UNESCO, which stands for, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, is a large organisation that is best known for its list of protected World Heritage sites. Many of the sites on the list have cultural, historical or scientific significance.
As of last month, there were a total of 1,223 World Heritage Sites on the list including 952 cultural, 231 natural and 40 mixed cultural and natural properties across 168 countries.
Some of the most recognisable UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef, Stonehenge and the Acropolis of Athens.
UNESCO adds landmarks and sites to its protected list every year – and it’s just added 24 more, including one that’s in the UK.
Flow Country in Scotland, which has been described as a “hidden gem” by visitors, has just been added to the list – and it’s easy to see why.
Flow Country in Scotland is one of the biggest carbon stores in the world and has just been added to the list after 40 years of campaigning.
Located in northern Scotland, the Flow Country covers about 4,000 km2 (1500 miles) and is a blanket bog in Caithness and Sutherland in Scotland.
Earlier this week, King Charles visited the new UNESCO World Heritage site and unveiled a plaque marking its new status.
Visitors to Forsinard, which is a hamlet in the Flow Country, have described it as a “hidden gem” and “beautiful”.
One person on Tripadvisor wrote: “Beautiful reserve, loved the ‘small marvels’. Really impressed with the design, from the restored bogs to the paths and the hide. The information centre was full of really interesting displays. So impressed we returned the next day for a longer visit.”
Another person said: “The area is remote but oh so worth the drive for the views (to and from) and flows. The path to the flows and the cool tower starts on the south side of the tracks.”
The 24 new UNESCO World Heritage sites:
- Beijing Central Axis, China
- Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu, Romania
- Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake, Russia
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia, Romania
- Hegmataneh, Iran
- Nelson Mandela Legacy sites, South Africa
- Melka Kunture and Balchit, Ethiopia
- Moidams, India
- Phu Phrabat Bat Historical Park, Thailand
- Royal Court of Tiébélé, Burkina Faso
- Sado Island Gold Mines, Japan
- Saint Hilarion Monastery / Tell Umm Amer, Palestine
- Schwerin Residence Ensemble, Germany
- Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex, Malaysia
- Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area, Saudi Arabia
- Pleistocene Occupation Sites, South Africa
- Historic Town and Archeological Site of Gedi, Kenya
- Umm Al-Jimāl, Jordan
- Via Appia, Italy
- Badain Jaran Desert, China
- Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
- The Flow Country, UK
- Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands, France
Have you visited any of these historic sites? Let us know in the comments below.