser, with an area of 7927 sq. km. It is located in the Aceh region and in the area of the town of Bukit Lawang. This small town is considered to be the best starting point for exploring an exotic destination. Excursions are allowed only with a trained guide and with special permission.
In this reserve, the most interesting is the large population of great apes - orangutans. Translated from the Malay language, it means "forest man".
The third largest is Bukit-Barisan-Selatan with an area of 3568 sq. km, covering the provinces of Lampung, Bengkulu and South Sumatra. Here you can meet very rare animals - the Sumatran elephant and the striped rabbit.
Tourists appreciate Sumatra for its tropical forests with nature preserved in its original form, for outlandish plants and amazing representatives of exotic fauna. In addition, there are many beautiful and still active volcanoes.
"Sistine Chapel of Primitive Painting"
"Lascaux" is located in France, 40 km from the city of Perigueux and is considered one of the most important Paleolithic monuments in terms of the quantity, quality and preservation of the rock art of ancient people. The cave was accidentally discovered in 1940 by four teenagers who noticed a narrow hole in the rock formed by a fallen tree. After examination, scientists determined that the age of the rock paintings is more than 17,300 years.
The cave is quite small in size, the total of all its galleries is about 250 meters, and the average height is 30 meters. Visitors were allowed from 1948 to 1955, but then it was closed, as the ventilation systems could not cope with the carbon dioxide accumulating inside from the breath of numerous tourists, and the cave paintings could be damaged.
Air conditioning systems have been changed several times in the last century, but they have all been ineffective, and historical heritage periodically closed for maintenance work. And only in the 21st century powerful units were installed that successfully coped with the task.
To preserve the wall paintings, they decided to copy all the images and made a concrete copy, where almost all the rock paintings are presented in the same sequence as the original. Called the cave "Lasko II", it is located only 200 meters from the real one and was first opened to travelers in 1983.
Takht-e Jamshid
Takht-e Jamshid in Greek "Persepolis" - the ruins of the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. This place is considered one of the most beautiful monuments of the history of the state of Iran. It is located on the Marvdasht plain at the foot of Mount Ramhat and was founded by the Great Persian King Darius I in 515 BC.
The area of this stone structure is 135 thousand square meters. meters, it includes the "Gate of all nations", "Apadana Palace", "Throne Room", the tomb of the "King of Kings", an unfinished palace and a treasury. The construction lasted about 45 years and was completed under the reign of Xerxes the Great, the eldest son of Darius.
In Persepolis, mainly the remains of the palace complex and religious buildings have been preserved. The most famous of them is "Apadana" with a ceremonial hall and 72 columns. Five kilometers away is the royal tomb of Nakshe-Rustam and the rock reliefs of Nakshe-Rustam and Nakshe-Rajab.
Here in those distant times there was already a water supply and sewage system, and the labor of slaves was not used in the construction. The walls of this unique complex were more than five meters thick and up to 150 centimeters high. The city could be reached by the main staircase, consisting of two flights of 111 white limestone steps each. Then it was necessary to pass the "Gate of all nations".
But powerful walls did not help, and in 330 great conqueror Alexander the Great stormed the fortified complex and, during a feast in honor of the victory, burned the capital of the Persian kingdom to the ground, possibly in retaliation for the Acropolis destroyed by the Persians in Athens.
Cradle of mankind
The historical monument is located 50 km northwest of Johanensburg in the Gauteng province of South Africa in the south of the African continent. Its area is 474 sq. km, the complex includes limestone caves, including a group called Sterkfontein, where in 1947 Robert Bloom and John Robinson discovered the fossil remains of an ancient man - Australopithecus africanus, 2.3 million years old.
"Taung Rock Fossil Site" - it was here in 1924 that the famous skull of Taung, belonging to ancient man. The Macapan valley is known for the abundance of archaeological traces found in the local caves, confirming the existence of people about 3.3 million years ago.
Fossils found here have helped scientists identify ancient hominin specimens dating back to between 4.5 and 2.5 million years ago. The same finds fully confirm the theory that our distant ancestors began to use fire already in the period about a million years ago.
It may seem to some of the readers that there are a lot of figures in our topic, but this is the history, and not of any single person, but of our entire civilization.
In Russia, many priceless natural and cultural monuments recognized as World Heritage Sites.
They are under the scrutiny of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization). We offer you the most protected UNESCO sites in Russia.
Moscow Kremlin and Red Square
The real symbols of Russia, which are known throughout the world and are considered the main cultural attractions of the planet. Moscow Kremlin and Red Square - included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1990.Almost the oldest monument in Russia with numerous buildings reflects the centuries-old history of the Russian people. On the territory of the Moscow Kremlin, unique examples of Russian foundry art are exhibited - the Tsar Cannon weighing 40 tons and the Tsar Bell weighing over 200 tons and 6.6 m in diameter.
Lake Baikal
Baikal, a unique natural monument of Eastern Siberia, was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1996. The lake is the deepest in the world and contains 19% of the reserves fresh water planets. When viewed from a height, the lake resembles a crescent moon, covers an area of over 3 million hectares and is fed by more than 300 rivers and streams.
The water in the lake has a high oxygen content, and due to its transparency, it is possible to see a depth of up to 40 m. The age of the ancient lake is especially impressive - more than 25 million years, the complete isolation of which contributed to the development of a unique ecosystem in it.
Natural Park "Lena Pillars"
Included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 2012, the Lena Pillars Park is a place where priceless finds of the inhabitants of Cambrian period. The park is located in the center of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) near the coast of the Lena River, occupying 1.27 million hectares.
The park is inhabited by 12 species of fauna listed in the Red Book. Due to its antiquity, the park is of particular interest for geology: the natural monument is characterized by a relief dotted with caves, stone spiers, towers and niches.
The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost
The unique architectural complex of wooden architecture of the 18th-19th centuries was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 and is an ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower in Karelia.
It houses the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum with many objects of wooden religious architecture, including an eight-winged windmill from 1929 and the Church of the Transfiguration, built without a single nail.
Novgorod historical monuments
The architectural complexes of Veliky Novgorod and its environs were included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 1992. The cultural objects include such significant Orthodox buildings of antiquity as the Znamensky, Antoniev, Yuryev, Zverin monasteries, as well as the churches of the Nativity of Christ, the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa, the Novgorodsky Detinets Kremlin.
Nature Reserve Wrangel Island
The reserve was included in the UNESCO list in 2004. The unique protected area is known for its almost untouched natural ecosystem dominated by the largest population of polar bears, walruses, more than 50 species of birds.
The territory of the reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle, including Wrangel and Gerald Islands and the waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas. Despite the harsh conditions of the waters of the Arctic, more than 400 plant species can be seen here.
curonian spit
The famous sand spit stretches for 98 km with a maximum width of up to 3.8 km, located on the dividing line between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The natural attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000 and is interesting for its unique anthropogenic landscape, which is represented by a variety of reliefs - from deserts to swampy tundras.
The spit is of great importance during the migration of 10 to 20 million birds and serves as a haven for them during their rest. Only here you can find dunes up to 68 m in height, the width of which sometimes reaches 1 km.
Novodevichy Convent in Moscow
Since 2004, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO list, which since 1524 was one of the defensive structures of Moscow. In 1926, a historical and domestic and historical museum was founded in the building of the monastery, and in 1980, the residence of the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna was placed. In 1994 it was officially approved convent. There are more than eight hundred monasteries in Russia. You can read about the most beautiful temples in our article.
Komi Forest
The forest massif of Komi is recognized as the most virgin forests in Europe with a total area of 32,600 sq. km, which belong to the territory of the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve and occupy part of national park"YugydVa". The number of volcanoes in Kamchatka is more than a thousandThe exact number of volcanoes on the peninsula is still unknown. The tallest volcano is Klyuchevskaya Sopka 4835 m high. The editors of the site also invite you to learn more about the most beautiful places in Russia.
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Work is underway to include the following natural objects in the List: Volga Delta, Lena Delta, Green Belt of Fennoscandia, Kurile Islands, Valdai - Great Watershed, Western Sayan, Beringia and the Solovetsky Islands.
Natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage List |
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Square | State | |
Virgin forests of Komi | 3.279 million ha | 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. Reserve zone | 666 000 | |
Lake Baikal | 8.8 million ha | Listed (1996) Criteria - N i, ii, iii, iv |
1. Baikalsky State Biosphere Reserve | 165 724 | |
2. State Biosphere Reserve "Barguzinsky" | 374 322 | |
3. State Nature Reserve "Baikal-Lensky" | 660 000 | |
4. National Park "Pribaikalsky" | 418 000 | |
5. Zabaikalsky National Park | 246 000 | |
6. Reserve "Frolikhinsky" | 910 200 | |
7. Reserve "Kabansky" | 18 000 | |
8. Tunkinsky National Park (partially) | ||
Volcanoes of Kamchatka | 3.996 million ha | 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 "Nalychevskiy" | 286 025 | |
4. Natural park "South Kamchatsky" | 500 511 | |
5. Reserve federal significance"South Kamchatsky" | 322 000 | |
6. Natural park "Klyuchevskoy" | 371 022 | |
Golden Mountains of Altai | 1.509 million ha | Listed (1998) Criterion - N iv |
1. Altai State Biosphere Reserve | 881 238 | |
2. State Biosphere Reserve "Katunsky" | 150 079 | |
3. Belukha Mountain Natural Park | 131 337 | |
4. Natural park "Ukok" | 252 904 | |
5. Buffer zone "Teletskoe Lake" | 93 753 | |
Western Caucasus | 0.301 million ha | Listed (1999) Criteria - N ii, iv |
1. State Biosphere Reserve "Kavkazsky" with a buffer zone | 288 200 | |
2. Natural park "Big Thach" | 3 700 | |
3. Monument of nature "Upper reaches of the rivers Pshekha and Pshekhashkha" | 5 776 | |
4. Monument of nature "Upper reaches of the river Tsitsa" | 1 913 | |
5. Monument of nature "Ridge Buiny" | 1 480 | |
Curonian Spit(jointly with Lithuania) | 0.031 million ha | Listed (2000) Criterion - Cv |
1. Curonian Spit National Park (Russia) | 6 600 | |
2. National Park "Kursiu Nerijos" (Lithuania) | 24 600 | |
1.567 million ha | Included in the List (2001). Expanded in 2018 Criterion - N iv |
|
1. State Biosphere Reserve "Sikhote-Alinsky" | 401 600 | |
2. Bikin National Park | 1 160 469 | |
3. Reserve "Goralovy" | 4 749 | |
Ubsunur Hollow(shared with Mongolia) | 0.883 million ha | Listed (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 mln ha | Listed (2004) Criteria - N ii, iv |
State Nature Reserve "Wrangel Island" | ||
Putorana Plateau | 1.887 million ha | Listed (2010) Criteria - vii, ix |
State Nature Reserve "Putoransky" | ||
Lena Pillars | 1.387 million ha | Listed (2012) Criteria - viii |
Natural Park of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) "Lena Pillars" | ||
Landscapes of Dauria(shared with Mongolia) | 0.913 million ha | 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 "Valley of Dzeren" | 111 568 | |
Total area in the Russian Federation: | 279 023 | |
4. Strictly protected area "Mongol Daguur" | 110 377 | |
5. Buffer zone of the Mongol Daguur Strictly Protected Area | 477 064 | |
6. Nature reserve "Ugtam" | 46 160 | |
Total area in Mongolia: | 633 601 |
Natural properties included in the Tentative List |
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Objects and their territories | Square | State |
Valaam archipelago | 0.026 million ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on May 15, 1996. |
Natural Park "Valaam Archipelago" | ||
Magadan Reserve | 0.884 million ha | Nomination prepared |
State natural reserve "Magadansky" | ||
Commander Islands | 3.649 million ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on February 7, 2005. Nomination prepared |
State Natural Reserve "Komandorsky" | ||
Big Vasyugan swamp | 0.4 million ha | |
State complex reserve of the Tyumen region "Vasyugansky" | ||
Krasnoyarsk pillars | 0.047 million ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. |
State Nature Reserve "Stolby" | ||
Ilmensky mountains | 0.034 million ha |
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 ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on January 30, 2012. |
Natural properties promising for inclusion on the Tentative List |
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Objects and their territories | Square | State |
Beringia | 2.911 million ha | Recommended by the IUCN for inclusion in the List |
1. Beringia National Park (RF) | 1,819,154 ha | |
2. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (USA) | 1,091,595 ha | |
Volga Delta | 0.068 million ha | criterion N iv. Nomination prepared |
State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Astrakhansky" | ||
Lena Delta | 1.433 million ha | Recommended by the IUCN for inclusion in the List in accordance with criterion N iv. Nomination prepared |
State Nature Reserve "Ust-Lensky" | ||
Kurile Islands | 0.295 million ha | Nomination prepared |
1. Kurilsky State Nature Reserve 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(shared with Finland and Norway) | 0.541 million ha | The Russian part of the nomination is ready |
1. State Biosphere Reserve "Laplandsky" | 278 436 | |
2. State Nature Reserve "Kostomukshsky" | 47 457 | |
3. State Nature Reserve "Pasvik" | 14 727 | |
4. Paanajärvi National Park | 104 354 | |
5. Kalevalsky National Park | 95 886 | |
Valdai - Great Watershed | 0.183 million ha | Nomination prepared |
1. Valdaisky National Park | 158 500 | |
2. State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Central Forest" | 24 447 |
Natural objects not included in the List |
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Objects and their territories | Square | State |
Vodlozersky National Park | 0.58 million ha | |
1. National Park "Vodlozersky" | 404 700 | |
2. Reserve "Kozhozersky" | 178 600 | |
Bashkir Ural | 0.2 million ha | Not included in the List (1998) |
1. Shulgan-Tash State Biosphere Reserve | 22 531 | |
2. State natural reserve "Bashkir" | 49 609 | |
3. National Park "Bashkiria" (strictly protected area) | 32 740 | |
4. Reserve "Altyn Solok" | 93 580 | |
Teberdinsky Reserve(expansion of the object "Western Caucasus") | 0.085 million ha | Not included in the List (2004) |
State Biosphere Reserve "Teberdinsky" |
Russia, of course, is rich in unique and, what is very important, not affected by economic activity. natural complexes. According to rough estimates of scientists, there are about 20 territories in our country worthy of the status of a World Natural Heritage Site. The list of the most promising territories was determined during the joint project of UNESCO and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) on boreal forests.