List of World Heritage Sites in Northern and Central Asia

This article is about a World Heritage Site
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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has 19 World Heritage Sites in six countries of Central and North Asia. The countries are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Asian part of Russia.[1] The European part of Russia is included in Eastern Europe.[2]

Russia is home to the most sites with 7. One shares a border with Mongolia in Eastern Asia.[3] The first site from the region was the Itchan Kala in Uzbekistan added in 1990.[4]

Legend[change | change source]

Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation[3]
Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee
Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
Year; during which the site was added to the World Heritage List
Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable

Inscribed sites[change | change source]

  * Trans-border site
# Site Image Location Criteria Area
ha (acre)
Year Description Refs
1 Central Sikhote-Alin Primorsky Krai,  Russia
45°20′N 136°10′E / 45.333°N 136.167°E / 45.333; 136.167 (Central Sikhote-Alin)
Natural:
(x)
1,553,928 (3,839,840); buffer zone 65,250 (161,200) 2001 The Sikhote-Alin mountain range has one the richest and most unusual temperate forests of the world. The tiger and Himalayan bear live alongside the brown bear and lynx. The site goes from the peaks of Sikhote-Alin to the Sea of Japan. It is important for the survival of many endangered species such as the Amur tiger. [5]
2 Golden Mountains of Altai Altai Republic,  Russia
50°28′N 86°0′E / 50.467°N 86.000°E / 50.467; 86.000 (Golden Mountains of Altai)
Natural:
(x)
1,611,457 (3,982,000) 1998 The Altai mountains in southern Siberia form the major mountain range in the western Siberia region. Three separate areas are added: Altaisky Zapovednik and a buffer zone around Lake Teletskoye; Katunsky Zapovednik and a buffer zone around Mount Belukha; and the Ukok Quiet Zone on the Ukok plateau. The site is an important place for endangered animal species such as the snow leopard. [6]
3 Historic Centre of Bukhara Bukhara Province,  Uzbekistan
39°46′29″N 64°25′43″E / 39.77472°N 64.42861°E / 39.77472; 64.42861 (Historic Centre of Bukhara)
Cultural:
(ii), (iv), (vi)
1993 [7]
4 Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz Qashqadaryo Province,  Uzbekistan
39°3′0″N 66°50′0″E / 39.05000°N 66.83333°E / 39.05000; 66.83333 (Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz)
Cultural:
(iii), (iv)
240 (590); buffer zone 82 (200) 2000 [8]
5 Itchan Kala Khiva, Xorazm Province,  Uzbekistan
41°22′42″N 60°21′50″E / 41.37833°N 60.36389°E / 41.37833; 60.36389 (Itchan Kala)
Cultural:
(iii), (iv), (v)
26 (64) 1990 [9]
6 Kunya-Urgench Daşoguz Province,  Turkmenistan
42°10′59″N 59°5′6″E / 42.18306°N 59.08500°E / 42.18306; 59.08500 (Kunya-Urgench)
Cultural:
(ii), (iii)
2005 [10]
7 Lake Baikal Irkutsk Oblast and Republic of Buryatia,  Russia
53°10′25″N 107°39′45″E / 53.17361°N 107.66250°E / 53.17361; 107.66250 (Lake Baikal)
Natural:
(vii), (viii), (ix), (x)
8,800,000 (22,000,000) 1996 The 3.15-million-ha Lake Baikal is the oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 m) lake in the world. It has 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve. Known as the 'Galapagos of Russia', its age and isolation have produced one of the world's richest and most unusual freshwater faunas. [11]
8 Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Turkestan, South Kazakhstan Province,  Kazakhstan
43°17′35″N 68°16′28″E / 43.29306°N 68.27444°E / 43.29306; 68.27444 (Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi)
Cultural:
(i), (iii), (iv)
0.55 (1.4); buffer zone 88 (220) 2003 [12]
9 Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve Chukotka Autonomous Okrug,  Russia
71°11′20″N 179°42′55″E / 71.18889°N 179.71528°E / 71.18889; 179.71528 (Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve)
Natural:
(ix), (x)
916,300 (2,264,000); buffer zone 3,745,300 (9,255,000) 2004 The site includes the mountainous Wrangel Island (7,608 km2), Herald Island (11 km2) and surrounding waters. The island has the world’s largest population of Pacific walrus. It is a major feeding ground for the grey whale and the northernmost nesting ground for 100 migratory bird species. [13]
10 Parthian Fortresses of Nisa Bagyr settlement, Ruhabat District, Ahal Province,  Turkmenistan
37°59′59″N 58°11′55″E / 37.99972°N 58.19861°E / 37.99972; 58.19861 (Parthian Fortresses of Nisa)
Cultural:
(ii), (iii)
78 (190); buffer zone 400 (990) 2007 [14]
11 Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly Almaty Province,  Kazakhstan
43°48′12″N 75°32′6″E / 43.80333°N 75.53500°E / 43.80333; 75.53500 (Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly)
Cultural:
(iii)
900 (2,200); buffer zone 2,900 (7,200) 2004 [15]
12 Proto-urban site of Sarazm
Osh,  Tajikistan
39°30′28″N 67°27′37″E / 39.50778°N 67.46028°E / 39.50778; 67.46028 (Proto-urban site of Sarazm)
Cultural:
(ii), (iii)
16 (40); buffer zone 142 (350) 2010 [16]
13 Putorana Plateau Krasnoyarsk Krai,  Russia
69°2′49″N 94°9′29″E / 69.04694°N 94.15806°E / 69.04694; 94.15806 (Putorana Plateau)
Natural:
(vii), (ix)
1,887,251 (4,663,500); buffer zone 1,773,300 (4,382,000) 2010 This site has the same area as the Putoransky State Nature Reserve. It is in the central part of the Putorana Plateau in northern Central Siberia. It is about 100 km north of the Arctic Circle. [17]
14 Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures Samarqand Province,  Uzbekistan
39°40′7″N 67°0′0″E / 39.66861°N 67.00000°E / 39.66861; 67.00000 (Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures)
Cultural:
(i), (ii), (iv)
965 (2,380) 2001 [18]
15 Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan Almaty Province,  Kazakhstan
50°26′N 69°11′E / 50.433°N 69.183°E / 50.433; 69.183 (Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan)
Natural:
(ix), (x)
450,344 (1,112,820); buffer zone 211,148 (521,760) 2008 [19]
16 State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv” Mary Province,  Turkmenistan
37°42′3″N 62°10′39″E / 37.70083°N 62.17750°E / 37.70083; 62.17750 (State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv”)
Cultural:
(ii), (iii)
353 (870); buffer zone 883 (2,180) 1999 [20]
17 Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain Osh,  Kyrgyzstan
40°31′52″N 72°46′58″E / 40.53111°N 72.78278°E / 40.53111; 72.78278 (Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain)
Cultural:
(iii), (vi)
112 (280); buffer zone 4,788 (11,830) 2009 [21]
18 Uvs Nuur Basin Uvs, Zavkhan and Khövsgöl Provinces  Mongolia*; Mongun-Tayginsky, Ovyursky, Tes-Khemsky and Erzinsky Districts, Tuva Republic,  Russia*
50°16′30″N 92°43′1″E / 50.27500°N 92.71694°E / 50.27500; 92.71694 (Uvs Nuur Basin))
Natural:
(ix), (x)
898,064 (2,219,160); buffer zone 170,790 (422,000) 2003 The Uvs Nuur Basin is the northernmost of the enclosed basins of Central Asia. It takes its name from Uvs Nuur Lake, a large, shallow and very saline lake, important for migrating birds, waterfowl and seabirds. The site is made up of twelve protected areas with the major biomes of eastern Eurasia. The mountains are an important refuge for the endangered snow leopard, mountain sheep (argali) and the Asiatic ibex. [22]
19 Volcanoes of Kamchatka Kamchatka Krai,  Russia
56°20′N 158°30′E / 56.333°N 158.500°E / 56.333; 158.500 (Volcanoes of Kamchatka)
Natural:
(vii), (viii), (ix), (x)
3,830,200 (9,465,000) 1996[nb 1] This is one of the most outstanding volcanic regions in the world. There are many active volcanos. The sites have great species diversity, including the world's largest known variety of salmonoid fish and exceptional amounts of sea otter, brown bear and Stellar's sea eagle. [23][24]

Notes[change | change source]

  1. Extended in 2001 to include Kluchevskoy Nature Park.

References[change | change source]

  1. "Number of World Heritage Properties by region". UNESCO. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  2. "Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings". Geographical region and composition of each region. United Nations Statistics Division. 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "World Heritage List". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  4. "Number of World Heritage properties inscribed each Year". UNESCO. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  5. "Central Sikhote-Alin". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  6. "Golden Mountains of Altai". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  7. "Historic Centre of Bukhara". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  8. "Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  9. "Itchan Kala". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  10. "Kunya-Urgench". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  11. "Lake Baikal". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  12. "Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  13. "Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  14. "Parthian Fortresses of Nisa". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  15. "Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  16. "Proto-urban site of Sarazm". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  17. "Putorana Plateau". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  18. "Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  19. "Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  20. "State Historical and Cultural Park "Ancient Merv"". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  21. "Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  22. "Uvs Nuur Basin". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  23. "Volcanoes of Kamchatka". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  24. "Decision - 25COM X.B - Volcanoes of Kamchatka [Extension to include Kluchevskoy Nature Park] (Russian Federation)". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 October 2011.