Top 5 Must See UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Among the more popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites are the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt. But do you know that there is more to their list of wonderful destinations than those which are often flocked by thousands of people every year?
UNESCO aims to recognize and protect places around the world which are not only visually appealing but also culturally and historically relevant. If you are planning out the places which you would visit this year, here are some of the ones that you should seriously consider.
Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein
This entrancing destination (shown above) is found in South Africa and it is just close to Johannesburg. It is also popularly labeled as The Cradle of Humankind because it is where a lot of hominid fossils were found and excavated by scientists and anthropologists. Interestingly, this place is comprised of more than 36 limestone caves. In just one of the caves, scientists are able to recover one-third of the total number of hominid fossils which were ever discovered. According to studies, the temperature and the burial process paved way to proper fossilizing. It is also where the earliest tools can be found. These all contributed a lot on the study of pre-historic man.
Sumatra Tropical Rainforest
In Asia, The Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that they are most proud of. This is found in Indonesia and it is made up of three different parks. The flourishing flora and fauna in this place heightened the beauty of the surroundings even more. Aside from that, this is also considered as the habitat and breeding place of different animal species, particularly those which are already considered as rare and endangered. There are 174 mammals and 380 bird species here. It is also the place where the tallest flower Amorphophallus Titanum is found.
Whale Valley, Egypt
No, it is not a place where you can see whales swimming around. In fact, it is situated right in the middle of the desert. It is called as such because numerous preserved fossils of earlier whales are found here. These became evidence which proves how whales evolved from land animals to the ones that we know of today.
Wudang Building Complex, China
The Wudang Mountain has always been known as the place for meditation and prayers for the Taoists. Earlier settlement within this place is dated in 250 AD. Today, this is the location for ancient structures which reflect the rich architecture of Chinese culture, merged with the traditional design of Taoists temples.
Aldabra Atoll
This is considered as the second largest coral atoll. It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1982. This place is well-preserved because it remains uninhabited and it is practically considered as undisturbed by humans. That is why, it is also the place where a lot of rare and uncommon creatures can be seen. Among the animals which make this location extra special are the large tortoises which swim around the surrounding waters.
