The main objects of unesco. unesco treasures

World Heritage: Everything you need to know about the world's landmarks inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

World Heritage refers to objects of cultural or natural value for the whole world. The decision to include a site on the World Heritage List is made by UNESCO with the participation of invited experts. After being included in the List, the object goes under protection international law, and UNESCO monitors its safety. This organization also reserves the right to exclude objects from the List for one reason or another. So, for example, it happened with the German Dresden - experts considered that the new traffic bridge through the Elbe violates the unity of the architectural and natural complex of the old city.

As of the end of 2011, the 1972 Convention was signed by 188 states, the World Material Heritage List on the same date includes 936 objects (unique architectural ensembles, works of art, nature reserves) from 153 countries, of which 725 were created by man, 183 - by nature and 28 refer to mixed natural and cultural sites. A complete list broken down by country can be viewed on the official website. Objects in danger of extinction are marked in red.

In 2003, a convention was adopted for the protection also of intangible cultural heritage(Intangible Cultural Heritage). By the end of 2011, 139 countries had ratified it. The List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity includes folk festivals, carnivals, ceremonies and genres of folklore art - music, dance, oral epic tradition, theater, calligraphy, fine Arts, traditional crafts and trades. By the end of 2011, there are 267 such facilities, two of which are located on the territory of the Russian Federation. This is the culture of Semey (descendants of Russian Old Believers who preserved the pre-Petrine Russian way of life) and the Yakut epic olonkho.

national park Guilin

As for the material objects included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, there are 24 of them in our country. The most famous, of course, are the Moscow Kremlin with Red Square, historical Center St. Petersburg, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad, Lake Baikal, the volcanoes of Kamchatka, the golden mountains of Altai, the Kizhi churchyard on the island of Kizhi in Lake Onega, the ensemble of the Novodevichy Monastery, the historical center of Yaroslavl, architectural monuments of Veliky Novgorod, Vladimir, Suzdal, Ferapontov Monastery and the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Kolomenskoye.

It is incredibly difficult to choose the very best of those that are outside the Russian Federation. One of these wonderful places- Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus, more than others are heard - the megalithic structure Stonehenge in England and " lost city» Machu Picchu is the most mysterious monument of Inca culture in the world. We also like the royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal, the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre National Park in Italy and the town of Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic.

Let's take a look at some of the amazing man-made monuments and wonders of nature honored to be under the protection of UNESCO.

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. The ruins of almost 1000 temples of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th-15th centuries have been preserved here. Among them famous temple Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom with a huge amount of sculptural decorations. Every year more than a million tourists come to Cambodia to see these places of worship with their own eyes.

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Al-Hijr is the largest surviving archaeological site of the Nabataean civilization, located in Saudi Arabia. 111 tombstones (1st century BC - 1st century AD), many of which are luxuriously decorated, a system of wells, as well as almost 50 inscriptions from the pre-Nabathean era, and several cave drawings are well preserved here.

Los Glaciares National Park is a picturesque area in Argentina, with many glacial lakes, including Argentino, 160 km long. The local glacier is the third largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. Massive blocks of ice often break off from its edge, forming massive icebergs.

The ancient city of Petra in Jordan has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Through located near the Red and Dead Seas Peter passed caravan routes between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Half built, half carved into the rocks and surrounded by mountains, Petra combines ancient oriental traditions with Hellenistic architecture.

Sydney Opera theatre- one of the outstanding architectural structures 20th century The opera building consists of three interconnected "shells", which house the main halls for performances and a restaurant. These "shells" lie on a wide base, where walking terraces and squares are equipped. The structure of an unusual shape is located on the cape of the peninsula in Sydney Bay and fits perfectly into the landscape of the ocean coast.

The 18 km long Pontcysillte Aqueduct in Wales, built at the beginning of the 19th century, is a masterpiece of construction from the Industrial Revolution. More than 200 years after its discovery, it is still in use for its intended purpose and handles about 15,000 boats a year. This aqueduct is also unusual monument plumbing and plumbing.

Dolomites, Italy

The Summer Palace and Imperial Park in Beijing is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape art. It was first built in 1750, restored in 1886 after the destruction caused by the war of 1860. Natural features - hills and open water - are skillfully woven into architectural ensemble, harmoniously combined with pavilions, palaces, temples and bridges.

Included on the World Heritage List and the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Vatican City State, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Venice with its lagoon, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in Agra, as well as the Iguazu National Park on the border of Argentina and Brazil.

The best countries and destinations for sightseeing tours

All articles about excursion tours on the "Subtlety"

• Austria Vienna
• Balkans: Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey (Istanbul), Croatia and Montenegro
• United Kingdom: England, London and its 10 free attractions, Scotland
• Spain: Barcelona and Madrid
• Italy: Venice, Rome, Sicily
• Baltic States: Latvia (Riga)
• Scandinavia: Norway, Finland
• France: Paris and its

Machu Picchu, which is translated from the Inca language as "Old Peak", is a legendary city built by the Incas in a lush highlands, on the peak of a mountain range at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. Machu Picchu is recognized as one of the new wonders of the world, it is one of the most stunning places in the world. Dthe ancient city of the Incas cascades down the steep slopes on each side of the mountain, in separate terraces. HThe incredible ruins of Machu Picchu have been partially restored and are well maintained, giving visitors a good idea of ​​what the city might have looked like in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Thousands of ancient temples, stupas and monasteries stretch endlessly in Pagan, the ancient capital of the kingdom of the same name. Here, the silhouettes of the temple spiers against the backdrop of sunrise or sunset are a magical sight worth a trip to this still unexplored country. The area is known for having the highest concentration Buddhist temples in the world, many of which were built in 1000 and 1100, when Bagan was the capital of a pagan kingdom, the first kingdom to unite the regions that later became modern Myanmar. According to the Burmese chronicles, Pagan was founded in the second century AD, and in 849 became the capital of the kingdom under King Pingbya, the 34th successor of the founder of early Pagan. Some temples and stupas have been restored, while others are just ruins. They vary in size and levels of architectural complexity, creating an intriguing mix of structures that compel travelers to scrutinize every temple they see.

In a unique jungle setting, not far from the city of Siem Reap, there is another historical object UNESCO World Heritage Site - Angkor Wat, which is known as the largest religious monument in the world. angkor watwas built by the Khmers in the 12th century and its architecture is stunning.Huge stone carved faces peer in all directions.Extensive and intricate bas-reliefs line the walls and doorways.Destructive passages and steep stone stairs require scouting before traversing them.Until its fall in the 15th century, Angkor Wat was the most big city in the world.

Stretching for a fantastic 8,800 kilometers that pass through the thickets of forests and steep mountain slopes, through rivers and lakes northern China- This is the Great Wall of China, deservedly included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Great Wall of China is one of those undeniable sights that has been inspiring great adventures for travelers from all over the world for centuries. The construction of the wall began in the 3rd century BC, and the most popular section of the Great Chinese wall, is Badaling, it is only 75 kilometers from Beijing.

One of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, the Roman Colosseum is the largest building left from Roman times.Its imposing presence in the heart of the modern cityRomeis a testament to the incredible history of the city and the achievements of the Roman Empire. Travelers who saw the Colosseum for the first time are amazed at the huge size of this structure, given that they began to build itin 72 AD Today, the Roman Colosseum is still one of the largest and most popular tourist attractions in the world.

Rising aboveAthenson top of the hill, the Acropolis stands as a proud monument of Ancient Greece. StructuresThe 5th and 4th centuries BC dominate the Acropolis, but the most famous is the Parthenon, the largest and most recognizable monument ancient culture, it symbolizes the amazing history of this country.A few steps from modern Athens The Acropolis is a powerful sight, sparkling under the Mediterranean sun during the day and spectacularly lit at night.

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This incredible prehistoric monument is one of the most visited attractions in England and is definitely a unique place that attracts visitors every year. a large number of tourists from all over the world. This huge prehistoric megalithic structure is located 130 kilometers northwest of London.It is assumed that this monument was erected between 3000-1500 BC, but there is no information about its origin or purpose of construction, which leads to various speculations and myths, some of which indicate religious or astronomical significance.The result is a ring of stones bronze age has an almost mystical charm, especially during the summer and winter solstices when the light from sunrise and sunset is aligned with the stones. stonehenge, located near the citySalisbury.

dramatic, narrow mountain gorge allows you to go to the ancient city of Petra, stone city With residential buildings and temples carved into the sandy rocks.This ancient capital The Nabataeans have roots that can be traced back to the 5th century BC.Discovered at the beginning of the 18th century, it was called the "pink city" because of the color of the rocks and for obvious reasons, the "carved city".Located in a mountainous area with limited access, it occupied a strategic position on an important trade route in the region.Today, Petra is the main attraction of Jordan.

Borobudur is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world and by far the most famous landmark in Indonesia.Nestled in lush tropical surroundings, with mountains and volcanoes, Borobudur looks stunning and calming.This massive temple complex, located on the island of Java, near the city of Yogyakarta, was built in the 700s, but after 200 years abandoned and forgotten for many centuries due to volcanic eruptions in the area, it remained relatively serene for centuries . Borobudurwas discovered in the 18th century by the British and later restored.

10. Tikal, Guatemala

The ancient Mayan city of Tikal is one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world.Central America. Located in the northernGuatemala, insurrounded by impenetrable jungle, this ancient city consists of over 3000 buildings. The Maya inhabited Tikal between 600 B.C. and up to 900 AD. Ancient pyramids, temples, plazas and foundations of all kinds of buildings show a complex society that once had hundreds of thousands of people. Tikalwas reopened in the middle of the 18th century and opened to tourists in the 1950s.Part of the city has been restored, but work continues, and some areas are still in the impenetrable jungle and are waiting in the wings.The ruins are located in the Tikal National Park, a biosphere reserve protecting the forest and wildlife in this district.

The ancient Greeks believed that there were seven structures in the world that were the pinnacle of human genius. To this day, only of them have survived. Time has not spared the heritage of civilizations, and today the task is to preserve the unique natural monuments of the Earth and human culture.

What is World Heritage?

Outstanding objects of nature and human culture, which came to us from our ancestors and which we must preserve for future generations, are the property of all mankind, its heritage. Objects natural heritage become rare in beauty
mountains and caves woodlands and areas of deserts, lakes and waterfalls. The cultural heritage is represented by unique monuments of architecture and sculpture, masterpieces of human genius. In 1972, the international organization UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Protection of the World Heritage of Humanity. This organization, with the help of invited experts, decides on the inclusion of certain objects in the World Heritage List and then monitors their condition. World Heritage Sites are protected by international law.

Where are World Heritage Sites located?

More than half of all UNESCO heritage sites are located in Europe. This testifies to the great contribution of European culture to world civilization. Among European countries most heritage sites in, and Germany. Almost a quarter of the monuments belong to the ancient and medieval civilizations of Asia. The number of cultural and natural objects in South America and Africa is great. A significant part of them is connected with the history of indigenous peoples. In our country in 2010, 24 objects were registered. 15 of them are cultural objects and 9 - natural objects.

Relationship between nature and culture

Monuments of cultural heritage look most harmonious in the natural environment. Many attractive corners of nature, transformed by directed human activity, acquire cultural and artistic value. Parts of nature created or ennobled by human hands are called cultural landscapes. These are, for example, palace and park ensembles France (Versailles, Fontainebleau), suburbs, once royal residences (Petrodvorets, Pavlovsk), Schönbrun imperial residence (Austria).

The objects of heritage are cultural landscapes, showing human activity to transform nature. For example, this rice terraces on, salt workings in and many others.

The relationship between nature and culture is clearly reflected in the emblem of the UNESCO World Heritage Center. The circle is a symbol of the nature of the Earth, the square in the center denotes what is created by people. They are inextricably linked with each other.

What threatens World Heritage sites?

The natural and cultural heritage of the world is constantly under the threat of complete or partial destruction. During the periods of world wars and revolutions in the 20th century, many objects were destroyed, and a number of monuments suffered irreparable damage. Serious threat preservation of heritage sites natural disasters and environmental degradation. Miraculously preserved corners of primeval forests disappear in time along with their unique inhabitants. reserved steppes and the savannahs open up and turn into zeros. The rapid growth of cities often leads to the disappearance historical quarters. IN major cities unique monuments suffer from "acid rain" and car exhaust. The growth of mass tourism, bringing large incomes, at the same time leads to a deterioration in the state of heritage monuments.

At present, the human environment is changing rapidly and at an increasing rate. The task of mankind is to maintain nature on the globe in a condition necessary for life, health and well-being. It is also necessary to preserve, as far as possible, at least the most unique places in nature, which are of special value from a scientific point of view, areas constituting the ranges of valuable or endangered species of plants and animals. There are many unique places in nature, the disappearance of which would be an irreparable loss not only for the country in which they are located, but for all mankind as a whole.In most countries of the world, networks of so-called "specially protected natural areas" (SPNA) have been created for these purposes. These include the following natural objects:

Nizhnesvirsky Nature Reserve, Leningrad Region

Reserves are created with the aim of preserving or restoring some or all of the components of nature and to maintain the overall ecological balance. Some types of economic activity are limited in these territories.

Gladyshevsky reserve, Leningrad region

Natural monuments are small territories, including objects of natural value: caves, rocks, waterfalls, groves of rare tree species, river valleys, lakes, etc.

Monument of nature " hawk lake", Leningrad region

Natural parks serve to protect natural complexes of ecological, historical and aesthetic value. They are staffed with special staff.

Veppsky Forest Nature Park, Leningrad Region

B Have you ever visited one of the protected areas? What do you remember about this place?

In these territories, people preserve both rare, unique and typical areas of forests, swamps, meadows, reservoirs and other natural ecosystems, rare and common species of plants and animals in their natural environment habitats, bird flight paths, fish spawning routes and other natural objects and processes.

All the nature of our planet is priceless and unique. Of course, from those subject to special protection natural areas it is difficult to single out some of the most outstanding and valuable corners of nature of "exceptional importance" that are vitally important to preserve for the present and future generations. This is the subject of a special UNESCO program, which is the so-called World Heritage List.

The UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage entered into force in 1975. Its main goal is to attract the forces of the world community to preserve unique objects of culture and nature. By mid 2012 total number countries participating in the Convention has already reached 189. Among the international programs of UNESCO, this program is the most representative. In order to improve the efficiency of the work of the Convention, the Committee and the World Heritage Fund were formed in 1976.

World natural heritage is made up of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, islands, forests, caves, reefs, national parks, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries.

Of course, being on a par with the universally recognized world pearls of nature and culture is honorable and prestigious, but at the same time it is a great responsibility. To receive World Heritage status, an object must be of outstanding universal value, undergo a thorough expert assessment. At the same time, the nominated natural object must meet at least one of the following four criteria:

Include unique natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value;

Present outstanding examples of major milestones in Earth's history, including traces of ancient life, serious geological processes that continue to occur in the development of the forms of the earth's surface, significant geomorphological or physiographic features of the relief;

Present outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

Include natural areas of great importance for their conservation of biological diversity, including areas of endangered species that are of outstanding scientific or conservation value.

The status of a world natural heritage site provides additional guarantees for the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes, increases the prestige of territories, promotes the popularization of objects and the development of alternative types of nature management, and ensures priority in attracting financial resources.

The first cultural and natural sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List two years after the creation of the program. Of the natural areas, the heritage status received Galapagos Islands(Ecuador), national parks "Yellowstone" (USA), "Nahanni" (Canada) and "Shimen" (Ethiopia). Over the past years, the List has become very representative both in terms of the regions of the planet represented and in terms of the number of objects: by mid-2012, it already included 188 natural objects. Most of them are located in the USA and Australia (more than 10 objects in each country). Under the protection of the Convention are such world-famous natural monuments as the Great Barrier Reef, Hawaiian Islands, Grand Canyon, Mount Kilimanjaro. Video 62.

In Russia, the initiator of the inclusion of natural objects in the World Heritage List is primarily Greenpeace. By joining this UNESCO program, a new page was opened in the field of nature protection in Russia.

Russian World Natural Heritage Sites

There are inaccuracies on the map, since at the moment 11 objects are already included in the list, including the Putorana Plateau and the Lena Pillars Natural Park. The first in our country to receive the status of a world natural heritage site in 1995 was a natural complex called "Virgin Komi Forests".

The territory of this object is the largest of the remaining massifs of primary forests in Europe, the appearance of which is almost not changed by human influence. Video 63.

The virgin forests of Komi are a real taiga treasury. There are more than 40 species of mammals here (including brown bear, sable, elk), 204 species of birds (including the white-tailed eagle and osprey listed in the Red Book of Russia), 16 species of fish, the most valuable of which are considered glacial relics - char palia and Siberian grayling.

This area is extended along western slope Subpolar and Northern Urals for more than 300 km. Ural mountain system has a significant impact on the climate. In places, natural complexes form a complex mosaic: along narrow river valleys, taiga vegetation rises high into the mountains.

The main tree species - spruce and fir - are accompanied by Siberian cedar. Here it originates and receives the crystal clear tributaries of the Pechora. Now the territory of the World Heritage Site "Virgin Komi Forests" is in danger due to illegal gold mining unfolding here (1).Greenpeace Russia and other non-governmental organizations will fight to stop any nature-destroying activity on its territory.

Lake Baikal

Baikal is one of the greatest lakes of the planet, a lake of "superlatives": the deepest (1637 meters), the oldest (about 25 million years), with the most diverse flora and fauna among fresh water oem. Video 64.

The lake has a unique fresh water supply in terms of volume and quality - more than 20% of the world's reserves). The Baikal depression is the central link of the Baikal rift zone, one of the largest on Earth ancient system faults. The lake, together with its entire basin, is a peculiar and very fragile natural ecosystem that provides a natural process of formation purest waters. For Siberia, the climate of the Baikal coasts is comparatively mild. For example, the amount sunny days per year is higher than in many Black Sea resorts.One of the richest and most unusual freshwater fauna in the world, which is of exceptional value for studying evolutionary processes, has formed in the isolated Baikal depression since ancient times.

Of the more than 2,630 species and subspecies of animals and plants found so far in the lake, more than 80% are found nowhere else in the world. Who has not heard of the famous Baikal omul or Baikal sturgeon? Two unique species of viviparous fish, representatives of the family endemic (2) for Baikal, the big and small golomyanka, are known to ichthyologists all over the world. The pyramid of the lake ecosystem is crowned by a mammal of typically marine origin - the seal, or the Baikal seal.

Unfortunately, the unique nature of Baikal is under threat (3).

WITH Have you heard about the actions that the public is taking to protect Lake Baikal from pollution by the pulp and paper mill?

Another danger for Baikal is the planned development of deposits, illegal logging, forest fires, poaching, and oil spills.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

The Kamchatka Peninsula is located at the junction tectonic plates in the zone of active volcanism, where modern natural processes and the history of our planet are inseparable. Video 65.

Here, in a limited area, 30 operating and about 300 extinct volcanoes, as well as more than 150 groups of thermal and mineral springs. Dozens of geysers, hot springs, fumaroles (4), cascades of waterfalls, sharp peaks of ridges, mud pots and turquoise lakes, carpets of multi-colored algae give a fabulous look to the famous Valley of Geysers

The richest life is represented in the seas washing the coast of Kamchatka. Here are the growth zones of king crab larvae, salmon spawning places and their juveniles rolling into the sea. From summer to the beginning of winter, an amazing natural phenomenon can be observed on the rivers of the peninsula: millions of salmon in a continuous mass move along the rivers against the current to their spawning grounds.

Golden Mountains of Altai

The nature of this mountainous territory, located at the junction of Central Asia and Siberia, is distinguished by its bright originality. There are few places in the world with such a contrasting combination of different landscapes in such a small space. Video 66.

The flora and fauna of the region are diverse and in many ways unique. Here, the most significant subalpine and alpine meadows in terms of area in the mountains of Siberia. The color of the vegetation of the Southern Altai, where semi-deserts, steppes and tundra coexist, is also unique. The diversity of landscapes contributed to the emergence and preservation of endemics in Altai, often occupying very small areas. Among the rare species of mammals, the snow leopard should be singled out; this is one of the most beautiful cats in the world fauna. Very few of these animals have survived in Altai.

The geological history of the region is unique, “recorded” in the rocks of different ages that make it up and imprinted in unusual landforms. Such, for example, are the high terraces of the Katun River, striking in their grandeur. The grandiose mountain Belukha - highest peak Siberia (4506 meters). The Altai river valleys are narrow deep canyons.

The diversity of nature has left its mark on the culture and religion of the indigenous population of this territory - the Altaians. The achievements of Altai traditional medicine are highly valued. As the outstanding philosopher, writer, traveler H.K. Roerich, "many peoples passed through Altai and left traces: Scythians, Huns, Turks." Mountain Altai called an open-air museum.

Western Caucasus

West Side Greater Caucasus in terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, their preservation is unparalleled not only in the Caucasus region, but also among others mountainous areas Europe and Western Asia. Video 67.

This is an area where a large number of endangered rare, endemic and relict species of plants and animals are concentrated. It is especially important that the little-altered habitat of the most vulnerable large mammals has been preserved here: bison, Caucasian red deer, Western Caucasian tur, chamois, Caucasian subspecies of brown bear, wolf and others.

The Caucasian reserve is practically the only habitat of the mountain bison in the world; outside this territory, it is almost completely exterminated by poachers.

The territory is rich in picturesque objects: powerful waterfalls, spiky mountain peaks(up to 3360 meters), stormy mountain rivers with clear water, clear mountain lakes, huge trees (majestic firs up to 85 meters high and more than 2 meters in diameter), rare plants (orchids, etc.) and many others. An invaluable unique natural complex has been preserved in the Western Caucasus.

curonian spit

The relief of this territory, located in the Kaliningrad region, is unique. solid strip sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, some of which are close to the highest in the world (up to 68 m), stretches along the peninsula for 70 km. Video 68.

Due to its geographical location and orientation from the northeast to the southwest, the spit serves as a "guide line" for birds of many species migrating from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of the Middle and Southern Europe. Every year in spring and autumn 10 - 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stops here for rest and feeding. Among the birds flying here are many rare and endangered species listed in the Red Books of Russia, Europe and the world.

It is especially interesting that the spit is rich in cultural heritage sites. These are defensive structures unique in their scale, extremely valuable from the point of view of history, science and art; fishermen's settlements harmoniously integrated into the landscape; archaeological sites and monuments of religious architecture. The many-sided dune relief of the Curonian Spit in combination with the greenery of forests, white sandy beaches and boundless blue Baltic Sea has a high aesthetic value.

Central Sikhote-Alin

This territory, located in the south of the Far East within Russia, is one of the largest and least human-modified centers of preservation of communities of ancient coniferous-deciduous and broad-leaved forests. Video 69.

It presents a lot of rare and endangered animal species, a significant part of which is preserved only within its boundaries. Mountain country Sikhote-Alin is the last large integral territory in the world inhabited by the Amur tiger. Many other rare and endangered plant and animal species endemic to the region also need protection.

scenic landforms, deep rivers combined with the exceptional diversity of flora and fauna, the presence of plants and animals of exotic appearance, reminiscent of the tropics, give the nature of Sikhote-Alin completely unique features. There are many objects of aesthetic and recreational significance here: rock massifs, picturesquely standing out among the taiga, waterfalls, lakes and rapids, reefs, sandy bays on the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan.

Ubsunur basin

The Ubsunur basin, located on the territory of Mongolia and Russia, is one of the most original and unusual places in Central Asia. Video 70.

This region has preserved a unique complex of neighboring, closely interacting, extremely contrasting ecosystems - from the taiga to the desert. Glaciers, snowfields, mountain tundra of the alpine belt and subalpine meadows pass into the vast mountain taiga belt, which is replaced by forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and even loose sandy ridges, creating an exceptional beauty and diversity natural phenomenon. It is impossible to see such diverse landscapes in such close proximity anywhere else in Eurasia. An unusually high species richness for temperate latitudes reigns in this territory.

Relative sparsely populated territory, the absence of industrial facilities make it possible to preserve the basin as a natural laboratory for the study of biospheric processes

However, the value of the territory lies not only in unique nature Ubsunur basin. Of great importance are the objects of cultural heritage located here - archaeological monuments, many of which have not been studied so far. Nowhere else in Central Asia are barrows found in such a concentration as here (according to a rough estimate, there are up to 20 thousand of them); most of them are old Egyptian pyramids. thousands rock paintings and stone sculptures, the remains of medieval settlements and Buddhist chapels form a unique natural and cultural landscape.

The natural system of the reserve "Wrangel Island"»

The Wrangel Island Reserve is located on the border of the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas on the Wrangel and Herald Islands with a 12-mile sea area adjacent to them. Video 71.

The 180th meridian passes through Wrangel Island, so that the island lies in both the Western and Eastern hemispheres. The relief is predominantly mountainous, strongly dissected, with coastal lowlands in the north and south. There are 1400 rivers and streams on the island, about 900 small lakes. A unique combination of natural-historical and landscape-climatic conditions, as well as inaccessibility, have led to a large number of endemic, rare and relict plant species on the islands. On the islands, as parts of the ancient land that once united the Eurasian and North American continents, both Euro-Asian and American species of flora and fauna are widely represented.

Putorana Plateau

The plateau is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It is a large basaltic plateau, located on the northern limit of the taiga and almost completely unaffected by human economic activity. Video 72. Unusual and extremely interesting are the trap relief forms (5), crossed by huge canyons. The scale and number of waterfalls are impressive (the highest concentration in Russia). Here is a 108 m high waterfall - one of the highest in our country. There are many lakes on the plateau with depths up to 400 m, lake fjords are very picturesque.More than 1300 plant species have been recorded on the Putorana Plateau. Here is the northern limit of the distribution of flying squirrel, lynx, sable, stone capercaillie. The migration route of the world's largest population of wild reindeer, the Taimyr one, runs through the plateau. A little-studied, extremely interesting local form of the bighorn sheep also lives here.

Lena Pillars

The Lena Pillars Natural Park is located in Central Yakutia, in the middle reaches of the Lena River. Video 73.

The park got its name because of the unique ridge of rocks - fabulous stone sculptures in the form of pillars and towers stretch along the banks of the Lena for tens of kilometers. Some are up to 100 meters high. This natural monument is composed of Cambrian limestones - a rock that was formed more than 500 million years ago.

In addition, in the park there are small areas of the desert landscape - unique permafrost ecosystems, as well as fluttering tukulan sands - isolated and independently developing sandy ridges with slopes practically not fixed by vegetation. In the area of ​​the Lena Pillars, scientists discovered burials of bone remains of ancient fauna: mammoth, bison, Lena horse, woolly rhinoceros.

21 species of rare and endangered "Red Book" plants grow in the park. In the basin of the middle reaches of the Lena River, the fish fauna includes 31 species. Nesting of 101 species of birds has been established in the park. Animals such as sable, brown bear, squirrel, elk, red deer, chipmunk, musk deer, mountain-forest form of wild reindeer are common here.

Work to continue the inclusion of new areas in the World Heritage List continues. According to the rules, nominations for consideration by the World Heritage Committee must first be included in the national Tentative List. They are presented on the World Natural Heritage map of Russia (see above).

Obviously, the effective protection of such territories is impossible without the active involvement of public organizations, as many citizens of the country as possible. Let us remember that we have an individual and collective responsibility for the preservation of natural complexes.

Read the resolution of the International NGO Forum on World Heritage Sites (6).

What can we, the people of Russia, do to support the conservation and development of specially protected natural areas?

Each of these places is unique in its own way, and all together they function, making up the unity and integrity of the life support system on the Planet. They create its unique, still far from fully unraveled and known appearance.

Work is underway to include the following natural objects in the List: Volga Delta, Lena Delta, Green Belt of Fennoscandia, Kurile Islands, Valdai - Great Watershed, Western Sayan, Beringia and the Solovetsky Islands.

Russia, of course, is rich in unique and, which is very important, not affected by economic activity. natural complexes. According to rough estimates of scientists, there are about 20 territories in our country worthy of the status of a World Natural Heritage Site. The list of the most promising territories was determined in the course of a joint project of UNESCO and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and natural resources(IUCN) on boreal forests.