Image Source/David Forman
Cartagena, Colombia, is currently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As you explore eScape, you will come across many references to UNESCO World Heritage sites. You might be wondering what this means, or what qualifies a site to have this distinction.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, was founded in 1945. UNESCO promotes international cooperation among its member countries in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. In 1994, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee launched a plan to create a balanced and credible list of world sites with either cultural or natural significance. To be included on the list, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet specific selection criteria. After being accepted, the World Heritage Committee catalogues and works to conserve the site. Under certain conditions, recognized sites can obtain preservation funds.
As of 2015, there were 1,031 listed properties in 163 countries. Of those, 802 are cultural, 197 are natural, and 32 are mixed properties. Italy has the greatest number with 51 sites. Notable sites in Spanish-speaking countries include: Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina; Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; Antigua, Guatemala; Copán, Honduras; Chichén-Itzá, Mexico; and Machu Picchu, Peru.
Which of the following Spanish-speaking World Heritage sites would you most like to visit?
Copán, Honduras
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Machu Picchu, Peru
Alhambra, Spain
Chichén-Itzá, Mexico
Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena, Colombia
Canaima National Park, Venezuela
Explore More:
How many World Heritage sites are located in the United States? How does the United States’ list compare to countries such as Spain, Mexico, or Argentina?
Share What You Know:
Explore the list of current World Heritage sites online. Are there any sites currently not on the list that you feel should be? If so, review the World Heritage selection criteria and present your findings to your class.