UNESCO World Heritage Site Inscription Criteria

The following are the criteria that a site can be inscribed into the World Heritage list by UNESCO. The State Party - that is to say, the government of the country submitting the site for nomination - determines the criteria that the site is to be inscribed.

to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

Click here to view a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Return to UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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The most convenient way to book your hotel room is to do it online. However, before you make a booking, it is wise to find the lowest price for the rooms as offered by different Hotel Booking websites. At World Greatest Sites, our free Hotel Search Engine lets you compare room rates from different hotel booking sites. Just key in your visiting City. You'd be glad you did your homework!

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