A coastal reserve home to the world’s rarest marine mammal has just been added to the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger List, which calls for the safeguarding of cultural and natural treasures. The UN department has identified more than 50 sites that are at risk due to climate change, armed conflict, development, poor management or a combination of issues. We take a look…
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan
The archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley, containing fortified buildings from the Islamic period as well as Buddhist monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, are one of Afghanistan’s most significant sites. However, the area has been shaken by political unrest and terrorism; in 2001 the two standing Buddha statues – formerly the largest standing Buddha carvings in the world – were destroyed by the Taliban. In 2007, two more attacks severely damaged an ancient rock carving of a seated Buddha.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, Afghanistan
Set in deep river valley between towering mountains, the soaring Minaret of Jam is a striking structure. Dating back to the 12th century, it is covered in elaborate brickwork and an outstanding example of the architecture and ornamentation of the Islamic period in Central Asia. The leaning tower, which was built by the great Ghurid Sultan Ghiyas-od-din, was placed on the danger list in 2002, due to a lack of staff to ensure the security and preservation of the property.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Historic center of Vienna, Austria
With its baroque mansions and gardens, grand monuments, Ringstrasse and medieval core, Vienna’s city center received UNESCO status in 2001. But with a new high-rise project threatening to change the city’s skyline, its historic center was placed on the danger list in 2017. UNESCO said: “Vienna’s continuing development requires a very sensitive approach that takes into account the attributes that sustain the outstanding universal value of the property.”
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
City of Potosí, Bolivia
The city of Potosí, a silver mining center in the south of Bolivia was once considered to be the world’s largest industrial complex, becoming an “Imperial City” after aristocrat Francisco de Toledo visited in 1572. The area is full of archaeological significance, including the industrial monuments of the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain), its colonial center, and the ‘barrios mitayos’, where the workers lived. But hundreds of years of mining have rendered the site porous and unstable. As parts of the mountain have collapsed, the city’s beautiful buildings are in peril.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, Central African Republic
With its sweeping savannahs home to endangered species, including black rhinoceroses, elephants, hippopotamuses and red-fronted gazelles, the Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park is a significant habitat. It is the largest park in the central African savannahs and also contains extraordinary natural formations. Sadly, its integrity is under threat due to poaching and grazing. A lack of protection and land management measures were other reasons it was inscribed on the list in 1997.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for both Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, Mount Nimba’s slopes are draped in dense forest. These grassy mountain pastures harbor many extraordinary species, including the endemic viviparous toad and chimpanzees that use stones as tools. The reserve faces numerous pressures to its boundaries, caused by the neighboring populations and increased demographic pressure. Intense poaching and the traditional practice of clearing land for agriculture by fire have increased. Both Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire are working to protect the property by empowering local communities and promoting transboundary cooperation, UNESCO notes.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Poaching is also why Garamba National Park was inscribed on the danger list in 1996. The immense stretch of savannah and woodland in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is home to one of the largest, most threatened populations of elephants in central Africa. The park was home to the world’s last known wild population of northern white rhinos, but they were killed by poachers in 2006. Counter-poaching measures, including aerial patrols, have been implemented in recent years. However, chronic insecurity and regional conflict continue to affect conservation.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
One of the last groups of eastern lowland gorillas live in the dense primary tropical forest of this national park in eastern DRC. Dominated by two spectacular extinct volcanoes, a population of around 250 gorillas live at levels of up to 7,874 foot (2,400m). It’s also home to 13 other primates, including threatened species. Insufficient financial and human resources to protect the park are one of multiple issues affecting the UNESCO biosphere reserve, as is the control of poaching and illegal mining.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Named after the rare okapi (or forest giraffe) that live in the Ituri forest, this huge swathe of land in the northeast of DRC was created to protect a wide range of rare flora and fauna. It has also been home to traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters for centuries. The reserve was listed as under threat in 1997 due to immigration control in the development area, commercial hunting of bushmeat, slash-and-burn forest clearance, illegal mining and logging. Ensuring the involvement of the indigenous populations in the management of the reserve is critical, says UNESCO.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
As Africa’s largest forest national park, Salonga is a highly important habitat for endemic endangered species, including wild bonobos, the Congo peacock and the forest elephant. Set at the heart of the central basin of the Congo river, the remote area is only accessible by water but despite this it has a huge poaching problem. Insufficient management capacity, poor governance and weak law enforcement have also troubled the park, which was placed on the danger list in 1999. Since 2015, WWF has co-managed Salonga together with the Congolese park authority ICCN to help protect the area.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Created in 1925, Virunga National Park in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s oldest national park. It’s home to a quarter of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas as well as the rare okapi, elephants, leopards, hippos and chimpanzees. The park was shut for more than eight months in 2018 after series of attacks by militia and smugglers on staff. It reopened in early 2019 but another ranger was shot. UNESCO is urging for strengthened security to combat security threats, poaching, deforestation and smuggling.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Abu Mena, Egypt
The archaeological site of Abu Mena near Alexandria houses the remains of an early Christian holy city, which was built over the tomb of the martyr Menas of Alexandria, who died in AD 296. The foundations of some of the remnants of its great buildings, such as the basilica, have collapsed due to a rise in the water table. The site remains unstable and it was inscribed on the danger list in 2001.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras
The Honduran World Heritage Site of Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is one of the “few tropical rainforest remains in Central America”. On the site, more than 2,000 indigenous people have managed to preserve their traditional way of life. But in 2011, the reserve was placed on the danger list due to multiple threats: illegal logging, fishing and land occupation and poaching. There were also concerns about the ability of the state to manage the site as a result of the deterioration of the law and the presence of drug traffickers.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, Indonesia
This site, measuring two-and-a-half million hectares, is made up of three national parks: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, and includes many endangered species. The area is home to an estimated 10,000 plant species, more than 200 mammal species and 580 bird species. But, like so many others, the site is in danger due to myriad human threats, which include poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment and plans to build roads through the site. Discover more of the world’s most endangered rainforests.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Ashur Qal’at Sherqat, Iraq
First established in the third millennium BC, the ancient city of Ashur was an important center of trade and became the first capital of the Assyrian Empire between the 14th to 9th century BC. It was also the religious capital of the Assyrians and associated with the god Ashur. The city was destroyed by the Babylonians, but revived during the Parthian period in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Modern day city Qal’at Sherqat was declared in danger by UNESCO in 2003 due to the planned construction of a dam that would have flooded its ruins. Its location in a highly volatile conflict area was also noted.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Hatra, Iraq
The fortress city of Hatra, which dates back to days of the Parthian empire in the 3rd or 2nd century BC, was the capital of the first Arab Kingdom. Known for its mighty walls and towers, which helped it withstand two Roman invasions in the 2nd century AD, its architecture represents a unique blend of Hellenistic and Roman styles with eastern decorative features. It was taken by Isis in 2015, who used sledgehammers and guns to destroy carvings and statues. It is undergoing a lengthy restoration process.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Samarra Archaeological City, Iraq
Renowned for its 9th-century mosque and spiral minaret, the Samarra archaeological city is one of Iraq’s most significant cultural treasures. It was the site of a powerful Islamic capital city, which ruled over the provinces of the Abbasid Empire from Tunisia to Central Asia from 836-892. According to UNESCO: “It is the only surviving Islamic capital that retains its original plan, architecture and arts, such as mosaics and carvings.” It was placed on the danger list due to a lack of government control and conflict in the area that threatens its integrity.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
A holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, this age-old center is home to innumerable treasures and historic monuments, including the Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall. It has been on the danger list since 1982. Besides political instability, the site is also threatened by urbanization. In 2007, UNESCO stated its concern about the “obstacles and practices, such as archaeological excavations or new constructions” around the Old City.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Lake Turkana National Parks, Kenya
The inland sea of Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world, is longer than Kenya’s coastline. Often known as the Jade Sea because of its remarkable color, the lake is a stopover for migrant waterfowl and an important breeding ground for the Nile crocodile, hippopotamus and many venomous snakes. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, but with concerns over the impact of a dam on the lake’s flow and ecosystem, it was added to the danger list in 2018.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Cyrene, Libya
A flourishing Greek colony, Cyrene was founded in northeastern Libya around 631 BC by a group of emigrants from the Aegean island of Thera. It came under Roman rule in 96 BC and remained a great capital until an earthquake in AD 365. Its treasures include temples dedicated to Apollo, Demeter and Zeus. Along with four other sites in Libya, it was marked as under threat in 2016 due to damage caused by the conflict affecting Libya and the threat of further harm it poses.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
The Old Town of Ghadamès, Libya
The Old Town of Ghadamès – known as “the pearl of the desert” – is one of the oldest pre-Saharan cities and provides an excellent example of a traditional settlement, with its domestic design and visible division of architectural functions. But in 2016, Ghadamès – along with Libya’s other World Heritage Sites – was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger because of damage caused by the conflict and future perils.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Leptis Magna, Libya
The Roman ruins of Leptis Magna on Libya’s Mediterranean coast are considered some of the finest remains of Roman architecture in the world. Birthplace of Roman emperor Septimius Severus, who later enlarged and embellished the city, it was one of the most beautiful cities in the empire with its harbor, imposing public monuments, marketplace, shops and residential districts. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and also added to the danger list in 2016.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Sabratha, Libya
Founded as a Phoenician trading post on the Mediterranean coast, Sabratha was also part of the short-lived Numidian Kingdom of Massinissa. The city was a Roman colony during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, around 165-166 BC. Sadly, the complex of Roman temples and mosaics has suffered looting and been the site of fighting in recent years. It was also classified as under threat by UNESCO in 2016.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Tadrart Acacus Rock Art, Libya
On the borders of Tassili N’Ajjer in Algeria (also a World Heritage Site), the vast desert landscape of Tadrart Acacus is home to one of the world’s most significant rock art sites. It features thousands of cave paintings and engravings, dating from 12,000 BC to AD 100. According to UNESCO: “They reflect marked changes in the fauna and flora, and also the different ways of life of the populations that succeeded one another in this region of the Sahara.” It joined the danger list in 2016.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Rainforests of the Atsinanana, Madagascar
Madagascar’s Atsinanana Rainforests, which are comprised of six national parks, are well-known for their biodiversity and threatened, rare species, including primates and lemurs. But the rainforests are in danger: illegal logging and the hunting of endangered lemurs is threatening the integrity of the site. Wildfires, mining and illegal activities were also deemed by UNESCO to be a serious threat.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Old Town of Djenné, Mali
One of the oldest towns of sub-Saharan Africa, the Old Town of Djenné has been inhabited since 250 BC. It became an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade and was one of the centers for the propagation of Islam in the 15th and 16th centuries. Nearly 2,000 of its original mud-walled houses have survived. Its mosque and other historic buildings were designated a World Heritage Site in 1988 for being representative of Islamic architecture in sub-Saharan Africa. It was inscribed on the danger list in 2016 due to insecurity affecting the area.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Tomb of Askia, Mali
Set on the Niger River, the 55-foot mud-brick pyramidal structure was constructed by Askia Mohamed, the Emperor of Songhai in 1495 in his capital Gao. The site, which was recognized by UNESCO in 2004, also includes two flat-roofed mosques, a cemetery and a square. The Tomb of Askia is now used as a mosque and cultural center by the people of Gao. The tomb was marked as endangered in 2012 due to conflict-related damage.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Timbuktu, Mali
Timbuktu is one of Africa’s most historically significant cities: home to the Koranic Sankore University and other madrasas, Timbuktu was an intellectual and spiritual capital, and was also central to the promotion of Islam in Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its three great mosques are said to “recall Timbuktu’s golden age”. However, despite being continuously restored, these monuments are under threat: armed conflict in the region, illegal trafficking of cultural objects by looters and dealers, and suicide bombings are just some of the dangers that Timbuktu faces.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
The Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, Mexico
The imminent extinction of the vaquita, an endemic porpoise in Mexico’s Gulf of California that is the world’s rarest marine mammal, has seen the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger for 2019. Despite efforts by Mexico to protect them, including creating a refuge and promoting fishing alternatives to gillnets (the main cause of their demise), only about 10 vaquita remain today. This is compared to nearly 300 in 2005.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Nan Madol, Eastern Micronesia
More than 100 islets off the coast of Pohnpei, which house the ruins of stone palaces, temples and tombs, make up the ceremonial site of Nan Madol in Eastern Micronesia. Dating from AD 1200 to 1500, they were the ceremonial center of the Saudeleur dynasty. According to UNESCO, they reveal a great deal about “the complex social and religious practices of the Pacific island societies of the period”. In 2016, Nan Madol was listed “in danger” due to mangrove overgrowth, storm surge and stonework collapse. Now take a look at the world’s most mysterious stone circles.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger
Ténéré within the Sahara Desert is a vast stretch of sand that extends from northeastern Niger into western Chad. It is the largest protected area in Africa at 7,736,000 hectares. The natural reserves are home to an array of plants and animals, including three threatened species of antelopes. The site was inscribed on the danger list in 1992 for a variety of reasons including political instability, poaching and illegal grazing.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town, Palestine
The old city of Hebron in the West Bank, which includes a site of pilgrimage for the three religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – was recognized as a Palestinian World Heritage Site in 2017, sparking outrage from Israel. The historic center was also placed on the endangered list. The Tomb of the Patriarchs as it is known to Jews, or al-Ibrahimi Mosque as it known to Muslims, is revered by all three religions as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s burial place.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir, Palestine
This series of ancient terraces, planted with grapevines and olives, have been used to cultivate Battir since antiquity. The local practices of this Palestinian village, set in the central highlands, involve agricultural towers and a complex irrigation system that represents some of the oldest farming methods known to humankind. They became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and were simultaneously added to the World Heritage in Danger list in 2014 due to the irreversible damage the construction of a separation wall could do: “isolating farmers from fields they have cultivated for centuries”.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo, Panama
The 17th and 18th-century military fortifications on Panama’s Caribbean coast are described as: “a masterpiece of human creative genius” by UNESCO. They formed part of a defense system built by the Spanish crown to protect transatlantic trade. Portobelo was a major Caribbean port and played a leading role in controlling the imperial trade in the Americas. It’s been deemed as at risk since 2012 due to a variety of environmental factors, as well as uncontrolled urban sprawl and development and a lack of maintenance and management.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, Peru
Capital of the ancient Chimu Kingdom before it fell to the Incas, Chan Chan was the largest earthen architecture city in pre-Columbian America. The incredible settlement is “an absolute masterpiece of town planning”, according to UNESCO. But it’s extremely fragile and vulnerable to decay and deterioration as a result of extreme environmental events, including those caused by El Niño. The property has been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 1986 and, despite various steps towards mitigating the degree of physical impact, it continues to be at risk.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal
The largest national park in Senegal is located on the banks of the Gambia River and home to an array of species including Derby elands, chimpanzees, lions, leopards and a large population of elephants, as well as numerous birds, reptiles and amphibians. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in danger in 2007, due to insufficient resources to protect the wildlife from poaching, as well as bush fires, and the premature drying up of ponds and their invasion by plants.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Medieval Monuments in Kosovo, Serbia
Four Serbian Orthodox monasteries that “reflect the high points of the Byzantine-Romanesque ecclesiastical culture” make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kosovo. The interiors of Dečani monastery, Patriarchal Monastery of Peć, Our Lady of Ljeviš and Gračanica monastery are adorned with vibrant frescos, a style which developed in the Balkans between the 13th and 17th centuries. It is on the World Heritage in Danger list due to difficulties in its management and conservation stemming from the region’s political instability.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
East Rennell, Solomon Islands
Rennell Island, in the southernmost area of the Solomon Islands, is the largest raised coral atoll in the world. East Rennell, which makes up its southern third, includes former lagoon Lake Tegano. Now a brackish lake with limestone islets, it has numerous endemic species, including a sea snake, as does the dense indigenous forest that surrounds it. In 2013, the island was listed “in danger” because of “the limited ability of traditional owners to adequately protect and manage the natural values and resources of the property to World Heritage standards”.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Ancient city of Aleppo, Syria
Syria has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of which have either been destroyed or severely damaged as a result of the ongoing conflict in the country. They were all placed on the list in 2013 when tensions escalated. One of these sites is the ancient city of Aleppo, including the Umayyad Mosque, the Citadel, mosques, churches, museums and other significant historic buildings. UNESCO estimates that 60% of the old city of Aleppo has been severely damaged, with 30% totally destroyed.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Ancient City of Bosra, Syria
This ancient city was once the capital of the Roman province of Arabia and a stopover for pilgrims on the ancient caravan route to Mecca. The site included a magnificent 2nd-century Roman theater, early Christian ruins and several mosques. As a result of the ongoing civil war, fighting has caused irreparable damage to much of this precious historical site.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Ancient City of Damascus, Syria
Syria’s capital, Damascus, is one of the oldest continually-inhabited cities in the world. It had 125 monuments from the many different civilizations which created it – Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic. When the city was safe to visit, the 8th-century Great Mosque of the Umayyads and the Citadel of Damascus were huge tourist draws. Damascus has been deeply affected by the war, with many of its most important monuments damaged.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
A remarkable group of 40 villages, situated across eight parks in northwestern Syria, were given UNESCO World Heritage Status due to the insights they provide of rural life in late antiquity and during the Byzantine period. They were abandoned between the 8th to 10th centuries, but the remains are remarkably well preserved. Sadly, much damage has occurred since the war began, including severe damage to the AD 490 Byzantine Church of Saint Simeon during an air strike in 2016.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Site of Palmyra, Syria
The desert ruins of Palmyra, which combine Greco-Roman, Persian and Arabian architecture, were one of the ancient world’s most valuable cultural centers and renowned for their beauty. Palmyra has faced repeated attacks, but the precious site was extensively damaged during Isis’ occupation in 2015. UNESCO called the destruction of the ruins a “war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity”.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, Uganda
Uganda’s Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, in Kampala City, is the major spiritual site for the Baganda, Uganda’s largest ethnic group. It is the burial ground for the previous four kings, and is a center for preserving traditional and cultural practices. In 2010, the site was ravaged by a fire, which almost completely destroyed the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga building, the main structure at the site. Made of wood, reeds, bark cloth and dry grass, the structure contained four royal Buganda tombs. The building is currently being reconstructed.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City, UK
Liverpool, with its historic port and docklands, was one of the world’s major trading centers during the 18th and 19th centuries. Its notable waterfront gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004 but proposed development plans saw the property, which covers six areas around the old center and docklands, added to the danger list in 2012. In its latest report, the body said the city risked “systemically excluding heritage concerns and conservation outcomes” over its regeneration plans.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa. Widespread poaching, however, has threatened the stability of the game reserve, destroying its wildlife populations. The extent of the poaching is so severe that the number of elephants and rhinoceros has dropped by almost 90% since the reserve was first inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Everglades National Park, USA
At the southern tip of Florida, Everglades National Park is home to a huge number of birds, reptiles and threatened species including the manatee, American crocodile and Florida panther. But in 2010, the World Heritage Committee deemed the park to be endangered because of serious degradation of its aquatic ecosystem. The condition is continuing, with reduced water inflows, increasing nutrient pollution, a loss of marine habitat and a subsequent decline in marine species. Now take a look at the most beautiful state park in every US state.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz, Uzbekistan
Located on the Silk Road in southern Uzbekistan, this 2,000-year-old city was the cultural and political center of the Temurids in the 15th and 16th centuries. It’s significant for its collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters, which tell of the city’s secular development. As well as parts of its medieval walls, the Ak-Sarai Palace, tomb of Temur and Chor-su bazaar are some of the center’s impressive remains. Shakhrisyabz was listed “in danger” in 2016 due to the over-development of tourist infrastructure within the site.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Coro and its Port, Venezuela
The pretty town and port of Coro in Venezuela dates from the earliest years of Spanish colonization on the Caribbean coast of South America. It is noted by UNESCO for having usual earthen architecture with buildings displaying “unique examples of traditional mud building techniques”. It became an endangered site in 2005, due to damage inflicted by unusually heavy rains in late 2004 and early 2005. Discover these incredible new secrets of the world’s ancient wonders.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Historic Town of Zabid, Yemen
The first of Yemen’s three places on the danger list is former capital (from 13th-15th centuries) Zabid, known for having the highest concentration of mosques in the country, including the world’s fifth oldest. Zabid has also played a significant role in the Arab and Muslim world for centuries. Its sandy-colored streets, traditional minarets and houses are fine examples of homogeneous architectural style, reminiscent of the early years of Islam. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and placed on the danger list in 2000 with neglect, poverty and conflict within Yemen’s government all to blame.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Old City of Sana’a, Yemen
Famed for its distinctive multi-storied buildings, constructed of “rammed earth” and decorated with geometric patterns, Yemen’s capital is one of the oldest and highest cities in the world. The old city is packed full of exceptional examples of Islamic and Ottoman architecture, which sadly have sustained serious damage due to civil unrest and Saudi-led air strikes. The old city was declared in danger by UNESCO in 2015. Now take a look at the incredible ancient ruins rebuilt before your eyes.
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Old Walled City of Shibam, Yemen
Nicknamed “the Manhattan of the desert”, the 16th-century city of Shibam, surrounded by a wall, is hailed by UNESCO as “one of the oldest and best examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction”. But the city is under threat due to armed conflict in the country. UNESCO placed the city on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2015, with the director-general Irina Bokova saying: “In addition to causing terrible human suffering, these attacks are destroying Yemen’s unique cultural heritage.”
Now discover the amazing World Heritage Sites no one visits
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
