New Inscriptions in 1980

The 1980 WHC Session added 27 Sites bringing the total to 84.

Aksum

Aksum
Photo by Els Slots.

Aksum is an archaeological site that covers the remains of an influential city of ancient Ethiopia.

It was the capital of the powerful Axumite Kingdom (1st-8th centuries CE), which played an important role at the crossroads of Africa, Arabia and the Greco-Roman World. The site is especially known for its large monolithic carved stelae and obelisks. Furthermore, it is believed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church that the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum houses the Biblical Ark of the Covenant.

Community Perspective: The stelae park is well worth the visit, while the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion gets mixed reviews. Females are forbidden to enter the latter.

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Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad

Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
Photo by Roman Bruehwiler.

The Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad comprises the remains of the first capital of the Hammadid empire.

The Qal'a (Fortress) is located in a mountainous setting at more than 1,000m altitude. In the 11th century, a prosperous Islamic town developed here. Surrounded by walls, it includes residential complexes, a large mosque, and the emir's palace surrounded by gardens and pavilions. Its design later influenced Arab architecture as can be seen in the Maghreb, Andalusia and Sicily.

Community Perspective: worth the long detour for the surrounding landscape and the 25m tall minaret that is its most striking highlight.

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Asante Traditional Buildings

Asante Traditional Buildings
Photo by Els Slots.

The Asante Traditional Buildings are the only surviving examples of traditional Asante architecture.

They are shrines/fetish houses decorated with symbolic bas-reliefs. The buildings traditionally have steep thatched roofs on top of a timber framework filled up with clay. Each building consists of four rooms around a quadrangular courtyard. Some of the enlisted buildings still have priests, some don't.

Community Perspective: it has taken a lot of research to find out which buildings are part of this WHS as it lacks an official map; the opinion at the moment is that there are 10 of them, but not all coordinates and names are known. Els and Solivagant both visited Besease shrine, the easiest to reach from Kumasi. Jarek additionally covered Aduko Jachie and Kentikrono in his review.

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Bosra

Bosra
Photo by Squiffy.

The Ancient City of Bosra holds extensive remains of Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad buildings.

As a Roman colony and a major place of trade along caravan routes, it gained many monuments such as the well-preserved theatre. In the Byzantine period, Bosra became the seat of an archbishop and a Cathedral was built. Bosra also is associated with a significant episode in the life of the Prophet Mohammed. Bosra’s Mosque of Omar and Madrasa Jâmi' Mabrak an-Nâqua are two of the rare constructions of early Islam preserved in Syria.

Community Perspective: Bosra is a town of black basalt and dust, and a little bit forgotten. The intermingling of ancient ruins and modern housing makes for an odd feeling. The huge Roman theatre is the main deal.

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Copán

Copán
Photo by Els Slots.

The Maya Site of Copán is renowned for the number and artistic quality of its remaining stelae, sculptures, and altars from the Classic Maya Period.

Copán was a political, civil, and religious centre for the southeast of the Maya area. The main complex consists of the Acropolis and five plazas, with ball courts, temples, and altar complexes. The highlight is the inscription on the Hieroglyphic Stairway, the longest known Maya hieroglyphic text which describes the most important rulers in the dynastic history of the site.

Community Perspective: though not as huge as Tikal, the site is worth a couple of hours. Unfortunately, two or three of the most beautiful stelae and sacrificial altars are represented by reproductions, the originals having been moved to the nearby museum. It is easily accessible both from the Guatemala border or by staying overnight in the town of Copan Ruinas. They have a system of separate fees for all the components, which makes it one of the more expensive Mayan WHS to see. Also, be aware of days when it is closed for maintenance, Frederic even had to resort to a clandestine tour on one of those.

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Durmitor National Park

Durmitor National Park
Photo by Els Slots.

Durmitor National Park comprises a scenic mountain range including the Tara River Canyon.

The Durmitor massif has high peaks, glacial lakes, rivers, underground streams and spectacular canyons. At 82 km long and 1,300 m deep, Tara River Canyon is the deepest in Europe. Over 200 karst caves have been found, including an Ice Cave with frozen stalactites and stalagmites. The Park also contains one of the last virgin forests of very old, tall Black Pine in Europe.

Community Perspective: The reviewers have not been kind to Durmitor: “one of those sites that were inscribed early on, but would have a somewhat harder time achieving inscription today” and “The scenery is pleasant but not outstanding in World or even European terms.“ Crno and Zeminje Lakes are easy destinations for a hike from Zabljak.

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Garamba National Park

Garamba National Park
Photo in the Public Domain.

Garamba National Park comprises an area of savannah, marshland and forests that is the habitat of the world’s four largest land mammals.

The vegetation is especially suited for great herbivores such as elephants (both forest elephants and bush elephants), giraffes, hippopotamus and rhinoceros. The park aimed to protect the last known wild population of northern white rhinoceros. By 2016 it had lost all of its northern white rhinos (the species has become extinct in the wild), 95% of its elephants, most of its Kordofan giraffe and an estimated 80-90% of other large mammals

Community Perspective: Barbara reports on fieldwork she did at Garamba in the 1990s.

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Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
Photo by Luis Filipe Gaspar.

The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a subterranean structure testifying to the artistic and architectural accomplishments of Malta's Neolithic society.

The underground cemetery was cut into the rock and resembles the architecture used in the temples above ground. It was in use from around 4000 BC to 2500 BCE. The remains of 7000 people have been found inside, as well as pottery and stone and clay figurines.

Community Perspective: “It's a pretty large temple and taking into account how extremely old it is (3rd Millenia BCE), it's plain stunning.” Be aware that its access is very restricted, and the entrance fee has risen to 35 EUR nowadays. Ralf has described how you can get Last Minute tickets.

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Ichkeul National Park

Ichkeul National Park
Photo by Els Slots.

Ichkeul National Park is an important stopping-over point for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds each year.

The park comprises a shallow freshwater lake, temporarily flooded marshes and a mountain. It is located in northern Tunisia near the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and was once part of a chain of lakes. Among the lake's wintering birds are ducks, geese, storks, and pink flamingoes.

Community Perspective: Dam construction has led to a sharp reduction in migratory bird populations. The park seems to have been closed for years, although entering to hike the trails is still possible as described by Stanislaw (who has also provided public transport info).

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Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park
(c) Peter Howard, African Natural Heritage.

Kahuzi-Biéga National Park protects a primary tropical forest that is one of the last refuges of the critically endangered Eastern Lowland Gorilla.

The Eastern Lowland Gorilla is the largest subspecies of the Gorilla and the largest living primate. The park reaches high altitudes at Mounts Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Biega (2,790 m). where sub-alpine vegetation has developed. Its bird list holds 349 species, including 42 endemic.

Community Perspective: There have been no recent reviews of this site, though it is regularly visited as it is easily accessible from the Rwanda border.

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Lower Valley of the Awash

Lower Valley of the Awash
Photo by Wojciech Fedoruk.

The Lower Valley of the Awash is one of the most important palaeontological sites on the African continent, providing evidence of human evolution.

In this valley in Ethiopia's Afar Depression, numerous pre-human hominid and animal fossils have been found, dating back to over 4 million years ago. It is also here that in 1974 'Lucy' was found, bone fragments representing about 40% of the skeleton of an individual Australopithecus afarensis.

Community Perspective: Wojciech undertook the effort to reach this rarely visited, unspectacular place in an inhospitable area. 

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Lower Valley of the Omo

Lower Valley of the Omo
Photo by Luis Filipe Gaspar.

The Lower Valley of the Omo is a prehistoric site where many hominid fossils have been found that contribute to the study of human evolution.

They were located in up to 3.5 million-year-old sedimentary deposits. Fossils belonging to the genera Australopithecus and Homo sapiens have been found at several archaeological sites, as well as tools made from quartzite, the oldest of which date back to about 2.4 million years ago.

Community Perspective: there never has been an official map that shows the inscribed area, so ‘visiting’ this site is problematic. The more so because its OUV lies with the hominid remains and people mostly go to the Omo region to see its contemporary tribes, as is reflected in the reviews below.

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Megalithic Temples of Malta

Megalithic Temples of Malta
Photo by Els Slots.

The Megalithic Temples of Malta are amongst the earliest free-standing stone buildings in the world.

Each of the monuments is different and all are massive, which would have required significant technical skill. Some are decorated with bas-reliefs with various motifs. They date from ca. 3000 BCE. Hagar Qin, Mnajdra, Tarxien, Ta'Hagrat and Skorba are on the main island, while the Gigantija temples can be found on Gozo island.

Community Perspective: Ġgantija temple comes out as the most impressive, while Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra have the most scenic locations.

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Moenjodaro

Moenjodaro
Photo by Stanislaw Warwas.

The Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro are the remains of the most ancient planned city of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Moenjodaro was the most advanced city of its time (3rd millennium BCE), with remarkably sophisticated civil engineering and urban planning. It had considerable influence on the urbanization of the rest of the Indian subcontinent. The city was divided into two sections: the acropolis with the major structures, and the lower town with private houses and commercial buildings.

Community Perspective: this was one of the major archaeological finds of the 20th century, Solivagant’s review details its history of discovery. For the modern-day visitor, it is more of an “archaeologist’s site” without the artistic or architectural “wow”. It is the most difficult to reach WHS in Pakistan because of its remote location – but Stanislaw explains how to reach it on public transport.

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Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto
Photo by Carlo Sarion.

The Historic Town of Ouro Preto is a unique representation of Baroque architecture in a homogenous cityscape.

The city's wealth has its origins in the late 17th century, when gold was discovered here. The exploration of gold was a monopoly of the Portuguese crown. Small settlements of miners in search of El Dorado were joined to create the city and the settlers were divided into parishes and ethnic groups. Each group constructed its own church (religious orders were banned), bringing in baroque artisans that created sculptures and paintings that show a fusion of European and American elements.

Community Perspective: the example of a colonial-historic town in Brazil, in a hilly location with steep streets and some breathtaking views. The main attractions are its churches: the Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, the church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, and the church of Sao Francisco de Assis (with Aleijadinho carvings) are among the highlights.

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Palmyra

Palmyra
Photo by Michael Novins.

The Site of Palmyra consists of the ruins of a wealthy caravan oasis that further developed under Roman rule.

Palmyra was located on a major trade route and was known as the city of palm trees. After it became a Roman colony, Emperor Caracalla turned it into one of the greatest cities of the Roman Empire with new constructions of streets, arches, temples and statues. Major artistic works include the grand colonnade and the great temple of Ba'al is. Due to reports on its splendour by travellers in the 17th and 18th centuries, Palmyra also was influential in the evolution of neoclassical architecture.

Community Perspective: Solivagant visited in 1999, admired the fine Temple of Baal and recommends the viewpoint from a hill fort a few miles away. Squiffy did so in 2009: “a bewitching sight, a lattice of soaring ruins sketched out in the sands of the Syrian Desert. It carries all the exoticism of Egypt.” He also details what was done to the site by IS in 2015.

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Paphos

Paphos
Photo by Luis Filipe Gaspar.

Paphos is an archeological site of a place of worship from Antiquity, with fine mosaics.

It was known for its cult of the fertility goddess of Venus and has been in use since the Neolithic. The town blossomed as one of the oldest Mycenaean settlements. The mosaics of Nea Paphos, displaying scenes from Greek mythology, date from the later Hellenistic and Byzantine periods.

Community Perspective: located near a very touristy beach resort, the mosaics are generally considered the highlight of a visit to this sprawling site that covers a significant timespan in a way that isn’t always harmonious. Squiffy’s review (updated in 2023) gives a detailed overlook of all components and the practicalities involved.

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Portobelo-San Lorenzo

Portobelo-San Lorenzo
Photo by Els Slots.

The Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo form part of the defence system built by the Spanish Crown to protect transatlantic trade.

They are magnificent examples of 17th- and 18th-century military architecture. The forts, castles, barracks and batteries of Portobelo created a defensive line around the bay and protected the harbour; the works at San Lorenzo guarded the mouth of the Chagres River.

Community Perspective: “It is the kind of place where nothing changes” sums it up nicely for Portobelo, or you may even call it neglect. Shandos covered the other component, San Lorenzo, which has recently become easier to reach due to the building of a new bridge north of Gatun.

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Redwood

Redwood
Photo in the Public Domain.

Redwood National and State Parks protect the largest remaining Coastal Redwood old-growth forests, with some of the tallest and oldest known trees in the world.

These redwoods are surviving remnants of groups of trees that were once found throughout many of the wet regions of the world. The parks also hold 60km of coastline with specific flora and fauna. This contiguous area consists of Redwood National Park and California's State Parks: Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek.

Community Perspective: impressive, especially when a sea of mist from the Pacific Ocean descends into Redwood and creates an otherworldly atmosphere. The parks see only a fraction of the visitors compared to Yosemite or Yellowstone. Kyle recommends the Lady Bird Johnson Grove and the Fern Canyon Trail, and Frederik the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

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Rome

Rome
Photo by Els Slots.

The Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura comprise major monuments of Roman Antiquity and the Christian faith.

An extraordinary number of monumental remains of Ancient Rome have been preserved here and have always been visible in its streets. Christian Rome was built on top of that, adding Renaissance and Baroque monuments that were created by some of the most renowned artists of all time. Its influence around the world has been both secular (eg. in law, and language) and religious (eg. the goal of pilgrimages, and the presence of the Pope).

Community Perspective: No city “comes close to Rome in terms of history, culture, architecture, and influence on the rest of the world”. It needs several visits of multiple days, also over time as they keep on discovering and opening up things to the public.

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Røros

Røros
Photo by Els Slots.

Røros Mining Town and the Circumference comprises a relict mining town and industrial landscape shaped by copper mining.

Within the Circumference, a privileged area within a 45km radius around town, Røros Copper Works held the monopoly to exploit the natural and human resources. The workers lived in Røros Town, which was fully made of wood. Work was done under severe climatic conditions, and ways were found to adapt to it for example via the 'Winter Transport Route' on frozen lakes and rivers.

Community Perspective: this still is a fairly remote site and on public transport, you will not be able to see the outlying components (no reviewer so far seems to have visited by private car). Els describes what a guided tour of the town entails and there are tantalizing videos by André and Joel. Be aware that in summer the site can get very busy with Norwegian daytrippers.

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Santa Maria delle Grazie

Santa Maria delle Grazie
Photo by Els Slots.

The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci is a Renaissance ensemble in Milan.

The Convent is famous for the mural of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci in its refectory. The iconic work has highly influenced the art of painting.

Community Perspective: To see the Last Supper you have to pre-book a slot months ahead – only then you are allowed to gaze at it for 15 minutes and listen to the audio guide. The apse and cloister of the church, designed by Bramante, are also very impressive. Astraftis has reviewed the site and the experience in full.

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Takht-i-Bahi

Takht-i-Bahi
Photo by Stanislaw Warwas.

The "Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol" are the remains of an ancient Buddhist monastery and a fortified city.

The hilltop monastery of Takht-i-Bahi dates from the 1st century CE and was used until the 7th century. It consists of numerous stupas and monastic cells sticking to the high, rocky spurs. Much of the friezes and statuary were removed between 1907 and 1913. Sahr-i-Bahlol was a small fortified town from the same period.

Community Perspective: Solivagant visited it on a day trip by car from Islamabad and found “the many niches largely empty of statues”. He concluded that it has less detail to see but is more spectacular in location than the Buddhist ruins at Taxila.

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Taxila

Taxila
Photo by Stanislaw Warwas.

Taxila is an archaeological site containing the ruins of four early settlements, Buddhist monasteries and a Muslim mosque.

The Gandhâran city of Takshashila was an important Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist centre of learning and pilgrimage site from the 6th century BCE to the 5th century CE. It was located on a branch of the Silk Road and was reached by Alexander the Great. The subsequent settlements of Saraikala, Bhir, Sirkap, and Sirsukh show the urban evolution on the Indian subcontinent through more than five centuries.

Community Perspective: this is one of those sites with “a bit of everything”, spread across 18 locations. Zoë considered Jaulian monastery a must-see, and Solivagant visited Sirkap city ruins and the Jaulian and Dhamarajika monasteries. It is recommended to go to the Taxila Museum first. A good visit to a couple of the components easily takes 5 hours.

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Tiya

Tiya
Photo by Michael Novins.

Tiya is an archaeological site renowned for its decorated stelae.

These megaliths are marking a large, prehistoric burial complex of an ancient Ethiopian culture. The standing stones are decorated with symbols, some of them sword-like. These two groups of in total 36 stelae date from between the 10th and 15th centuries AD. They are seen as the best examples of a larger tradition of megalithic pillar sites in the region.

Community Perspective: “Enigmatic”, but Solivagant and Astraftis made an effort to interpret the site. Tiya can be visited on a (long) day trip from Addis Abeba. It is a very small site and a visit is likely to be underwhelming to the general audience.

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Valletta

Valletta
Photo by Els Slots.

The City of Valletta is an ideal Renaissance city founded by the Knights Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

The Order ruled from here from 1565 on for over two centuries and created a late Renaissance city within city walls to withstand the Turks. Hundreds of civil, religious and military monuments from the 16th century remain, as does the uniform urban plan.

Community Perspective: Valletta is an easy city to walk around, but it does have hills. Highlights include St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Upper Barakka Gardens, which overlook one of the greatest natural harbours of Europe. James recommends the recently opened underground tour of the tunnels that lie beneath the city.

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Warsaw

Warsaw
Photo by Jan-Willem.

The Historic Centre of Warsaw is a near-total reconstruction of a city center from the 13th to 20th centuries.

Warsaw was razed in August 1944 by Nazi occupation troops to repress Polish resistance. About 85% of the city was destroyed. After the war, a reconstruction campaign was started with the aim to recreate its late 18th-century appearance. This resulted in the rebuilding of monuments like the Cathedral of St John and the Town Market Square. The project contributed significantly to the conservation practice of European cities after World War II.

Community Perspective: The reviews by Ian, Clyde and James will give you a good overview of what to expect and what to see. All agree that the reconstruction was done in an outstanding manner.

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Extended Sites in 1980

Ohrid Region

Ohrid Region
Photo by Els Slots.

The Natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid Region comprises the ancient town of Ohrid and nearby Lake Ohrid, one of the deepest and oldest lakes in Europe.

Ohrid has been a cultural centre of great importance for the Balkan and the Slavonic language. Its Byzantine churches are renowned for their frescoes and icons. The lake, which is low in nutrients, holds many endemic species of fish, molluscs etc. The lakeshore reed beds and wetlands provide critical habitat for hundreds of thousands of wintering water birds.

Community Perspective: the site encompasses a large area and warrants multiple days to experience both its cultural and natural aspects. Visit outside of the summer months to avoid the tourist crowds. Clyde’s recent review focuses on the lesser-visited Albanian side.

Ana Australia - 06-Apr-06

I have been to Ohrid many times and i must tell you it is the best place to be. It lake looks like dazzeling beads in the sun and the city reminds you of the olden days. Not all the city is old. Part of it has a new landscape to it. There are many beautiful churches there with millions of Byzantine-style icons. Trust me, you will love it if you go there!

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