the beautiful world heritage sites

Over 200 kilometres in length this waterway joins the Canadian cities of Ottawa on the Ottawa River and Kingston on Lake Ontario. Operated by Parks Canada the canal encompasses sections of the rivers Rideau and Cataraqui along with a few lakes. Originally built with military purposes in mind today it is mainly used for boating and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

Located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe the Mosi oa Tunya are regarded among the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Part of Zambezi River the 108m high falls produce the largest curtain of falling water anywhere on the planet and were declared a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Iguazu National Park is surrounded by the subtropical forest and is centred around the mighty Iguazu Falls whose name is derived from the local dialect meaning big water . The falls comprise of 275 individual drops running over a distance of 2.7km along the border of Brazil and Argentina. The park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984.

At over 7200 square kilometres Los Glaciares National Park is situated in the southern Argentinian Andes. This park is exceptionally beautiful with mountains lakes and woods. After Antarctica and Greenland the park plays host to the planet s third largest ice cap. This was designated as a World Heritage site in 1981.

A huge spiritual centre for the propagation of Islam in Africa during the 15th and 16th centuries this site contains three globally renowned mosques Sidi Yahia Djingareyber and Sankore. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1988.

Machu Picchu is the unique testimony of the urban Inca Empires power and achievement from the middle of the 15th century. Situated 2430 metres above sea level the terraces and ruins of this once great city look over the tropical mountain forest below and is considered to be the most beautiful locations in the the Peruvian Andes. This was designated as a World Heritage site in 1983.

Acropolis in Greek means The sacred Rock the high city. Dating from the 5th century BC The Acropolis of Athens is a complex of ancient building and structures the most famous of which is the Parthenon (pictured above). This was designated as a World Heritage site in 1987.

One of the most ambitious man made structures on earth the Great Wall of China has a history that dates back to 220 BC when it was made for the protection of the Chinese Empire by Qin Shi Huang the first emperor of China. With estimates placing the entire length of the wall at over 21000km construction continued up till 17th century making it the largest military structure in the world. In 1987 it was designated as World Heritage Site.

Situated 900km off the west coast of Ecuador the Galapagos are an archipelago of 18 major volcanic islands that are host to a unique collection of flora and fauna. Central to the studies of the naturalist Charles Darwin the Gal?pagos and the waters that surround them are now part of national park. This spectacular location was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1978.

Lying 350km from Bangalore Hampi is situated amid the ruins of Vijayanagar the former capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. Believed to have been the second most populous city on earth around 1500 Vijayanagar plays host to numerous monuments to the city s former glory the best know of which is Virupaksha Temple. The ruins have been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1986.