10 of the must see UNESCO World Heritage Sites

To date there are over 1000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites so it is pretty unlikely that one person will be able to see the whole cohort of beautiful sites. However, here listed are just 10 of the must see UNESCO World Heritage Sites that our world has to offer.

 Heritage Daily | 25 August 2014

1 Angkor, Cambodia

Angkor is a dedication to the Hindu god Vishnu and is located in the Cambodian Jungle.

Angkor Wat: WikiPedia

The site served as the home of the Khmer Empire, which lasted between the 9^th and the 15^th centuries. The ruins still stand today and are visited annually by a wealth of visitors.

2 Acropolis, Greece

This Grecian citadel was constructed in the 5^th century BC and overlooks the beautiful city of Athens.

Acropolis: WikiPedia

In its history the site has been attacked numerous times by various different civilizations including the Byzantines and the Venetians. Acropolis is very easily accessible from Athens.

3 Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean near Ecuador.

Galapagos Islands: WikiPedia

British naturalist, Charles Darwin, famously discovered the islands, which led to the inception of his ‘Theory of Evolution’. Today the islands have a population of just over 25,000 and are home to a vast array of animal species that are reside only on these islands.

4 Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, Turkey

The Göreme National Park is located in a remote part of Turkey but is easily visited when travelling from Istanbul.

Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia: WikiPedia

The valley and its surrounding rock-hewn sanctuaries were sculpted through erosion. As well as seeing these spectacular rock formations ancient villages and underground towns can also be explored on the site.

5 Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Located in Australia the Great Barrier Reef comprises of over 3,000 individual reefs and more than 600 tropical islands. The site is so large it can be seen from space.

Great Barrier Reef: WikiPedia

Despite its protected status, which was instigated back in 1981, a study conducted in 2012 found that more than half the coral has been lost due to various factors including climate change.

6 Hampi, India

Hampi is a village located in northern Karnataka state.

Hampi: WikiPedia

The site is made up of large monuments that were once the former capital of the last Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagra. These include the elephant stables and the Virupaksha Temple.

7 Iguazu National Park, Brazil and Argentina

The Iguaza National Park makes up part of the Brazil Argentina border and is a particularly spectacular sight.

Iguaza National Park Falls: WikiPedia

The border is made of an impressive semicircular waterfall of almost 300 meters in diameter and up to 80 meters high. Within the national park there is also a wealth of wildlife tropical rainforest to discover.

8 Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina

Located in the south of Patagonia the Los Glaciares National covers a massive 726,927 hectares, making it the largest ice mantle that exists outside of Antarctica.

Perito Mereno Glacier: Wikimedia

The most famous glacier the site has to offer is the Perito Mereno Glacier.

9 Machu Picchu, Peru

Considered one of the world’s most photographed cities, Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan city that resides in Peru.

Machu Picchu: WikiPedia

Machu Picchu is a 15^th century settlement that is believed to have been constructed as an estate for the ancient emperor Pachacuti. The site is situated 2,430 meters above sea level and Peru runs many treks to allow visitors to access the site.

10 Mont-Saint-Michel, France

Mount-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, less than a mile from France’s northwestern coast.

Mont-Saint-Michel: WikiPedia

The fortified village was built in the Gothic style and was originally dedicated to archangel St. Michael. Despite its somewhat unstable appearance, the structure has survived since the 11^th century.