World Heritage Sites
An international convention overseen by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization protects a landmark or area as a World Heritage Site (UNESCO). UNESCO select World Heritage Sites for their cultural, historical, scientific, or other value. The locations were chosen because they include cultural and natural heritage from across the world. This is of exceptional importance to humanity.
A World Heritage Site must be a geographically and historically recognized landmark with extraordinary cultural or physical importance in order to be selected. Examples of World Heritage Sites are lakes, islands, forests, towns, ancient ruins, mountains, etc.
A World Heritage Site may be a place of exceptional natural beautiful places. It may represent a significant human achievement. However, it serves as proof of humanity’s intellectual history around the globe. There are approximately 1,154 World Heritage Sites in 167 states according to the report of July 2021. Italy is the state with the most locations on the list, with 58 designated areas.
The locations are meant for practical preservation for future generations. As they would otherwise be vulnerable to human or animal poaching, sunscreen, and unregulated, or unrestrained access. Furthermore, is the possibility of local administrative carelessness? UNESCO designates certain areas as protected zones. The list of World Heritage Sites maintained by the international World Heritage Program. It is overseen by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which is made up of 21 “states parties”.
The initiative catalogs, names, and preserves locations of exceptional culture. The initiative started with the adoption of the Convention Relating to The protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. Since then, the convention ratify by 193 state parties, making it one of the most well-recognized international agreements.
History of World Heritage Sites
In 1954, the government of Egypt chose to construct the new Aswan High Dam. New Aswan High Dam is the future reservoir that would eventually overwhelm a huge section of the Nile valley. The governments of Egypt and Sudan approach UNESCO in 1959, requesting assistance in protecting and rescuing threatened antiquities and sites. The International Campaign to Save Nubia’s Monuments initiate By the Director-General of UNESCO in 1960.
Hundreds of sites are excavated and recorded and thousands of items are recovered. However, several key temples salvage and relocate to higher ground as a result of this appeal. The temple complexes of Abu Simbel and Philae are the most well-known. The campaign is deemed a success when it end in 1980.
Egypt donates 4 temples to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The Parque del Oeste in Madrid, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, and the Museo Egizio in Turin to thank nations that play a role, particularly in the campaign success of the party. The Temple of Dendur removes from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The Temple of Debod to the Parque del Oesteis in the Madrid and the Temple of Taffeh to the Rijksmuseum van.
