Offbeat Traveler: Potential UNESCO World Heritage sites
The capital city of Rabat, founded in the 12th century, is located in northern coastal Morocco about 50 miles northeast of Casablanca. In its evaluation, ICOMOS notes that “The modern city of Rabat tangibly expresses a pioneering approach to town-planning, which has been careful to preserve historic monuments and traditional housing.” Historic structures include 12th century Hassan Tower (top center), the minaret of an unfinished mosque. Nearby is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (top right), who was king of Morocco from 1957 to 1961. (Bdelhak Senna / AFP/Getty Images)
Subak is an irrigation system that has been in practice on Bali since the 11th century. In this system, temples are used to direct water from canals and springs into rice paddies. ICOMOS reports that “The overall subak system exemplifies the Balinese philosophical principle of Tri Hita Karana that draws together the realms of the spirit, the human world and nature.” This listing consists of five sites that illustrate the relationship between subak and Tri Hita Karana. (Made Nagi / EPA)
A rice paddy field in Jatiluwih, Bali. (Made Nagi / EPA)