Travel & Experiences

Potential 2013 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Mt. Fuji's stark beauty has inspired artists and poets for centuries. The iconic stratovolcano, often snow-capped, rises more than 12,000 feet on Honshu Island and is Japan's highest mountain.

Mt. Fuji’s stark beauty has inspired artists and poets for centuries. The iconic stratovolcano, often snow-capped, rises more than 12,000 feet on Honshu Island and is Japan’s highest mountain.   (Everett Kennedy Brown / EPA)

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When the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets for its 37th session in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in June it will review nominations for its well-regarded World Heritage List, which includes notable destinations such as Yellowstone National Park and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Besides prestige and tourism, inscription offers opportunities for preservation aid. This year, 33 sites are being considered, including Mt. Fuji in Japan and the Medici Villas and Gardens in Italy.

Though the World Heritage Committee makes the final decisions, two organizations spend months evaluating nominated sites. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reviews natural sites and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) reviews cultural sites. Here’s a look at some of their recommendations for inscription.

Mt. Etna, Italy

Mt. Etna, located in eastern Sicily in southern Italy, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupting over a dozen times this year alone, including this eruption in April. Its volcanic activity has been well-documented as well, with records dating back over 2,700 years.   (Carmelo Imbesi / Associated Press)

Tajik National Park, Tajikistan

This national park in Tajikistan, which lies in Eastern Europe and borders China, encompasses one of the world’s most tectonically-active regions in the world. It also contains the world’s highest natural dam, behind which Lake Sarez (pictured) lies, and some of the world’s deepest gorges.   (AFP / Getty Images)

Historic Centre of Agadez, Niger

The historic core of Agadez, which dates back to the 15th century, is composed of housing, palatial structures and religious buildings. The quarter is characterized by mudbrick architecture, including the Grand Mosque (pictured).   (Issouf Sanogo / AFP/Getty Images)

Xinjiang Tianshan, China

Two-thirds of the Tianshan Mountain range, which stretches across Eastern Europe and Asia, lies within China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The Xinjiang Tianshan encompasses a wide range of landscapes, including canyons, snow-covered peaks, wetlands and glaciers. It also serves as a habitat for endangered species such as the snow leopard.   (Guang Niu / Getty Images)

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