The Convention Concerning the Protection of the
World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international agreement that
has been signed by more than 150 nations to date. It was adopted by the
General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. Through the identification of
sites whose extraordinary values warrant their protection and
preservation, the Convention seeks to encourage international cooperation
to conserve the world's heritage for all humanity.
As of June 2007, there are 830 sites that have
been "inscribed" on the World Heritage List. 644 of them are
cultural sites; 162 are natural sites; 24 are "mixed
properties." World Heritage Sites have been identified in 129
nations. For a complete list of World Heritage Sites, visit
UNESCO's
World Heritage website.
Following are some of the World Heritage Sites
that will be visited on Walking Softly trips in 2008.
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Tiwanaku
BOLIVIA
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000
Featured on our
Peru and Bolivia
trip.« PHOTO:
The Semi-subterranean Temple at Tiwanaku.
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Boyana
Church
BULGARIA
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979
Featured on our Mountains of Bulgaria
trip.« PHOTO: An architectural detail
from the exterior of the Boyana Church; the real gems are the frescoes
inside!
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Rila Monastery
BULGARIA
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983
Featured on our Mountains of Bulgaria
trip.
« PHOTO: The church at Rila
Monastery seen from the multi-storied arcades that ring the
monastery compound.
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Pyrénées-Mont
Perdu
FRANCE & SPAIN
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997
Featured on our Pyrenees trip.
« PHOTO: Enjoying the view
of the Brèche de Roland in the heart of the Pyrénées-Mont Perdu
World Heritage Site.
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Meteora
GREECE
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988
Featured on our
Hiking Northern Greece
trip.« PHOTO:
Monastery of Agios Nikolaos
Anapafsas (16th century) at Meteora. (Photo by Asen Marinov)
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Himeji-jo
JAPAN
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993
Featured on our
Japan Heritage
trip.« PHOTO:
Himeji-jo, the finest surviving
example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture.
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Shiretoko
JAPAN
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005
Featured on our
Hokkaido Trails
trip.« PHOTO:
Oshinkoshin Falls near Utoro on the Shiretoko Peninsula.
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Tongariro
National Park
NEW ZEALAND
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1990
Featured on our
Hiking New Zealand
trip (2009).« PHOTO:
Mount Ruapehu seen from the
slopes of the Ngauruhoe Volcano, Tongariro
National Park.
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City of
Cuzco
PERU
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983
Featured on our
Peru and Bolivia
trip.« PHOTO:
Street lined with Inca stonework in Cusco.
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Softly Adventures, Inc., PO Box 86250, Portland, OR 97286
503-788-9017, Toll free 1-888-743-0723, info@walkingsoftly.com |
