Did you know that Mexico is one of the top countries in the world for the number of World Heritage Sites?
In fact it currently ranks number six for concentration of UNESCO world heritage sites in one country. Mexico ranks behind only China, Italy, Spain, Germany and France for the number of World Heritage Sites. This is a country which has a vast cultural heritage and a vibrancy that cannot really be matched.
Mexico has 33 World Heritage sites which makes it the country with the most sites in the whole of the American continent!
What makes a World Heritage Site?
A World Heritage Site, as defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a place with an important legacy or heritage to pass on. This could be a forest, a city, a desert, an island or a monument, but they must be places that are “irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration”. World Heritage Sites can be divided into three broad categories; mixed, natural and cultural. Over the whole world there are 936 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This equates to 183 natural, 725 cultural and 28 mixed.
Where are Mexico’s World Heritage Sites?
In Mexico a good variety can be found, but the most well-known are undoubtedly the Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco, the Sian Ka’an reserve and biosphere, Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmil and the Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System. These are only a few of the wonderful UNESCO sites to be found all over Mexico, though, so don’t be afraid to look into others.
The most important thing to remember about UNESCO World Heritage Sites is that they transcend borders – they are places of infinite worth that have value to the world as a whole. This means that they often require cooperative care to keep them safe and in tip-top shape.
Why not discover the natural beauty of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere and see just why it has been ranked a World Heritage Site?