Photos of the Most Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites

These stunning world heritage sites are so culturally important, it's up to us to preserve them.

red fuji, lake yamanaka reflection
I love Photo and Apple.Getty Images

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites were established in 1960 to protect areas that are naturally and culturally important. Starting with the Nile in Egypt, world heritage sites were chosen across the globe ensuring these precious locations would be passed on to future generations.

Locations are still being nominated today and are divided into two classes: cultural and natural. When you're planning your next trip, make sure to consider a site or two to make it worth-while. Along with national monuments, it's a great way to teach your family about global history. If you're interested in how to help, UNESCO has multiple ways of giving back. While this list may not contain all 1,121 confirmed heritage sites, there are more UNESCO World Heritage locations for you to discover in person.

interior of the sagrada familia church
Shihan ShanGetty Images
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La Sagrada Familia, Spain
stone faces
SlavadoGetty Images
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Rapa Nui National Park, Chile
travertine terrace formations, pamukkale, denizli province, aegean region, turkey
Feng Wei PhotographyGetty Images
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Pammukale Thermal Pools, Turkey
camel train near pyramids
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The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
petra, jordan
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Al-Khazneh, Jordan
great wall of china
Fei YangGetty Images
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Great Wall of China, China
south africa
©Western Cape Nature Conservation Board
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Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
one person standing in front of sharp dolomites peaks, italy
© Marco BottigelliGetty Images
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The Dolomites, Italy
row of houses in amsterdam, the netherlands
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Canal Ring Area, Amsterdam
overhead view of famous tegallalang rice fields, bali
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Tegalalang Rice Fields, Indonesia
a reflection of stonehenge
Grant FaintGetty Images
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Stonehenge, United Kingdom
the taj mahal in the morning
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Taj Mahal, India
montsaintmichel
Pol AlbarránGetty Images
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Mont-Saint-Michel, France
group of people in front of colosseum
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Colosseum, Italy
underwater scene with colorful tropical sealife in a coral reef
MMGY Global
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Cocos Island (Isla del Coco), Costa Rica
south africa
South Africa Tourism
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The Cradle of Humankind, South Africa
castillo san felipe del morro "el morro" in san juan puerto rico
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Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Puerto Rico
the great tsingy de bemaraha
Pierre-Yves BabelonGetty Images
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Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar
talamanca range la amistad reserves  la amistad national park
Visit Panama
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Cordillera de Talamanca and La Amistad Reserves, Panama
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