The world's heritage: a complete guide to the most extraordinary places

A unique guide to every UNESCO World Heritage site. The global list has proved a valuable tool in the battle to preserve the world's heritage. Managed by the World Heritage Committee with strict criteria, only the world's most spectacular and extraordinary sites making it onto the List. Major sites Details of all 878 UNESCO sites including - the remarkable Dazu Rock Carving of China; the last substantial expanse of monsoon forest in Thailand, the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex; Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania which contains the highest mountain in Africa one of the largest volcanoes in the world; one of the greatest Mayan temples Tikal in Guatemala; the legendary Acropolis in Athens; the ancient Nabataean city of Petra in Jordan; the unique ecosystem of the Serengeti, Tanzania. The World Heritage List includes properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. In 1972 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Convention concerning the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage. Since then 878 sites have been inscribed onto the List, 679 of which are cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed properties in 145 countries.