Since 1972, UNESCO has recognized more than a thousand cultural and natural world heritage sites of universal value.

Being named a World Heritage Site is not just about joining the World Heritage List. The country that owns those heritages is obliged to protect them and preserve them for future generations.

Due to the World Heritage Program, efforts have been made to prevent damage to the World Heritage sites from damage and development activities over the years.

The best examples of this are the construction of a dam above Victoria Falls in Africa and the blocking of a highway that was supposed to be built near the pyramids in Egypt.

There are currently 1153 World Heritage Sites in 194 countries. Such extremely rare world heritage sites are tourists’ paradises.

Amazing beaches in Northern Ireland

About 60 million years ago, hot lava cooled in the ocean and formed about forty thousand hexagonal basalt rock pillars. Some of them are as high as eighty feet. This spectacular coastline is called the Path of the Giants because of these magnificent lava towers.

Although the formation of the Path of the Giants is explained geologically, local legends tell a different story about its formation.

Accordingly, this is said to be a bridge built by the warrior Finn MacColl with his own hands to cross the Irish Sea to attack his enemies living in an archipelago in Scotland. Also, information has been revealed that this has been popular among tourists since the 18th century.

Hawaii is the land of volcanoes

According to Hawaiian mythology, the Halomaumau caldera (a basin-like volcanic feature formed after a volcanic cone erupts) of Kilowea volcano is the home of the mountain deity of fire, electricity, wind and volcanoes.

Hawaii is the official name of the Big Island, the largest of the Hawaiian islands. It is formed by five shield volcanoes. For generations, these volcanic craters influenced the customs and veneration of Hawaiians.

Home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilowaya and Mauna Loa, Hawaii Island’s Volcanoes National Park is the perfect place to observe the powerful geological forces that shape the planet.

Spread over 335,000 acres, the volcano park allows tourists to visit active volcanoes, visit craters and engage in various adventure activities.

The oldest mummy in Chile

The Chinchorro, an ancient indigenous community living on the northern coast of Chile in South America, turned the dead into mummies more than two thousand years before the Egyptians did.

The mummies are made by removing the skin, muscles and internal organs from the corpses and filling them with clay and vegetable fibers. A mask made of clay is put on their face and natural hair is attached to their head.

Of the three hundred mummies that have been found, a few are on display at the San Miguel de Azaba Archaeological Museum. About forty-eight mummies are still buried under a glass surface in the Colon 10 Museum in Chile. They are being destroyed due to climate change.

Turkey’s Fairy Chimneys

Goreme Park, which is said to have been first settled during the Roman period, can still be seen today with frescoed ascetics dating back to the time when the Christians settled in the Mediterranean region in the fourth century.

A hot air balloon ride is a very popular activity among tourists to see the beauty of the sky above this national park.

Colosseum in Rome

The Colosseum was the largest theater of the Roman Empire. In the past, chariot races, executions and deadly gladiator fights were held here.

Construction began during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and was completed during the reign of his son, Emperor Titus. It is still known today as an engineering marvel.

This was built to seat fifty thousand spectators. At the Colosseum, animals including rhinos, elephants, tigers, lions, and koalas were kept for battle in tunnels and cages beneath the sand-covered wooden stage.

Puppet shadow dances in Indonesia

The art of shadow puppetry, which is animated by the hands of Dalang puppet masters in Indonesia, is known as an intangible cultural heritage.

Here various characters made of leather are manipulated by hand and the puppet shows are conducted by lighting behind them and casting shadows on a white screen.

For thousands of years before the advent of television, wayang puppet shows were performed with Gamelan music.

The puppeteer performed legendary stories, moral stories, political criticism etc. in the royal court as well as in the rural areas of Java and Bali islands.

Also, three-dimensional puppets made of wood were also used in Dalang puppet shows.

The wonder of Botswana

The Okavango Delta in northern Botswana, fed by rainwater from the highlands of Angola, is the largest and most biodiverse delta in southern Africa. Hence, this place is an ideal place for tourists to see wildlife.

The largest herds of elephants, cheetah African wild dogs, cocoons, pelicans, as well as numerous wild animals, over 130 previously unrecorded and 75 never-studied animal species, and 26 new animal species even for scientists are reported from this delta region.

For those of you who want to travel, here is a place where you can see animals.

No matter how busy you are, as soon as you get a chance, visit these places that you haven’t heard of or visited before.. This will undoubtedly add a different experience to you. While traveling and adding valuable experiences to life, let’s work to protect these world heritage sites. Let’s allow future generations to visit these places as well as us.