1133 BE/DE/IT/UA - Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (2007)

Brief Description

"The Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathian, an outstanding example of undisturbed, complex temperate forests, constitute a transnational serial property of ten separate components along a 185 km axis from the Rakhiv Mountains and the Chornohirskyi Range in Ukraine, west along the Polonynian Ridge, to the Bukovské Vrchy and Vihorlat Mountains in Slovakia. They contain an invaluable genetic reservoir of beech and many species associated with, and dependent on, these forest habitats. They are also an outstanding example of the recolonization and development of terrestrial ecosystems and communities after the last Ice Age, a process which is still ongoing.

The Ancient Beech Forests of Germany, represent examples of on-going post-glacial biological and ecological evolution of terrestrial ecosystems and are indispensable to understanding the spread of the beech in the Northern Hemisphere across a variety of environments. The new inscription represents the addition of five forests totaling 4,391 hectares that are added to the 29,278 hectares of Slovakian and Ukranian beech forests inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007. The tri-national property is now to be known as the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany (Slovakia, Ukraine, Germany)."

喀尔巴阡山脉原始山毛榉林
" 喀尔巴阡山脉原始山毛榉林，由10个跨国的连续遗产组成，沿185公里的轴线，从乌克兰拉希夫山脉和 Chornohirskyi西沿Polonynian山脊，一直到斯洛伐克的Bukovské Vrchy和Vihorlat山脉。这10个遗址是原始的、多元的温带森林的突出例子，展示了最完整、最广泛的生态模式和纯粹的欧洲山毛榉群丛在各种环境 条件下的生长过程。它们包含着宝贵的山毛榉基因库和与这些森林栖息地相关并依赖其生存的许多生物。它们还是上一个冰河时代后陆地生态系统和群落再移植和发 展的突出例子。"

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1133

2007 Ukraine
1133-001     Chornohora
1133-003     Kuziy-Trybushany
1133-004     Maramarosh
1133-007     Stuzhytsia – Uzhok
1133-008     Svydovets
1133-009     Uholka – Shyrikyi Luh
2007 Slovakia
1133-002     Havešová Primeval Forest
1133-005     Rožok
1133-006     Stužnica – Bukovské Vrchy
1133-010     Vihorlat
2011 Germany
1133bis-011     Jasmund
1133bis-012     Serrahn
1133bis-013     Grumsin
1133bis-014     Hainich
1133bis-015     Kellerwald
2017 Albania
2017 Austria
2017 Belgium
1133ter-024 to 027 Sonian Forest
2017 Bulgaria
2017 Croatia
2017 Italy
2017 Romania
2017 Slovenia
2017 Spain

Courtesy of Galina from Russia

 1133-001     Chornohora

 1133-004 Maramarosh

 1133-008 Svydovets (on the slope of Mount Stara)

1133-008 Svydovets (Mount Velyka Blyznytsia)

Courtesy of tsentaura from postcrossing forum

Courtesy of anjaaustel from postcrossing forum

1133-011 Jasmund - Germany

Courtesy of Eula from postcrossing forum

1133bis-013 Grumsin

Courtesy of Eula from postcrossing forum

1133bis-014 Hainich

 Courtesy of Javier Becerra from Spain

1133ter-024 to 027 Sonian Forest

 
Courtesy of Saint from postcrossing forum

1540 CN - Qinghai Hoh Xil (2017)

Description

"Qinghai Hoh Xil, located in the northeastern extremity of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is the largest and highest plateau in the world. This extensive area of alpine mountains and steppe systems is situated more than 4,500 m above sea level, where sub-zero average temperatures prevail all year-round. The site’s geographical and climatic conditions have nurtured a unique biodiversity. More than one third of the plant species, and all the herbivorous mammals are endemic to the plateau. The property secures the complete migratory route of the Tibetan antelope, one of the endangered large mammals that are endemic to the plateau."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1540

1559 CN - Fanjingshan (2018)

Description
"Located within the Wuling mountain range in Guizhou Province (south-west China), Fanjingshan ranges in altitude between 500 metres and 2,570 metres above sea level, favouring highly diverse types of vegetation and relief. It is an island of metamorphic rock in a sea of karst, home to many plant and animal species that originated in the Tertiary period, between 65 million and 2 million years ago. The property’s isolation has led to a high degree of biodiversity with endemic species, such as the Fanjingshan Fir (Abies fanjingshanensis) and the Guizhou Snub-nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi), and endangered species, such as the Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus), the Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii) and Reeve’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii). Fanjingshan has the largest and most contiguous primeval beech forest in the subtropical region."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1559
 

595 GR - Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos (1992)

Description
"Many civilizations have inhabited this small Aegean island, near Asia Minor, since the 3rd millennium B.C. The remains of Pythagoreion, an ancient fortified port with Greek and Roman monuments and a spectacular tunnel-aqueduct, as well as the Heraion, temple of the Samian Hera, can still be seen."

萨莫斯岛的毕达哥利翁及赫拉神殿
"公元前3000年，这个靠近小亚细亚的爱琴海小岛上就有了文明。毕达哥利翁是一个古老的要塞，有着希腊和罗马建筑以及壮观的隧道和高架渠。赫拉神殿则是萨摩斯人赫拉的神庙。它们的遗址至今可见。"

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/595

595-001     Pythagoreion of Samos
595-002     Heraion of Samos  

Courtesy of Shelly from Ireland

Left shows 595-001 Heraion of Samos

Lower right shows Tunnel of Eupalinos in 595-002 Pythagoreion 

725 HU/SK - Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (1995)

Brief Description

"The variety of formations and the fact that they are concentrated in a restricted area means that the 712 caves currently identified make up a typical temperate-zone karstic system. Because they display an extremely rare combination of tropical and glacial climatic effects, they make it possible to study geological history over tens of millions of years."

阿格泰列克洞穴和斯洛伐克喀斯特地貌

"变化多端的岩层结构以及顺序排列在有限空间内的712个洞穴，为我们描绘出一幅温带喀斯特的神奇景观。作为热带与冰河气候共同作用下的一种极其奇特的组合，该地貌使人们研究几千万年以来的地貌历史成为可能。"

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/725

725ter-001     Component including Aggtelek     Hungary        
725ter-002     Component of Szendrő-Rudabánya Hill     Hungary        
725ter-003     Component of Esztramos Hill     Hungary
725ter-004     Component neighbouring Silica and Jasov     Slovakia        
725ter-005     Component of Plešivec plateau     Hungary        
725ter-006     Component of Koniar plateau (including Ochtinscká Aragonite Cave)     Slovakia
725ter-007     Dobšinská Ice Cave     Slovakia  

Courtesy of Joanna from postcrossing forum

725-001 Aggtelek

Courtesy of sylwiail from postcrossing forum

725-001 Domica Cave (Slovak part of the Aggtelek complex)

725-004 Jasovská Cave

Courtesy of Laco from Slovakia

725ter-006     Ochtinscká Aragonite Cave

Courtesy of Laco from Slovakia

725ter-007     Dobšinská Ice Cave 

IT5006 - Volterra: Historical City and Cultural Landscape (2006)

Centre shows tentative site of Volterra

UA670 - Cultural Landscape of Canyon in Kamenets-Podilsk (1989)

Castle and Historic centre of Kamenets -Podolsk 11th -18th centuries

 Courtesy of Alla from Ukraine

 The old castle

GH1396 Kakum National Park (Assin Attandanso Reserve) (2000)

CREATING KAKUM 

At one time the coastal zone of West A*ica was covered by 600,000 krn2 of continuous rainforest, but due to growing human populations, farming, and logging the forest have shrunk by 72%, to a series of isolated "islands" of forests. Kakum, named after the Kakum River whose headwaters lie within the park's boundaries, was originally set aside as a forest reserve in 1925. The Kakum River and its tributaries supply fresh water to Cape Coast and 133 other towns and villages. In 1992 Kakum Forest Reserve was reclassified as a National Park. and the adjacent Assin Attandanso as a Resource Reserve. The protected area covers 360 km2. Kakum is the first national park in Ghana created by local initiative as opposed to that created by the State Agency responsible for Wildlife. Fifty-two villages and an agricultural landscape consisting primarily of food crops and cocoa surround the park. 

THE FOREST 

The forest in Kakum ranges from true rain forest - Moist Evergreen Forest - to seasonally dry Semi-deciduous Forest. It contains hundreds of species of herbaceous and woody plants. The forest is home to many endangered and rare mammals such as the Diana Monkey, Bongo, Yellow-backed Duiker and elephant 

THE CANOPY WALKWAY 

In March of 1995, Kakum National Park became home to the only canopy walkway on the Africa continent. The walkway provides both tourists and researchers priviledged access to the rainforest's canopy. The 350 meter long bridge connects seven tree tops; it is constructed of wire rope, aluminium ladders, wooden planks and safety netting. In order to protect the trees, no nails or bolts pierce the bark. Up in the canopy you may see species of birds and insects that are almost impossible to find on the ground level. The canopy walkway is a joint effort between Ghana's Wildlife Department and Conservation International, a US-based international non governmental (NGO) organisation dedicated to conserving ecosystems and biodiversity, with funding from USAID. 

HIDDEN CONNECTIONS 

Kakum is a unique rainforest filled with opportunities to learn about the hidden connections that keep the forest, and those who use it, alive. Walking along the Kuntan trail, you can learn about the medicinal plants which are used locally to cure ailments. It is possible to make special arrangements for visits to Mesomagor village which features traditional music and dancing: early morning and evening hikes; as well as forest elephant tracking. Searching for elephants, you may follow a path of footprints past their dung piles, or see mud lines on any ebony tree (locally known as "elephant comb") that was used as a scratching post. Amazingly, some plants can germinate only atter passing through a elephant's gut! Some vital connections can be seen, such as a butterfly pollinating a flower, while others are invisible like the stable climate created within and around the park by the forest.

Courtesy of Bonsei from Ghana

GH1394 Nzulezu Stilt Settlement (2000)

Description

"The spectacular scenery of stilt propped water settlement of Nzulezu built on lake Tadane located in the Jomoro District in the Western Region of Ghana stands out as a magnificent interplay between man and his environment. Nzulezu is an Nzema word meaning "surface of water." The inhabitants of the village are said to have migrated from Walata, a city in ancient Ghana Empire' the earliest of the Western Sudanese States. According to tradition, ancestors of the village were brought to their present place under the guide of a snail. The serene ambience of the surrounding landscape coupled with the general activities of life point to a dynamic relationship between man and nature. Traditional village life is adapted to the watery conditions to the amazement of the visitor. All activities pertaining to normal life chores such as pounding of fufu (a traditional meal) schooling, worship and burial are done on the lake. New born babies are baptized in the lake. The lake it is said, averts possible disasters like outbreak of fire, killing of natives of the village on or around it. The sacred day of the lake is Thursday, a day set aside on which no activity is supposed to take place signifying a strict adherence to traditional norms and taboos. Nzulezu stilt settlement is a unique lacustrine habitation achieved by a harmony of forces of nature to meet man's needs resulting in a settlement of outstanding value."

Courtesy of Bonsei from Ghana

34 GH - Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions (1979)

Brief Description 
"The remains of fortified trading-posts, erected between 1482 and 1786, can still be seen along the coast of Ghana between Keta and Beyin. They were links in the trade routes established by the Portuguese in many areas of the world during their era of great maritime exploration."

沃尔特大阿克拉中西部地区的要塞和城堡
"这些贸易要塞建于1482年至1786年间，位于凯塔(Keta)和贝因(Beyin)之间的加纳海岸，其遗迹至今仍清晰可见。葡萄牙人在其大航海探险时期，在世界许多地方建立了贸易路线，这些要塞正是这些贸易路线的连接点。"

34-001     Fort Good Hope (Fort Goedehoop)
34-002     Cape Coast Castle
34-003     Fort Patience (Fort Leysaemhyt)
34-004     Fort Amsterdam
34-005     Fort St. Jago (Fort Conraadsburg)
34-006     Fort Batenstein
34-007     Fort San Sebastian
34-008     Fort Metal Cross
34-009     English Fort (Fort Vrendenburg)
34-010     Fort Saint Antony
34-011     Elmina Castle (St. George's Castle/ Fort St. Jorge)

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/34

Courtesy of Bonsei from Ghana

 34-002     Cape Coast Castle

 34-05 Fort St. Jago (Upper left corner)  

34-11 Elmina Castle（Upper right and lower left）

34-08 Fort Metal Cross (Upper left shows the fort lighthouse)

(Upper right shows the court view of the fort)

 34-011     Elmina Castle (St. George's Castle/ Fort St. Jorge)

1527 DE - Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (2017)

Description

"Modern humans first arrived in Europe 43,000 years ago during the last ice age. One of the areas where they took up residence was the Swabian Jura in southern Germany. Excavated from the 1860s, six caves have revealed items dating from 43,000 to 33,000 years ago. Among them are carved figurines of animals (including cave lions, mammoths, horses and bovids), musical instruments and items of personal adornment. Other figurines depict creatures that are half animal, half human and there is one statuette of a woman. These archaeological sites feature some of the oldest figurative art worldwide and help shed light on the origins of human artistic development."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1527

1527-001 Ach Valley
Geissenklösterle
Hohle Fels
Sirgenstein Cave
1527-002 Lone Valley
Hohlenstein-Stadel
Vogelherd
Bocksteinhöhle

Courtesy of Gabi from postcrossing forum

Vogelherd in Lone Valley

158 CA - Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (1981)

Description
"In south-west Alberta, the remains of marked trails and an aboriginal camp, and a tumulus where vast quantities of buffalo (American Bison) skeletons can still be found, are evidence of a custom practised by aboriginal peoples of the North American plains for nearly 6,000 years. Using their excellent knowledge of the topography and of buffalo behaviour, they killed their prey by chasing them over a precipice; the carcasses were later carved up in the camp below."

美洲野牛涧地带
"在艾伯塔省(Alberta)的西南部，发现了标有记号的数条小道、土著人营房和坟地遗址，里面存有大量的野牛（美洲野牛）骨骼，向人们生动地展示了近六千年前的北美平原上土著人的生活习俗。他们利用对地形的熟悉和对野牛习性的了解，将牛群追赶到悬崖边，迫使其跳崖摔死，然后在下面的营房里分割尸体。"

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/158

Courtesy of Jason from postcrossing forum

1474 CN - Tusi Sites (2015)

Description
"Located in the mountainous areas of south-west China, this property encompasses remains of several tribal domains whose chiefs were appointed by the central government as ‘Tusi’, hereditary rulers from the 13^th to the early 20^thcentury. The Tusi system arose from the ethnic minorities’ dynastic systems of government dating back to the 3^rd century BCE. Its purpose was to unify national administration, while allowing ethnic minorities to retain their customs and way of life. The sites of Laosicheng, Tangya and Hailongtun Fortress that make up the site bear exceptional testimony to this form of governance, which derived from the Chinese civilization of the Yuan and Ming periods."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1474

1474-001     Site of Laosicheng Tusi Domain
1474-002     Site of Tangya Tusi Domain
1474-003     Site of Hailongtun Tusi Fortress 

1474-001     Site of Laosicheng Tusi Domain

Courtesy of Tianyi from postcrossing forum

1474-003     Site of Hailongtun Tusi Fortress

1259 MU - Le Morne Cultural Landscape (2008)

Brief Description

"Le Morne Cultural Landscape, a rugged mountain that juts into the Indian Ocean in the southwest of Mauritius was used as a shelter by runaway slaves, maroons, through the 18th and early years of the 19th centuries. Protected by the mountain’s isolated, wooded and almost inaccessible cliffs, the escaped slaves formed small settlements in the caves and on the summit of Le Morne. The oral traditions associated with the maroons, have made Le Morne a symbol of the slaves’ fight for freedom, their suffering, and their sacrifice, all of which have relevance to the countries from which the slaves came - the African mainland, Madagascar, India, and South-east Asia. Indeed, Mauritius, an important stopover in the eastern slave trade, also came to be known as the “Maroon republic” because of the large number of escaped slaves who lived on Le Morne Mountain."

Source UNESCO WH website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1259

Courtesy of sylwiail from postcrossing forum

UNESCO stamp of this site