the beautiful world heritage sites

Featuring 400 types of coral 4000 types of mollusk and 1500 species of fish the Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system on earth. It was made a World Heritage Site in 1981 and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia.

Nestled amongst the fairy chimney rock formations and with dwellings dating back to the 4th century carved directly into the rock faces the historic Turkish town of Cappadocia is famed for it s early Christian churches and Byzantine art. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1985.

Hugging the topography of the local mountains this complex series of tired rice fields are more than two thousand years old. Representing a delicate balance between local framing heritage and nature the site was given World Heritage status in 1995.

Angkor is an archaeological site which contains the remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th century. Best known amongst it may historic treasures are the Temple of Angkor Wat and at Angkor Thom the Bayon Temple. It was designated as World Heritage Site in 1992.

As famed for its stunning craved architecture as it is for it archaeological importance the city of Petra is located between the Red and Dead Seas. Dating to pre historic times it is undoubtedly the Al Khazneh (pictured here) that is best know among its historic marvels having featured in such film asIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The city was given the World Heritage status in 1985.

Also referred to as Easter Island the location is best known for the monumental statues calledmoaicreated by the early Polynesian settlers between the 10th and 16th centuries. The park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995.

Once the home to a Mayan civilization the name of this place means Origin of the Sky. Situated on the eastern coast of the Yucat?n peninsula this rich biosphere of marshes tropical forests and reef play host to a variety of flora and fauna. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1987.

The Serengeti National Park is the oldest and most popular national park of Tanzania. It was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

This archaeological site on the Giza Plateau includes the three pyramid complexes known as the Great Pyramids the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx several cemeteries a workers village and an industrial complex. This was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Built during the late 16th and early 17th century this ensemble consists of a wide network of canals in concentric arcs that was conceptualised to extend the city of Amsterdam by way of draining the local swampland. Designated a World Heritage Site in 2010.