A little bit about UNESCO (written with a ridiculous amount of help from Matt because I don't know anything)

If any of you are like me, you aren't familiar with UNESCO or World Heritage Sites. You have probably never even heard of them. Here is a short little blurb with some links to serve as a little orientation...



UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In 1978 they started naming World Heritage Sites in order to protect both natural and cultural (man-made) sites that have universal significance to the human race. It started when the building of the Aswan High Dam in the 1970's flooded the Nile Valley and threatened to destroy ancient Nubian temples and artifacts. It was decided that these and other locations around the world transcended national interest and needed to be preserved. Since then 186 countries have accepted the World Heritage Convention and UNESCO has named 911 sites in 151 countries that are significant to mankind. Some of the categories sites fall under are: Natural phenomena or beauty, human creative genius, interchange of values, events of universal significance and significance in human history.