Russian World Heritage Sites. Natural and cultural heritage

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The most inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List valuable objects(both natural and man-made) in terms of their cultural, historical or environmental significance. Here are twenty uniquely beautiful UNESCO sites located in Europe.

20 PHOTOS

1 Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia.

Forest reserve in Central Croatia, famous for its cascading lakes, waterfalls, caves and limestone gorges.

2 Red Square, Moscow, Russia.

The most famous square in Russia, located east of the Kremlin, the official residence of the president. On Red Square there are St. Basil's Cathedral and the State Historical Museum.

3 Village Vlkolínec, Slovakia.

A perfectly preserved ethnographic village, which is included in the list of museums of folk architecture in Slovakia. The settlement reflects traditional features Central European village: log buildings, stables with haylofts and a wooden bell tower.

4 Rila Monastery, Bulgaria.

The largest and most famous Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, founded in the 10th century and rebuilt in the mid-1800s.

5 Natural-historical complex Mont Saint-Michel, France.

A fortified Gothic-style island abbey built between the 11th and 16th centuries in northwestern France.

6 Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal.

Roman Catholic church located north of Lisbon. It was built by the Portuguese king Alfonso I in the 12th century.

7 Budapest: Banks of the Danube, Buda Castle Hill and Andrássy Avenue.

The central part of the Hungarian capital boasts such stunning architectural masterpieces as the Parliament Buildings, the Opera House, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Market Hall.

8 Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica, Poland.

The largest wooden sacral buildings in Europe, built in the second half of the 17th century after the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War.

9. Stavkirka in Urnes, Norway.

The stave church, located in western Norway, is a superb example of traditional Scandinavian architecture.

10. Giant's Causeway, Ireland.

A natural monument consisting of approximately 40,000 interconnected basalt columns formed as a result of ancient eruption volcano

11. Pont du Gard Aqueduct, France.

The tallest surviving ancient Roman aqueduct. Its length is 275 meters and its height is 47 meters.

12. Pilgrimage Church in Wies, Germany

A Bavarian Rococo church located in a beautiful Alpine valley southwest of Munich.

13. Fjords of Western Norway, Norway.

Located in southwest Norway, Geirangerfjord and Nordfjord are among the longest and deepest fjords in the world.

14. Vatican, Italy.

Center of Catholic Christianity, and residence of the Pope. Also, the Vatican Museums house many of the world's artistic masterpieces.

15. Thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery in Pannonhalm, Hungary.

The monastic community and one of the oldest historical monuments in Hungary, was founded in 996.

16. Pirin National Park, Bulgaria.

National park with an area of ​​403 square meters. km, located on three vegetation zones: mountain-forest, subalpine and alpine.

17. Grand Place, Brussels. 18. Old Bridge area in the historical center of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Old Bridge, built in the 16th century during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, is one of the most significant architectural monuments in the Balkans.

19. Glacial fjord Ilulissat, Denmark.

A fjord located in western Greenland, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle. It includes the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, moving at a speed of 19 meters per day, one of the fastest glaciers in the world.

20. Palace of Catalan Music, Barcelona, ​​Spain.

Famous concert hall, representing one of the best examples of Catalan Art Nouveau. It is also the only concert hall in Europe with natural light.

Currently on site Russian Federation 26 objects are located world heritage:
16 cultural sites (designated with the letter C - cultural) and 10 natural heritage sites (designated with the letter N - natural) on the World Heritage List.

Three of them are transboundary, i.e. located on the territory of several states: Curonian Spit (Lithuania, Russian Federation), Ubsunur Basin (Mongolia, Russian Federation), Struve Geodetic Arc (Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Estonia)

The first objects are " Historical Center St. Petersburg and associated groups of monuments”, “Kizhi Pogost”, “Moscow Kremlin and Red Square” - were included in the World Heritage List at the 14th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in 1990 in the Canadian city of Banff.

14th Session of the World Heritage Committee - 1990 (Banff, Canada)

№С540 - Historical center St. Petersburg and related groups of monuments

Criteria (i) (ii) (iv) (vi)
The "Venice of the North", with its many canals and more than 400 bridges, is the result of a great urban planning project, begun in 1703 under Peter the Great. The city turned out to be closely connected with the October Revolution of 1917, and in 1924-1991. it bore the name Leningrad. Its architectural heritage combines such different styles as baroque and classicism, which can be seen in the example of the Admiralty, Winter Palace, Marble Palace and Hermitage.
Information about the object:

No. S544 - Kizhi Pogost

Criteria: (i)(iv)(v)
Kizhi Pogost is located on one of the many islands of Lake Onega, in Karelia. Here you can see two wooden churches from the 18th century, as well as an octagonal bell tower, built of wood in 1862. These unusual structures, the pinnacle of carpentry, represent an example of an ancient church parish and blend harmoniously with the surrounding natural landscape.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

No. C545 - Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iv)(vi)
This place is inextricably linked with the most important historical and political events in the life of Russia. Since the 13th century. The Moscow Kremlin, created in the period from the 14th century. to the 17th century by outstanding Russian and foreign architects, it was a grand ducal and then a royal residence, as well as a religious center. On Red Square, located near the walls of the Kremlin, stands St. Basil's Cathedral - a true masterpiece of Russian Orthodox architecture.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Moscow Kremlin Museums
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

16th session of the World Heritage Committee - 1992 (Santa Fe, USA)

No. S604 - Historical monuments Veliky Novgorod and surrounding areas

Criteria: (ii)(iv)(vi)
Novgorod, advantageously located on the ancient trade route between Central Asia and Northern Europe, was in the 9th century. the first capital of Russia, the center of Orthodox spirituality and Russian architecture. His medieval monuments, churches and monasteries, as well as frescoes by Theophanes the Greek (Andrei Rublev's teacher), dating back to the 14th century, clearly illustrate the outstanding level of architectural and artistic creativity.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Novgorod Region
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

No. C632 - Historical and cultural complex of the Solovetsky Islands

Criterion: (iv)
Solovetsky archipelago, located in the western part White Sea, consists of 6 islands with a total area of ​​more than 300 square meters. km. They were inhabited in the 5th century. BC, however, the very first evidence of human presence here dates back to the 3rd-2nd millennia BC. The islands, starting from the 15th century, became the site of the creation and active development of the largest monastery in the Russian North. There are also several churches from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Solovetsky State Historical, Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve"
on the website "Museums of Russia"

No. S633 - White stone monuments Vladimir and Suzdal

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iv)
These two ancient cultural centers of Central Russia occupy an important place in the history of the formation of the country's architecture. There are a number of majestic religious and public buildings of the 12th-13th centuries, among which the Assumption and Demetrius Cathedrals (Vladimir) stand out.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

17th session of the World Heritage Committee -1993 (Cartagena, Colombia)

No. S657 - Architectural ensemble Trinity Lavra of Sergius in the city of Sergiev Posad

Criteria: (ii)(iv)
This is a striking example of a functioning Orthodox monastery, which has the features of a fortress, which was fully consistent with the spirit of the time of its formation - the 15th-18th centuries. In the main temple of the Lavra - the Assumption Cathedral, created in the image and likeness of the cathedral of the same name in the Moscow Kremlin - there is the tomb of Boris Godunov. Among the treasures of the Lavra is the famous Trinity icon by Andrei Rublev.
Information about the object:
on website of the Ministry of Culture of the Moscow Region
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

18th session of the World Heritage Committee - 1994 (Phuket, Thailand)

№С634rev- Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye (Moscow)

Criterion: (ii)
This church was built in 1532 on the royal estate of Kolomenskoye near Moscow to commemorate the birth of the heir - the future Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. The Church of the Ascension, which is one of the earliest examples of the traditional hipped roof completion in stone, has had big influence on further development Russian church architecture.
Information about the object:

on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

19th session of the World Heritage Committee - 1995 (Berlin, Germany)

N719 - Virgin forests of Komi

Criteria: (vii) (ix)
Covering an area of ​​3.28 million hectares, the heritage site includes lowland tundra, mountain tundra of the Urals, and one of the largest tracts of primary boreal forest remaining in Europe. A vast area of ​​swamps, rivers and lakes, home to conifers, birch and aspen, has been studied and protected for more than 50 years. Here you can trace the course of natural processes that determine the biodiversity of the taiga ecosystem.
Information about the object:

on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

20th session of the World Heritage Committee - 1996 (Merida, Mexico)

№ N754 - Lake Baikal

Criteria: (vii) (viii) (ix) (x)
Located in the southeast of Siberia and covering an area of ​​3.15 million hectares, Baikal is recognized as the oldest (25 million years old) and deepest (about 1700 m) lake on the planet. The reservoir stores approximately 20% of all world reserves fresh water. In the lake, which is known as the “Galapagos of Russia,” due to its ancient age and isolation, a freshwater ecosystem, unique even by world standards, has formed, the study of which is of enduring importance for understanding the evolution of life on Earth.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Natural Heritage Conservation Foundation
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

22nd Session of the World Heritage Committee - 1998 (Kyoto, Japan)

№ N768rev - “Golden Mountains of Altai”

Criteria: (x)
The Altai Mountains, which are the main mountainous region in the south of Western Siberia, form the sources largest rivers this region - the Ob and Irtysh. The heritage site includes three separate areas: the Altai Reserve with the water protection zone of Lake Teletskoye, the Katunsky Reserve plus natural Park Belukha, Ukok plateau. The total area is 1.64 million hectares. The region demonstrates the widest range of altitudinal zones within Central Siberia: from steppes, forest-steppes and mixed forests to subalpine and alpine meadows and glaciers. The area is home to endangered animals such as the snow leopard.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Natural Heritage Conservation Foundation
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

23rd session of the World Heritage Committee - 1999 (Marrakesh, Morocco)

№ N900 - Western Caucasus

Criteria: (ix) (x)
This is one of the few large high mountain ranges in Europe where nature has not yet been subject to significant anthropogenic influence. The area of ​​the facility is approximately 300 thousand hectares, it is located in the west Greater Caucasus, 50 km northeast of the Black Sea coast. Only wild animals graze in the local alpine and subalpine meadows, and the vast untouched mountain forests, extending from the low-mountain zone to the subalpine, are also unique to Europe. The area is characterized by a wide variety of ecosystems, highly endemic flora and fauna, and is an area once inhabited, and later re-acclimatized, by a mountain subspecies of the European bison.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Natural Heritage Conservation Foundation
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

24th Session of the World Heritage Committee - 2000 (Cairns, Australia)

No. C980 - Historical and architectural complex of the Kazan Kremlin

Criteria: (ii) (iii) (iv)
Emerging from a territory inhabited since ancient times, the Kazan Kremlin traces its history back to the Muslim period in the history of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate. It was conquered in 1552 by Ivan the Terrible and became a stronghold of Orthodoxy in the Volga region. The Kremlin, which has largely preserved the layout of the ancient Tatar fortress and has become an important center of pilgrimage, includes outstanding historical Buildings XVI-XIX centuries, built on the ruins of earlier buildings of the X-XVI centuries.
Information about the object:
on the website of the State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve "Kazan Kremlin"
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

No. C982 - Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery

Criteria: (i) (iv)
Ferapontov Monastery is located in the Vologda region, in the north of the European part of Russia. This is an exceptionally well-preserved Orthodox monastery complex of the 15th-17th centuries, i.e. a period that was of great importance for the formation of a centralized Russian state and the development of its culture. The architecture of the monastery is unique and holistic. The interior of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary preserves magnificent wall frescoes by Dionysius, the greatest Russian artist of the late 15th century.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Kirillo-Belozersky Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve”
on the website of the Museum of Frescoes of Dionysius
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

№С994 - Curonian Spit
Transboundary object: Lithuania, Russian Federation

Criterion: (v)
Human development of this narrow sandy peninsula, which has a length of 98 km and a width of 400 m to 4 km, began in prehistoric times. The spit was also exposed to natural forces - wind and sea waves. The preservation of this unique cultural landscape to this day has become possible only thanks to man's ongoing struggle against erosion processes (fixation of dunes, forest planting).
Information about the object:
on the website of the Curonian Spit National Park (Russia)
on the website of the Curonian Spit National Park (Lithuania)
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

25th session of the World Heritage Committee - 2001 (Helsinki, Finland)

№ N766rev - Central Sikhote-Alin

Criterion: (x)
The Sikhote-Alin Mountains are home to Far Eastern coniferous-deciduous forests, which are recognized as one of the richest and most original in species composition among all temperate forests on Earth. In this transition zone, located at the junction of the taiga and subtropics, there is an unusual mixture of southern (tiger, Himalayan bear) and northern animal species (brown bear, lynx). The territory extends from the most high peaks Sikhote-Alin to the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan, and serves as a refuge for many endangered species, including the Amur tiger.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve
on the website of the Natural Heritage Conservation Foundation
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

27th session of the World Heritage Committee - 2003 (Paris, France)

№ N769 rev- Ubsunur Basin
Transboundary site: Mongolia, Russian Federation

Criteria: (ix) (x)
The heritage site (with an area of ​​1,069 thousand hectares) is located within the boundaries of the northernmost of all drainage basins in Central Asia. Its name comes from the name of the vast shallow and very salty lake Ubsunur, in the area of ​​which a mass of migratory, waterfowl and semi-aquatic birds accumulate. The object consists of 12 isolated areas (including seven areas in Russia, with an area of ​​258.6 thousand hectares), which represent all the main types of landscapes characteristic of Eastern Eurasia. The steppes are home to a wide variety of birds, and desert areas are home to rare species of small mammals. In the high mountainous part, such globally rare animals as the snow leopard and argali mountain sheep, as well as the Siberian ibex, are noted.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Tuvan Republican Branch of the Russian Geographical Society
on the website of the Natural Heritage Conservation Foundation
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

No. C1070 - Citadel, Old Town and fortifications of Derbent

Criteria: (iii) (iv)
Ancient Derbent was located on the northern borders of Sasanian Persia, which at that time extended east and west from the Caspian Sea. The ancient fortifications, built of stone, include two fortress walls that run parallel to each other from the seashore to the mountains. The city of Derbent developed between these two walls and has retained its medieval character to this day. It continued to be a strategically important place until the 19th century.
Information about the object:
on the website of the State Budgetary Institution "Derbent State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve"
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

28th session of the World Heritage Committee - 2004 (Suzhou, China)

No. S1097 - Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent (Moscow)

Criteria: (i) (iv) (vi)
Novodevichy Convent, located in the south-west of Moscow, was created during the 16th-17th centuries and was one of the links in the chain of monastic ensembles united in the city’s defense system. The monastery was closely connected with the political, cultural and religious life of Russia, as well as with the Moscow Kremlin. Representatives of the royal family, noble boyar and noble families were tonsured and buried here. The ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent is one of the masterpieces of Russian architecture (Moscow Baroque style), and its interiors, where valuable collections of paintings and works of decorative and applied art are stored, are distinguished by their rich interior decoration.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Mother of God of Smolensk Novodevichy Convent
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

№ N1023rev- Natural complex Wrangel Island Nature Reserve

Criteria: (ix) (x)
The heritage site, located above the Arctic Circle, includes the mountainous Wrangel Island (7.6 thousand sq. km) and Herald Island (11 sq. km) along with the adjacent waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian seas. Since this area was not covered by the powerful Quaternary glaciation, there is very high biodiversity here. Wrangel Island is known for its huge walrus rookeries (one of the largest in the Arctic), as well as the highest density of ancestral dens in the world polar bear. The area is important as a feeding ground for gray whales migrating here from California and as a nesting site for more than 50 species of birds, many of which are classified as rare and endangered. More than 400 species and varieties of vascular plants have been recorded on the island, that is, more than on any other Arctic island. Some of the living organisms found here are special island forms of those plants and animals that are widespread on the continent. About 40 species and subspecies of plants, insects, birds and animals are identified as endemic.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Federal State Budgetary Institution State Nature Reserve "Wrangel Island"
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

29th session of the World Heritage Committee - 2005 (Durban, South Africa)

No. S1187 - Struve geodetic arc
Transboundary object: Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Estonia

Criteria: (ii) (iii) (vi)
The “Struve Arc” is a chain of triangulation points stretching for 2820 km across ten European countries from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea. These observation reference points were established in the period 1816-1855. astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve (aka Vasily Yakovlevich Struve), who thus made the first reliable measurement of a large segment of the earth's meridian arc. This made it possible to accurately determine the size and shape of our planet, which was an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographic mapping. This was an exceptional example of scientific collaboration between scientists different countries and between reigning monarchs. Initially, the “arc” consisted of 258 geodetic “triangles” (polygons) with 265 main triangulation points. The World Heritage Site includes 34 such points (the best preserved to date), which are marked on the ground in a variety of ways, such as hollows carved into the rocks, iron crosses, cairns or specially installed obelisks.
Information about the object:
Online St. Petersburg Society of Geodesy and Cartography
on the website of the Land Department of the Ministry of the Environment of Estonia
on the website of the Finnish Department of Cartography
on the Norwegian World Heritage website
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

№С1170 - Historical center of Yaroslavl

Criteria: (ii) (iv)
The historical city of Yaroslavl, located approximately 250 km northeast of Moscow at the confluence of the Kotorosl River and the Volga, was founded in the 11th century. and subsequently developed into a large shopping mall. It is known for its numerous churches from the 17th century, and as an outstanding example of the implementation of the urban planning reform carried out by decree of Empress Catherine the Great in 1763 throughout Russia. Although the city retained a number of remarkable historical buildings, it was later reconstructed in the classicist style based on a radial master plan. It also preserves items dating back to the 16th century. constructions of the Spassky Monastery - one of the oldest in the Upper Volga region, which arose at the end of the 12th century. on the site of a pagan temple, but rebuilt over time.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Official portal of the city of Yaroslavl
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

34th Session of the World Heritage Committee - 2010 (Brasilia, Brazil)

№ N1234rev - Putorana Plateau

Criteria: (vii) (ix)
This object coincides with its borders with the Putorana State Nature Reserve, located in the northern part of Central Siberia, 100 km beyond the Arctic Circle. The World Heritage portion of this plateau contains a full range of subarctic and arctic ecosystems preserved in an isolated mountain range, including pristine taiga, forest-tundra, tundra and arctic desert systems, as well as pristine cold-water lake and river systems. The main migration route of deer runs through the site, which is an exceptional, majestic and increasingly rare natural phenomenon.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "United Directorate of Taimyr Nature Reserves"
on the website of the Natural Heritage Conservation Foundation
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

36th session of the World Heritage Committee - 2012 (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation)

№ N1299 - Lena Pillars Nature Park

Criteria: (viii)
The Lena Pillars Natural Park is formed by rock formations of rare beauty that reach a height of about 100 meters and are located along the banks of the Lena River in the central part of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). They arose in a sharply continental climate with differences in annual temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius (from -60°C in winter to +40°C in summer). The pillars are separated from each other by deep and steep ravines, partially filled with frost-covered rock fragments. The penetration of water from the surface accelerated the freezing process and contributed to frost weathering. This led to the deepening of the ravines between the pillars and their dispersal. The proximity of the river and its current are dangerous factors for the pillars. The site contains remains of a wide variety of Cambrian species.
Information about the object:
on the website of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Natural Park “Lena Pillars”
on the website of the Natural Heritage Conservation Foundation
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

38th session of the World Heritage Committee - 2014 (Doha, Qatar)

No. S981rev- Bulgarian Historical and Archaeological Complex

Criteria:(ii) (vi)
The facility is located on the banks of the Volga River south of the confluence of the Kama River and south of the capital of Tatarstan, the city of Kazan. It contains evidence of the existence medieval city Bolgar, an ancient settlement of the Volga Bulgar people, which existed from the 7th to the 15th centuries. and was in the 13th century. the first capital of the Golden Horde. Bolgar demonstrates the historical and cultural relationships and transformations in Eurasia over several centuries, which played a decisive role in the formation of civilizations, customs and cultural traditions. The site represents important evidence of historical continuity and cultural diversity. It is a symbolic reminder of the adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgars in 922 and remains sacred place pilgrimage of Tatars - Muslims.
Information about the object:
on the website of the Bulgarian State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve "Great Bolgar"
on the website of the Russian Commission for UNESCO
on the World Heritage Center website

37th sessionWorld Heritage Committee - 2013 (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Cambodia)

№C1411 - Ancient city of Tauride Chersonesos and its choir

Criteria: (ii) (v)

The object is the ruins of an ancient city founded by the Dorian Greeks in the 5th century BC. e. on the northern coast of the Black Sea. The site includes six elements, including the ruins of a city and agricultural land, divided into several hundred rectangular plots of the same size, used for growing grapes; the products of the vineyards were intended for export and ensured the prosperity of Chersonesos until the 15th century. On the territory of the site there are several complexes of public buildings, residential areas and monuments of early Christianity. There are also ruins of Stone and Bronze Age settlements, Roman and medieval tower fortifications and water systems, as well as exceptionally well-preserved vineyards and dividing walls. In the 3rd century AD e. Chersonesus was known as the most successful wine-making center on the Black Sea and served as a link between Greece, the Roman Empire, Byzantium and the peoples of the northern Black Sea coast. Chersonesos is an outstanding example of the democratic organization of agriculture in the vicinity of an ancient city, reflecting the urban social structure.

Information about the object:

41st session of the World Heritage Committee - 2017 (Krakow, Poland)

№N1448rev - Landscapes of Dauria

Criteria: (ix) (x)

Situated between Mongolia and the Russian Federation, the site is a unique example of the Daurian steppe ecosystem, which begins in eastern Mongolia and extends through Russian Siberia to the northeastern border of China. The cyclical climate, with characteristic wet and dry periods, has contributed to the emergence of a wide variety of species and ecosystems that are important throughout the world. The various types of steppes present here, such as wet grasslands, forests and lake areas, are home to rare species such as white-naped cranes and bustards, as well as millions of rare and vulnerable migratory birds that are at risk of extinction. The park is also an important site on the migratory route of the Mongolian Dresden.

Information about the object:

No. C1525 - Assumption Cathedral and monastery of the island-city of Sviyazhsk

Criteria: (ii) (iv)

The Assumption Cathedral is located on the island-city of Sviyazhsk and is part of the monastery of the same name. Situated at the confluence of the Volga, Sviyaga and Shchuka rivers, at the crossroads of the Silk Road and the Volga River, Sviyazhsk was founded by Ivan the Terrible in 1551. It was from this outpost that Ivan the Terrible began the conquest of the city of Kazan. The location and architecture of the Monastery of the Assumption testify to the existence of a political and missionary program developed by Tsar Ivan IV with the aim of expanding the territory of the Moscow state. The cathedral's frescoes are among the rarest examples of Eastern Orthodox wall painting.

Information about the object:

UNESCO - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was created in November 1945.

Among the main five areas of UNESCO's activities, it is worth highlighting the cultural area, which is in charge of a program such as World Heritage, the purpose of which is the preservation of cultural and natural sites that are the heritage of all humanity.

UNESCO World Heritage is the best man-made creations of mankind and unique natural phenomena of historical, cultural and environmental significance.

The UNESCO World Heritage List as of July 2012 includes 962 sites of cultural and natural significance of special universal value from around the world.

The presence in this list of valuable cultural and natural sites of a country contributes not only to its international prestige, but also to economic benefits and the development of tourism.

To be included in this list, an object must meet at least one of ten established evaluation selection criteria (6 cultural and 4 natural criteria). The only object on the UNESCO list that was assessed according to all 6 cultural criteria, among which there is one such as “a masterpiece of human creative genius,” is the Great Chinese Wall. The wall is a majestic man-made structure, the construction of which has been ongoing since the 3rd century BC. e. up to the 17th century.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites include cities and archaeological sites, castles, palaces and fortresses, cathedrals, temples and abbeys, theaters and museums, islands, valleys and parks, and much more.

Each country in the world is famous for its unique history, culture, architecture and nature, so each of these countries has designated sites for protection. The most famous among cultural sites are: the religious building Stonehenge (Great Britain), the mausoleum-mosque of the Taj Mahal (India), the Moscow Kremlin (Russia), the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt), and among natural ones - Belovezhskaya Pushcha(Poland), Lake Baikal (Russia), Great Barrier Reef (Australia).

Almost every year, UNESCO holds sessions where members of the World Heritage Committee decide to include a particular site on the list of protected sites. At the last session, which was held in July 2012 in St. Petersburg, the UNESCO World Heritage List included, in particular, such objects as the historical city of Rabat (Morocco), decorations of farm houses in the province of Hälsingland (Sweden), and the natural park " Lena Pillars" (Russia), coastal landscapes of Carioca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and others.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is a unique opportunity for travelers to get acquainted with outstanding cultural monuments and natural sites of our planet and discover many interesting places, the existence of which was not even suspected. How many of you have heard or know about such a place as the settlement of Lumbini in Nepal, which is associated with the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, or about the “Frankincense Trail” in Oman; about the largest crater in the world - Vredefort in South Africa, whose age is estimated at 2 billion years, or about the monastery of St. Gall in Switzerland, whose library is one of the oldest and richest in the world and stores precious ancient manuscripts.

Therefore, if you want to spend your holidays in any country, look at photographs of the best creations of mankind and nature. Maybe you want to visit the Acropolis of Athens or the legendary Palace of Knossos, then you should consider a tour to Greece. Or maybe you want to go to Greenland and visit the Ilulissat Fjord to watch giant icebergs drifting, or visit the caves and enjoy the fantastic scenery of Ha Long Bay, located in Vietnam.

On our website you can get acquainted with both unique World Heritage sites and other interesting places, natural and cultural attractions of different countries, which will help you in planning tourist routes and will serve as a good guide on your trip. Have a nice trip!

The list of natural and cultural attractions created by UNESCO is a kind of quality mark, telling the traveler that it is worth seeing. We decided to tell you about those Russian sites that were included in the World Heritage Register. What if you don’t know about some of them?

Architectural and historical complex Bulgar

On the territory of Tatarstan, the ruins of a city founded by the Volga Bulgars (Turkic tribes) have been preserved. In 1361, the city was destroyed by the Golden Horde prince Bulat-Timur - fortunately, not completely. The settlement, which was recognized as a unique monument in 2014, has survived to this day.

Wrangel Island

Wrangel Island is the northernmost of the objects World List UNESCO. It includes not only the island of the same name, but also neighboring island Herald, as well as the adjacent waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian seas. The islands are famous for their huge walrus rookeries and the highest density of polar bear dens in the world. The reserve was recognized as a heritage of humanity in 2004.

Historical center of Yaroslavl

One of the dominant features of Yaroslavl is the Spassky Monastery complex, which is often called the Kremlin. Together with other historical buildings of the city, it was included in the World Heritage List in 2005.

Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye

It was built on the royal estate in 1532, when Kolomenskoye was not yet a territory of Moscow. The church was recognized as a heritage of humanity in 1994.

Lake Baikal

Surprisingly, the deepest lake in the world was not recognized as a heritage of humanity among the first natural attractions. UNESCO noted the exclusivity of this reservoir only in 1996.

Architectural ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

In 1993, the list was replenished with the main attraction of Sergiev Posad. Largest monastery Russia was founded back in 1337, and the laurel acquired its familiar appearance by XVIII century, when most of the buildings available to the public today appeared here.

Western Caucasus

Mountains of the Western Caucasus, on whose territory, for example, Sochi is located national park and the Ritsa Nature Reserve, stretching from Anapa to Elbrus. Here you can find both low-mountain terrain and typically alpine landscapes with numerous glaciers. The mountains were included in the UNESCO list in 1999.

Citadel, Old city and fortifications of Derbent

Derbent is considered the oldest city Russia. The first mention of it dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was called the Caspian Gate. There is a citadel and fortifications here, which are 16 centuries old. In 2003, UNESCO recognized them as an exceptional historical monument.

Golden Altai Mountains

It was under this name that three sites were included in the UNESCO list in 1998 Altai mountains: Altai and Katunsky reserves and the Ukok plateau. Despite the status of specially protected areas, cases of poaching are still common here.

Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery

The construction of the Ferapontov Monastery in the Vologda region began in the 15th century. For centuries it was the most important cultural and religious center of the Belozersky region. Today, in the buildings of the monastery, included in the UNESCO list in 2000, there is a museum and the bishop's courtyard of the Vologda Metropolis.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

In 1996, the Kamchatka volcanoes were recognized as a World Heritage Site, and five years later UNESCO expanded the protected area. A large number of active volcanoes are concentrated here, which makes this area unique even by global standards.

Historical and architectural complex "Kazan Kremlin"

The only Russian Kremlin, on the territory of which a church adjoins a mosque, is located in Kazan. It began to be built in the 10th century, and more or less modern look he acquired it only six centuries later. Today, the fortress, which has been considered a heritage of humanity since 2000, is the main attraction of the capital of Tatarstan and a favorite place for walks for citizens.

Putorana Plateau

Lenta.ru has written more than once about the Putorana Plateau, which was included in the World Heritage List in 2010. This natural reserve, stunning in its beauty, is located in the north of Central Siberia, 100 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle. Here you can see untouched taiga, forest-tundra and arctic desert.

White stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

In 1992, the white stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal were recognized as World Heritage Sites. Cities located very close to each other - ideal route for the weekend, varied and tireless.

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

In 1990, one of the first to be included in the list was the main square of Russia (together with the Kremlin). In total, Moscow has three UNESCO-listed attractions, more than in any other region of the country.

Curonian Spit

Partially located on the territory of Lithuania, the Curonian Spit is one of the main natural attractions Kaliningrad region. Its length is 98 kilometers, and its width ranges from 400 meters at its narrowest point to four kilometers at its widest. The spit was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000.

Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent

Another Moscow landmark - the Novodevichy Convent - was created in the 16th-17th centuries. The monastery is a prominent representative of the Moscow Baroque and is famous for the fact that women from the royal family were tonsured here as nuns. The importance of the monastery for world culture was recognized in 2005.

Virgin forests of Komi

The largest Russian attraction on the list covers an area of ​​3.28 million hectares, including lowland tundra, mountain tundra of the Urals and one of the largest tracts of primary boreal forests. These territories have been protected by the state for the past 50 years; the forests were included in the UNESCO list in 1995.

Architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost

Many people go to Karelia for the sake of Kizhi and Solovki. Both islands are included in the World Heritage List. Kizhi Pogost, a monument of wooden architecture, was included in the list in 1990.

Lena pillars

Located in the largest region of the country - Yakutia, the pillars are located almost 200 kilometers from the republican center. Excursions here are expensive, but those who have visited the pillars say that they do not regret the money spent. In 2012, uniqueness natural monument noted by UNESCO.

Historical center of St. Petersburg

One of the most famous attractions not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders is the center of St. Petersburg. The "Venice of the North", with its canals and more than 400 bridges, was included in the UNESCO list in 1990.

Ubsunur Basin

Another attraction that Russia shares with other states (there are three of them in total). The Ubsunur Basin, partially located on the territory of Mongolia, consists of 12 isolated areas, united by a common name. The local steppes are home to a huge number of birds, rare mammals are found in desert areas, and the snow leopard, listed in the Red Book, lives in the highlands. The basin was included in the UNESCO list in 2006.

Cultural and historical ensemble "Solovetsky Islands"

The Solovetsky archipelago has six islands, and its total area is more than 300 square kilometers. Despite the fact that it is located on the territory of the Arkhangelsk region, most travelers sail here from Karelia - it’s more convenient. The archipelago was included in the list in 1992.

The ancient city of Chersonesos Tauride and its choir

Khersones is familiar to everyone who has vacationed in Crimea at least once. The ruins of the ancient polis, which is today part of Sevastopol, were added to the UNESCO list in 2013.

Struve geodetic arc

The “Struve Arc” is a chain of triangulation points stretching for almost three thousand kilometers across ten European countries from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea. It appeared at the beginning of the 19th century and was used for the first reliable measurement of a large segment of the earth's meridian arc. It was created by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, better known in those days under the name Vasily Yakovlevich Struve. In 2005, the attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Historical monuments of Novgorod and surrounding areas

In the 9th century, Novgorod became the first capital of Russia. It is logical that it was one of the first to be included in the World Heritage List. UNESCO recognized it as a heritage of humanity in 1992.

World Day is celebrated on March 3rd every year wildlife. The date was not chosen by chance: on this day in 1973 the Convention on international trade species of wild fauna and flora. World Wildlife Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and beauty of the world around us.

To preserve and enhance not only cultural, but also natural resources planet, in 1972 UNESCO created the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the main purpose of which is to make known and protect objects that are unique in their kind. There are now more than a thousand objects on the list.

The entire diversity of World Heritage is divided into three conditional groups: cultural, natural and cultural and natural objects. There are currently 26 monuments on the territory of Russia, 10 of which are unique natural objects.

Virgin forests of Komi

© Sputnik/I. Puntakov

The virgin forests of Komi were the first to be included in the list of World Natural Heritage in Russia. This is a huge and almost untouched natural area located in the northeast of the Komi Republic. The local forests mainly contain spruce, pine, fir, as well as several types of birch, larch and cedar.

This site includes one of the oldest nature reserves in Russia, the Pechora-Ilychsky nature reserve, located on the western slopes of the Northern Urals, and the Yugyd Va national park. In general, this entire extended protected area plays a huge role in stabilizing the state of the natural environment. In addition, the pristine nature of the reserve and park is of interest to archaeologists and paleontologists.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

© Sputnik/Evgeny Neskoromny

The volcanoes of Kamchatka are six separate areas that are located in the east, center and south of the peninsula. Together they reflect almost all the main landscapes of Kamchatka, but at the same time, each of them also has a bright individuality. In total, there are about 30 active and 300 extinct volcanoes.

The boundaries of this UNESCO monument include the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve (a unique picturesque mountainous area that includes 26 volcanoes), the little-developed high-mountain Bystrinsky Natural Park, the Klyuchevskoy Natural Park with the Klyuchevskaya Sopka - the highest active volcano Eurasia - and the Nalychevo Natural Park. The latter includes the famous Nalychevskaya resort area, where there are about 200 healing springs of thermal and mineral waters.

Lake Baikal

© Sputnik/Ilya Pitalev

Lake Baikal is one of the largest natural world heritage sites. This is the oldest freshwater body of water on our planet - its age is usually estimated at 25 million years, and also the most deep lake peace - his maximum depth is 1620 meters. In addition, Baikal contains approximately 20% of all the world's fresh water reserves. The beauty of the lake and its surroundings attract tourists from all over Russia and from many countries of the world.

Golden Mountains of Altai

© Sputnik

In the area where the territories of the four largest states of Eurasia - Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia - converge, the Golden Mountains of Altai are located, one of the most significant mountain systems Central Asia and Southern Siberia.

Here you can see a wide variety of landscapes - from steppes and taiga to mountain tundras and glaciers. The area is dominated by the double-headed Belukha Mountain, covered with a cap of eternal snow and ice. It reaches 4506 meters in height and is highest point not only Altai, but throughout Siberia. And to the west of Belukha, dozens of mountain glaciers are concentrated.

Western Caucasus

© Sputnik/Vitaly Savelyev

The Western Caucasus is a natural massif located in the western part of the Greater Caucasus, approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Sochi. More than 6 thousand species of plants and animals have been recorded in this territory, which makes it a unique center of biodiversity not only on the scale of the Caucasus, but also in Eurasia.

Several tourist routes have been laid across the territory of the reserve, equipped observation decks, a natural museum has been created. The most visited place is the Krasnaya Polyana area, located near southern borders reserve.

Central Sikhote-Alin

© Sputnik/Muravin

This valuable mountain and forest region is located in the south of the Russian Far East. Here you can see narrow intermountain valleys through which small but fast rapids rivers flow; soaring mountains and rocky cliffs, sometimes plummeting into the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan. Thanks to the local humid climate, dense forests have formed here, recognized as one of the richest and most original in species composition in the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Ubsunur Basin

© NASA

Ubsunur is a fairly large shallow water salt Lake, located in the western part of a vast and closed intermountain basin. The northern part of this basin is located on the territory of Russia (Tuva), and the southern part is on the territory of Mongolia. The World Heritage Site itself consists of 12 separate sites, seven of which are located in Russia.

All sites are located in different parts of the drainage basin of Lake Ubsunur, so they differ markedly from each other in natural conditions and generally represent all the main types of landscapes characteristic of Central Asia. In addition, cultural heritage monuments were found in the basin: ancient burials, rock paintings, stone sculptures.

Wrangel Island

© Sputnik/L. Weisman

The area of ​​Wrangel Island is the northernmost among the World Natural Heritage sites, it is located approximately 500 kilometers above the border of the Arctic Circle, at 71 degrees north latitude. In addition to Wrangel Island, the object includes Herald Island, located 70 kilometers to the east, as well as the adjacent waters of the East Siberian and Chukchi seas.

The island itself is valuable because it represents a distinctly autonomous ecosystem that has developed in complete isolation over the past 50 thousand years, starting from the time when the island began to separate from the mainland. In addition, this territory is characterized by exceptional biological diversity for the Arctic, with a number of rare and endangered species found here.

Putorana Plateau

© NASA

The boundaries of this object coincide with the boundaries of the Putorana State nature reserve, located in the northern part of Central Siberia, 100 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle. The World Heritage portion of this plateau contains a full range of subarctic and arctic ecosystems preserved in an isolated mountain range, including pristine taiga, forest-tundra, tundra and arctic deserts, as well as pristine cold-water lake and river systems.

Natural Park "Lena Pillars"

© Sputnik/Anton Denisov

The Lena Pillars are rock formations of rare beauty that reach a height of about 100 meters and are located along the banks of the Lena River in the central part of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The pillars are separated from each other by deep and steep ravines, partially filled with rock debris. The site contains remains of many different species from the Cambrian period.

The material was prepared by the site editors