World heritage sites included in the special list of UNESCO are of great interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural objects make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the possibilities of the human mind.

As of July 6, 2012, there are 962 sites on the World Heritage List (including 745 cultural, 188 natural and 29 mixed), located in 148 countries of the world. Among the objects there are separate architectural structures and ensembles, for example - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, historical city centers - Warsaw and St. Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square; and there are whole cities - Brasilia, Venice, along with the lagoon and others. There are also archaeological reserves - for example, Delphi; National parks - marine park Great Barrier Reef, Yellowstone (USA) and others. The states on whose territory the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.

In this photo selection you will see 29 objects from different parts of our planet that are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tourists look at Buddhist sculptures at the Longmen Grotto (Dragon Gate) near Luoyang, China's Henan province. There are more than 2,300 caves in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of the Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on the rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. For the first time Buddhism in China was introduced in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are over 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, ranging from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year. So if you have finances and free time, then you need to take air tickets and go ahead to travel!

One of the parts of the Al-Hijr archaeological site - also known as Mada'in Salih. This complex, located in the northern regions Saudi Arabia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (I century BC - I century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dedicated to the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra, which was the center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Donabatean period.

The waterfalls "Garganta del Diablo" ("Devil's Throat") are located on the territory of the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2,000 varieties of plants and 400 species of birds . national park Iguazu was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984.

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

Tourists stroll by the Bafang Pavilion at the Summer Palace, Beijing's famous classical imperial garden. summer palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998.

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

"Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, but in 2007 they were marked as endangered.

People skate on the ice of the canals in the Kinderdijk mills area, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest collection of historic windmills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decoration with balloons of the holidays passing here gives a certain flavor to this place.

View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. This place has been listed as a World natural heritage UNESCO in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentinean part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland.

Terraced gardens in the north Israeli city Haifa is surrounded by the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, the founder of the Baha'i faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professing which in the world is less than six million. This site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008.

Aerial view of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, within this small nation lies a unique collection of art and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984.

Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem hosts the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 coral species and 1,500 fish species. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981.

Camels rest in ancient city Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al-Khazneh or the Treasury, believed to be the sandstone tomb of a Nabataean king. This city, located between Red and dead seas, is located at the crossroads from Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phoenicia. Petra was added to the World Heritage List in 1985.

Sydney Opera House - one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, which is a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

Rock paintings made by the San people in the Dragon Mountains, located in the east South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg area for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible cave drawings in the Dragon Mountains, which were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2000.

General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All houses here are built of clay bricks, about 500 houses can be considered multi-storey, as they have 5-11 floors. Shibam is often referred to as "the oldest city of skyscrapers in the world" or "Desert Manhattan", it is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction.

Gondolas along the Grand Canal in Venice. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice - seaside resort, Centre international tourism world significance, the venue for international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

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

Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds in order to defend against the invading tribes from the north. Great Wall with a length of 8851.8 km is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987.

Temple in Hampi, near the South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara - former capital Vijayanagara empire. Hampi and its monuments were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.

A Tibetan pilgrim turns the prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet's capital. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex which was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

The Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, became the center mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800.

Buddhist pagoda Kompon-daito on Mount Koya, in Wakayama province, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819, the Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, an offshoot of Japanese Buddhism, was the first to settle here.

Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu, one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the sides of the tower crowning it are depicted "Buddha's eyes" inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu valley with a height of about 1300 m is a mountain valley and a historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. locals It is said that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979.

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

Located in northeast Wales, the 18km Pontcysillte Aqueduct is a feat of civil engineering from the Industrial Revolution, completed in the early years of the 19th century. More than 200 years after its opening, it is still in use and is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte aqueduct was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "a milestone in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution." This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers and plumbing

A herd of moose grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes, on the left, and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In the Yellowstone National Park, which occupies almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage program in 1978.

Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon in Havana. UNESCO inscribed Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded to a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and patios.

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 of the Aswan Dam, Abu Simbel, a man-made temple carved into the rock, fell under flooding. The responsible organization allocated money for the structure to be dismantled and moved to a higher 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 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 152,000) 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 until the middle of the 13th century, a huge seven-story wooden structure covered the statue from the weather, but over time it collapsed, and the structure remained defenseless against the 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 to the budget of the Leshan City Tourism Department.

Hatra, or El-Khadr

This is an ancient ruined city as part of the 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 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.

House Schroeder from 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 its headquarters, where during crusade could accommodate a garrison of 2000 soldiers and 60 knights.

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 XII century during the next crusade impregnable fortress saw King Edward I of England, 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 historical place failed to restore. 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 30s, the ruins of this ancient settlement were discovered by the Mexican archaeologist Alfonso Caso. Many pundits equate this discovery with a sensational discovery true place finding the legendary Troy.

"Mexican Troy" turned out to be a city of high culture; as early as 200 BC, local craftsmen 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 type 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. The bas-reliefs and wall paintings of 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. She is famous for the fact that nearby in the rocks are carved cave temples different religions, 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.

During the troubled times of the 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.

The architecture of the ancient Wudang Mountains complex combines the best achievements of Chinese traditions over the past 1500 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 of the remains of whales belong to the extinct suborder Archaeoceti, representing one of the most important stages of 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 man. 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 climbed front staircase, consisting of two marches of 111 white limestone steps each. Then it was necessary to pass the "Gate of all nations".

But the powerful walls did not help, and in 330 the great conqueror Alexander the Great stormed the fortified complex and burned the capital of the Persian kingdom to the ground during a feast in honor of the victory, 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 our world, there are many objects that are unique in their kind and constitute the world heritage of mankind.

World heritage sites included in the special list of UNESCO are of great interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural objects make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the possibilities of the human mind.

The list of this organization contains objects among which there are separate architectural structures and ensembles, for example - the Acropolis, the cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, the historical centers of the cities - Warsaw and St. Petersburg; and there are whole cities - Brasilia, Venice, along with the lagoon and others. There are also archaeological reserves - for example, Delphi; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. The states on whose territory the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.

It is worth noting that UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places and objects on the planet, in different countries, which are selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in accordance with the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The Convention is designed to protect and preserve the outstanding cultural and natural values ​​that constitute the heritage of all mankind. The first three places in terms of the number of objects are occupied by Italy, Spain and China.

In this photo collection you will see places from different parts of our planet that are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tourists look at Buddhist sculptures at the Longmen Grotto (Dragon Gate) near Luoyang, China's Henan province. There are more than 2,300 caves in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of the Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on the rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. For the first time Buddhism in China was introduced in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are over 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, ranging from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year.

One of the parts of the Al-Hijr archaeological site - also known as Mada'in 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 includes 111 rock burials (I century BC - I century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dated to the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, which was the center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Donabatean period.

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

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

Tourists stroll by the Bafang Pavilion at the Summer Palace, Beijing's famous classical imperial garden. The Summer Palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and rebuilt in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998.

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

"Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, but in 2007 they were marked as endangered.

People skate on the ice of the canals in the Kinderdijk mills area, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest collection of historic windmills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decoration with balloons of the holidays passing here gives a certain flavor to this place.

View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. This place was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentinean part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland.

Terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa surround the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, the founder of the Baha'i faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professing which in the world is less than six million. This site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008.

Aerial view of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, this small state contains a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984.

Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem hosts the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 coral species and 1,500 fish species. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981.

Camels rest in the ancient city of Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al-Khazneh, or the Treasury, believed to be the sandstone tomb of a Nabataean king. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phoenicia. Petra was added to the World Heritage List in 1985.

Sydney Opera House - one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, which is a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

Rock paintings made by the San people in the Dragon Mountains, located in eastern South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg area for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible rock paintings in the Dragon Mountains, which were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2000.

General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All houses here are built of clay bricks, about 500 houses can be considered multi-storey, as they have 5-11 floors. Shibam is often referred to as "the oldest city of skyscrapers in the world" or "Desert Manhattan", it is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction.

Gondolas along the Grand Canal in Venice. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice is a seaside resort, a center of international tourism of world importance, a venue for international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

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

Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds in order to defend against the invading tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987.

Temple in Hampi, near the South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi and its monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, notes fresher.ru.

A Tibetan pilgrim turns the prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet's capital. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex, which was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

The Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800.

Buddhist pagoda Kompon-daito on Mount Koya, in Wakayama province, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819, the Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, an offshoot of Japanese Buddhism, was the first to settle here.

Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu, one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the sides of the tower crowning it are depicted "Buddha's eyes" inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu valley with a height of about 1300 m is a mountain valley and a historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979.

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

Located in northeast Wales, the 18km Pontcysillte Aqueduct is a feat of civil engineering from the Industrial Revolution, completed in the early years of the 19th century. More than 200 years after its opening, it is still in use and is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte aqueduct was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "a milestone in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution." This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers and plumbing

A herd of moose grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes, on the left, and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In the Yellowstone National Park, which occupies almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage program in 1978.

Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon in Havana. UNESCO inscribed Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded to a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and patios.

For a long time, people did not think about what they would leave to their descendants. Rulers were replaced, entire cultures were destroyed, there was not a trace of them left. Later, people became smarter and preserved works of art, structures of stunning beauty, interesting monuments etc. In the end, humanity came to the conclusion that the most valuable objects must be added to a separate list. Today, tourists visiting certain countries are interested in World Heritage Abroad. The UNESCO project has long been more than successful.

world heritage

At some point, people were distracted from the consumption of resources and realized the need to protect natural and flora and fauna. This aspiration is expressed in a special list, the idea of ​​which was implemented in 1972 within the framework of the Convention "On the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage", which proclaimed universal responsibility for the preservation of the most significant sites.

Today, the list includes more than a thousand items, and all these monuments are located on the territory of 161 states. Among them are picturesque corners nature and amazing creations of human hands, but some objects may surprise those who do not know on what principles this list is compiled.

Criteria

World Heritage abroad and in Russia is not just buildings and natural monuments. Each object is unique in its own way and is included in the list with certain criteria. Conventionally, they are divided into two parts.

For artificial objects, criteria such as reflecting the relationship of human values, the development of architecture, uniqueness or exclusivity, connection with ideas that are in the public domain are important. Of course, beauty and aesthetics are also taken into account. There are six key factors.

As regards natural monuments, they must include phenomena or areas of exceptional aesthetic quality, represent an example of major stages in history, geological or biological processes, or be important in terms of the conservation of animal diversity and flora. Only four criteria are presented.

Those located abroad or in Russia, which can be attributed approximately equally to one or the other group, are called mixed, or having cultural and natural significance. So, what exactly is on the UNESCO list?

Record countries

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are very unevenly distributed around the world. States in which it is located the largest number monuments are Italy, China, Spain, France, Germany, Mexico, India, Great Britain, Russia and the USA. In total, more than 350 objects are located on their territory, which is more than a third of the entire list. Almost all of these countries can be said to be the heirs of great civilizations and have natural resources. In any case, such a beginning of the list is not at all surprising.

man-made objects

In this category for 2014, there are 779 objects. This includes the most famous and significant buildings and structures in the world, many of which are symbols of their countries: Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Easter Island, Great Abu Mena in Egypt, Versailles, athenian acropolis, Taj Mahal, Prambanan and Borobudur temples in Indonesia, ancient Samarra, located on modern territory Iran, Petra in Jordan, Chichen Itza and Teotihuacan in Mexico, Cusco in Peru, Kizhi churchyard, the church in Kolomenskoye, Stonehenge, the Statue of Liberty, the building historical Center certain cities - this is especially often observed in Europe. All the most popular attractions among tourists will certainly fall into this list. But sometimes, if there have been some major changes, the object "leaves" the World Heritage. Two such cases are known abroad: the Elbe river valley near Dresden was excluded in connection with the construction highway; The reserve of white oryx - a special kind of antelope - in Oman was removed from the list due to the reduction of its territory and ineffective fight against poaching. This will probably change over time, but even if not, every year a special committee considers more and more proposals for the inclusion of various properties in the World Heritage Abroad.

natural monuments

The most interesting and beautiful monuments in the category "World Heritage Abroad" - the Creation of man, that is, buildings, structures, etc., are also curious, but it is much more interesting to observe what was created without the help and intervention of people. The list of such monuments (for 2014) includes 197 items. The objects are located in 87 countries of the world. 19 of them are endangered (for one reason or another). By the way, the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites begins with a natural monument - Galapagos Islands who received this honor in 1978. And, perhaps, this can be called quite fair, because many very rare animals and plants live here, the archipelago is also known for its stunning views. And, ultimately, nature remains the most valuable wealth of mankind.

mixed category

Some man-made structures are so closely connected to the landscape and environment that it is difficult to unequivocally call them man-made. Or, on the contrary, a person only slightly changed what appeared as a result of geological, biological and other natural processes. In any case, the World Natural and cultural heritage UNESCO, represented by objects from this category, is truly unique.

There are relatively few such objects - 31, but it is simply impossible to even briefly talk about each one, they are so diverse and interesting in their own way. This includes the national parks of Australia and New Zealand, Mount Athos, Machu Picchu, the monasteries of Meteora, wild nature Tasmania, landscapes and life of Lapland and much more. It is a real miracle that all this wealth has come down to our time in this form, and common task humanity - to preserve this heritage for posterity.

Russia and CIS countries

On the territory of the former USSR there are a large number of monuments included in the UNESCO list. Some are nominated as candidates. In total, there are 52 objects, including those located on the territory of several states.

The list includes such names as the Moscow Kremlin, Samarkand, Tauric Chersonese, Bukhara, Lake Baikal, the Lena Pillars, the Putorana Plateau, Mount Sulaiman-Too, etc. Having carefully studied the UNESCO World Heritage List located on the territory of the CIS countries, you can even to decide never to travel to foreign countries without exploring their native lands - such diverse and interesting objects are presented in it. Well, and then it is already possible to look at the neighbors, and go beyond the three seas - there will be something to compare with.

UNESCO World Heritage in Ukraine is 7 objects on this moment, and 15 more are under consideration. From CIS countries given country ranks second in terms of the number of items included in the list we are considering. These include, for example, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and in Kyiv, the historical center of Lviv, the beech forest of the Carpathians.

Status

It may seem that World Heritage listing abroad is just a nice bonus, making it easier for tourists and travelers to choose where to go and what to see. But this is absolutely not the case, because many objects are under the threat of partial destruction or disappearance and need special treatment. Their inclusion in the UNESCO list allows to additionally guarantee their safety. In addition, adding certain attractions to this list raises their prestige and popularity, which, in turn, attracts more tourists to the country. The development of this sector of the economy makes it possible to obtain more funds at the disposal of which it is possible to restore those very cultural monuments that are on the UNESCO list. So this project is useful in every way.

Objects under threat

Unfortunately, everything is not so rosy. There is a special section of the list, which lists those natural and cultural monuments that are threatened with critical changes or complete disappearance. The reasons can be different: various kinds of catastrophes and incidents, wars, the negative impact of climate and time. Not all of this can be controlled, so that soon humanity may lose some of the objects included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage. Now this "alarming" list contains 46 items. None of them are included in the World Heritage in Russia. Abroad, such situations, unfortunately, are not rare. But the committee is working in this direction.

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Danger includes those that appeared a very long time ago - in the 3-5 millennium BC, so their importance can hardly be overestimated. And yet, numerous problems, plans for construction and reconstruction, wars, floods, poaching, etc., do not yet allow us to say that these places are safe.

Committee activity

UNESCO is a huge organization dealing with a wide variety of issues, World Heritage Abroad is just one of them. And all issues related to this topic are decided by a special committee. It meets once a year to make a decision on the objects applying for inclusion in the list. In addition, the committee initiates the creation of working groups that deal with the problems of individual objects. It also acts as a financial institution, highlighting cash countries parties to the Convention upon their request. The committee has 21 members in total. Most of them expire in 2017.

Similar Listings

Of course, cultural and natural monuments are extremely important and valuable, but humanity seeks to preserve not only them. In contrast to material objects, lists have been created containing the most significant examples of creativity, areas of expertise, etc. Since 2001, UNESCO has kept records of masterpieces of oral and intangible creativity. But do not think that we are talking about literary works - this list is much wider and more diverse than it seems. This includes the culinary traditions of various countries of the world, the unique skills of individual peoples, characteristic chants and dances, even falconry!

Another project designed to preserve UNESCO World Heritage Sites is called "Memory of the World". And it really is something akin to a repository of various knowledge - after all, this list contains the most important documents of mankind of all time that have survived to this day. This includes films, photographs, sound recordings, paintings, manuscripts and archives of famous people.

UNESCO projects aimed at drawing attention to cultural monuments and phenomena of all kinds allow us not to forget that each person is capable of creating something great, worthy of forever remaining in history. They also help sometimes to stop and think about how much beauty was created by ancestors and nature, and how terrible it would be to lose it.

Independence Hall

Independence Hall (English) Independence Hall, lit. Independence Hall is a building on Independence Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, known as the place where the Declaration of Independence was discussed, negotiated and signed in 1776; the place where the US Constitution was signed. From 1775 to 1783 the building was used as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress. The building is currently part of historical park United States, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Designed in Georgian style by Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton, the building was built by Woolley between 1732 and 1753. The building was originally intended for the government of Pennsylvania.

Independence Hall is built of red brick. highest point The building rises 41 meters above the ground. Two more buildings adjoin the building: the old city council building from the east and Congress Hall from the west.


Liberty Bell

The bell tower of Independence Hall was the site where the Liberty Bell was originally located. Currently, the bell tower houses the Centennial Bell, created in 1876 on the centenary of independence. The Liberty Bell is displayed to the public in one of the adjacent pavilions.


In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, while on a visit to Philadelphia, presented a replica of the Century Bell, made by the same factory as the original bell, as a gift to the American people. Now it is installed on the bell tower near Independence Hall.

Depiction of Independence Hall on a 1975-1976 50 cent coin

Work of the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence


assembly hall
From 1775 to 1783, Independence Hall was the main meeting place for the Second Continental Congress, composed of representatives from each of the thirteen colonies. The Declaration of Independence was approved here on July 4, 1776, and then read to the public in the square that is now known as Independence Square. This document united the colonies of North America and declared their independence from Great Britain. This event is celebrated on July 4 as Independence Day.









On June 14, 1775, at Independence Hall, delegates to the Continental Congress elected George Washington to command the Continental Army. On July 26, Benjamin Franklin was elected Postmaster General.
Historical Monument Mounds of Cahokia

Cahokia or Cahokia (Cahokia) - a group of 109 mounds of North American Indians, located near the city of Collinsville in Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi, opposite the city of St. Louis. The largest archaeological monument of the Mississippian culture (VII-XIII centuries) Since 1982 - under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.


Covering over 2,000 acres, Cahokia is the only prehistoric Indian city north of Mexico and the largest archaeological site of the famous Mississippian culture. Cahokia is made up of 109 mounds by North American Indians known as the Mound Builders, but at the same time it remains a big mystery how they managed to build such huge complex mounds.


Cahokia is famous for its huge mounds - large clay structures. This city was inhabited from about 700 to 1400 AD by ancient peoples. At the beginning there were only a few thousand, but then the population of Cahokia grew to tens of thousands.


A ceramic jar and with the image of the so-called "underwater panther", referring to the Mississippian culture. Found at Parkin State Archaeological Park, Cross County, Arkansas, USA, dated 1400-1600, height 20 cm
The real name of the city is unknown and the inhabitants obviously did not use writing. The name Cahokia comes from an unrelated tribe that lived in the area when the first French explorers arrived (late 17th century)
The ancient Cahokia Indians built over 120 earthen mounds. Some mounds have not survived to our times, as they were destroyed by subsequent tribes. The complex of mounds of Cahokia is an amazing sight. Some mounds do not exceed a few meters in height, and some exceed a height of 30 meters. Over 50 million cubic feet of earth was moved to build these mounds, and huge quarries still exist in some places. The Indians carried the soil on their backs, dragging large heavy baskets.


At the height of the Cahokian culture (AD 1,100 to 1,200), the city covered nearly six square miles and had a population of 20,000. Buildings were built in rows around spacious squares. Food came to the city from small villages around, where they were engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. The Cahokians traded with other tribes all the way to Minnesotta.


Flourished from 1050 to 1250 AD. e. the city fell into complete decline by 1500. It is assumed that at that time 40,000 people lived in an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout two square miles. It took about one and a half million cubic meters of earth to create mysterious ritual mounds.


Here is the place of power, the largest in North America man-made earthwork - Monastic mound, so named because for several years at the beginning of the XVII century. there lived a group of French monks of the mysterious Trappist order. The mound covers an area of ​​fourteen acres and has a height of more than 30 m.


Most probable cause the desolation of this place is called exhaustion natural resources. According to another version, climate change has affected the fertility of the soil, and perhaps the inhabitants of these places have become victims of external aggression.

In the process of research and excavation of the mounds of Cahokia, a number of mysterious and shocking finds were discovered. One of the mounds, known as number 72, contained a burial dating back to 1050.


A tall man, who died in his early 40s, lay on a couch decorated with twenty thousand shells and eight thousand arrowheads. Items made of mica, copper, plaster, as well as stones used in various games were found in the mystical crypt.





Scientists have suggested that the deceased held an important position in the hierarchy of his tribe. In the same burial were the remains of four men with severed heads and hands and fifty-three women aged fifteen to twenty-five, most likely strangled. Due to the fact that all the deceased were approximately the same age and died a violent death at the same time, a version was put forward about the act of human sacrifice. A certain number of people were sent to accompany their leader in his afterlife. This is the largest burial of its kind ever found in North America.


The model of the burial place of the leader.

In front of the main temple of Cahokia stretched a kind of area of ​​at least 19 hectares. A 3-kilometer palisade was built around the Monakhov Kurgan, which was repeatedly updated. The size of the settlement indicates that in its heyday it was the largest on the continent north of Mexico.




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Researchers believe that the creation of burial mounds began in this area in the middle of the 7th century. To X-XI century Cahokia reached its maximum prosperity and acquired the status of the largest North American city


The fortress of La Fortaleza and the historical part of the city of San Juan

During the period of the XV-XIX centuries. a system of fortifications was built at this strategic location in the Caribbean to protect the city and San Juan Bay. They are magnificent examples of the adaptation of European military architecture to the characteristics of American harbors.


Puerto Rico (Spanish Puerto Rico, translated as “rich port”), officially the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico, is located in the Caribbean Sea on the island of Puerto Rico from the Greater Antilles group and a number of adjacent small islands.



"Old San Juan", or Viejo San Juan, lies at the very tip of the peninsula of the same name, protruding into the waters of the Atlantic in a long strip of irregular shape. It was here that the first buildings of the future city were moved from Caparra, it was here, between the deep waters of the San Juan Bay and the open sea, that the first caravels moored with a cargo of New World treasures, and it was here, on a strip of land convenient for defense, that the capital of the country grew.





Caguanas Indigenous Ceremonial Center
Whole Old city, literally saturated with buildings and structures of the 16th-17th centuries, today is the National Historic Zone and the main point of attraction for numerous tourists. The old city is most like a museum under open sky, where darkened buildings from the Spanish colonial era are collected, and many of them, most notably the area around Plaza del Cinto Centenario, are considered the best preserved example of this style in the western hemisphere.

The steep and narrow streets here are paved with smooth bars, known as "adequines", and the pastel facades of buildings and balconies with wrought-iron lattices entwined with flowering plants seem to have descended from the pages of the classics of Spanish literature. Stone walls stretch along the entire northern side of Viejo San Juan, forming, together with its forts, a powerful defensive system designed to protect the city from the raids of British, Dutch and French corsairs.




Today, only the walls of La Muraglia and the ramparts of El Morro and San Cristobal have survived intact, but this area is enough to appreciate the former grandeur of this fortress.








In the very north-west of the city, on Punta del Moro, stands the most impressive example of the Spanish fortification school - Fort Fuerte San Felipe del Moro, guarding the entrance to San Juan Bay. This fortress, considered one of the largest and most perfect in the Caribbean, was built by Spanish engineers for more than 200 years - it was founded in 1539, and the last of its six tiers was completed only in 1787.






This massive structure has withstood countless attacks, including notable ones such as those of the pirate Francis Drake's fleet in 1595, the attack of the Dutch fleet in 1625, or the gunfire of the entire American Atlantic Squadron in 1898. The majestic walls of the fort rise 42 meters above the waters of the Atlantic. meters, and in its bowels are hidden countless barracks, galleries, dungeons and firing positions, many of which are simply carved into the rocky soil of the cape. On the territory of El Morro, a huge number of exhibitions are regularly held, showing the role of Puerto Rico in the conquest of the New World.









The northeastern tip of the Old City is covered by the second fortress of this system - Fuerte San Cristobal. Stretching from Avenida Munoz River to Calle Norsagaray, this majestic fort was built between 1634-1790. and originally covered an area of ​​27 acres (this is the largest fortification site built by the Spaniards in the New World).




















Today, tourists can freely explore its labyrinthine structures and nearly six kilometers of secret tunnels, ditches, and battlefield dungeons, nestled within its 45-meter-high walls that offer beautiful views of San Juan and its bays. Fuerte San Felipe del Moro and Fuerte San Cristobal are National historical monument and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Plaza de San José lies in the heart of the old part of the city. Around this colorful square, decorated with a statue of the founder of the city, Juan Ponce de Leon, there are many small museums and pleasant cafes.

In the northern part of the square rises the Church of Iglesia San Jose (1530) - one of the few Gothic churches in America (the second is also in Puerto Rico - this is Porta Coelly in San Germán, 1606).


Porta_Coeli_in_San_Germanán This is the first church on the island and one of the oldest in the western hemisphere - Iglesia San José was built as a Dominican monastery and chapel dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas (the original building was badly damaged by a hurricane and rebuilt by the Jesuits in 1865).


Other sights of the Old City include Casa Blanca (1523, was built as the residence of Ponce de Leon),
Dominican nunnery (1523, now it houses the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture),



the residence of the governor of the island - La Fortaleza (1540 - the oldest residence in the Western Hemisphere), Alcalda, or City Hall (1604-1789), Casino (not a gaming club at all, but a fashionable palace built in 1917 and recently excellent renovated),


Cathedral of San Juan (1520-1535, restored 1977), neoclassical building of La Princesa (built as a prison in 1837, now the headquarters of the Tourist Company
Puerto Rico and an excellent exhibition gallery of works by local artists),


fragments of the city wall of La Muraglia (1539-1782) up to 6 meters thick,

the cemetery of Semeterio de San Juan behind the northern wall of La Muralla, the old fortress gates of La Puerta de San Juan (1635),
the Casa del Libro mansion and the nearby Capilla del Libro chapel,
Capilla del Cristo (1753) and the nearby park De las Palomas (real pigeon sanctuary),
the magnificent Hotel El Convento in the building of an old convent, as well as the striking sculptural group of La Rogativa (1797) in commemoration miraculous salvation cities from British invasion
beautiful house Casa Rosada (1812)


Museo_de_las_Americas_















It is not surprising that within the old part of the city there are many museums, among which are such famous ones as the Museo de Las Americas in the building of the old army barracks
Cartel de Balahona (the most interesting archaeological finds of the island are concentrated here, as well as many artworks by masters from Puerto Rico and the USA),
"children's museum" Museo del Niño,


Museo del Arte e Historia (extensive display of Puerto Rican art and musical traditions),
Museum of Casa Blanca (collection of objects and things from the era of the beginning of the Conquista),
Francisco Oller Art Museum in the old City Hall (many historical works),
Puerto Rico Museum of Art (www.mapr.org),

g Museum contemporary art(www.museocontemporaneopr.org),
The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty (English Statue of Liberty, full name - Liberty Enlightening the World) is one of the most famous sculptures in the USA and in the world, often called "a symbol of New York and the USA", "a symbol of freedom and democracy", "Lady Liberty". This is a gift from French citizens for the centenary of the American Revolution.



The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, about 3 km southwest of the southern tip of Manhattan, in New Jersey. Until 1956, the island was called "Bedloe's Island", although it has been popularly called the "Island of Freedom" since the beginning of the 20th century.

Statue of Liberty (view from the pedestal)


The goddess of freedom holds a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left. The inscription on the tablet reads "eng. JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" (written in Roman numerals the date "July 4, 1776"), this date is the day the United States Declaration of Independence was adopted. With one foot, "Freedom" stands on broken chains.


Visitors walk 356 steps to the crown of the Statue of Liberty or 192 steps to the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown, which symbolize earthly gems and heavenly rays that illuminate the world. The seven rays on the crown of the statue symbolize the seven seas and seven continents (Western geographical tradition has exactly seven continents).


The total weight of the copper used to cast the statue is 31 tons, while the total weight of its steel structure is 125 tons. The total weight of the concrete base is 27 thousand tons. The thickness of the copper coating of the statue is 2.57 mm.


The height from the ground to the tip of the torch is 93 meters, including the base and pedestal. The height of the statue itself, from the top of the pedestal to the torch, is 46 meters.



The statue was built from thin sheets of copper minted in wooden moulds. The formed sheets were then mounted on a steel frame.


Usually the statue is open to visitors, usually arriving by ferry. The crown, which can be reached by stairs, offers extensive views of New York Harbor. The museum, located in a pedestal (and accessible by elevator), houses an exhibition of the history


The creation of the statue was entrusted to the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was conceived as a gift for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. According to one version, Bartholdi even had a French model: the beautiful, recently widowed Isabella Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer, the creator and entrepreneur in the field of sewing machines. “She was freed from the awkward presence of her husband, who left her with only the most desirable attributes in society: a fortune ... and children. From the very beginning of her career in Paris, she was a public figure. As the beautiful French widow of an American entrepreneur, she proved to be a suitable model for Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty."
Manor Monticello


Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), author of the American Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States, was also a talented architect of Classicist buildings. He designed Monticello (1769-1809), his plantation home, and his ideal "academic village" (1817-1826), which is still the heart of the University of Virginia. Jefferson's use of the language of architecture, based on the ancient classics, indicates that the new republic in America saw itself as the heir to the European tradition. It also symbolized the maturity of the country to allow it to experiment in the field of culture.

Monticello is the only house in the United States of America listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Jefferson, who grew up on one of Virginia's largest tobacco plantations, inherited several thousand acres of land at age 21, including the hills of Monticello (Italian for "little mountain"), where he began building his mansion in 1768.


The manor stands on the crest of a 264-meter hill, from where its name comes from, which means “hill” in Italian. The manor house was founded by Jefferson in 1769 according to his own project, inspired by the drawings of Andrea Palladio. On the sides of the master's house stretched two long terraces in the shape of the letter L, which hid from the eyes of the guests the kitchen, laundry and other utility rooms where Negro slaves lived and worked.


. Jefferson thought of not only the exterior of the building, but also the details of the interior, including ingenious devices, like an elevator hidden behind the fireplace in the dining room, which can be taken down directly to the wine cellar.


Palazzo Monticello is unique not only in design but also in the use of resources. Brick for construction in the 18th century was imported from England. Jefferson, on the other hand, produced all building material, including nails, on site. Among other improvements, he added a mezzanine and an octagonal dome, the first of its kind in America.


Monticello's initial design consisted of 14 rooms, but after several years in Europe as US Minister to France, Jefferson became fascinated by the fashionable trends in French architecture and changed the plan. The doubled size of the building up to 1000 square meters, not counting the pavilions and terraces, now includes 43 rooms.


Additional rooms were used not so much for housing and guests, but for storing an immense collection of books, European art, Indian artifacts and souvenirs from travels. The Monticello Palace also contains Jefferson's unique inventions: rotating bookcases, a photocopier, a spherical sundial, and many other devices.

Jefferson
Born into one of the richest families in the United States and known for his extravagance, Jefferson left his heirs with numerous debts. He bequeathed the Monticello Palace to the state to set up a school for the children of deceased naval officers. However, his daughter, Martha Randolph, was forced to sell the palace for $4,500 to her father's admirer, Captain Levy. In 1923, Monticello purchased the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Fund and opened it to the public as a museum.


The Monticello Palace reflects Jefferson's personal ideas and ideals. The original main entrance through the portico is equipped with a plate connected to a weather vane, showing the direction of the wind. The large clock face on the east wall has only an hour hand, as Jefferson thought it was accurate enough for workers to tell the time.

Presentation of the Draft Declaration by the Committee of Five to Congress. The famous painting by John Trumbull reproduced on the back of old $2


The south wing houses Jefferson's private quarters. The library houses the books of his third collection. The first library burned down in a fire, the second he gave to the US Congress after the fire in the Capitol in 1814.


Most of the furniture in Monticello is original, the rest was reconstructed by the foundation on the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson in 1993.

Visitors are offered a tour on the ground floor, you can also take the elevator to the mezzanine. The second and third floors are closed to the public. In addition to the palace, stroll through the extensive gardens of Monticello, home to an experimental laboratory for ornamental and useful plants from all over the world.