The first UNESCO World Heritage Sites were designated in 1978. This initial list included twelve sites, such as the Great Wall of China and the Galápagos Islands. The program was established to recognize and protect culturally and naturally significant locations around the world.
UNESCO has designated Newgrange as a World Heritage Site.
The Giant's Causeway, located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
No, the Eiffel Tower is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, it is part of the "Banks of the Seine" site, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. The tower itself is a significant cultural landmark, but it has not been individually designated as a World Heritage site.
Yosemite was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. On the other hand, it was designated as a national park in 1890.
Timbuktu is a city located in Mali. It was first settled in the 12th century and became part of the Mali Empire. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a world heritage site in St. Kitts.
The first North American city to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site is Quebec, in Quebec, Canada. This city was one of the first permanent cities to be founded in North America. Additionally, it is the only fortified city above Mexico. Furthermore, it is the bastion of French culture in North America and has a good deal of ancestral French architecture.
Qatar's largest body of water, the Al Thakira Mangroves, is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, it is recognized for its ecological significance and biodiversity. While Qatar has various natural sites, none of its water bodies have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of now.
The U.S. Government requested that UNESCO grant this designation to Yellowstone NP, and UNESCO agreed to do so in 1978. Later designations include Grand Canyon in 1979 and Yosemite in 1984; all at the request of the U.S.
The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Bermuda has one official city, which is Hamilton, the capital. Additionally, there is a town called St. George's, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the first capital of Bermuda. However, Hamilton is the only area designated as a city.
The first World Heritage site to be named in Germany was the Aachen Cathedral which gained its status in 1978.