At the end of 2002, 104 sites were inscribed on the UNESCO List, located in 23 countries of the region. Most of them

In Mexico (22),

In Brazil (16) and

To Peru (10)

Of these, 71 objects cultural heritage

Chronologically, they cover the period of time from the second millennium BC to the present day. But mostly they represent the periods of the Middle Ages and modern times. Accordingly, they can be divided into pre-Columbian and post-Columbian objects.

TO pre-Columbian era

The objects of the heritage of the three already mentioned Latin American civilizations are included.

In Mesoamerica, these are world famous

Monuments of the Mayan Indians - the ruins of the cities of Palenque,

Chichen Itza,

Uxmal in Mexico

on the Yukotan peninsula,

Copan in Honduras

Monuments of the time of the Aztecs in Central Mexico (Teotihuacan).

they are characterized by such monumental structures,

like step pyramids, teokalli,

rulers' palaces

playgrounds for ball games.

In the Andean region, many objects belong to this era

in Peru - the famous mysterious geoglyphs Nazca desert,

Fragments ancient capital Inca city of Cusco

in Colombia - the archaeological parks of San Agustin and Tierradentro

in Bolivia - the archaeological area of ​​​​Tiwanaku near Lake. Titicaca

With a certain degree of conventionality, the world-famous stone statues of Easter Island in pacific ocean described by Thor Heyerdahl and other travelers

Post-Columbian era

It is connected mainly with the Spanish and Portuguese colonization of Central and South America after the beginning of the Great geographical discoveries.

From Spanish heritage objects of this era include

Cities with a rectangular layout characteristic of the Spanish architecture of that time, central square(“plaza mayor”), numerous Catholic cathedrals and monasteries, palaces of the nobility.

In the West Indies, for example,

G. Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic associated with

in the name of Columbus

The old part of Havana with its fortifications in Cuba

In Central America

Historic city centers of Mexico City, Puebla - in Mexico

Cities and fortresses in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama

Monuments of Cartagena in Venezuela,

Quito in Ecuador

Cusco in Peru

Mining town of Potosi in Bolivia

Legacy of colonial Portugal widely represented in Brazil (the cities of Salvador, Olinda, Ouro Preto, etc.)

Go to objects modern times relate

The new capital of Brazil is the city of Brasilia, designed and built by Brazilian architects Luis Costa and Oscar Niemeyer and having the symbolic shape of an airplane with a "fuselage" and "wings". This is one of the most grandiose and organic in design and execution of town-planning objects of the 20th century.

Objects natural heritage in region 30.

These are national parks and reserves. The most famous

Iguazu in Brazil and Argentina

Los Glaciares in Argentina

Manu in Peru

Galapagos Islands in Ecuador

The eastern and southern parts of South America are considered by us as part of two tourist mesoregions of the macroregion. One of them is the Brazilian tourist mesoregion, the second is the tourist mesoregion Temperate South America, which includes four states (Paraguay, Argentina and Chile). Brazil is famous for its recreational resources, diverse nature and cultural heritage of the colonial era. The countries of temperate South America amaze, first of all, with the picturesqueness of their virgin nature and the uniqueness of cultural monuments.

The cultural specificity of Temperate South America is determined by the Catholic religion. In the interior of Brazil (in), local traditional beliefs have been preserved. The indigenous Indian peoples of Chile belong to the Andean family: Quechua, Aymara, Araucans, etc. The Indians of Brazil and Paraguay belong to two language families: the Equatorial Tukanoan (Arawaks, Tupi, Tukano, etc.) and Pano-Caribbean (Caribs, pano, etc.). The majority of the population are peoples of the Romance group of the Indo-European family: Chileans, Argentines, Uruguayans, Paraguayans who speak the language, as well as Brazilians who speak Portuguese.

By its name Federative Republic of Brazil(8 million 547.4 thousand sq. km, 196.3 million people in 2008) is due to the brazil tree (from brasa - “heat, hot coals”). So the Portuguese called red sandalwood - a tree with dense yellow-red wood, used at that time in dyeing. Brazil was originally called the Land of the Holy Cross. But Brazilian wood was the main export item from this country, for which the latter received the name Brasil (Russian form - Brazil). The consolidation of this name was facilitated by the fact that in Europe from the XIV century. the mythical island of Brasil was known, lying somewhere in and classified as “stray”, i.e. changing their location.

Name Republic of Paraguay(406.8 thousand sq. Km, 6.8 million people in 2008) comes from the river of the same name, which means “big” or “river-river” in local Indian languages.

The name seems to have happened Uruguay- from the river of the same name, the name of which in the language of the Tupi Indians means "bird or chicken river." The full name of the state, adopted in 1830, is the Eastern Republic of Uruguay (176.2 thousand square kilometers, 3.5 million people in 2008), which is associated with the location of the republic on the eastern bank of the Uruguay River. In colonial times, the territory of the country was part of the Spanish General Government as the province of the East Coast, and since 1815 - the Eastern Province.

Argentine Republic covers an area of ​​2 million 780 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 40.5 million people. The name Argentina appeared after the liberation of the country from Spanish rule in 1826 and means "silver". Prior to this, the territory of Argentina was called La Plata, after the common name of the river and bay of the Rio de la Plata (“silver river”) adopted at that time.

Republic of Chile occupies an area of ​​756.6 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 16.5 million people. The name Chile in the language of the Arawak Indians means "cold, winter", which is associated with their perception of the snowy peaks of the Andes.

In total, 31 objects are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in Brazil and Temperate South America, of which 20 are cultural monuments.

Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world and most of the country is in the tropics.As such, it contains a vast array of very interesting geological and biological attractions, including the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon rainforest.

Brazil is full of unexpected discoveries. This is the birthplace of football, coffee, TV series and capoeira. Among the Brazilians are many personalities known throughout the world: athletes, writers, top models, inventors, architects and religious figures. Sao Paulo attracts travelers from all over the world. Unique Cathedral of this city is decorated using coffee beans. National Park "Karakol" will delight not only with marvelous views, but also with intoxicating smells, because it is buried in blooming hydrangeas. Tourists rush to these parts,
to see the amazing beauty of the waterfall.

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Brazil

1. Statue of Christ the Redeemer(Christ the Redeemer)

Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is the most famous statue of Jesus in the world and the symbol of Rio, as well as the main attraction of Brazil.

The idea of ​​placing a large Christian monument atop Rio's Corcovado mountain dates back to 1850.when a local Catholic priest asked Princess Isabella for money to build a monument, but she refused. Construction began only in 1926 and ended in 1931.

Christ the Redeemer considered to be the largest Art Deco statue in the world. It is the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world with a height of 30 meters, not including the 8-meter pedestal. The statue's arms are spread out 28 meters wide. Christ the Redeemer located on top of the 700-meter Corcovado mountain.

2. Iguaçu Falls

One of the most impressive attractions in Brazil, the Iguazu Falls are simply amazing, with about 275 waterfalls located on a stretch of 3 kilometers. This is a real miracle of nature. The impressive natural power and noise from the cascades of the waterfalls will remain in your memory for a long time, not to mention the jungle that surrounds the waterfalls. In the area of ​​the Iguazu Falls, the borders of 3 states, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay converge.

The Iguazu Falls are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3. Amazon (Amazon River)

The Amazon has the world's largest water basin, which occupies almost half of the territory of South America. The Amazon is the second longest river in the world formed by the confluence of rivers Maranion and Ucayali. Amazon river basin is home to a variety of Native American cultures, as well as the habitat of a huge number of wild animals and impenetrable jungle.

4. Rio Carnival

Brazil and carnival, these are synonymous words, it is difficult to imagine Brazil without carnival. Carnivals in Brazil are held in every corner, no The biggest and most famous carnival is undoubtedly the Carnival inRio de Janeiro. Rio Carnival draws two million people a day to the streets of the city and almost half of them are tourists. Carnival in Rio lasts 4 days.Carnival in Rio these days is everywhere, on the streets and squares, in bars and clubs and in all other corners of Rio.

5. Pantanal

A large tectonic depression in Brazil that is almost completely swampy is the Pantanal. The Pantanal is located in the Paraguay River Basin and is one of the world's largest and most diversified freshwater wetland ecosystems.The Pantanal is also one of the major tourist attractions in Brazil. It is believed that the Pantanal in Brazil the best place to see wild animals.

6 Salvador Beaches

The colorful city of Salvador is a jewel of cultural identity Brazil . While Rio in the south has become a cosmopolitan center, El Salvador has retained a strong cultural identity. Founded in 1549, El Salvador was the capital during the heyday of the slave trade.

One of the central beaches of El Salvador is Porto de Barra, this beach is perfect for relaxing, splashing in the sea and sunbathing. Farol da Barra Beach has great views, especially during sunset, and is also very popular with surfers due to its high waves. Beach Plakaford created by nature for family vacation, Herecalm waters and soft sandy beaches. TO South of the city, there are many beautiful beaches which include Tinhare and Boipeba beaches.

The historic center of the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

7. Historic Center of Olinda

After its founding in 1535 by the Portuguese navigator Duarte Coelho, Olinda quickly became a prosperous city thanks to the sugar trade. Sugar at that time was in great demand on the international market and when the city was at the peak of its participation in the sugar market, several religious orders, including the Jesuit order, settled in Olinda, thanks to which the city has many monasteries and churches, as well as a beautiful historical the center of the city, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

8. Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha is archipelago out of 21 islands And islets VAtlantic Ocean. Its clean beaches, scenery and wildlife attract tourists from all over the world. The island is also home to one of the largest seabird nesting colonies in the South Atlantic. a unique ecological clean place is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and most of the archipelago is located in the National marine park Brazil.

The archipelago was discovered by Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512), an Italian merchant and cartographer in 1503.

9. Teatro Amazonas

The Amazonas Theatre, or Opera House, is located in the city Manaus , in the heart of the lush Amazon rainforest. Theater construction startedduring the heyday of the rubber trade, using materials from all over the world, with furniture from Paris, marble from Italy and steel from England. TOThe floor of the theater was covered with 36,000 small ceramic tiles painted in the colors of the Brazilian flag.

The world-famous Italian tenor Enrico Caruso was the first to perform on the theater stage on January 7, 1897.

10. Ouro Preto

The city was founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the center of the gold rush and the golden age of Brazil in the 18th century.With the depletion of the gold mines in the 19th century, the city's influence waned, but the churches, bridges and fountains remain as testament to past prosperity and the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor. Aleijadinho, who worked in Ouro Preto

Journey Four(part 2)

The Federative Republic of Brazil acceded to the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Convention in 1977, and the first Brazilian site was inscribed on the List of such heritage in 1980.

However, in terms of the time of the beginning of the protection of cultural heritage objects of an urban scale, Brazil is one of the first places in the world, since back in 1933. Her most famous historical city Ouro Preto was declared national monument, where the demolition of old buildings was prohibited and restrictions on the construction of new ones were introduced.

In general, the 1910s are considered to be the time of origin of activities for the preservation of historical and cultural monuments in Brazil. And in 1937. laws were passed on the organization of the protection of the national historical and artistic heritage throughout the country, and on the creation of the Service (later - the Secretariat) of the National Historical and Artistic Heritage - SPHAN, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Health (now it is the Institute under the Ministry of Culture - IPHAN). The Institute has an extensive heritage management system with 14 regional superintendencies, each supervising from one to three states, and 19 sub-regional services in places of greatest concentration of heritage sites.

In total, IPHAN controls more than 16,000 buildings recognized as monuments, 50 urban centers and ensembles, 5,000 sites of archaeological heritage, museums, libraries, archives, etc.

Unlike "Spanish America", many parts of which had a rich immovable cultural heritage dating back to the period before colonization, in "Portuguese" Brazil, the formation of architecture and cities falls on a later time (not earlier than the middle of the 17th century) and reflects the combination of three cultural traditions: European (in the Portuguese and, in part, the Dutch interpretation), African and Indian. In various parts of the country and in individual cities that are hundreds, and sometimes even thousands of kilometers apart, these effects manifested themselves in different proportions. As a result, at an early stage of the country's development, before the establishment of stable interregional ties in certain parts of Brazil, what D. Ribeiro defined as "isolated islands of culture" arose. This largely influenced the specifics of the cultural heritage and the entire nature of the historical environment of cities and regions. In this regard, five leading regional cultures of Brazil are usually distinguished. Of these, the urban sites that have become part of the World Heritage over time have been most influenced by the Kriola culture in the northeast of the country, and the Caipira culture in the state of São Paulo and the region of the main centers of mining.

At the same time (although there is still no complete agreement among Brazilian specialists, both regarding the advisability of preserving only immovable monuments and urban ensembles as a sphere of preserved heritage, or the desirability of extending it to intangible heritage, and regarding the starting point in the birth of Brazilian national culture) , in the aspect of the architectural and urban heritage that interests us, everything unequivocally converges on the development on the foundation of Portuguese culture. At the same time, experts note the exceptionally strong influence of the traditions of folk architecture in Portugal, which is distinguished by its special purity and unpretentiousness - features that persisted in Brazil until the middle of the 19th century.

Activities to identify and preserve the cultural heritage in Brazil are developing with great difficulty, determined by the traditional orientation in society towards modernization and the creation of "new values", what is sometimes called Brazilian modernism. However, at the end of 1998 the list of only urban heritage sites under the control of IPHAN already includes 57 positions. These facilities are located in 49 cities in 17 states and the Federal District. The number of buildings included in the boundaries of each of them ranges from 10 to 2000, and their total number in all objects of the list is slightly more than 18 thousand.

Actually, there are three separate lists ("books") for different objects: artistic (or "fine arts"), archaeological-ethnographic-landscape and historical. The same object is included in one, two, or all three lists, which implies slightly different approaches to the protection of specific heritage sites.

The earliest in time of inclusion in the lists (1938) and significant in size objects of the cultural heritage of Brazil are the "architectural and urban ensembles" of the cities of the state of Minas Gerais: Ouro Preto (1100 buildings), Diamantina (1200 buildings), Sao Juan del Rey (700 buildings), Mariana (500 buildings), Serra (300 buildings), Tiradentes (150 buildings). The first two of them, as you know, have already become part of the World Heritage Site.

Of the other historical cities whose ensembles were taken under protection in later years, deserve special mention for the size and value of these ensembles: World Heritage-listed Salvador (Bahia state - 2000 buildings), San Luis (Maranhao state - 1000 buildings) , Olinda (Pernambuco state - 600 buildings), federal capital Brasilia, as well as Alcantara (state of Maranhao), Paraty (state of Rio de Janeiro), Cachoeira, Lencois, Porto Seguro (all in the state of Bahia), Laranjeiras (state of Sergipe), Pinedo (state of Alagoas), Laguna (state of Santa -Catarina), Pirenoupolis (State of Goiás), Cuiaba (State of Mato Grosso), Natividadi (State of Tocantins).

In the early 2000s There are 9 Brazilian sites on the World Heritage List, of which 8 are cultural heritage, including 6 cities represented by their historical centers, or even included in the List as a whole, like Ouro Preto and Brasilia. The last of them is, in general, the only object of urban planning of the 20th century in the world, included in the List as an example of a new city created according to a single project.

Source: Khait V.L. Art of Brazil: history and modernity. Essays. M., Art, 1989.
Parent M. Protection et mise en valeur du patrimoine cultural bresilien dans le cadre du development touristique et economique. Paris, UNESCO, 1968 (short version in Russian in: UNESCO Courier, No. 138, 1968, p.14).
Brazil. Territory, people, work, culture. Coord. Lobello M. São Paulo, 1997.
Relação dos Sítios Urbanos Tombados pelo IPHAN. In: Manual do Inventário National de Bens Imóveis. // Deportamento de Identificação e Documentação. Setor de Inventario de Bens Imóveis. 1998.
Da Silva M.A. Colonial past through modern eyes: patrimony and memory in Brazil. In: Built Heritage and Society. Tusnad 2000 - Proceedings. Cluj-N., Ed. Utilitas, 2000. P.91-92.
Patrimônios da Humanidade no Brasil - World Heritage Sites in Brazil. Text: P. Tirapeli. Sao Paulo, 2000.
Briefly about Brazil // Embassy of Brazil (in Moscow). M., 2001.

Also used materials that were kindly provided to the author:

V.L. Hayt - Director of NIITAG RAASN, Lia Motta - employee of the IPHAN Superintendentship in Rio de Janeiro, Giovana Buckley - UNESCO consultant in the Technical Assistance Group in Ouro Preto, Paulo Rocha Cipriano ( Paulo Rocha Cypriano is the Cultural Secretary of the Brazilian Embassy in Moscow.

Introduction

Criteria and conditions for the inclusion of natural sites in the World Heritage List

1 Conditions

2 Natural criteria

South America. World natural heritage sites

1 Argentina

2 Los Glaciares National Park

3 Iguazu National Park

4 Valdes Peninsula

5 natural parks Ischigualasto and Talampaya

Bolivia

1 Noel-Kempff-Mercado National Park

Brazil

1 Iguazu National Park

2 Serra da Capivara National Park

3 Eastern forest reserves Atlantic coast

4 Southeast Atlantic Forest Reserves

5 The complex of reserves of the Central Amazon

6 Pantanal Protected Area

7 Brazilian Islands in the Atlantic: Fernando de Noronha and Rocas Atoll

8 Campos Cerrado National Parks: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas

Venezuela

1 Canaima National Park

Colombia

1 Los Katios National Park

2 Malpelo Island

1 Machu Picchu Historical Reserve

2 Huascaran National Park

3 Manu National Park

4 Rio Abiseo National Park

Suriname

1 Central Suriname Conservation Area

Ecuador

1 Galapagos Islands

2 Sangay National Park

Conclusion

References and Internet resources

Introduction

UNESCO World Heritage - natural or man-made objects, the priority tasks in relation to which, according to UNESCO, are their preservation and promotion due to their special cultural, historical or environmental significance.

In 1972, UNESCO adopted the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (entered into force in 1975). By September 2012, the convention had been ratified by 190 participating countries.

Each year, the World Heritage Committee holds sessions at which "World Heritage site status" is awarded.

As of 2013, there are 981 properties on the World Heritage List, of which 759 are cultural, 193 are natural and 29 are mixed.

There are 67 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South America.

1. Criteria and conditions for the inclusion of natural objects in the World Heritage List

.1 Conditions

As defined in Article 2 of the World Heritage Convention, natural heritage includes the following properties:

) natural monuments created by physical and biological formations or groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal value in terms of aesthetics or science;

) geological and physiographic formations and severely restricted areas representing the range of endangered animal and plant species of outstanding universal scientific or conservation value;

) natural sites or severely restricted natural areas of outstanding universal scientific, conservation or natural beauty.

Outstanding global value means cultural and/or natural significance that is so exceptional that it transcends national boundaries and is of universal value to present and future generations of all mankind. Therefore, the continued protection of this heritage is of paramount importance to the international community as a whole. A natural heritage property that meets one of the above definitions and is nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List is considered to be an Outstanding World Heritage Site for the purposes of the Convention if the Committee is able to verify that the property satisfies one or more of the criteria as well as integrity conditions.

1.2 Natural criteria

The main purpose of the World Heritage List is to make known and protect properties that are unique in their own way. For this, and because of the desire for objectivity, evaluation criteria were drawn up. Initially (since 1978) there were only criteria for cultural heritage objects - this list consisted of six items. Then, to restore a certain balance between the various continents, natural objects and for them a list of four items. And finally, in 2005, all these criteria were brought together, and now every World Heritage site has at least one of them in its description. - include the greatest natural phenomena or places of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic value; - present an outstanding example , reflecting the main stages of the history of the Earth, including traces of ancient life, ongoing geological processes of the development of the forms of the earth's surface, which have importance, or significant geomorphological and physiographic phenomena; - present an outstanding example of important and ongoing ecological and biological processes of evolution and development of terrestrial, river and lake, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; - include natural areas, the most important and significant in terms of conservation of biological diversity, including the habitats of endangered species of outstanding global value in terms of science and nature conservation.

2. South America. World natural heritage sites

South America - southern continent in America, located mainly in the Western and Southern hemispheres of planet Earth, however, the continent is partially located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is washed in the west by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic, from the north it is limited to North America, the border between the Americas runs along the Isthmus of Panama and caribbean.

.1 Argentina

unesco monument landmark area

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Argentina includes 8 items (for 2011), 4 sites are included according to natural criteria. Los Glaciares and Iguazu are recognized as natural phenomena or spaces of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. Among them:

· Los Glaciares National Park (1981)

· Iguazu National Park (1984)

· Peninsula Valdes (1999)

· Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks (2000)

In addition, as of 2010, 8 objects on the territory of the state are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List, including 5 - cultural, 1 - natural and 2 - mixed criteria.

Argentina ratified the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on August 23, 1978. The first site in Argentina was listed in 1981 at the 5th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

2.2 Los Glaciares National Park

Los Glaciares National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, glaciers) - national park located in Patagonia (South America), in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The area of ​​the park is 4459 km ². In 1981 it was included in the World Heritage List.

Founded in 1937, Los Glaciares is the second largest national park in Argentina. The park owes its name to the huge ice cap in the Andes, which feeds 47 large glaciers, of which only 13 flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. This ice mass is the largest after the ice of Antarctica and Greenland. In other parts of the world, glaciation begins at least 2,500 m above sea level, but in Los Glaciares Park, due to the size of the ice cap, glaciers begin at 1,500 m and slide down to 200 m, eroding the slopes of the underlying mountains.

The territory of Los Glaciares, which is 30% covered with ice, can be divided into two parts, each of which belongs to its own lake. Argentino Lake, the largest in Argentina (area 1466 km ²) located in the southern part of the park, and Lake Viedma (area 1100 km ²) - in the north. Both lakes feed the Santa Cruz River, which flows to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Between these two parts is the Central Zone (Zona Centro), closed to tourists, in which there are no lakes.

The northern half of the park includes part of Lake Viedma, the Viedma Glacier, small glaciers and several mountain peaks popular with climbers and mountain hikers such as Fitzroy and Cerro Torre.

The southern half of the park, along with small glaciers, includes the main glaciers flowing into Lake Argentino: Perito Moreno, Uppsala and Spegazzini. A typical boat trip includes a tour of the otherwise inaccessible Uppsala and Spegazzini glaciers. The Perito Moreno Glacier can be reached by land.

Los Glaciares Park is a popular destination in international tourism. Tours start in the village of El Calafate, located on Lake Argentino, and in the village of El Chalten, located in the northern part of the park at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy.

Climate . The entire natural appearance of the park and its originality are associated primarily with the climatic features of the region. Nowhere on the globe are there such favorable conditions for the development of modern glaciation in such low sprats, the "Roaring forties" winds of the western direction meet on their way over the oceanic expanses of the World Ocean of the Southern Hemisphere only the only obstacle in the form of the Patagonian Andes. On their western (Chilean) slopes the winds fall from terrible force and give away almost all the moisture accumulated from the ocean.

Completely different climatic conditions characteristic of the eastern (Argentinean) slopes and foothills of the Patagonian Andes, where the national park is located. Having lost strength and moisture on the western slopes, the air masses of the "roaring forties" arrive on the eastern slopes "weakened" and almost dried up. Being in the "rain shadow" of the Andes, the territory of the park receives much less precipitation - up to 900 mm on the slopes of the mountains and 500 mm in the east of the park. The average annual precipitation for the entire park is 809 mm, and the average annual temperatures are within +7.5 °С, minimum +3.3 °С, maximum + 12 °С. Here, unlike the eastern slopes of the Patagonian Andes, the sun shines most of the year. Only from April to May the sky is covered with clouds, it rains in the foothills, and snow falls in the mountains. In winter, and this is June-August in the Southern Hemisphere, snowfalls are common. In early spring and summer, strong hurricane-force winds sweep over the park from the west and south - from Antarctica.

Flora. In addition to snow-capped peaks (which are of undoubted interest to climbers), huge glacial fields and amazingly beautiful lake surfaces in the Los Glaciares National Park, you can also get acquainted with the peculiar flora of Patagonia.

Two types of plant communities are represented in the park - subantarctic Patagonian forests (in the west) and Patagonian steppes, characteristic of the flat-flat part (in the east).

Fauna. Vertebrate fauna national park, with the exception of the avifauna, has not yet been studied enough. About 100 species of birds have been recorded here, of which the Andean condor and the long-billed (Darwinian) rhea are the most notable.

Among the birds, the Andean spur (brook) duck, chaffinch are very numerous.

There is a small population of Andean deer. The Andean deer is listed in the International Red Book.

In the park, there are individual individuals of the mountain veskashi from the order of rodents. More often you can meet llamas, guanacos.

The ichthyofauna of glacial lakes and small streams is very rich. Many tourists come to Los Glaciares National Park specifically for sport fishing. In lakes Viedma and Lago Argentino, two species of salmon fish have been introduced specifically for sport fishing.

.3 Iguazu National Park

Iguazu National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Iguaz) ú) - a national park in Argentina, located in the department of Iguazu, in the northern part of the province of Misiones, in the Argentine Mesopotamia.

The park was created in 1934 and partially contains one of natural monuments South America - Iguazu Falls, surrounded by subtropical jungle. On the other side of the Iguazu River lies the Brazilian park of the same name (Iguazu National Park). Both parks were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites (in 1984 and 1986, respectively).

Flora. The flora includes 2 thousand species of plants, in particular: one of the endangered species of aspidosperm trees - Aspidosperma polyneuron (Eng.), rarely found outside the park due to cutting down for edible fruits, one of the species of cabbage palm - Euterpe edulis (Eng. ), phebe, holly, foot-bearing plant, recently the less common zedrel, araucaria, palo-rose. There are trees of the burser family, a lot of vascular plants. Among the flowers there are bromeliads, various types of orchids.

Fauna. The fauna of the park includes 70 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles, several hundred species of butterflies, including endangered species. The most common representatives of the fauna are the following: jaguar, jaguarundi, mazama deer, plains tapir, capybara, water opossum, ocelot, giant anteater, brazilian otter, bush dog, cougar, monkeys (capuchins and howler monkeys), nosoha, Paraguayan caiman, broad-faced caiman, coral asp. Birds such as swifts and large toucans can also be found there. Common for these places, the vine-breasted Amazon, the American swift, the tirika, the Brazilian merganser, the bronze penelope (English) Russian, the South American harpy, the hummingbird. Among the known representatives of bats, the most common type of vampire is the common vampire.

The geography of the falls. The complex is 2.7 km wide and includes approximately 270 individual waterfalls. The height of the water fall reaches 82 meters, but on most waterfalls a little more than 60 meters. The largest waterfall is the "Devil's Throat" - a U-shaped cliff 150 meters wide and 700 meters long. This waterfall marks the border between Brazil and Argentina.

There are three cities in the vicinity of the falls - Foz do Iguacu on the Brazilian side, Puerto Iguacu on the Argentine side, and Ciudad del Este on the Paraguay side.

The most famous names of the waterfalls: "Adam and Eve", "Three Musketeers", "Two Sisters", "Salto Escondido" ("hidden jump"), "Salto Floriano" ("flower jump"), "San Martin" , "Ramirez" and a number of others.

Tourism. The Iguazu Falls are one of the most visited tourist destinations in South America. Every year there are 1.5-2 million visitors here. Specially equipped for tourists viewing platforms. Hiking and car routes are laid in the vicinity of the waterfall. Also, tourists are offered waterproof clothing, as the routes go to the very foot of the waterfalls. In the vicinity of the Iguazu Falls, there is an international airport, dozens of hotels, campsites, access roads, and walking trails have been built. The local population is also employed in this industry, specially equipped areas for them, where they show local dances and songs, while dressing in local costumes.

.4 Valdes Peninsula

Valdes is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Area - 3625 km ². It is connected to the mainland by the isthmus of Carlos Ameghino. The Bay of San José juts out from the north, and Golfo Nuevo juts out from the south. Most of the peninsula is uninhabited territory. There are several salt lakes, the largest of which lies 40 meters below sea level. This is the lowest point on land for South America.

In 1999, the Valdes Peninsula was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - primarily for its unique and rich fauna.

Physical and geographical features. The peninsula is located in the northeast of the province of Chubut, and is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. From the north and south, its coasts are washed by the bays of San José and Nuevo.

The relief of the territory is a typical Patagonian plateau, which breaks off into the sea with sheer shores. The coast is composed of marine sediments, which are subject to constant erosion. Part coastline It is represented by beaches, among which rocky ones stand out - a favorite place for elephant seals.

The climate on the territory of the peninsula is transitional between the temperate climate of the central part of the country, with a maximum of precipitation in the hot months and a cold climate with winter rains, which is more characteristic of Patagonia. Summers on the peninsula are hot but short, and winters are cold.

Diversity of flora and fauna. The main vegetation of the seashores is algae. They cover the rocky shores with colorful blankets: blue-green, green, brown, red or yellow-green, depending on the pigment in the plant cells.

The Valdes Peninsula in Patagonia is of great importance for the conservation of marine mammals. A population of the endangered Australian right whale subspecies breeds here. The peninsula is known all over the world precisely because of the excellent opportunities for observing these giants. They come ashore in June and stay until December to breed. The southern whale reaches a length of about 14 meters and weighs up to 50 tons. Females bear cubs for a whole year, and at a time give birth to only one offspring.

Southern elephant seals and southern sea lions also breed here, and the killer whales living here use a unique hunting strategy adapted to the conditions of the local coastline.

The peninsula is also home to many species of birds and land animals such as guanaco, fox, American rhea, American (pampas) partridge, and Patagonian hare.

2.5 Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks

Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks - Two contiguous parks spread over 275,300 hectares in a desert region on the western border of the Sierra Pampeanas in Central Argentina. Here you can see the most complete paleontological record, starting from the Triassic period (245-208 million years ago). The six geological formations in the parks contain the fossilized remains of numerous mammalian, dinosaurian and plant precursors, showing the evolution of vertebrates and the nature of the paleographic setting during the Triassic period. Included in the UNESCO List in 2000

Flora and fauna of Ischigualasto. The flora and fauna of Ischigualasto is unique. All inhabitants demonstrate amazing adaptability to the desert arid climate. Some of the most common types of animals that travelers can not only see but also feed are Argentine gray foxes, viscachas and rabbits. While traveling through the park, guests also come across peculiar animals - maras, which are also called Patagonian hares, although they have nothing to do with hares.

Of the predators that live in Ischigualasto, one of the most common are the "damage" skunks, since these animals, which defend themselves with the fetid secretions of the anal glands, have a particular preference for open areas.

From the canine family, the gray Argentine fox, or "sorro de la pampa", is widespread here.

In the protected area there are condors, two species of South American vultures - turkey and urubu, many songbirds. And even representatives of the parrot family, which, in our view, are characteristic only of tropical forests.

Surprisingly, even several species of frogs and toads live in these waterless lands.

Vegetation is represented mainly by cacti, rare thorny shrubs and trees, such as "retama", "chanyar", "algorobo" and others. Many of the plants found here are used in medicine.

Attractions of the Talampaya Park

· The dry bed of the Talampaya River, where dinosaurs lived several million years ago - as in Ischigualasto, fossils of that era can be found here.

· Talampaya Canyon - the height of the walls reaches 143 m, the minimum width is 80 m.

· Remains of settlements of local peoples, such as petroglyphs in Puerta del Canyon.

· A botanical garden with native flora in a canyon bottleneck.

· Fauna of the region: guanacos, hares, maras, foxes and condors.

3. Bolivia

Bolivia has only 1 natural world heritage site, the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. In addition, as of 2010, 7 objects on the territory of the state are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List, including 4 - cultural, 1 - natural and 2 - mixed criteria.

.1 Noel-Kempff-Mercado National Park

The Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is located in the José Miguel de Velasco province of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia on the border with Brazil. The territory of the park is 15,838 km ² , making it one of the largest parks in the entire Amazon. In 2000, the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Climate. The climate is distinctly seasonal with approximately 1400-1500mm of average annual precipitation. There is a dry season of about 4-6 months (May to September) when there is a decrease in rainfall. The average annual temperature is 25-26°C, but during the dry season the temperature can drop to 10 degrees for several days when the cold dry air masses of Patagonia (surazos) reach the park.

Flora and fauna. The inaccessibility of these places serves as a good natural protection of the virginity of the park, which includes five ecosystems located at altitudes from 200 to 1000m above sea level: mountain evergreen forests, deciduous forests, dry savannah, wet savannah and tropical rainforests. The diverse flora includes 4,000 plant species, of which 2,700 species have been identified. Among them are several types of palms, cedar, oak, creepers and bromeliads, many types of orchids. Breathtaking colors and scents, exotic passion fruit and mangaba fill these places.

More than 630 species of birds live in the park, 139 species of mammals - this is more than in the whole North America, including: jaguar, puma, river dolphin, giant anteater, maned wolf, tapirs, capybaras, swamp deer. Many species of butterflies and other insects, 62 species of amphibians, including the South American side turtle and black caiman, 127 species of reptiles. Two types of anacondas are found here at the same time - green ordinary and yellow Paraguayan. About 254 species of fish are found in the rivers.

Some of these fauna are endangered elsewhere in Bolivia.

4. Brazil

There are 8 natural sites on the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites in Brazil. Among them, 4 objects are recognized as "natural phenomena of exceptional beauty and aesthetic importance" (criterion vii).

· Iguazu National Park (1986)

· Serra da Capivara National Park (1991)

· East Atlantic Forest Reserves (1999)

· Southeast Atlantic Forest Reserves (1999)

· Complex of reserves of the Central Amazon (2000)

· Pantanal Protected Area (2000)

· Brazilian Islands in the Atlantic: Fernando de Noronha and Rocas Atoll (2001)

· Campos Cerrado National Parks: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas (2001)

.1 Iguazu National Park

Iguazu is a national park of Brazil and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the state of Parana. It is famous for its waterfall (part of which is located in the Argentinean province of Misiones) and its scenic wildlife (especially a wide variety of birds) that includes rare and endangered species. This the most unique place in the world, since 5 forest species are concentrated on one piece of land.

4.2 Serra da Capivara National Park

The Serra da Capivara National Park is a national park in the state of Piauí in northeastern Brazil. The park contains many monuments of prehistoric rock art discovered by archaeologist Nyede Gidon. On her own initiative, a park was created to preserve the images. In 1991 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. The area of ​​the park is 1291.4 km².

Archaeological studies show that in ancient times the Serra da Capivara was very densely populated, there was the largest concentration of prehistoric peasant farms in ancient America.

Climate, flora and fauna. The climate in these places is very hot and arid, and therefore the vegetation of the park is represented by thorny trees and shrubs, as well as cacti, of various bizarre forms, more reminiscent of a chandelier. Despite the dryness of the climate, which, I must say, is not at all typical for Brazil, in these places it is not difficult to meet anteaters, armadillos, snakes, jaguars, cougars, and various parrots. Also in these places lives an interesting animal - a false vampire. This is a bat with a meter wingspan.

Attractions of the park. In Brazil's Serra da Capivara National Park, there are caves where distant human ancestors lived 50,000 years ago. Most likely this is the oldest community of people in South America. The national park is located near the city of San Raimondo Nonato ( central part the state of Piaui).

Scientists have counted more than three hundred archaeological sites in this place. The main images are well preserved and have an age of 22-25 thousand years before the birth of Christ. Extinct animals are painted on the rocks, which will never be on planet Earth.

4.3 East Atlantic Forest Reserves

Eight protected natural areas(including three national parks) with a total area of ​​112,000 hectares are located in the states of Bahia and Espirito Santo and include Atlantic wet forests and bushes ("restinga"). In terms of biodiversity, this area is one of the richest on the planet. A number of endemic species live in the reserves, which makes it possible to trace the evolutionary path of living organisms, and this, in turn, is of great importance both from a scientific and environmental point of view.

Biodiversity. Despite the fact that the ecoregion has suffered greatly from deforestation for agricultural purposes and urbanization (out of a million square kilometers of virgin forests, about 7% remain), the flora and fauna are very rich here, 450 species of trees can grow on one hectare. Many endemics, for example, 92% of local amphibians are found nowhere else. An example of primates is the genus lion marmosets (Leontopithecus). The collared sloth (Bradypus torquatus) is only found in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Birds include the blue-capped tanager (Tangara cyanocephala), the red-billed crax (Crax blumenbachii), the blue-bellied parrot (Triclaria malachitacea), the three-toed jacamar (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla) and others.

.4 Southeast Atlantic Forest Reserves

The forest reserves of the southeast Atlantic coast contain the finest and most extensive examples of the Atlantic forests in Brazil. The 25 protected areas that make up this monument, with a total area of ​​about 470,000 hectares, demonstrate the biological richness and evolutionary history of the last remnants of the Atlantic forests. This area is distinguished by its diversity and beauty and is of great scientific importance.

Biodiversity. Partially isolated since the Ice Age, the Atlantic forests have developed into a complex ecosystem with exceptionally high levels of endemism (70% tree species, 85% primates, and 39% mammals).

The designated World Heritage Site contains a well-preserved patch of very diverse Atlantic rainforest. More than 450 species of trees per hectare can be found in some areas. The forest canopy along the river valleys is higher with isolated trees reaching up to 30 m in height.

There is a very diverse fauna. Mammals include 120 species, probably the largest number in Brazil. Some notable species are the jaguar, ocelot, bush dog, La Plata otter, 20 species of bats and various endangered primate species, especially the muriqui and brown howler monkey. The avifauna is very diverse with 350 species recorded.

.5 Central Amazonian Reserve Complex

A huge area (more than 6 million hectares) of the world's unique treasures of nature is a delightful complex of reserves of the Central Amazon. This region is distinguished by a great variety of biological objects. For example, the reserves include such valuable protected areas as Jau National Park, the Anavillanas Archipelago and the Amazon Forest Cover. The diverse ecological systems "varzeya" and "igapo" make the reserves an invaluable world landmark. The peculiar ecology of these places is great place for the habitat of the world's largest electric snakes, Amazonian manatees, black caiman, as well as giant fish - arapaima. In the rivers and lakes that form a bizarre aqua system, you can meet 2 species of dolphins here.

Flora. The flora of the igapo is comparatively poor, being most characteristic of the imbauba-cecropia, which grows rapidly but not high (usually about 10 m), with broad palmate, almost white leaves and aerial roots supporting it underwater. At the surface of the water, in the pools covered with huge leaves of victoria reggae, bushes of nondescript Ivoreans stretch. During the retreat of the floods thickets of tall hard grasses develop. These gloomy forests are decorated with climbing vines and epiphytes, among which there are many orchids. The Amazon forests are the realm of vines. They spread like garlands along the ground, climbing out onto trunks, thrown from branch to branch, from one tree to another, hanging from the trees.

Fauna. Numerous lakes and streams form a mosaic aquatic system within the site, which is in a state of constant development and serves as a habitat for the world's largest population of electric eels.

Rare and endangered species include the Amazonian manatee, black caiman (the largest South American alligator, whose length is 5 m), two species of river dolphins, and also a fish - a giant arapaima.

There are many herbivores on the territory of the object, forest deer and antelope are especially common; there are anteaters, sloth, tapir, peccary, armadillo, many rodents. Monkeys can be seen everywhere, they are very numerous and diverse: capuchins, durukuly, uakari, howler monkeys. There are a lot of bats in the forests.

.6 Pantanal Protected Area

Pantanal is a vast swampy tectonic basin in Brazil, small parts of it are also located in Bolivia and Paraguay, in the Paraguay River basin. It is located in the west of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and in the south of the state of Mato Grosso. The total area is approximately between 150-195 thousand km ², it is one of the largest wetlands on the planet.

Geography and geology. The prevailing heights are 50–70 m above sea level. From the north, east and southeast, the territory is sharply limited by the cliffs of the Brazilian Plateau. natural conditions this region are very contrasting. Floods in wet summer season turn the Pantanal into a huge swamp lake and alternate with winter droughts that form a patchy landscape of perennial semi-grown swamps, lakes, subtle wandering riverbeds, salt marshes, sandbars and grassy areas.

Biodiversity. There is a huge variety of flora and fauna. Over 3,500 plant species grow throughout the Pantanal. There are 650 species of birds, 230 species of fish and 50 species of reptiles, more than 80 species of mammals. There are about 20 million crocodiles alone. On the territory of the Pantanal there is a specially protected nature reserve- "Pantanal", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Reserve "Pantanal" is a unique and at the same time a wonderful attraction in Brazil. Its borders are in contact with Paraguay and Bolivia. The prevailing heights are within 50-70 meters. This amazing savannah is separated from the north by the Amazon jungle, and to the south by dense coastal Atlantic forests. The Paraguay River flows through the Pantanal, which creates numerous swamps, lakes and water meadows.

Among this richest fauna on the planet are such well-known species as the hyacinth macaw, toucans, capybara, guar wolf, many species of monkeys, deer, coatis, armadillos, anteater, sloth, more than 1000 species of butterflies, etc. Many of the animals that are threatened extinction in other parts of South America, they live in the Pantanal. Not far from the reserve is the small and wonderful town of Bonito, which is surrounded by greenery. The Brazilians dubbed it - the gate to the Pantanal. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this protected natural Park amazing beauty and variety.

.7 Brazilian Islands in the Atlantic: Fernando de Noronha and Rocas Atoll

The Fernando de Noronha archipelago and the Rocas Atoll, which are the peaks of the underwater South Atlantic Ridge that come to the surface of the ocean, lie near eastern shores Brazil. These islands are among the largest in this region of the Atlantic, and their coastal waters are highly bio-productive and play an exceptional role as habitats and breeding grounds for tuna, sharks, sea turtles and marine mammals. The largest concentrations of marine tropical birds in the Western Atlantic have been noted on the islands; there is also a large local population of dolphins. During low tides on Rocas Atoll, you can observe an impressive picture: shallow lagoons teeming with fish.

Flora and fauna of Fernando de Noronha. The island was covered with forest until the nineteenth century, after the prison was opened on the island, the forest began to be cut down from the construction of escape rafts. Currently, the islands are predominantly covered with shrubs, and in some areas new forest has recently been planted.

The islands are inhabited by 2 species of endemic birds - Noronha Elaenia (Elaenia ridleyana) and Noronha Vireo (Vireo gracilirostris). Both are on the main island; Noronha Vireo is also present on Ilha Rata. In addition, there are the Eared Dove Noronha auriculata Zinaida, the rodents, Noronhomys vespuccii, mentioned by Amerigo Vespucci, have now disappeared.

Geography of Rocas Atoll . It is of volcanic origin, formed by corals. The only atoll in the South Atlantic, one of the smallest atolls in the world.

The atoll is oval in shape, about 3.7 km long and 2.5 km wide. The depth of the lagoon is 6 m, the area is 7.1 km ². The area of ​​the two islets of the atoll (Cemit ério in the southwest, Farol Cay in the northwest) is 0.36 km ², of these, Farol Cay accounts for approximately two-thirds of the area. The most high point - sand dune in the south of Farol Cay, its height is 6 m. The atoll consists mainly of corals and red algae. The coral ring is practically closed, with the exception of a 200-meter wide channel on the north side and a much narrower channel on the western side.

Both islets are overgrown with grass, shrubs, and several palm trees also grow on them. The islets are inhabited by crabs, spiders, scorpions, sand fleas, beetles, as well as many species of birds. Turtles, sharks, dolphins live near the atoll.

.8 Campos Cerrado National Parks: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas

"Campos Serrado" is one of the ecoregions of the tropical Brazilian savannah, which occupies about 20% of the country's territory. In this zone there are two Brazilian national parks (Emas and Chapada dos Veadeiros), which are not just protected areas, but also UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Their flora and fauna is distinguished by its biodiversity and at the same time is one of the oldest ecosystems in the tropical zone, which impresses with its amazing contrasts. These places have been pleasing to the eye for thousands of years, and also serve as a safe haven for a variety of animals and plants.

Emas. Emas National Park is located in the central part of the Brazilian Highland savannah. The authorities of the country, or rather President Juscelino, made this territory a reserve back in 1961, but Emas was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2001. The park is rich in forested savanna flora. It is here that you can find amazing palm trees typical of the wooded savannahs. In the park, tourists can see the round crowns of huge babasu palms, reaching 75 meters in height.

The Emasa savanna has helped to preserve many species of living organisms during climate change. Among the most interesting representatives of the fauna, one can note a large anteater, an armadillo and a maned wolf. As for the climate, winters are cold here, and summers are hot. Inquisitive tourists are offered such types of entertainment as fishing, horseback riding or boat trips.

Chapada dos Veadeiros. Not less than interesting object is the Chapada dos Veadeiros park. Which also became a protected area in 1961. The park is located in the state of Goiás ancient plateau. If Emas is very rich in fauna, then nature has endowed Chapada dos Veadeiros with a wide variety of flora. There are more than 25 species of trees on the territory of the reserve. Animal world The region is also quite bright and colorful (marsh deer, armadillos, tapirs). On hot summer days, temperatures up to 40 degrees can be observed here, but in winter there is sometimes a slight frost.

5. Venezuela

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Venezuela includes 3 items (for 2010), which is 0.3% of the total (981 for 2013). 2 objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, 1 object - according to natural criteria (Canaima National Park).

In addition, as of 2010, 3 objects on the territory of the state are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The first site in Venezuela was listed in 1993 at the 17th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

.1 Canaima National Park

Canaima National Park is a park in the southeast of Venezuela, on the border with Brazil and Guyana. The area of ​​the park is about 30,000 km ². It is located in the state of Bolivar and occupies approximately the same territory as the Gran Sabana Natural Park.

The park was opened on June 12, 1962 and is the second largest in the country, second only to Parima-Tapirapeco. In 1994, Canaima was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main attraction and value of the park are the tepui (flat-topped mountains) located there.

Flora and fauna. On the territory of Canaima, such representatives of the animal world live as: tapir - a large herbivorous mammal (somewhat reminiscent of a pig in shape, but has a short trunk adapted for grasping), peccaries - a large artiodactyl, similar to a pig, agouti - rodents, relatives of guinea pigs, moving on long limbs, anteater, puma, jaguar, as well as broad-faced caiman, etc. In the village Pemon Indians live a lot of rabbits, which are chased by children. The local jungle is famous for its special abundance various kinds orchids, of which there are about 500 species.

Attractions. Like fragments of another world, the Table Mountains stand here - the unique plateau of the Gran Sabana, part of the Guiana Plateau, two-kilometer steep walls of which, absolutely flat at the top, rest against the clouds. These mountains, called tepui, are some of the oldest formations on Earth, dating back countless years when Africa and South America were one continent. Arthur Conan Doyle, inspired by the surreal landscape, settled tyrannosvars and pterodactyls on the tops of the plateau. Of course, there are no ancient lizards on Gran Saban, but the microcosm that lives at an altitude of two thousand meters above the rest of the surrounding world is truly unique.

Another attraction of Canaim is the waterfalls, the highest on the planet. Falling from the sheer ledges of the mesas, these waterfalls make for an impressive sight. The most famous of them - Angel Falls, overthrown from the top of one of the highest tepui - Auyantepui, which deservedly means "mountain of the devil".

6. Colombia

There are 2 sites on the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites in Colombia:

· Los Katios National Park (1994)

· Malpelo Island (2006)

.1 Los Katios National Park

It was created in the north of Colombia, in the border zone with the state of Panama. On the other side of the border, another protected area has been created - the Darien National Park. On the territory of Colombia, Los Katios National Park appeared in 1976, today its area has grown to 72 thousand hectares. The nature of the park is represented by the following natural areas: tropical forests and floodplain swamps. The territory of Los Katios Park lies around the Atrato River. On its banks and among the nearby complexes of wet forests, a total of about 600 plant varieties were found. A rather remarkable local species is the cotton tree. This is a typical tropical species that belongs to the mallow family. Mexico is considered the homeland of this species, some countries Central America, Caribbean, tropical region of West Africa.

.2 Malpelo Island

Malpelo is an island in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 500 km off the coast of Buenaventura Bay in South America. Belongs to Colombia, is part of the department of Valle del Cauca. Area 0.35 km².

On July 12, 2006, Malpelo, together with the adjacent water area of ​​​​857,150 hectares, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the largest no-fishing zone in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Geography. The island is a rock without abundant vegetation, the maximum height is 376 m (Mount Mona, Spanish Cerro de la Mona). The length is about 1850 m, the width is up to 600 m. It is surrounded by small rocks. The Malpelo Natural Protected Area occupies a circle with a radius of 9.656 km around the point with coordinates 3°58?30? With. sh. 81°34?48? h. d. (G) (O).

Around Malpelo there are populations of silky sharks, frilled sharks, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks, sand sharks are found, which makes the island popular place among divers.

The island is composed of effusive rocks, volcanogenic breccias, and Tertiary basalt dikes. Vegetation - algae, lichens, mosses, some types of shrubs, ferns.

Biodiversity. Malpelo Island is home to a range of rare marine life. A lot of sharks, giant groupers, marlins gather here. This is one of the few places on Earth where reliable encounters with deep-sea sand sharks have been recorded. In these depths, stable populations of large marine predators and pelagic species are maintained, in particular, these are accumulations of more than 200 hammerheads, over 1,000 frilled sharks, as well as whale sharks and tuna. 17 species of marine mammals, including humpback and blue whales, 5 terrestrial and 7 marine reptile species, 61 bird species, 394 fish species and 340 shellfish species have been recorded on Malpelo .

7. Peru

For 2012, the list includes 11 objects, 2 of which are natural and 2 are mixed:

Machu Picchu (1983)

· Huascaran National Park (1985)

Manu (1987)

· Rio Abiseo National Park (1992)

.1 Machu Picchu Historical Reserve

City ancient America, located on the territory of modern Peru, on top of a mountain range at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, dominating the valley of the Urubamba River. In 2007 he was awarded the title of the New Wonder of the World.

In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to the new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800.

Flora and fauna. On the territory of Machu Picchu you are constantly surrounded by landscapes of dazzling beauty. The splendor of the archaeological ruins is harmoniously combined with a huge variety of flora and fauna. All over the square lost city, which is approximately 32,520 hectares, you will see exotic pisonai and kunyual trees, shield palms, alders - they amaze with their grandeur. About 400 species of begonias and orchids grow here, of which only 260 species are classified.

Animals living in Machu Picchu are also striking in their diversity. Approximately 375 species of birds live in the city, of which 200 species can always be seen during the tour. One of the brightest representatives of birds is the Rock Cockerel, it is he who is the symbol of Peru. The bird is easily recognizable by its colorful plumage, it is easy to meet on the banks of rivers.

In terms of animals, the endangered Andean bear is of particular interest. In these parts, he is known as "Spectacled Bear". The animal is absolutely safe, eats only plant foods. Due to his shy disposition, he is rarely photographed. In Machu Picchu you can also see vicuñas, white-tailed deer, wild llamas and other representatives of exotic fauna.

Current state. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the UNESCO World Heritage status, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to the new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region. To support tourism, a railway was built to the neighboring city of Aguas Calientes from Cusco via Ollantaytambo, more than ten trains a day run from Ollantaytambo. From railway station Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu runs a bus that overcomes eight kilometers of a steep serpentine climb. UNESCO opposed the construction cable car to limit the flow of tourists. As a result of the earthquake in 2004, the section of the railway was badly damaged, but was restored.

At the 35th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, it was decided that the ancient city from February 1, 2012 will be excluded from the list of World Heritage sites in danger.

7.2 Huascaran National Park

A national park located in the Ancash region of Peru, on the territory of the Cordillera Blanca.

The area of ​​the park is 3400 km ². Declared a nature reserve on July 1, 1975. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The name of the park comes from the name of the high peak Peru - Huascaran, 6768 m high. Many rare and endemic plants and animals live in the park. For example, Puya raimondi is a plant of the bromeliad family up to 10 meters high, whose age can reach up to 100 years.

Climate. The climate in the national park, in addition to being characterized by altitudinal zonation typical of mountains, is divided into two seasons a year. One of them is humid, caused by strong warm winds blowing from the Amazonian jungle, and lasts from December to March. The other, which lasts from May to October, is dry, characterized by a large number of sunny days. The temperature at this time can rise to 25 degrees Celsius, but the nights are very cold, and often the thermometer drops below 0 degrees.

Flora and fauna. The fauna of the White and Black Cordillera is represented mainly by birds and mammals. Some species have not yet been described or our knowledge of them is extremely scarce. According to scientists, there are 112 species of birds in the Huascaran National Park, representing 33 different families. Among them are the Andean Condor, the Andean Spur Duck and the Andean Tinamou. Mammals are represented in the park by only ten species. However, among them are such amazing, rare and beautiful animals as the pampas cat, Andean cat, spectacled bear, vicuña and Peruvian deer.

Vegetable world Huascaran National Park is more diverse in terms of species growing here. There are seven climatic zones and a huge number of microclimates in the park. All this contributes to the development of unique plants, capturing literally every part of the mountain surface suitable for life and growth. In total, in Huascaran, scientists have described 779 plant species belonging to 340 genera and 104 families.

.3 Manu National Park

The park was organized in 1977 in the regions of Madre de Dios and Cusco, and in 1987 was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Manu Square - 19,098 km ², of which the national park occupies 15,328 km ², the rest is a reserve zone. The main part of the territory is the Amazonian forests, but some part is located in the Andes at an altitude of up to 4200 m. A large number of species of flora and fauna live in Manu. More than 15 thousand species of plants and about a thousand species of birds have been found on its territory (more than a tenth of all bird species and about 1.5 times more than in Russia). On the territory of the park, the population of the Inca toad, endemic to Peru, is protected.

.4 Rio Abiseo National Park

Rio Abiseo National Park is a national park located in the San Martin region of Peru. Since 1990 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The park is home to many species of flora and fauna, and there are more than 30 archaeological sites from the pre-Columbian period. Since 1986, certain parts of the park have been closed to tourists due to the fragility of both the natural and archaeological environments. The largest and most famous archaeological site in the park is the Gran Pajaten, located on a hilltop near the border of the region. Nearby are the ruins of Los Pinchudos (discovered in 1965), which are a series of stone graves. Most archeology research in the park is conducted by staff at the University of Colorado.

Geography and climate. The Rio Abiseo National Park is located on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes between the Marañón and Huallaga rivers, covering an area of ​​2,745.2 km ². In particular, the park covers about 70% of the Abiseo river basin. Altitudes in the park are from 350 m to 4200 m above sea level.

There are seven climatic zones in the park, ranging from alpine meadows and montane forests to dry forests and tropical rainforests. Precipitation varies from 500 to 2000 mm per year. The humid mountain forest, which occupies most of the park, consists of low trees, mosses and lichens. This ecosystem exists at altitudes of about 2300 m. The humidity is constant here, and rain falls throughout the year, especially at high altitudes. Soils are acidic.

8. Suriname

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Suriname includes 2 items (for 2010), which is 0.2% of the total (981 for 2013). 1 object is included in the list according to cultural criteria, 1 object - according to natural criteria (Central Suriname Conservation Area).

.1 Central Suriname Conservation Area

The Central Suriname Conservation Area is a conservation area in Suriname. The territory of the reserve occupies 16 thousand km ², consists mainly of tropical forests of the Guiana highlands. The reserve is home to many species of animals, which are also under state protection.

On the territory of the reserve there is a unique granite monolith- Voltzberg, whose age is 1.8 - 2 billion years. It has two peaks separated by a crack: one of them has a height of 245 meters above sea level, the other 209 meters. The monolith itself is located at an altitude of 150 meters above the surroundings. This monolith is 1.1 km long in the north-south direction and up to 700 meters wide in the east-west direction. Only at the top of the monolith there is sparse vegetation.

9. Ecuador

The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ecuador includes 4 items (for 2010), which is 0.4% of the total (981 for 2013). 2 objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, 2 objects - according to natural criteria:

· Galapagos Islands (1978)

· Sangai National Park (1983)

In addition, as of 2010, 7 objects on the territory of the state are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List. The first site in Ecuador was listed in 1978 at the 2nd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

.1 Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of Ecuador, consisting of 13 main volcanic islands, 6 small islands and 107 rocks and alluvial areas.

Climate . Despite the latitude, due to the cold current, the climate in the Galapagos is much cooler than other areas at the equator. The water temperature sometimes drops to 20 ° C, and the average annual is 23- 24°C.

Flora and fauna. The inability of large predators to develop on the islands has allowed many animal species to thrive on these islands. Therefore, the Galapagos are home to a large number of endemic and unique animals such as sea lions, native penguins, Galapagos tortoises, dolphins, vampire finch, marine iguanas, lava lizards, whales, sharks, etc. There is also a large variety of seabirds such as frigatebirds, flamingos and albatrosses. Plants of the Galápagos also surprises with its diversity; a wide variety of endemic trees, tree ferns, other types of shrubs and flowers grow on the islands. The archipelago has some rare species of cotton, tomatoes, peppers, guava and orchids. The underwater life in the Galapagos Islands is also very beautiful. The surrounding waters are home to many species of fish, animals and aquatic plants, which is why the Galapagos Islands are considered one of the wonders of the underwater world.

Fortunately, due to the remoteness of the islands from the continent and active sea communications, the wildlife here is practically not affected and remains the same as Charles Darwin once found it. Tourists arrive in the Galapagos Islands mainly by plane. The Galapagos is probably the only place on earth where you can dive with a penguin or swim among the sea lions. The Galapagos Islands are one of the planet's most precious treasures and one of the world's last wildlife sanctuaries.

.2 Sangai National Park

The Sangay National Park is located in the highlands of Ecuador. The territory of the Andes, included in the national park, is full of volcanoes. The most important volcano in the park is named Sangai. The approaches to it in Ecuador have been protected since 1975, it was then that the Sangay National Park was formed. Until today, the territory of the park has grown to 500 thousand hectares. Mostly in the open spaces of the park there are areas of tropical rainforest, as well as foggy mountain forests.

Flora and fauna. As for the arrays of tropical rainforest, the following types of vegetation dominate among them: mulberry trees, palm trees, laurel trees, lianas. And in the alpine zone of foggy forests, the following species prevail: various orchids and ferns, thickets of bamboo and shrubs. The diversity of plant species in the park is quite a natural phenomenon, because there is a very wide range of altitudes, which ranges from 1000 to 5230 m above sea level. In total, as many as 8 altitudinal vegetation belts can be observed in Sangai Park; in general, about 1,000 species have been recorded in the region's fines.

The fauna of the Sangai volcano is represented by the following species: mountain tapir, vicuña, pygmy deer, the avifauna is dominated by the red bird, condor and other birds. As for the mountain inhabitants, such as the mountain tapir, we have enough information about them.

The red bird is one of the most amazing birds in Sangai park. The red bird is also often called the bird of paradise, it belongs to the order of passerines. The bird is medium in size, about 30 cm long, while the wing length is about 16 cm, and the tail is 12 cm long. It has a golden-green plumage, a small crest on the back of the head. The bird has a bright red chest and wings, as well as legs. The back has a gray-yellowish tint, the throat is dark green.

In rather limited areas of the park, animals such as puma, Andean fox, spectacled bear, pudu deer, ocelots and jaguars, guinea pigs live. Of the birds, such unique species like cubillin and quilimas, vulture, giant hummingbirds, etc.

Conclusion

Thus, using the example of the region of South America, one could get acquainted with the UNESCO World Heritage program, which began its existence in 1975. Since 1977, the World Heritage Committee has held annual sessions at which the objects of the program are identified - natural or man-made objects, the priority tasks in relation to which are conservation and promotion due to their special cultural, historical or environmental significance.

The main purpose of the World Heritage List is to make known and protect properties that are unique in their own way. For this, and because of the desire for objectivity, evaluation criteria were drawn up. The first six criteria have been in force since 1978 and determine cultural objects, natural objects have been included in the list since 2002, when four additional natural inclusion criteria appeared.

Also, in the course of the work done, it was possible to make sure that the "World Heritage Site Status" provides the following benefits (for natural heritage sites): it is an additional guarantee of the safety and integrity of unique natural complexes; enhances the prestige of territories and their governing institutions; contributes to the popularization of the objects included in the List and the development of alternative types of nature management (primarily, ecological tourism); ensures priority in attracting financial resources to support world cultural and natural heritage sites, primarily from the World Heritage Fund; contributes to the organization of monitoring and control over the state of conservation of natural objects.

The states on whose territory the World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.

References and Internet resources

Drobot V.I. The concept of the World natural heritage: a textbook / Mar. state un-t; IN AND. Drobot. - Yoshkar-Ola, 2008. - 122 p.

2. Gebel P. Natural heritage of mankind: landscapes and treasures of nature under the protection of UNESCO. M.: Publishing house BMN AO. 1999. - 256 p.

Maksakovskiy N.V. World natural heritage. - M.: Education, 2005. - 396 p.

Cattaneo M. Treasures of mankind. UNESCO World Heritage. - AST; Astrel, 2005. - S. 512.

Official information site "UNESCO: World Heritage Sites" http://unesco.heritage.ru

Http://world heritage.rf

http://ru.wikipedia.org/

http://umeda.ru

http://7-chudes-sveta.ru

http://whc.unesco.org/

http://www.vokrugsveta.ru/encyclopedia/

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