unesco heritage in usa. Monuments of culture and world cultural heritage of south america

Introduction
1. Criteria and conditions for the inclusion of natural objects in the World Heritage List
1.1 Terms
1.2 Natural criteria
2. South America. World natural heritage sites
2.1 Argentina
2.2 Los Glaciares National Park
2.3 Iguazu National Park
2.4 Valdes Peninsula
2.5 Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks
3. Bolivia
3.1 Noel-Kempff-Mercado National Park
4. Brazil
4.1 Iguazu National Park
4.2 Serra da Capivara National Park
4.3 East Atlantic Forest Reserves
4.4 Southeast Atlantic Forest Reserves
4.5 Central Amazonian Reserve Complex
4.6 Pantanal Protected Area
4.7 Brazilian Islands in the Atlantic: Fernando de Noronha and Rocas Atoll
4.8 Campos Cerrado National Parks: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas
5. Venezuela
5.1 Canaima National Park
6. Colombia
6.1 Los Katios National Park
6.2 Malpelo Island
7. Peru
7.1 Machu Picchu Historical Reserve
7.2 Huascaran National Park
7.3 Manu National Park
7.4 Rio Abiseo National Park
8. Suriname
8.1 Central Suriname Conservation Area
9. Ecuador
9.1 Galapagos Islands
9.2 Sangai National Park
Conclusion
References and Internet resources
Introduction
UNESCO World Heritage - natural or man-made objects, the priority tasks in relation to which, according to UNESCO, are their preservation and promotion due to their special cultural, historical or environmental significance.
In 1972, UNESCO adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (entered into force in 1975). By September 2012, the convention had been ratified by 190 participating countries.
Each year, the World Heritage Committee holds sessions at which "World Heritage site status" is awarded.
The states on whose territory the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.
As of 2013, there are 981 properties on the World Heritage List, of which 759 are cultural, 193 are natural and 29 are mixed.
There are 67 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South America.

1. Criteria and conditions for the inclusion of natural objects in the World Heritage List

1.1 Terms

As defined in Article 2 of the World Heritage Convention, natural heritage includes the following properties:

1) natural monuments created by physical and biological formations or groups of such formations of outstanding universal aesthetic or scientific value;

2) geological and physiographic formations and strictly limited areas representing the range of endangered animal and plant species of outstanding universal scientific or conservation value;

3) natural places of interest or strictly limited natural areas of outstanding universal value in terms of science, conservation or natural beauty.

Outstanding World Value means cultural and/or natural significance that is so exceptional as to be beyond national boundaries and is of universal value for present and future generations of all mankind. Therefore, the continued protection of this heritage is of paramount importance to the international community as a whole. A natural heritage property that meets one of the above definitions and is nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List is considered to be an Outstanding World Heritage Site for the purposes of the Convention if the Committee is able to verify that the property satisfies one or more of the criteria as well as integrity conditions.

1.2 Natural criteria

The main purpose of the World Heritage List is to make known and protect properties that are unique in their own way. For this, and because of the desire for objectivity, evaluation criteria were drawn up. Initially (since 1978) there were only criteria for cultural heritage objects - this list consisted of six items. Then, to restore some kind of balance between the various continents, natural objects appeared and for them a list of four points. And finally, in 2005, all these criteria were brought together, and now every World Heritage site has at least one of them in its description.

VII - include the greatest phenomena of nature or places of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;

VIII - to represent an outstanding example, reflecting the main stages of the history of the Earth, including traces of ancient life, ongoing geological processes of the development of the forms of the earth's surface, which have importance, or significant geomorphological and physiographic phenomena;

IX - present an outstanding example of the important and ongoing ecological and biological processes of evolution and development of terrestrial, river and lake, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

X - include natural areas that are most important and significant in terms of the conservation of biological diversity, including habitats of endangered species of outstanding world value in terms of science and nature conservation.

2. South America. World natural heritage sites

South America is the southern continent in America, located mainly in the Western and Southern hemispheres of planet Earth, however, part of the continent is also located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is washed in the west by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic, from the north it is limited by North America, the border between the Americas runs along the Isthmus of Panama and the Caribbean Sea.

2.1 Argentina

unesco monument landmark area

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Argentina includes 8 items (for 2011), 4 sites are included according to natural criteria. Los Glaciares and Iguazu are recognized as natural phenomena or spaces of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. Among them:

Los Glaciares National Park (1981)

Iguazu National Park (1984)

Peninsula Valdes (1999)

Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks (2000)

In addition, as of 2010, 8 objects on the territory of the state are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List, including 5 - cultural, 1 - natural and 2 - mixed criteria.

Argentina ratified the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on August 23, 1978. The first site in Argentina was listed in 1981 at the 5th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

2.2 Los Glaciares National Park

Los Glaciares National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, glaciers) is a national park located in Patagonia (South America), in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The area of the park is 4459 km². In 1981 it was included in the World Heritage List.

Founded in 1937, Los Glaciares is the second largest national park in Argentina. The park owes its name to the huge ice cap in the Andes, which feeds 47 large glaciers, of which only 13 flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. This ice mass is the largest after the ice of Antarctica and Greenland. In other parts of the world, glaciation begins at least 2500 m above sea level, but in the Los Glaciares park, due to the size of the ice cap, glaciers start at a height of 1500 m and slide down to 200 m, eroding the slopes of the mountains underlying them.

The territory of Los Glaciares, which is 30% covered with ice, can be divided into two parts, each of which belongs to its own lake. The largest in Argentina, Lake Argentino (area 1466 km²) is located in the southern part of the park, and Lake Viedma (area 1100 km²) is located in the north. Both lakes feed the Santa Cruz River, which flows to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Between these two parts is the Central Zone (Zona Centro), closed to tourists, in which there are no lakes.

The northern half of the park includes part of Lake Viedma, Viedma Glacier, small glaciers and several mountain peaks popular with climbers and mountain tourists such as Fitzroy and Cerro Torre.

The southern half of the park, along with small glaciers, includes the main glaciers flowing into Lake Argentino: Perito Moreno, Uppsala and Spegazzini. A typical boat trip includes a tour of the otherwise inaccessible Uppsala and Spegazzini glaciers. The Perito Moreno Glacier can be reached by land.

Los Glaciares Park is a popular destination in international tourism. Tours start in the village of El Calafate, located on Lake Argentino, and in the village of El Chalten, located in the northern part of the park at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy.

Climate . The whole natural appearance of the park and its originality are associated primarily with climatic features region. Nowhere on the globe are there such favorable conditions for the development of modern glaciation in such low sprats, "Roaring forties" winds of the western direction meet on their way over the oceanic expanses of the World Ocean of the Southern Hemisphere only the only obstacle in the form of the Patagonian Andes. On their western (Chilean) slopes, the winds fall with terrible force and give away almost all the moisture accumulated from the ocean.

Completely different climatic conditions are characteristic of the eastern (Argentinean) slopes and foothills of the Patagonian Andes, where the national park is located. Having lost strength and moisture on the western slopes, the air masses of the "roaring forties" arrive on the eastern slopes "weakened" and almost dried up. Being in the "rain shadow" of the Andes, the territory of the park receives much less precipitation - up to 900 mm on the slopes of the mountains and 500 mm in the east of the park. The average indicator of the amount of annual precipitation for the entire park is 809 mm, and the average annual temperatures are within +7.5 °С, minimum +3.3 °С, maximum + 12 °С. Here, unlike the eastern slopes of the Patagonian Andes, the sun shines most of the year. Only from April to May the sky is covered with clouds, it rains in the foothills, and snow falls in the mountains. In winter, and this is June-August in the Southern Hemisphere, snowfalls are common. In early spring and summer, strong hurricane-force winds sweep over the park from the west and south - from Antarctica.

Flora. In addition to snow-capped peaks (which are of undoubted interest to climbers), huge glacial fields and amazingly beautiful lake surfaces in the Los Glaciares National Park, you can also get acquainted with the peculiar flora of Patagonia.

Two types of plant communities are represented in the park - subantarctic Patagonian forests (in the west) and Patagonian steppes, characteristic of the flat-flat part (in the east).

Fauna. The vertebrate fauna of the national park, with the exception of the avifauna, has not yet been studied enough. About 100 species of birds have been recorded here, of which the Andean condor and the long-billed (Darwinian) rhea are the most notable.

Among the birds, the Andean spur (brook) duck, chaffinch are very numerous.

There is a small population of Andean deer. The Andean deer is listed in the International Red Book.

In the park, there are individual individuals of the mountain veskashi from the order of rodents. More often you can meet llamas, guanacos.

The ichthyofauna of glacial lakes and small streams is very rich. Many tourists come to Los Glaciares National Park specifically for sport fishing. In lakes Viedma and Lago Argentino, two species of salmon fish have been introduced specifically for sport fishing.

2.3 Iguazu National Park

Iguazu National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Iguazъ) is a national park in Argentina, located in the department of Iguazu, in the northern part of the province of Misiones, in the Argentine Mesopotamia.

The park was created in 1934 and partially contains one of the natural monuments of South America - Iguazu Falls, surrounded by subtropical jungle. On the other side of the Iguazu River lies the Brazilian park of the same name (Iguazu National Park). Both parks were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites (in 1984 and 1986, respectively).

Flora. The flora includes 2 thousand species of plants, in particular: one of the endangered species of aspidosperm trees - Aspidosperma polyneuron (Eng.), Rarely found outside the park due to cutting down for edible fruits, one of the cabbage palm species - Euterpe edulis (Eng. ), phebe, holly, foot-bearing plant, recently the less common zedrel, araucaria, palo-rose. There are trees of the burser family, a lot of vascular plants. Among the flowers there are bromeliads, various types of orchids.

Fauna. The fauna of the park includes 70 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles, several hundred species of butterflies, including endangered species. The most common representatives of the fauna are as follows: jaguar, jaguarundi, mazama deer, plains tapir, capybara, water opossum, ocelot, giant anteater, brazilian otter, bush dog, puma, monkeys (capuchins and howler monkeys), nosoha, Paraguayan caiman, broad-faced caiman, coral asp. Birds such as swifts and large toucans can also be found there. Common for these places, the vine-breasted Amazon, the American swift, the tirika, the Brazilian merganser, the bronze penelope (English) Russian, the South American harpy, the hummingbird. Among well-known representatives bats The most common type of vampire is the common vampire.

Geography of waterfalls. The complex is 2.7 km wide and includes approximately 270 individual waterfalls. The height of the water fall reaches 82 meters, but on most waterfalls a little more than 60 meters. The largest waterfall is the "Devil's Throat" - a U-shaped cliff 150 meters wide and 700 meters long. This waterfall marks the border between Brazil and Argentina.

There are three cities in the vicinity of the falls.- Foz do Iguacu on the Brazilian side, Puerto Iguacu on the Argentine side and Ciudad del Este on the Paraguay side.

Most famous titles waterfalls: "Adam and Eve", "Three Musketeers", "Two Sisters", "Salto Escondido" ("hidden jump"), "Salto Floriano" ("flower jump"), "San Martin", "Ramirez" "and a number of others.

Tourism. The Iguazu Falls are one of the most visited tourist destinations in South America. Every year there are 1.5-2 million visitors here. Viewing platforms are specially equipped for tourists. Hiking and car routes are laid in the vicinity of the waterfall. Also, tourists are offered waterproof clothing, as the routes go to the very foot of the waterfalls. In the vicinity of the Iguazu Falls, there is an international airport, dozens of hotels, campsites, access roads, and walking trails have been built. Local population are also employed in this industry, specially equipped areas for them, where they show local dances and songs, while dressing in local costumes.

2.4 Valdes Peninsula

Valdes is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Area - 3625 km². It is connected to the mainland by the isthmus of Carlos Ameghino. The Bay of San José juts out from the north, and Golfo Nuevo juts out from the south. Most of the peninsula is uninhabited territory. There are several salt lakes, the largest of which lies 40 meters below sea level. This is the lowest point on land for South America.

In 1999, the Valdes Peninsula was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - primarily for its unique and rich fauna.

Physical and geographical features. The peninsula is located in the northeast of the province of Chubut, and is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. From the north and south, its coasts are washed by the bays of San José and Nuevo.

The relief of the territory is a typical Patagonian plateau, which breaks off into the sea with sheer shores. The coast is composed of marine sediments, which are subject to constant erosion. Part of the coastline is represented by beaches, among which rocky beaches stand out - a favorite place for elephant seals.

The climate on the territory of the peninsula is transitional between the temperate climate of the central part of the country, with a maximum of precipitation in the hot months and a cold climate with winter rains, which is more characteristic of Patagonia. Summers on the peninsula are hot but short, and winters are cold.

Diversity of flora and fauna. The main vegetation of the seashores is algae. They cover the rocky shores with colorful blankets: blue-green, green, brown, red or yellow-green, depending on the pigment in the plant cells.

The Valdes Peninsula in Patagonia has great value for the protection of marine mammals. A population of the endangered Australian right whale subspecies breeds here. The peninsula is known all over the world precisely because of the excellent opportunities for observing these giants. They come ashore in June and stay until December to breed. The southern whale reaches a length of about 14 meters and weighs up to 50 tons. Females bear babies whole year, and at a time give birth to only one offspring.

The southern ones also breed here. sea elephants and southern sea lions, while the killer whales living here use a unique hunting strategy adapted to the conditions of the local coastline.

The peninsula is also home to many species of birds and land animals such as guanaco, fox, American rhea, American (pampas) partridge, and Patagonian hare.

2.5 Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks

Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks - Two contiguous parks spread over 275,300 hectares in a desert region on the western border of the Sierra Pampeanas in Central Argentina. Here you can see the most complete paleontological record, starting from the Triassic period (245-208 million years ago). Six geological formations in the parks contain the fossilized remains of numerous mammalian, dinosaurian and plant precursors, showing the evolution of vertebrates and the nature of the paleographic setting during the Triassic period. Included in the UNESCO List in 2000

Flora and fauna of Ischigualasto. The flora and fauna of Ischigualasto is unique. All inhabitants demonstrate amazing fitness to an arid desert climate. Some of the most common types of animals that travelers can not only see but also feed are Argentine gray foxes, viscachas and rabbits. While traveling through the park, guests also come across peculiar animals - maras, which are also called Patagonian hares, although they have nothing to do with hares.

Of the predators that live in Ischigualasto, one of the most common are the "damage" skunks, since these animals, which defend themselves with the fetid secretions of the anal glands, have a particular preference for open areas.

From the canine family, the gray Argentine fox, or "sorro de la pampa", is widespread here.

In the protected area there are condors, two species of South American vultures - turkey and urubu, many songbirds. And even representatives of the parrot family, which, in our view, are characteristic only of tropical forests.

Surprisingly, even several species of frogs and toads live in these waterless lands.

Vegetation is represented mainly by cacti, rare thorny shrubs and trees, such as "retama", "chanyar", "algorobo" and others. Many of the plants found here are used in medicine.

Attractions of the Talampaya Park

· The dry bed of the Talampaya River, where dinosaurs lived several million years ago - as in Ischigualasto, fossils of that era can be found here.

Talampaya Canyon - the height of the walls reaches 143 m, the minimum width is 80 m.

· Remains of settlements of local peoples, such as petroglyphs in Puerta del Canyon.

· A botanical garden with local flora at the narrow point of the canyon.

· Fauna of the region: guanacos, hares, maras, foxes and condors.

3. Bolivia

Bolivia has only 1 natural world heritage site, the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. In addition, as of 2010, 7 objects on the territory of the state are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List, including 4 - cultural, 1 - natural and 2 - mixed criteria.

3.1 Noel-Kempff-Mercado National Park

The Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is located in the José Miguel de Velasco province of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia on the border with Brazil. The territory of the park is 15,838 km², which makes it one of the largest parks in the entire Amazon basin. In 2000, the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Climate. The climate is distinctly seasonal with approximately 1400-1500mm of average annual precipitation. There is a dry season of about 4-6 months (May to September) when there is a decrease in rainfall. The average annual temperature is 25-26°C, but during the dry season the temperature can drop to 10 degrees for several days when the cold dry air masses of Patagonia (surazos) reach the park.

Flora and fauna. The inaccessibility of these places serves as a good natural protection of the virginity of the park, which includes five ecosystems located at altitudes from 200 to 1000 m above sea level: mountain evergreen forests, deciduous forests, dry savanna, wet savannah and tropical rainforests. The diverse flora includes 4,000 plant species, of which 2,700 species have been identified. Among them are several types of palms, cedar, oak, creepers and bromeliads, many types of orchids. Breathtaking colors and scents, exotic passion fruit and mangaba fill these places.

More than 630 species of birds, 139 species of mammals live in the park- this is more than in all of North America, including: jaguar, puma, river dolphin, giant anteater, maned wolf, tapirs, capybaras, marsh deer. Many species of butterflies and other insects, 62 species of amphibians, including the South American side turtle and black caiman, 127 species of reptiles. Two types of anacondas are found here at the same time - green ordinary and yellow Paraguayan. About 254 species of fish are found in the rivers.

Some of these fauna are endangered elsewhere in Bolivia.

4. Brazil

There are 8 natural sites on the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites in Brazil. Among them, 4 objects are recognized as "natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance" (criterion vii).

Iguazu National Park (1986)

Serra da Capivara National Park (1991)

East Atlantic Forest Reserves (1999)

Forest reserves of the southeast Atlantic coast (1999)

Complex of reserves of the Central Amazon (2000)

Pantanal Protected Area (2000)

Brazilian Islands in the Atlantic: Fernando de Noronha and Rocas Atoll (2001)

· Campos Cerrado National Parks: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas (2001)

4.1 Iguazu National Park

Iguazu is a national park of Brazil and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the state of Parana. It is famous for its waterfall (part of which is located in the Argentinean province of Misiones) and its scenic wildlife (especially a wide variety of birds) that includes rare and endangered species. This is the most unique place in the world, as 5 forest species are concentrated on one piece of land.

4.2 Serra da Capivara National Park

The Serra da Capivara National Park is a national park in the state of Piauí in northeastern Brazil. The park contains many monuments of prehistoric rock art, which were discovered by the archaeologist Nyede Gidon. On her own initiative, a park was created to preserve the images. In 1991 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. The area of the park is 1291.4 km².

Archaeological studies show that in ancient times the Serra da Capivara was very densely populated, there was the largest concentration of prehistoric peasant farms in ancient America.

Climate, flora and fauna. The climate in these places is very hot and arid, and therefore the vegetation of the park is represented by thorny trees and shrubs, as well as cacti, of various bizarre forms, more reminiscent of a chandelier. Despite the dryness of the climate, which, I must say, is not at all typical for Brazil, in these places it is not difficult to meet anteaters, armadillos, snakes, jaguars, cougars, and various parrots. Also in these places lives an interesting animal - a false vampire. This is a bat with a meter wingspan.

Attractions of the park. In Brazil's Serra da Capivara National Park, there are caves where distant human ancestors lived 50,000 years ago. Most likely this is the oldest community of people in South America. The national park is located near the town of San Raimondo Nonato (central part of the state of Piauí).

Scientists have counted more than three hundred archaeological sites in this place. The main images are well preserved and have an age of 22-25 thousand years before the birth of Christ. Extinct animals are painted on the rocks, which will never be on planet Earth.

4.3 East Atlantic Forest Reserves

Eight protected natural areas (including three national parks) with a total area of 112,000 hectares are located in the states of Bahia and Espirito Santo and include Atlantic wet forests and bushes ("restinga"). In terms of biodiversity, this area is one of the richest on the planet. A number of endemic species live in the reserves, which makes it possible to trace the evolutionary path of living organisms, and this, in turn, is of great importance both from a scientific and environmental point of view.

biodiversity. Despite the fact that the ecoregion has suffered greatly from deforestation for agricultural purposes and urbanization (out of a million square kilometers of virgin forests, about 7% remain), the flora and fauna here are very rich, 450 species of trees can grow on one hectare. Many endemics, for example, 92% of local amphibians are found nowhere else. An example of primates is the genus lion marmosets (Leontopithecus). The collared sloth (Bradypus torquatus) is only found in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Birds include the blue-capped tanager (Tangara cyanocephala), the red-billed crax (Crax blumenbachii), the blue-bellied parrot (Triclaria malachitacea), the three-toed jacamar (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla) and others.

4.4 Southeast Atlantic Forest Reserves

The forest reserves of the southeast Atlantic coast contain the finest and most extensive examples of the Atlantic forests in Brazil. The 25 protected areas that make up this monument, with a total area of about 470,000 hectares, demonstrate the biological richness and evolutionary history of the last remnants of the Atlantic forests. This area is distinguished by its diversity and beauty and is of great scientific importance.

biodiversity. Partially isolated since the Ice Age, the Atlantic forests have developed into a complex ecosystem with exceptionally high levels of endemism (70% tree species, 85% primates, and 39% mammals).

The designated World Heritage Site contains well-preserved sites of very diverse Atlantic rainforests. More than 450 species of trees per hectare can be found in some areas. The forest canopy along the river valleys is higher with isolated trees reaching up to 30 m in height.

There is a very diverse fauna. Mammals include 120 species, probably the largest number in Brazil. Some notable species are the jaguar, ocelot, bush dog, La Plata otter, 20 species of bats and various endangered primate species, especially the muriqui and brown howler monkey. The avifauna is very diverse with 350 species recorded.

4.5 Central Amazonian Reserve Complex

A huge area (more than 6 million hectares) of the world's unique treasures of nature is a delightful complex of reserves of the Central Amazon. This region is very diverse biological objects. For example, the reserves include such valuable protected areas as Jau National Park, the Anavillanas Archipelago and the Amazon Forest Cover. The diverse ecological systems "varzeya" and "igapo" make the reserves an invaluable world landmark. The peculiar ecology of these places is an excellent habitat for the world's largest electric snakes, Amazonian manatees, black caiman, as well as giant fish - arapaima. In the rivers and lakes that form a bizarre aqua system, you can meet 2 species of dolphins here.

Flora. The flora of the igapo is comparatively poor, being most characteristic of the imbauba cecropia, which grows rapidly but not high (usually about 10 m), with broad palmate, almost white leaves and aerial roots supporting it underwater. At the surface of the water, in the pools covered with huge leaves of victoria reggae, bushes of nondescript Ivoreans stretch. During the retreat of the floods thickets of tall hard grasses develop. These gloomy forests are decorated with climbing vines and epiphytes, among which there are many orchids. The Amazon forests are the realm of vines. They spread like garlands along the ground, climbing out onto trunks, thrown from branch to branch, from one tree to another, hanging from the trees.

Fauna. Numerous lakes and streams form a mosaic aquatic system within the property, which is in a state of constant development and serves as a habitat for the world's largest population of electric eels.

Rare and endangered species include the Amazonian manatee, black caiman (the largest South American alligator, whose length is 5 m), two species of river dolphins, and also a fish - a giant arapaima.

There are many herbivores on the territory of the object, forest deer and antelope are especially common; there are anteaters, sloth, tapir, peccary, armadillo, many rodents. Monkeys can be seen everywhere, they are very numerous and diverse: capuchins, durukuly, uakari, howler monkeys. There are a lot of bats in the forests.

4.6 Pantanal Protected Area

Pantanal is a vast swampy tectonic basin in Brazil, small parts of it are also located in Bolivia and Paraguay, in the Paraguay River basin. It is located in the west of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and in the south of the state of Mato Grosso. The total area is approximately between 150-195 thousand km², it is one of the largest wetlands on the planet.

Geography and geology. The prevailing heights are 50–70 m above sea level. From the north, east and southeast, the territory is sharply limited by the cliffs of the Brazilian Plateau. The natural conditions of this region are very contrasting. Floods during the wet summer season turn the Pantanal into a huge swamp lake and alternate with winter droughts that form a patchy landscape of perennial semi-grown swamps, lakes, subtle meandering riverbeds, salt marshes, sandbanks and grassy areas.

biodiversity. There is a huge variety of flora and fauna. Over 3,500 plant species grow throughout the Pantanal. There are 650 species of birds, 230 species of fish and 50 species of reptiles, more than 80 species of mammals. There are about 20 million crocodiles alone. On the territory of the Pantanal there is a specially protected natural reserve - "Pantanal", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Reserve"Pantanal" is a unique and at the same time a wonderful attraction in Brazil. Its borders are in contact with Paraguay and Bolivia. The prevailing heights are within 50-70 meters. This amazing savannah is separated from the north by the Amazon jungle, and to the south by dense coastal Atlantic forests. The Paraguay River flows through the Pantanal, which creates numerous swamps, lakes and water meadows.

Among this richest fauna on the planet are such well-known species as the hyacinth macaw, toucans, capybara, guar wolf, many species of monkeys, deer, coatis, armadillos, anteater, sloth, more than 1000 species of butterflies, etc. Many of the animals that are threatened extinction in other parts of South America, they live in the Pantanal. Not far from the reserve is the small and wonderful town of Bonito, which is surrounded by greenery. The Brazilians dubbed it - the gate to the Pantanal. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this protected nature Park amazing beauty and variety.

4.7 Brazilian Islands in the Atlantic: Fernando de Noronha and Rocas Atoll

The Fernando de Noronha archipelago and the Rocas Atoll, which are the peaks of the underwater South Atlantic Ridge that come to the surface of the ocean, lie off the eastern coast of Brazil. These islands are among the largest in this region of the Atlantic, and their coastal waters are highly bioproductive and play an exceptional role as habitats and breeding grounds for tuna, sharks, sea turtles and marine mammals. The largest concentrations of marine tropical birds in the Western Atlantic have been noted on the islands; there is also a large local population of dolphins. During low tides on Rocas Atoll, you can observe an impressive picture: shallow lagoons teeming with fish.

Flora and fauna of Fernando de Noronha. The island was covered with forest until the nineteenth century, after the prison was opened on the island, the forest began to be cut down from the construction of escape rafts. Currently, the islands are predominantly covered with shrubs, and in some areas new forest has recently been planted.

The islands are inhabited by 2 species of endemic birds - Noronha Elaenia (Elaenia ridleyana) and Noronha Vireo (Vireo gracilirostris). Both are on the main island; Noronha Vireo is also present on Ilha Rata. In addition, there are the Eared Dove Noronha auriculata Zinaida, the rodents, Noronhomys vespuccii, mentioned by Amerigo Vespucci, have now disappeared.

Geography of Rocas Atoll . It is of volcanic origin, formed by corals. The only atoll in the South Atlantic, one of the smallest atolls in the world.

The atoll has an oval shape, its length is approximately 3.7 km, width- 2.5 km. The depth of the lagoon is 6 m, the area is 7.1 km². The area of the two islets of the atoll (Cemitério in the southwest, Farol Cay in the northwest) is 0.36 km², of which Farol Cay accounts for about two-thirds of the territory. The highest point is a sand dune in the south of Farol Cay, its height is 6 m. The atoll consists mainly of corals and red algae. The coral ring is practically closed, with the exception of a 200-meter wide channel on the north side and a much narrower channel on the western side.

Both islets are overgrown with grass, shrubs, and several palm trees also grow on them. The islets are inhabited by crabs, spiders, scorpions, sand fleas, beetles, and many bird species. Turtles, sharks, dolphins live near the atoll.

4.8 Campos Cerrado National Parks: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas

"Campos Serrado" is one of the ecoregions of the tropical Brazilian savannah, which occupies about 20% of the country's territory. In this zone there are two Brazilian national parks (Emas and Chapada dos Veadeiros), which are not just protected areas, but also UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Their flora and fauna are distinguished by their biodiversity and at the same time are one of the oldest ecosystems. tropical zone, which impresses with its amazing contrasts. These places have been pleasing to the eye for thousands of years, and also serve as a safe haven for a variety of animals and plants.

Emas. Emas National Park is located in the central part of the Brazilian Highland savannah. The authorities of the country, or rather President Juscelino, made this territory a reserve back in 1961, but Emas was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2001. The park is rich in forested savanna flora. It is here that you can find amazing palm trees typical of the wooded savannahs. In the park, tourists can see the round crowns of huge babasu palms, reaching 75 meters in height.

The Emasa savanna has helped to preserve many species of living organisms during climate change. Among the most interesting representatives fauna can be noted large anteater, armadillo and maned wolf. As for the climate, winters are cold here, and summers are hot. Inquisitive tourists are offered such types of entertainment as fishing, horseback riding or boat trips.

Chapada dos Veadeiros. An equally interesting object is the Chapada dos Veadeiros park. Which also became a protected area in 1961. The park is located in the state of Goiás on an ancient plateau. If Emas is very rich in fauna, then nature has endowed Chapada dos Veadeiros with a wide variety of flora. There are more than 25 species of trees on the territory of the reserve. The fauna of the region is also quite bright and colorful (marsh deer, armadillos, tapirs). On hot summer days, temperatures up to 40 degrees can be observed here, but in winter there is sometimes a slight frost.

5. Venezuela

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Venezuela includes 3 items (for 2010), this is 0.3% of total number(981 for 2013). 2 objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, 1 object - according to natural criteria (Canaima National Park).

In addition, as of 2010, 3 objects on the territory of the state are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The first site in Venezuela was listed in 1993 at the 17th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

5.1 Canaima National Park

Canaima National Park is a park in the southeast of Venezuela, on the border with Brazil and Guyana. The area of the park is about 30,000 km². It is located in the state of Bolivar and occupies approximately the same area as the Gran Sabana Natural Park.

The park was opened on June 12, 1962 and is the second largest in the country, second only to Parima-Tapirapeco. In 1994, Canaima was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main attraction and value of the park are the tepui (flat-topped mountains) located there.

Flora and fauna. On the territory of Canaima, such representatives of the animal world live as: tapir - a large herbivorous mammal (somewhat reminiscent of a pig in shape, but has a short trunk adapted for grasping), peccaries - a large artiodactyl, similar to a pig, agouti - rodents, relatives of guinea pigs, moving on long limbs, anteater, puma, jaguar, as well as broad-faced caiman, etc. In the village of the Pemon Indians, there are many rabbits that are chased by children. The local jungle is famous for the special abundance of various types of orchids, of which there are about 500 species.

Attractions. Like fragments of another world, the Table Mountains stand here - the unique plateau of the Gran Sabana, part of the Guiana Plateau, two-kilometer steep walls of which, absolutely flat at the top, rest against the clouds. These mountains, called tepui, are some of the oldest formations on earth, dating back countless years when Africa and South America were one continent. Arthur Conan Doyle, inspired by the surrealistic landscape, settled tyrannosvars and pterodactyls on the tops of the plateau. Of course, there are no ancient lizards on Gran Saban, but the microcosm that lives at an altitude of two thousand meters above the rest of the surrounding world is truly unique.

Another attraction of Canaim is the waterfalls, the highest on the planet. Falling from the sheer ledges of the mesas, these waterfalls make for an impressive sight. The most famous of them - Angel Falls, is overthrown from the top of one of the highest tepui - Auyantepui, which quite deservedly means "mountain of the devil".

6. Colombia

There are 2 sites on the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites in Colombia:

Los Katios National Park (1994)

Malpelo Island (2006)

6.1 Los Katios National Park

It was created in the north of Colombia, in the border zone with the state of Panama. On the other side of the border, another protected area has been created - the Darien National Park. On the territory of Colombia, Los Katios National Park appeared in 1976, today its area has grown to 72 thousand hectares. The nature of the park is represented by the following natural areas: tropical forests and floodplain swamps. The territory of Los Katios Park lies around the Atrato River. On its banks and among the nearby complexes of wet forests, a total of about 600 plant varieties were found. A rather remarkable local species is the cotton tree. It's typical tropical view which belongs to the Malvaceae family. The homeland of this species is considered to be Mexico, some countries of Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and the tropical region of West Africa.

6.2 Malpelo Island

Malpelo is an island in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 500 km off the coast of Buenaventura Bay in South America. Belongs to Colombia, is part of the department of Valle del Cauca. The area is 0.35 km².

On July 12, 2006, Malpelo, together with the adjacent water area of 857,150 hectares, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the largest no-fishing zone in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Geography. The island is a rock without abundant vegetation, maximum height- 376 m (Mount Mona, Spanish Cerro de la Mona). The length is about 1850 m, the width is up to 600 m. It is surrounded by small rocks. The Malpelo Natural Protected Area occupies a circle with a radius of 9.656 km around the point with coordinates 3°58?30? from. sh. 81°34?48? h. d. (G) (O).

Malpelo is home to populations of silky sharks, frilled sharks, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks, as well as sand sharks, making the island a popular destination for divers.

The island is composed of effusive rocks, volcanogenic breccias, and Tertiary basalt dikes. Vegetation - algae, lichens, mosses, some types of shrubs, ferns.

biodiversity. Malpelo Island is home to a range of rare species marine life. A lot of sharks, giant groupers, marlins gather here. This is one of the few places on Earth where reliable encounters with deep-sea sand sharks have been recorded. These depths support stable populations of large marine predators and pelagic species, in particular, these are accumulations of more than 200 hammerheads, over 1 thousand frilled sharks, as well as whale sharks and tuna. 17 species of marine mammals, including humpbacks and blue whales, 5 terrestrial and 7 marine reptile species, 61 bird species, 394 fish species and 340 shellfish species have been recorded on Malpelo .

7. Peru

For 2012, the list includes 11 objects, 2 of which are natural and 2 are mixed:

Machu Picchu (1983)

Huascaran National Park (1985)

Manu (1987)

Rio Abiseo National Park (1992)

7.1 Machu Picchu Historical Reserve

The city of ancient America, located on the territory of modern Peru, on the top of a mountain range at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, dominating the valley of the Urubamba River. In 2007 he was awarded the title of the New Wonder of the World.

In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to the new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800.

Flora and fauna. On the territory of Machu Picchu you are constantly surrounded by landscapes of dazzling beauty. The splendor of the archaeological ruins is harmoniously combined with a huge variety of flora and fauna. On the entire area of the lost city, which is approximately 32,520 hectares, you will see exotic pisonai and kunyual trees, shield palms, alders - they amaze with their grandeur. About 400 species of begonias and orchids grow here, of which only 260 species are classified.

Animals living in Machu Picchu are also striking in their diversity. Approximately 375 species of birds live in the city, of which 200 species can always be seen during the tour. One of the brightest representatives of birds is the Rock Cockerel, it is he who is the symbol of Peru. The bird is easily recognizable by its colorful plumage, it is easy to meet on the banks of rivers.

In terms of animals, the endangered Andean bear is of particular interest. In these parts, he is known as "Spectacled Bear". The animal is absolutely safe, eats only plant foods. Due to his shy disposition, he is rarely photographed. In Machu Picchu you can also see vicuñas, white-tailed deer, wild llamas and other representatives of exotic fauna.

Current state. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the UNESCO World Heritage status, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to the new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region. To support tourism, a railway was built to the neighboring city of Aguas Calientes from Cusco via Ollantaytambo, more than ten trains a day run from Ollantaytambo. From the Aguas Calientes railway station to Machu Picchu, there is a bus that overcomes eight kilometers of a steep serpentine climb. UNESCO opposed the construction of the cable car to limit the flow of tourists. As a result of the earthquake in 2004, the section of the railway was badly damaged, but was restored.

At the 35th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, it was decided that the ancient city from February 1, 2012 will be excluded from the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.

7.2 Huascaran National Park

A national park located in the Ancash region of Peru, on the territory of the Cordillera Blanca.

The area of the park is 3400 km². Declared a nature reserve on July 1, 1975. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The name of the park comes from the name of the highest peak in Peru - Huascaran, 6768 m high. Many rare and endemic plants and animals live in the park. For example, Puya raimondi is a plant of the bromeliad family up to 10 meters high, whose age can reach up to 100 years.

Climate. The climate in the national park, in addition to being characterized by altitudinal zonation typical of mountains, is divided into two seasons a year. One of them is wet, due to strong warm winds blowing from the Amazonian jungle and lasts from December to March. The other, which lasts from May to October, is dry, characterized by a large number of sunny days. The temperature at this time can rise to 25 degrees Celsius, but the nights are very cold, and often the thermometer drops below 0 degrees.

Flora and fauna. The fauna of the White and Black Cordillera is represented mainly by birds and mammals. Some species have not yet been described or our knowledge of them is extremely scarce. According to scientists, there are 112 species of birds in the Huascaran National Park, representing 33 different families. Among them are the Andean Condor, the Andean Spur Duck and the Andean Tinamou. Mammals are represented in the park by only ten species. However, among them are such amazing, rare and beautiful animals as the pampas cat, Andean cat, spectacled bear, vicuña and Peruvian deer.

The flora of the Huascaran National Park is more diverse in terms of species growing here. The park has seven climatic zones and a huge number of microclimates. All this contributes to the development of unique plants, capturing literally every part of the mountain surface suitable for life and growth. In total, scientists have described 779 plant species in Huascaran, belonging to 340 genera and 104 families.

7.3 Manu National Park

The park was organized in 1977 in the regions of Madre de Dios and Cusco, and in 1987 was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Manu area is 19,098 km², of which the national park occupies 15,328 km², the rest is a reserve zone. The main part of the territory amazonian forests, but some part is located in the Andes at an altitude of up to 4200 m. A large number of species of flora and fauna live in Manu. More than 15 thousand species of plants and about a thousand species of birds have been found on its territory (more than a tenth of all bird species and about 1.5 times more than in Russia). On the territory of the park, the population of the Inca toad, endemic to Peru, is protected.

7.4 Rio Abiseo National Park

Rio Abiseo National Park is a national park located in the San Martin region of Peru. Since 1990 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The park is home to many species of flora and fauna, and there are more than 30 archaeological sites from the pre-Columbian period. Since 1986, certain parts of the park have been closed to tourists due to the fragility of both the natural and archaeological environments. The largest and most famous archaeological site in the park is the Gran Pajaten, located on a hilltop near the border of the region. Nearby are the ruins of Los Pinchudos (discovered in 1965), which are a series of stone graves. Most archeology research in the park is conducted by staff at the University of Colorado.

Attractions

South America is the birthplace of the Amazon and the impenetrable jungle. The Chavin civilization was born here, and the culture of the Naskans forever inscribed South American ceramics in the annals of the world's artistic heritage. The natural conditions of South America are diverse and contrasting. There are plains and long mountain ranges, and volcanoes and earthquakes also continue to disturb the continent. Today we will tell you about the seven natural wonders of South America. Read and be surprised!

Iguazu Falls, Brazil and Argentina

Iguazu Falls- one of the largest waterfall complexes in the world - is located on the Argentine-Brazilian border, 320 km east of the city of Asuncion in Paraguay, at the intersection of the Iguazu and Parana rivers. It was discovered in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Alvaro Nunez Caseso de Vaca. Alvaro went to the jungle in order to find gold. In fact, he found it, only in a figurative sense, because the Iguazu Falls are considered one of the main attractions of Brazil and Argentina.

The name of the waterfall comes from the Guarani language and means "big water". And nothing surprising. The average volume of water falling from above is 1.2 million cubic meters per second, so you can imagine what a roar is on the whole district. About once every forty years, during a drought, Iguazu dries up completely, and during such a period the waterfall also disappears, and only the rock remains.

The last drought was in 2006. Now, on the contrary, the authorities are concerned about the high water level in the river, therefore, due to the threat to the safety of tourists, the approach to the famous "Devil's Throat", the most famous waterfall of the complex, was closed.

If the Iguazu cascades were a single, continuous wall of water, then it would be the widest waterfall in the world, but this is not the case, and today the African Victoria Falls has the widest continuous water wall.

In order not to stop only at the waterfalls, take a tour of the Iguazu National Park to see the real jungle with its virgin flora and fauna.

Tour to Iguazu Falls

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Galapagos Islands is an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, located 972 km west of Ecuador and consisting of 13 main volcanic islands, 6 small islands and 107 rocks and alluvial areas. It is known not only for the huge number of animals that can no longer be found anywhere else, but also for the fact that at one time Charles Darwin conducted his research here, after which he created his Theory of Evolution.

The islands were officially discovered in March 1535 by the priest Thomas de Berlanga, who sailed on a ship from Panama to Peru, but lost his course. In 1978, the islands became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 1985, the World Biosphere Reserve. The famous traveler Thor Heyerdahl visited here in 1953 in search of the heritage of the famous Incas.

The flora and fauna of the islands is extremely unusual and diverse. The main plant in the Galapagos is the prickly pear cactus, which grows to gigantic sizes. Since not a drop of rain falls on the islands for 8 months a year, this desert dweller has practically no competitors here.

There are only 9 species of mammals here, but they are all found exclusively in the Galapagos. Marine iguanas live here, similar to lizards and get their food in the sea, sometimes at a depth of up to 10 m. They are adjacent to sea lizards and the main decoration of the islands - giant Galapagos tortoises.

Galapagos tortoises are among the longest-lived world record holders. They live for 200 or more years. There are as many as 60 species of birds in the Galapagos archipelago, and half of them live only here.

There are 13 varieties of finches alone. Galapagos pigeons, Galapagos buzzards, Galapagos flightless cormorants, and masked boobies are not found elsewhere. These amazing birds in the mating season give each other beautiful green branches as a symbol of love.

Believe it or not, a special kind of penguin lives on the islands. The islands are very much appreciated by diving enthusiasts, because in addition to dolphins, tropical fish and whales, it is fashionable to meet huge flocks of fur seals and sea lions here.

On one of the islands - Isabella - there are several volcanoes. Sierra Negra- the most famous, it is the second volcano in the world in terms of the size of the crater, after the famous Ngoro Ngoro in Tanzania. The diameter of the crater is about 7 kilometers. The entire surface of the crater is black lifeless volcanic rock, in contrast to Ngoro-Ngoro, whose crater is a flowering valley filled with animals.

Route to the Galapagos Islands

Atacama Desert, Chile

Atacama Desert considered one of the driest places on Earth. There are territories here that have never been irrigated with water, where there is not a single blade of grass, not a single bush - only stones and silence. Some landscapes resemble the Moon, so the locals named one of the valleys after this celestial object.

The Chilean desert is also popular as the Sahara Desert in Africa, which is why all Chilean guidebooks put it in the top five most significant places in the country.

There are a lot of salt marshes on the territory, which were formed after the lakes dried up. If you see this place from afar, it will seem to you that this is a lake. It is actually a thick layer of ice that glistens in the sun.

About 160 species of cacti grow in the Atacama (90 of them are endemic) and about 200 species of animals live, mainly reptiles and insects. The flora includes plants such as llareta and kenoa, a type of tree that grows on the very high altitude in the world.

The desert is not adapted for life, but there is a lot of copper here and, accordingly, mining is the main occupation of local residents.

There is a unique art object in the desert, a sculpture of a giant hand as a sign of the helplessness and loneliness of a person in the sands.

The statue "Hand of the Desert" was created by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrasabal in 1992 and this is the only thing that reminds of the presence of a person for several tens of kilometers around.

Atacama Desert Tour

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Perito Moreno- one of the most unique glaciers on the planet, where frozen water is unreal blue color, and the total mass of ice overtakes a 16-storey building in height. If you happen to come to Argentina, be sure to visit Los Glaciares National Park. Located near the city of Calafet.

The glacier was named after the Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno, who first explored the region in the 19th century. Translated from Spanish, the name Perito Moreno means "scientist Moreno."

Every day the glacier moves forward by 2 meters, in a year it overcomes the path of 700 meters. But it is melting at the same rate, so we can say that the glacier is standing still.

The most interesting thing is that the glacier comes ashore at a speed of 2 meters per day (it turns out that it rises by almost 700 meters per year). However, at the same time, it melts at the same rate, so in fact, for 90 years, Perito Moreno has stood still.

You can watch this miracle of nature from specially equipped viewing platforms. One of them is located at Cape Magellan. For convenience, bridges are laid everywhere, along which you can wander indefinitely, there are benches where you can simply observe this bewitching beauty.

If you doubt your abilities, go to the glacier on a small boat that sails 200-300 meters to Perito Moreno, you can’t get any closer, because every second there is a threat of a collapse of the glacier.

Get to Perito Moreno

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, the Angel's water flow has to fly almost a kilometer to reach the ground. It is 20 times taller than Niagara Falls and is stunning. The waterfall is located in the tropical forests of Venezuela, on the territory of the Canaima National Park.

It was discovered in 1935 by American aviator and gold prospector James Crawford Angel, although it was first discovered in 1910 by Spaniard Ernesto Sánchez La Cruz. Angel was flying over the area in search of gold when he decided to land on the top of a certain mountain. There he saw a huge waterfall falling with a crash from a cliff. Soon everyone learned about the new waterfall, which was named after the pilot who discovered it.

Getting to the waterfall is not so easy - Angel is located in the wilderness of Venezuela. A trip to the waterfall includes a plane flight from the city of Caracas or Cuadad Bolivar to Canaima, and then another crossing by water. It is very difficult to predict whether the waterfall will be visible, since this area is often clouded with fogs.

Tour in Angel Falls

Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

ABOUT Kaieteur waterfall many do not even know, because it is overshadowed by Iguazu and Angel, however, Kaieteur Falls is one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the whole world. Moreover, it is the most powerful waterfall in the world. It consumes more than 1,263 cubic meters of water every second, which is almost 2 times more than Niagara.

In terms of its height, it is 5 times higher than the Niagara Falls and twice the African Victoria. For the first time Kaieteur waterfall It was discovered by the English geologist Charles Brown on April 24, 1870. It was the first white man who saw all the beauty and power of this amazing waterfall.

Kaieteur is located in the National Park of the same name, which completely surrounds the waterfall. Locals say that the waterfall got its name from the Indian leader Kaya, who, in order to save people, sacrificed himself by sailing along the Mazaruni River in a canoe.

The main reason that the waterfall is almost unknown to tourists is the lack of normal access to Kaietura. It is located in the Guyanese part of the Guiana Highlands in the center of tropical rainforests in a little-studied region of Guyana. Therefore, many prefer not to come here, because they do not know what to expect. Although there are an unusual number of mysterious and unique places here.

Take at least Roraima, a table mountain located in South America on its northeastern side. The place is so mystical that there are more than a hundred legends associated with it.

Route to Kaieteur waterfall

Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia

mysterious Lake Titicaca is the largest alpine reservoir and the second largest lake of the continent. The name consists of the words of the Quechua language: "titi" - puma, the sacred animal of the Quechua Indians and "kaka" - rock.

It is located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, on the Altiplano plateau. More than 300 rivers flowing down from glaciers flow into the lake, and the Desaguadero River flows out, flowing into the endorheic Lake Poopo in Bolivia. The salinity of the water is about 1 ppm, so Titicaca is considered a freshwater lake.

Lake Titicaca It is considered the cradle of the civilization of the Incas, Teotihuacan and other peoples of the Andes. According to the mythology of the Incas, once the world was plunged into the abyss of darkness and cold, and the human race was on the verge of extinction. Some time after the flood, the god Viracocha emerged from the depths of Lake Titicaca.

Traveling through the islands of the lake, Viracochi ordered the Sun and Moon to rise. He recreated man and woman and sent them to all four directions, beginning the settlement of the world. Thus, Titicaca is considered the birthplace of the Inca civilization, whose spirits returned back to the lake after death.

For a long time, Titicaca haunted scientists who were looking for an underwater city called Wanaku, in which, according to legend, Inca gold was hidden. In 1968, the famous Jacques Yves-Cousteau descended to the bottom of the lake to find at least some signs of the sunken city. However, he only discovered ancient pottery.

Only in 2000, local archaeologists discovered the ruins of the temple at the bottom of the lake. According to preliminary estimates, these are the remains of the Tiwanaku civilization that once existed on this site, which existed even before the birth of the Inca civilization.

Tour to Lake Titicaca

SOUTH AMERICA. UNESCO World Heritage

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Natural heritage sites

Objects of natural and cultural heritage

Cultural heritage sites

ARGENTINA

1 The ancient path of Quebrada de Humahuaca.

"Road of the Inca".

2 Buildings and farms of the Jesuits in Cordoba and the surrounding area. Buildings typical of the Jesuits: university, church, residence of the "Society of Jesus", college.

3 Cueva de las Manos cave. Ancient rock paintings found over

10 thousand years.

4 Los Glaciares National Park. The largest glaciers in the Southern Hemisphere (except Antarctica) with many glacial lakes.

5 The spiritual and political center of Indian culture Tiwanaku is the capital of the ancient pre-Hispanic empire, which reached its peak in the period from 500 to 900.

6 Archaeological site of Fuerte de Samay Pata. Religious buildings of the Incas with rock carvings. A reminder of pre-Hispanic traditions and beliefs unparalleled

in America.

7 The historic city of Sucre. The first capital of Bolivia with a characteristic mixture of local traditions and European styles in architecture.

8 The mining town of Potosi. The largest in the world industrial complex 16th century

BRAZIL

9 Fernando de Noronha Island and Rocas Atoll.

Habitat and breeding grounds for tuna, sharks, sea turtles and marine mammals. The largest concentration of seabirds in the Western Atlantic.

10 Historic center of Olinda. Urban development of the 18th century: buildings, gardens, 20 churches, monasteries, many chapels.

11 Historic center of Salvador. The ancient capital of Brazil with a mixture of European, African and American cultures. The first slave market in the New World.

12 Pantanal Protected Area. One of the largest wetlands in the world

with an abundance of plants and animals.

13 The historic center of Goiás. An example of the organic development of a mining settlement

using local materials and traditional building techniques.

14 Brasilia is designed like a bird in flight. During construction, every element of the city was in harmony with the overall design intent.

15 "Coast of discovery". Forest reserves of the eastern Atlantic coast, one of the richest areas on the planet in terms of biodiversity. It is the habitat of a number of endemic species.

16 Historic center of Diamantina. The capital of the "diamond rush" in South America (XVIII century). A symbol of the triumph of human cultural and artistic activity in adverse natural conditions.

17 The historic city of Ouro Preto. In the XVIII century. Brazil's gold mining center. Many churches, bridges and fountains are evidence of past prosperity.

18 Church complex of Bon Jesus do Congonhas.

18th century complex consists of a church and seven chapels.

19 Forest reserves of the southeast Atlantic coast. The 25 forest reserves illustrate the evolution of the surviving virgin forests.

VENEZUELA

20 The city of Coro and its port is one of the first colonial cities and the only surviving example of the fusion of local traditions with Spanish and Dutch architectural techniques.

21 Canaima National Park. 65% of the park's territory is occupied by table-shaped mountains, which are interesting both from a geological and biological point of view. Here is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel.

COLOMBIA

22 Port, fortifications and monuments of Cartagena, the ancient capital of the Spanish colonizers.

23 Los Katios National Park. Untouched swampy equatorial forests are home to many rare animals.

24 Tierradentro National Archaeological Park. Ancient burial structures (Vl-Xvv.).

PARAGUAY

25 Jesuit Missions of La Santisima.

26 Rio Abiseo National Park. Many endemic flora and fauna of tropical forests. 36 archaeological sites - evidence of pre-Inca civilization.

27 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone. The capital of the ancient state of Chimu is the largest city in pre-Columbian America.

28 Huascaran National Park. One of the highest peaks in the tropical zone. deep gorges with mountain rivers, glacial lakes and diverse vegetation.

29 Lima Historic Center (founded in 1535).

"City of Kings" until the middle of the XVIII century. was the capital and most important city of the Spanish possessions in South America.

30 Manu National Park. Altitudinal zonality of subequatorial forests with record-breaking species diversity of plants and animals.

31 Machu Picchu Historical Zone. Machu Picchu is located at an altitude of 2430m above sea level,

surrounded by tropical vegetation. Built during the heyday of the Inca state.

32 City of Cusco. The ancient capital of the Incas, plundered by the Spaniards.

33 Historic quarter of the city of Colonia del Sacramento. Mixing Portuguese, Spanish

and post-colonial styles.

34 City of Quito. Monasteries, church and Jesuit college, combining Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and local art.

35 Sangay National Park. Includes a range of natural systems, from foothill rainforests to snow-capped peaks

and glaciers.

36 Historic center of Cuenca. The city of Cuenca was built in 1557. The architecture of the city is mainly from the 18th century, but was updated during the economic prosperity of the 19th century.

37 Galapagos Archipelago National Park. Living Museum of Evolution.

The United States intends to withdraw from UNESCO by the end of December 2018, until then the country will remain a member of the organization. The State Department said that the decision is related to the organization's anti-Israeli, in the opinion of the States, policy of the organization, and also noted the need to reform UNESCO. In total, there are 1,073 objects on the list of world heritage sites, 23 of them are located in the United States, that is, 2.1% of the total. Ten are recognized as masterpieces of human genius, 13 are natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance. United States World Heritage Gallery at UNESCO - in the photo selection.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwestern Colorado and covers an area of 211 km². It was created in 1906 to protect the numerous ruins of the settlements of the Anasazi Indians (ancestors of modern pueblos), created in the 6th-13th centuries. More than 700 thousand tourists visit the park every year.

yellowstone national park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1978

Yellowstone National Park is located in the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It is famous not only for the fact that it became the world's first national park - this happened in 1872, but also for its huge area - 8991 km².

On the territory of the park there are lakes, rivers, canyons and caves. Yellowstone Lake, one of the largest high altitude lakes in North America, is located in the center of the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered a dormant supervolcano; it has erupted with tremendous force several times over the past two million years. Most of the park is covered with solidified lava; The park contains one of the five geyser fields in the world. About two thousand species of plants grow in the park, there are several hundred species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.

About 3 million tourists visit the park every year.

Kluane, Wrangell St. Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini Alsek Parks and Reserves

Kluane, Wrangell St. Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini Alsek Parks and Reserves - international system parks located in British Columbia (Canada) and the state of Alaska (USA), with a total area of over 1294 km². The system is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its impressive glaciers and icefield landscape, and for its importance as a habitat for grizzly bears, reindeer and rams.

Grand Canyon National Park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1979

Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona. In the park is located grand canyon the Colorado River, one of the acknowledged natural wonders of the world. The area of the park is 4927 km². More than 4 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year.

The Grand Canyon, including its vast system of adjacent canyons, is neither the largest nor the deepest in the world, but it is prized primarily for its harmonious combination of size, depth, and multicolored rock outcrops that date back to the Precambrian.

Everglades National Park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1979

The Everglades National Park is located south of the Florida peninsula. This region is the only place in the US in the tropical climate zone, so there are animals and plants here that are not found anywhere else in the US. Hundreds of small lakes and rivers are hidden in the thickets, which flow into the Florida Strait. The territory of the Everglades National Park is 6105 km². About 1 million tourists visit the Everglades every year.

Independence Hall

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1979

Independence Hall is a building on Independence Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is famous for discussing, agreeing and signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and then the US Constitution.

Redwood National Park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1980

Redwood National Park is located in California. The 429 km² park is covered with ancient sequoia forests. These trees are one of the tallest and most massive tree species on Earth. Individual specimens of sequoia reach a height of more than 110 meters (35 floors!) - these are one of the most tall trees on the ground. The maximum age is more than three and a half thousand years. In addition to the redwood forests, the parks preserve the original flora and fauna of these places, prairie pastures, cultural resources, parts of rivers and streams, as well as 60 kilometers of unspoiled coastline.

By the way, the planet Endor from Star Wars owes its landscape to the park - a significant part of the filming of the final episode of the original trilogy took place here.

Mammoth Cave National Park

On the territory of this national park in Kentucky is the longest cave system on the planet, resulting from karst processes - Mammoth Cave. In the park and its dungeons, stretching for more than 560 km, there are a wide variety of plants and animals, including endangered species. More than 500 thousand tourists visit the park every year.

Olympic National Park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1981

Olympic National Park. Photo: HapFam / Flickr

Olympic National Park, located in the northwest of Washington state, its area is 3734 km². It is famous for its biodiversity. Due to the long isolation of the peninsula from the vast continental spaces, a peculiar flora and fauna has formed here. So far, 15 endemic animal species and 8 endemics from the plant kingdom are found here. The 11 rivers that drain the Olympic mountain range are considered among the country's best salmon areas. The park also includes a 100-kilometer stretch of coastline, the most significant stretch of untouched coastline in the northwest United States.

Historical monument "Mounds of Cahokia"

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1982

Located approximately 13 km northeast of St. Louis in Illinois, the Cahokia Mounds is the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico and the largest archaeological site of the Mississippian VII-XIII culture. This is a vivid example of an ancient tribal settlement, which includes numerous burial mounds associated with it and surrounding small villages. Among the main attractions is the "Monk's Mound", the largest prehistoric earthwork in America, with an area of 5 hectares and a height of 30 m.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Jeff Pearce/Flickr

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in the central part of the eponymous range, the name of which can be literally translated as the Great Smoky Mountains, mountain system Appalachians. The location of the park is the American states of North Carolina and Tennessee, the border between which runs along the middle part of the ridge.

According to Federal Service National parks of the United States, the Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in this country - annually it is visited by about 10 million people.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: netbros / Flickr

The so-called Appalachian Trail passes through the territory of the protected area - the longest continuous walking route in the world and one of the most famous in the United States, passing along this mountain range from Maine to Georgia. More than 3,500 species of plants, including 130 tree species, have been recorded in this exceptionally picturesque park of 2108 km² - about the same in all of Europe.

The fortress of La Fortaleza and the historical part of the city of San Juan on the island of Puerto Rico

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1983

The fortress of La Fortaleza was the first defensive fortification built in the strategic territory of the Caribbean Sea to protect the bay and the city of San Juan from attacks by French, Dutch and British corsairs in the 16th century. The fortress was also made the governor's residence.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty. Photo: Jason Betzner / Flickr

The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island about 3 km southwest of the southern tip of Manhattan Island. This towering monument to freedom, created in Paris by the French sculptor Bartholdi in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel, was presented by France to America in 1886 to mark the centenary of its independence. 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.

Yosemite National Park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1984

The 3,081 km² Yosemite National Park is located on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. Here you can see deep canyons, numerous waterfalls and lakes, moraine deposits, rounded granite domes and outcrops with sheer walls and other typical forms of glacial relief.

Located at an altitude of 600 to 4000 m above sea level, the park includes five main vegetation zones: dense thickets of shrubs and oaks, lower mountain forest, upper mountain forest, subalpine and alpine belts. Of the 7,000 species of plants growing in California, about half are found in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and a fifth in the park itself. About 89% of the park is considered a wilderness area. About 3 million people visit the park every year.

Chaco National Historical Park

Chaco National Historical Park covers an area of 137.5 km² and is considered one of the most important areas in North America in terms of archeology. It is located in northwestern New Mexico, between the cities of Albuquerque and Farmington, in Chaco Canyon.

The people who inhabited this land created the most massive man-made structures in the history of the region until 1800. Chaco was the center of the heyday of the culture of the Pueblo Indian tribe. Although the area was generally deserted, life was in full swing in the area of the canyon. Local residents erected huge towers (pueblos) with spacious rooms inside, around which small settlements arose. This building system has become a hallmark of the entire region. The main architectural elements of local buildings were stone walls, cobblestone foundations and external cladding made of pointed stones. This made it possible to create buildings with a height of more than four floors, which was uncharacteristic for that time.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1987

The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii contains the two most active volcanoes on Earth are Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The land area of the park is 1308 km². Volcanic eruptions form an ever-changing landscape here, and frozen lava flows are found everywhere. Rare birds and a huge number of endemic species are noted in the park, forests of giant tree-like ferns grow here.

Monticello Manor and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1987

In addition, Jefferson designed its ideal "academic village", which is still the campus of the University of Virginia.

Campus of the University of Virginia. Photo: elander / Flickr

Indian settlement Pueblo de Taos

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1992

Pueblo de Taos. Photo: Tim / Flickr

Pueblo de Taos is a small Indian settlement located on the banks of the Red Willow Creek in the US state of New Mexico. It a notable multi-storey residential complex built between the 10th and 15th centuries from brownish-red clay. Complex consists of adobe houses 5-6 floors high with powerful walls up to a meter thick. At first, the building played the role of a fortress: there were no doors in it, it was possible to enter inside only through holes in the roofs, they climbed with the help of ladders, which, in case of danger, were pulled inside. Indians still live in the complex, preserving the ancient way and originality of their culture - aboutThe community of Taos is known for its secrecy and conservatism, which, however, does not prevent them from making money on tourists.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The main attraction of the park is a chain of 80 karst caves, which are characterized by the diversity and beauty of mineral formations. The age of the caves is 250 million years, the depth is up to 339 m, the total length of all passages and halls is about 12 km. The park is home to 16 species of bats with a total number of up to 1 million individuals.

Waterton Lakes International Peace Park - Glacier

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 1995

Waterton Lakes Glacier International Peace Park is the first national park of its kind in the world. It was established in 1932 as a result of the merger of two parks in the northern Rocky Mountains - Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and Glacier National Park in the United States. The American part of the park occupies 4102 km², the Canadian part - 505 km². The park is replete with glaciers and relic coniferous forests, and it is also known for its large population of grizzly bears.

Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Park

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 2010

Papahanaumokuakea is a vast and isolated group of small low-lying islands and atolls surrounded by ocean and scattered for almost 250 km northwest of the main Hawaiian archipelago and a length of about 1931 km. The park includes a deep water area with a total area of 360,000 km² and surpasses all other national parks in the United States in this indicator, Papahanaumokuakea is the world's largest protected marine reserve.

Monumental earthworks Poverty Point

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 2014

Poverty Point earthworks are an archaeological culture of Indians who lived in the lower reaches of the Mississippi River. It existed approximately in the 17th - 7th centuries BC. Monuments of this culture are the colossal earthen structures (mounds) that have survived to this day at Poverty Point near the city of Epps in Louisiana. During archaeological excavations, a large number of artifacts were found, in particular, images of animals, fragments of steatite bowls, and so on.

Missions San Antonio

Year of inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 2015

The object includes five architectural complexes located in Texas, founded by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century. Chief among them is the Alamo, a former Catholic mission that also served as a fortress.

Islands lost among the waters of the Pacific Ocean, mysterious moai statues known all over the world, colonial cities of incredible beauty and religious monuments with rich decorations are just some of the unique sights that guests of South America can see. Some natural reserves and architectural monuments located on the territory of the continent have been recognized as World Heritage Sites; today these sights are well known even to those who have never been to South America. Absolutely everyone will find unique objects for research here, nature lovers will definitely like national parks, and history lovers will love ancient cities and archaeological areas.

Iguazu National Park was founded in 1934 and covers over 55,000 sq. km. More than 1.5 million people visit the park every year, they come to admire the magnificent waterfalls, walk through the centuries-old forests and fabulously beautiful mountainous areas. More than 2,000 species of plants grow on the territory of the reserve, it has become a habitat for 70 species of mammals, 40 species of reptiles and 400 species of birds. The main feature of the Iguazu Park is the beautiful waterfalls, of which there are more than 270 on its territory.

Today, convenient bridges and viewing platforms are equipped for tourists near the most beautiful waterfalls, so you can see natural attractions in all their glory. There are many fast-moving rivers in the park, rafting along which is also very popular with tourists, and many people prefer to just stroll through the most picturesque areas of the reserve on foot. Not so long ago, a hotel for tourists was built on the territory of Iguazu Park, so everyone can stay longer in these picturesque places.

The main natural attraction of the reserve is a waterfall with a frightening name "Devil's Throat", over which a rainbow forms every day. Jeep safaris are held on the territory of the reserve, during which you can see many rare representatives of the local fauna. Hiking is popular with those who enjoy bird watching, the exotic forests are home to cute colorful parrots, toucans and more exotic bird species found nowhere else in the world.

From the Spanish name Cueva de las Manos can be translated as "cave of hands", this cave is one of the most interesting in the world from a paleontological point of view. Researchers found many ancient rock paintings in it, including numerous images human hands. Researchers estimate that some of the rock paintings are over 10,000 years old, indicating that the cave has been inhabited for thousands of years.

In the immediate vicinity of Cordoba, there is a historic Jesuit quarter. Walking along it will be interesting for those who like to explore historical sights. The quarter is a complex of preserved buildings that were erected by Jesuit missionaries. The building of the National University, which is one of the oldest in South America, has been preserved in the historic district. In addition, here you can see the building of the old school, several preserved residential buildings and the old church.

Fans of walks in historical places in Bolivia should definitely visit the ancient city of Sucre. Its main value is the numerous preserved monuments of colonial times, some of which were built in the first years after the founding of the city. The official founding date of the city is November 30, 1538, it was originally called Chukisaka, and received its current name in 1825. A significant part of the historical buildings that can be seen today in the city were built in the first half of the 17th century.

For those who are not indifferent to natural attractions, a walk along the national park Noel-Kempff-Mercado. It is located in the eastern part of Bolivia, on the very border with Brazil, the area of \u200b\u200bthis park is a little less than 16,000 square meters. km. Among the main features of the park is a variety of landscapes, on its territory there are rocky areas with deep canyons, and spacious plains, and evergreen Amazonian forests.

Brazil also has an amazing historical city, which explorers and ordinary tourists come to admire from all over the world. The city of Ouro Preto is located on the territory of the state of Minas Gerais, it was once the prosperous capital of this state. Founded in 1711, Ouro Preto became the real center of the Brazilian gold rush. Gold seekers came here from all over the world. The number of luxurious palaces and mansions increased every year in the city, among which there are unique monuments in the Baroque style.

Located in the Brazilian city of Congonhas, the Bon Jesus do Congonhas church complex was built in the 18th century and is a colorful architectural monument in baroque style. The snow-white church is distinguished by marvelous interiors. Many original decorations have been preserved within its walls, including beautiful sculptural compositions with biblical motifs. The beautiful church was built according to the design of the famous architect Francisco Lima Serkira, its construction was fully completed in 1773.

In the northeastern part of Brazil, the world-famous Serra da Capivara National Park is located, which is famous not only for its natural attractions, but also for its priceless monuments of rock art. The first archaeologist who explored these amazing places was Nyede Gidon, after his amazing discoveries, the park was recognized as a World Heritage Site. The area of the Serra da Capivara Park is more than 1,200 square meters. km, since the time of the first archaeological expeditions, its research has not stopped.

Among the cities of Venezuela, one of the most interesting is Santa Ana de Coro. Today, the population of this ancient town is about 174,000 people, it is located on the very outskirts of the Paraguana Peninsula, on the Caribbean coast. A small port town was founded here as early as 1527; in a matter of years, its scale increased tenfold, and new buildings appeared in the city every year.

In Colombia, there is the world-famous San Agustin Archaeological Park, which is visited not only by researchers from all over the world, but also by inquisitive travelers. Here, archaeologists discovered the largest group of religious monuments in South America, which absolutely everyone can see today. The sculptures discovered during excavations in the park were called "chinas", as the researchers managed to find out, they were made from volcanic rocks. Numerous sculptures depict people dressed in a variety of traditional clothes.

Malpelo Island, lost among the endless waters of the Pacific Ocean, is also a landmark of world importance. The rocky island is uninhabited, its length is about 1,850 meters, and its width reaches 600 meters. Actually, main interest represents not a rocky island at all, but the waters surrounding it, in which rare species of sharks, fish and other inhabitants live sea depths. It was here that the researchers managed to simultaneously see several rare species of sharks: silk, whale, frilled and hammerhead sharks, and in the vicinity of the island there is a rare sand shark.

unesco heritage in usa. Monuments of culture and world cultural heritage of south america

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Attractions

Mesa Verde National Park

yellowstone national park

Kluane, Wrangell St. Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini Alsek Parks and Reserves

Grand Canyon National Park

Everglades National Park

Independence Hall

Redwood National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park

Olympic National Park

Historical monument "Mounds of Cahokia"

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The fortress of La Fortaleza and the historical part of the city of San Juan on the island of Puerto Rico

The Statue of Liberty

Yosemite National Park

Chaco National Historical Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Monticello Manor and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville

Indian settlement Pueblo de Taos

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Waterton Lakes International Peace Park - Glacier

Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Park

Monumental earthworks Poverty Point

Missions San Antonio