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There are 1,223 UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world, from the Great Pyramids of Giza to Easter Island to Independence Hall in Philadelphia. These monuments have cultural, ancient or clinical significance, and the World Heritage Site designation provides a point of protection: the purpose of the program is to maintain these wonders for generations in the long term. By 2024, UNESCO has granted World Heritage status to 24 new sites, adding to those seven outstanding ones.
The Central Axis runs through the historic center of Beijing
The Central Axis runs north to south through Beijing, showcasing imperial palaces, gardens and ceremonial and public buildings dating to the 13th century Yuan Dynasty. These structures “bear testimony to the evolution of the city” and exhibit “evidence of the imperial dynastic system and urban planning traditions of China,” UNESCO said. The more modern areas of the Central Axis feature construction from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Dacian Limes operational from 106 to 271 CE
During the Roman Empire, the Dacian Limes formed “the longest and most complex land frontier” of all the ancient Roman provinces of Europe, National Geographic said. North of the Danube, these 277 auxiliary forts, walls, watchtowers and legionary fortresses cross 16 counties, constituting a “network of sites” that “still bear witness to the strategic role that Dacia once played. ”
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Gedi was a successful city before being abandoned in the 17th century
For centuries, Gedi was one of the most vital Swahili cities near the East African coast, with a giant mosque, a palace, well-built houses, and impressive infrastructure, adding a water-control formula. Experts claim that Gedi was founded in the 13th century, probably rebuilt in the 15th century, when it was at its peak, and then abandoned in the early 17th century. No one knows for sure why Gedi was abandoned, and hypotheses add that it was an epidemic that wiped out the population or a Portuguese attack.
Lencóis Maranhenses National Park is off the beaten path but worth the trek
The white sand dunes and emerald and sapphire freshwater lagoons of the Lencóis Maranhenses National Park create an otherworldly landscape in northeastern Brazil. The winds blow the dunes and when it rains, the lagoons replace depth, length and even color. More than 110 species of birds and 42 species of reptiles inhabit the park, in addition to the endangered scarlet ibis, neotropical otter, oncilla, and West Indian manatee.
Nelson Mandela was raised at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni
In the 14, which represent “human rights, liberation and reconciliation,” visitors can follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists. Places include the University of Fort Hare, where Mandela studied, and the village of Mqhekezweni, where he was given his start in political activism. The Sharpeville massacre is a dark landmark, a position where the 69 black protesters killed here in 1960 while recalling protests over pass legislation.
The grand dukes lived in Schwerin Castle
Almost 40 sublime buildings make up the complex, with Schwerin Castle, the former residence of the Grand Duke, being the most opulent. Filled with parks and decorative lakes, most of Schwerin’s structures were built in the 19th century, when the city was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Architectural styles include Neo-Baroque, Neoclassical, and Neo-Renaissance with touches of the Italian Renaissance.
Compared to the ruins in the region, much of Umm Al-Jimal is intact.
The ruins of Umm Al-Jimal, near the Jordan-Syria border, feature “unpretentious urban architecture,” Lonely Planet said, with buildings offering a “fascinating glimpse into rural life, the Byzantine Roman era, and the early of Islam”. It functioned mainly from the 5th century AD. until the late 8th century AD, but archaeologists have discovered structures dating back to the 1st century. Although little is known about the early history of Umm. Al-Jimal, researchers have been able to examine the site more than others in the domain because “it was rarely looted or vandalized, leaving much of its original design intact. ” » said Lonely Planet.
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior editor at The Week since 2014. His writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News, and “The Book of Jezebel,” among others. He is a graduate of the University of Redlands and Columbia University’s School of Journalism.