Machu Picchu and 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

World Heritage sites included in the special list of UNESCO, represent a great interest to the entire population of the planet. The unique natural and cultural sites make it possible to preserve the unique natural landscapes and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and of the human mind.

As of July 6, 2012 in the World Heritage List - 962 objects (including 745 cultural, 188 - natural and 29 - mixed), located in 148 countries. Among these there are some architectural buildings and ensembles, for example - the Acropolis, the cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, the historic town centers - Warsaw, and St. Petersburg, Moscow Kremlin, and Red Square; and there are entire cities - Brasilia, Venice with the lagoon and others. There are also archaeological sites - such as Delphi; national parks - Marine Park Great Barrier Reef, Yellowstone (USA) and others. State in which the World Heritage objects are located, commit themselves for their conservation.

This photo galleries you will find 29 objects from different parts of our planet, which are listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tourists visit the Longmen Grottoes Buddhist sculptures ( "Drakensberg gate") near the city of Luoyang in Henan Province. At this point there are more than 2300 caves; 110,000 Buddhist images 80 Dagaba (Buddhist mausoleums) containing Buddha relics and 2800 inscriptions on rocks near the river Yishui kilometer length. For the first time Buddhism was introduced in China in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its numerous giant stone faces. In the region there are more than 1000 Angkor temples, ranging from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, which is considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. Every year they are visited by over a million tourists.

One of the parts of the archaeological site of Al-Hijr - also known as Madain Salih. This complex, located in the northern regions of Saudi Arabia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex consists of 111 rock graves (I century BC -.. I century AD.), As well as a system of waterworks, dedicated to the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, a center of caravan trade. Also, there are about 50 inscriptions in rocks belonging to donabateyskomu period.

Waterfalls "Garganta del Diablo" ( "Devil's Throat" are located in the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level of the Iguazu River, the park has 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as more than 2,000 species of plants and 400 species of birds. Iguazu National park was inscribed on the World heritage List in 1984.

The mysterious Stonehenge megalithic stone structure consisting of 150 huge stones, and is located on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. e. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1986.

Tourists stroll in the pavilion Bafang's Summer Palace, a famous classic imperial garden in Beijing. Summer Palace, built in 1750 was destroyed in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886. He was included in the World Heritage List in 1998.

The Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", which gave the United States, France, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984.

"Solitario George" (Lonesome George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, was born on the island of Pinta, lives in the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now about 60-90 years. The Galapagos Islands were originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, but in 2007 were noted as endangered year.

People skate on the ice channel near Kinderdijk windmills on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, and is located near Rotterdam. In Kinderdijk in the Netherlands is the largest collection of historic mills, in addition, the region is one of the main attractions in South Holland. Making balls celebrations taking place here, it gives a flavor of this place.

A view of the Perito Moreno Glacier located in the National Park Los Glaciares National Park, in south-eastern Argentine province of Santa Cruz. This place was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 1981. Glacier is one of the most interesting tourist attractions in the Argentine part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland.

terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa is surrounded by the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. There is a global administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professing that worldwide less than six million. This place has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO July 8, 2008.

Aerial Plaza St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage site, within this small state is a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican has been included in the World Heritage List in 1984.

Colorful underwater scene of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. In this thriving ecosystem is 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.

Camels resting in the ancient city of Petra in front of the main monument of Jordan, Al-Khazneh, or Treasury, presumably representing a tomb of Nabataean king, carved from sandstone. This city is located between the Red and the Dead Sea, located at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Phenicia. Peter declared a World Heritage Site in 1985.

Sydney Opera House - one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world, is a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House is included in the World Heritage Program in 2007.

Rock paintings made by the people of San tribe in the Drakensberg Mountains, located in the east of South Africa. San tribe people lived in the Drakensberg for thousands of years, until they were destroyed in the clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind an incredible rock paintings in the Drakensberg Mountains, which have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage program in 2000.

A general view of the city of Shibam, in the east of Yemen in Hadramout province. Shibam is famous for its incomparable with anything comparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage program. All the houses here are built of mud bricks, approximately 500 homes can be considered a high-rise, as they have 5-11 floors. Shibam is often called "the oldest skyscraper city in the world" or "Manhattan of the desert", is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction.

Gondolas at the Grand Canal in Venice coast. On the background is visible the church of San Giorgio Maggiore. Venice Island - a seaside resort of international tourism center of world importance, the venue of international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice included in the UNESCO World Heritage program in 1987.

Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues of compressed volcanic ash (moai on Rapa Nui language) at the foot of the volcano Rano Raraku on Easter Island, 3,700 km from the coast of Chile. National Park Rapa Nui is included in UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in Simatai district, north-east of Beijing. It is the largest monument of architecture was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds for the purpose of defense against invading tribes from the north. Great Wall length of 8851, 8 km is one of the largest ever completed construction projects. She was included in the World Heritage List in 1987.

Temple in Hampi, near the southern Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the midst of the ruins of Vijayanagara - former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi and its monuments have been included on the List of World Heritage Sites in 1986.

Tibetan pilgrim spins prayer mills in the territory of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of Tibet. Potala Palace - a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex, which was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today the Potala Palace is a museum, is actively visited by tourists, while remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. In view of the enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance made to the 1994 UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, became a center of mass tourism. On the day of the city is visited by tourists in 2000; for the purpose of preservation of monuments of UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800.

Buddhist Pagoda Kompong-Daito on Mount Koya in Wakayama, Japan Province. Mount Koya, located to the east of the city of Osaka, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. In 819 first settled here Buddhist monk Kukai, founder of the Shingon school, a branch of Japanese Buddhism.

Tibetan women walking around Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the oldest and most revered Buddhist shrines. On the faces of his crowning tower depicted "Buddha eyes", inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu Valley about 1300 meters high - mountain valley and a historical region of Nepal. Here there are many Buddhist and Hindu temples from the stupa Bodnath to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals say that the Kathmandu Valley lives of 10 million gods. Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979.

A bird flies over the Taj Mahal - the mausoleum-mosque, located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built on the orders of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. Taj Mahal was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. Architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007.

Located in the northeastern part of Wales, the 18 kilometer long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - a feat of civil engineering of the Industrial Revolution, which was completed in the early years of the 19th century. After more than 200 years after its opening, is still in use and is one of the busiest areas of the UK channel network, passing approximately 15,000 boats per year. In 2009, the aqueduct Pontkisilte was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "a milestone in the history of civil engineering of the Industrial Revolution." This aqueduct - one of the most unusual monuments of plumbers and water supply

A herd of elk grazing in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Against the backdrop of a mountain visible Holmes, left, and Mount Dome. In Yellowstone National Park, which occupies nearly 900 thousand. Ha, is more than 10,000 geysers and hot springs. The park was inscribed on the World Heritage in 1978.

Cubans ride on the old car on the waterfront "Malecon" in Havana. UNESCO has made Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982. While Havana has expanded, and has a population of more than 2 mln. People, its old center retains an interesting mix of monuments of Baroque and Neoclassical and homogeneous ensemble of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal courtyards.