The most important tourist and recreational resources, which often determine a tourist’s choice of travel route, include unique natural and cultural landscapes, historical and cultural monuments, which are designated as “natural and cultural heritage” and are declared national treasures by many countries. Of particular importance are the sites included by UNESCO in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites began to be compiled in 1972, when the Convention for the Protection of Outstanding Cultural and Natural Sites was adopted. These include archaeological sites, unique cultural landscapes, historical city centers and individual architectural monuments that have become the property of all mankind, monuments that exemplify traditional ways of life, monuments associated with teachings and beliefs of global significance, nature reserves and national parks.
At the beginning of 2010, the list of cultural and natural heritage sites included 890 objects, incl. 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed (natural and cultural). In fact, there are much more of them (over a thousand), because some of them include entire complexes and architectural ensembles, such as the castles of the Loire Valley or palaces and temples in the historical center of St. Petersburg. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in 148, the first twenty of which are presented in Table. 4.
Table 4.
There is a clear disproportion in the distribution of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites across parts of the world: 44% of UNESCO sites are in Europe, and another 23.5% are in Asia (Table 5). The marked contrast is even more noticeable in the distribution of cultural monuments - 3/4 of the world's cultural heritage is concentrated in Eurasia (50% in Europe and 25% in Asia). This phenomenon is explained by the Eurocentricity of modern world culture, and the preserved heritage of ancient civilizations of the East, on the one hand, and the youth of European civilization in America, Australia, and the almost unpreserved heritage of ancient African civilizations, on the other hand.
Table 5.
America holds the lead in natural monuments in the world, significantly ahead of Europe in this regard. Due to natural monuments, Africa and Australia are also noticeably moving up in the general list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
We also note that in the distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites among the three structural elements of the world economy, there is no such disproportion as in the geography of international tourism. World Heritage sites are divided in approximately equal proportions between the post-industrial “core”, the industrial “semi-periphery” and the agricultural “periphery” (Table 6).
Table 6.
Distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites by structural
elements of the world economic hierarchy
However, additional (relative) indicators of the distribution of natural and cultural monuments recognized by UNESCO still indicate their greater concentration in the post-industrial “core”. In terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites per unit area, the “core” is almost twice the world average, and in terms of the number of natural and cultural monuments in proportion to the population – almost three times.
In terms of the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites (i.e., in terms of their number per unit area), the leading positions in the world are occupied by small but densely populated European countries: , etc. (Table 7, Fig. 4). In most cases, these countries act as the most famous centers of attraction for foreign tourists in Europe and the world.
Table 7.
Top 20 countries and Russia by number of World Heritage sites
UNESCO per unit area and in proportion to population
It is quite natural that large countries, such as Russia, the USA, Brazil, Australia, etc., occupy quite low positions in terms of the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites. For this reason, we propose another relative indicator characterizing the location of natural and cultural monuments in the world: the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in proportion to the population of states (Table 7, Fig. 5).
Rice. 5. Number of UNESCO World Heritage sites per 10 million inhabitants.
Apparently, the relatively more even distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites across countries and continents, compared to the current global tourist flows, should in the near future affect the increase in the weight of the “semi-periphery” in the tourism industry of the world economy, and in the more distant future perspective – and the “periphery”. Tourism can play the role of a locomotive of post-industrial development in countries of the “semi-periphery” and “periphery”.
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Cultural heritage is an important part of the life of every nation. For this reason, you should know what cultural heritage is and why its preservation is so important. It helps to better learn and understand the history of the formation of modern society.
What is cultural heritage
Nature and culture together form the human environment. The skills and knowledge acquired by humanity since the beginning of time accumulate and multiply over the centuries, forming a cultural heritage. There is no single definition of what cultural heritage is, since this term is viewed from different points of view.
From the point of view of cultural studies, this is the main way of existence of culture. Heritage objects preserve and transmit to subsequent generations values that carry an emotional aspect. History considers cultural heritage primarily as a source of information about the development and formation of modern society. The legal point of view does not take into account emotional value, but determines the degree of information content and demand for a particular object, as well as its ability to influence society.
If we combine these concepts, then cultural heritage can be defined as a set of tangible and intangible values created by nature and man during previous historical eras.
Social memory
Social memory should be understood as the basis of social cognition. The experience and knowledge accumulated by humanity are passed on from generation to generation. The development of modern man is possible only by relying on the knowledge of his ancestors.
Cultural heritage and social memory are concepts that always accompany each other. Heritage sites are the primary means of transmitting knowledge, thoughts and worldviews to future generations. This is irrefutable evidence of the existence of certain people, events and ideas. In addition, they guarantee the reliability of social memory, preventing it from being distorted.
Social memory is a kind of library where all useful knowledge is stored that can be used and improved by society in the future. Unlike the memory of one person, social memory has no end and belongs to every member of society. Ultimately, heritage determines the basic elements of social memory. Those values that are not part of the cultural heritage sooner or later lose their meaning, are forgotten and excluded from social memory.
UNESCO Organization
UNESCO is a UN agency dedicated to education, science and culture (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). One of the goals of UNESCO is to unite countries and peoples to preserve world cultural values.
The organization was formed in November 1945 and is based in Paris. Today, more than two hundred states are members of UNESCO.
In the field of culture, the organization is engaged in the preservation and protection of the cultural and natural heritage of humanity. The basis for this area of activity was the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972. During the first session, the main provisions and tasks of the World Heritage Committee were adopted.
The Committee also determined natural and cultural criteria for assessing objects, according to which they were included or not included in the list of protected areas. Preservation of cultural heritage is an obligation assumed by the state that owns this or that object, with the support of UNESCO. Today the register includes more than a thousand protected objects.
World Heritage
The 1972 Convention gave a clear definition of what cultural heritage is and divided it into categories. Cultural heritage should be understood as:
- monuments;
- ensembles;
- places of interest.
Monuments include all works of art (painting, sculpture, etc.), as well as objects of archaeological significance (rock inscriptions, burials) created by man and valuable for science, history and art. Ensembles are architectural groups that are harmoniously integrated into the surrounding landscape. Places of interest are understood as human creations separately from nature or together with it.
The Convention also outlined criteria for natural heritage. It includes natural monuments, places of interest, geological and physiographic formations.
Cultural heritage of Russia
To date, twenty-seven objects located on Russian territory are included in the World Heritage Register. Sixteen of them were selected according to cultural criteria and eleven were natural objects. The first sites were designated a World Heritage Site in 1990. Twenty-three more sites are on the candidate list. Of these, eleven are cultural, three are natural-cultural, nine are natural objects.
Among UNESCO member states, the Russian Federation is in ninth place in terms of the number of World Heritage sites.
Days of cultural heritage in Moscow - International Day for the Preservation of Monuments and Sites (celebrated on April 18) and International Museum Day (May 18). Every year on these days in Moscow free access to heritage sites is opened, excursions, quests, and lectures are organized. All these events are aimed at popularizing cultural values and familiarizing them with them.
Legal aspect
The Federal Law (FL) on cultural heritage objects was adopted by the State Duma of the Russian Federation in 2002. This law defines the preservation of cultural heritage as a priority task of the authorities. The law also establishes the procedure for identifying heritage sites and including them in the register.
This register includes tangible and intangible cultural assets that have undergone expert verification. Each object included in the register is assigned a registration number and passport. The passport contains detailed characteristics of the object: name, date of origin, photographic materials, description, location information. The passport also reflects data on the expert assessment of the object and the conditions for protecting the object.
According to the Federal Law on Cultural Heritage Objects, cultural values are recognized as the property of the state. In this regard, the need has been declared for their preservation, as well as the popularization and provision of accessibility to heritage sites. The law prohibits alteration and demolition of objects. Cultural heritage management is a set of measures aimed at controlling, preserving and developing cultural objects.
Natural objects of Russia
There are ten sites included in the World Heritage Sites on the territory of the Russian Federation. Six of them, according to the UNESCO classification, should be considered a phenomenon of exceptional beauty. One of these objects is Lake Baikal. This is one of the oldest freshwater formations on the planet. Thanks to this, a unique ecosystem has formed in the lake.
The volcanoes of Kamchatka are also natural phenomena. This formation is the largest cluster of active volcanoes. The area is constantly developing and has unique landscapes. The Golden Altai Mountains are unique in their geographical features. The total area of this heritage site occupies one million six hundred and forty thousand hectares. This is a habitat for rare animals, some of which are on the verge of extinction.
Cultural sites of Russia
Among the objects that represent the cultural heritage of Russia, it is difficult to single out more significant exhibits. The culture of Russia is ancient and very diverse. These are monuments to Russian architecture, and a colossal project of interweaving streets and canals of St. Petersburg, and numerous monasteries, cathedrals and kremlins.
The Moscow Kremlin occupies a special place among heritage sites. The walls of the Moscow Kremlin are witnesses to many historical events that influence the life of Russia. St. Basil's Cathedral, located on Red Square, is a unique masterpiece of architecture. The main part of the World Heritage in Russia are churches and monasteries. Among them is the Solovetsky Islands ensemble, the first settlement of which dates back to the fifth century BC.
The importance of cultural heritage
The importance of cultural heritage is very great both for society as a whole and for each person individually. Personality formation is impossible without knowledge of the traditions and experience of ancestors. Preserving heritage sites and enhancing them is an important task for each generation. This ensures the spiritual growth and development of humanity. Cultural heritage is an important component of culture, which helps to assimilate the experience of world history.
Project work "World Heritage of Russia"
Prepared by a primary school teacher
Tagibekova Faiza Tagirovna
Research objectives:
-introduce the objects of natural and cultural heritage of Russia;
-show all the greatness and beauty of the natural and cultural heritage of Russia;
-instill love for the Motherland and the environment.
Project objectives:
- to cultivate feelings of respect for nature and pride in one’s Fatherland;
- to develop cognitive activity in students, to form a strong interest in the subject;
-to form a caring attitude towards natural and cultural heritage.
Fundamental question:
Can humanity learn lessons?
Problematic issues:
What is World Heritage?
What caused the creation of the World Heritage Organization?
What do people do to preserve these objects for posterity?
When did Russia join this organization?
Which Russian sites are included in the World Heritage List?
Project result:
Solid knowledge on the topic “World Heritage of Russia”.
People realized that due to ill-conceived economic activities, the whole world could lose priceless treasures. The idea arose to announce the most
outstanding natural and cultural attractions are World Heritage Sites subject to mandatory protection. This is how the World Heritage List came into being. It is conducted by the authoritative international organization UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
In 1972, UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (came into force in 1975). The USSR ratified the convention on March 9, 1988. The main purpose of World Heritage is to make known and protect objects that are unique in their kind. The states on whose territory World Heritage sites are located undertake the responsibility for their conservation.
Like most countries in the world, Russia supported the idea of creating a World Heritage List. Now it includes a number of natural and cultural objects of our country. The UNESCO World Heritage List is updated every year.
UNESCO sites in Russia
Russia is a unique country. It ranks first in the world in terms of territorial area and ninth in terms of population. As of 2012, there are 25 specially protected sites in Russia. Fifteen of them have the status of a cultural attraction, the remaining ten are of a natural nature. Six of the fifteen UNESCO cultural sites in Russia are marked “i”, that is, they belong to the masterpieces of human civilization. Four out of ten natural objects have the highest aesthetic criterion “vii”.
UNESCO sites in Russia
The nature of the country is distinguished by a variety of plant and animal forms: northern mosses and lichens coexist with southern palm trees and magnolias, coniferous forests of the taiga form a striking contrast with the steppe crops of wheat and sunflowers. The climatic, natural and cultural diversity of Russia has led to interest in it from both its own and foreign citizens. Natural and man-made attractions, river cruises and rail travel, beach and health, sports and extreme tourism make the country attractive to all categories of vacationers. The main attractions of Russia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Anyone who wants to discover a great country can start by getting acquainted with twenty-five natural and man-made sites that have a cultural, historical or environmental degree of global significance. The UNESCO list is compiled in order to preserve and show modern people the full depth of our common civilizational heritage.
1. Historical center of St. Petersburg
The northern capital of Russia was included in the UNESCO List of 36 monuments located not only in St. Petersburg itself, but also in its neighbors - Pushkin and Shlisselburg. The palace and park ensembles of the villages of Gatchina and Strelna, the Koltuvskaya and Yukkovskaya uplands, the Lindulovskaya Grove and the Komarovskoye village cemetery - all this makes up one huge cultural and natural formation, territorially and historically connected with the northern capital of Russia. St. Petersburg itself is represented on the UNESCO List by the historical center and old part of the city of Kronstadt, the Pulkovo Observatory and the palace and park ensembles of Peterhof, Shuvalovsky Park and the Vyazemsky estate, local fairways and numerous city highways.
2. Architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost
Two wooden churches and a bell tower, built in the 18th-19th centuries in Kizhi, were included in the UNESCO List in 1990. The cultural heritage of Karelia is known throughout the world for the Church of the Transfiguration, built, according to legend, without a single nail. Since the mid-20th century, the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum has been operating on the basis of the Kizhi Pogost. Along with ancient original buildings, it includes imported objects of wooden religious architecture and those erected in the immediate vicinity - for example, an eight-wing windmill built in 1928. The wooden fence of the Kizhi churchyard ensemble was reconstructed in 1959 in accordance with the principles of organizing traditional churchyard fences.
3.Moscow Kremlin and Red Square
Symbols of an entire country and era - the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square - are among the most significant cultural attractions of Russia and the whole world. It seems that there is not a person on Earth who does not know what they look like. When visiting Russia, most foreigners first go to Red Square. The Moscow Kremlin is one of the oldest architectural monuments in Russia. Its majestic walls and numerous towers, its Orthodox cathedrals and palace buildings, its squares and gardens, the Armory Chamber and the Kremlin Palace of Congresses reflect the centuries-old history of the country. Adjacent to the north-eastern wall of the Kremlin, Red Square is famous not only for the Mausoleum and the Eternal Flame, but also for the numerous events organized there recently. Victory parades, concerts dedicated to Russian Independence Day, New Year's skating rinks - all this can be afforded by one of the largest pedestrian areas in Moscow.
4.Novgorod historical monuments
Veliky Novgorod and its surrounding areas are included in the UNESCO list with more than ten cultural sites that are predominantly of a religious nature. Znamensky, Zverin, Antoniev and Yuryev Monasteries, the Church of the Nativity on the Red Field, the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa, St. John the Merciful and the Annunciation on Myachina and many other Orthodox buildings belong to ancient periods of Russian history and represent unique architectural complexes. The Novgorod Detinets (that is, the Kremlin) and the part of the city related to it are interesting from the point of view of historical and architectural heritage.
5. Solovetsky Islands
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery was built in the 20-30s of the 15th century. It is spread over four islands of the Solovetsky archipelago. The cultural and historical ensemble "Solovetsky Islands" includes the main monastery, the Ascension and Savvatievsky skete, St. Isaac's, Makarievskaya and Filippovskaya hermitages on Bolshoi Solovetsky Island, Sergievsky monastery on the island of Bolshaya Muksalma, Trinity and Golgotha-Ruspyatsky monastery and Eleazar's hermitage on Anzer and St. Andrew's deserts and stone labyrinths on Bolshoi Zayatsky Island. During Soviet times, the largest special-purpose forced labor camp in the USSR, the Solovetsky special-purpose camp, operated on the monastery territory. Monastic life became possible here only at the end of 1990.
6. White stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal
Eight architectural monuments of ancient Russian architecture, mostly of a white stone nature, were included in the UNESCO list in 1992. All of them are located on the territory of the Vladimir region and belong to the Orthodox culture of Russia. In Vladimir there are three UNESCO-protected sites: the Assumption and Demetrius Cathedrals, built in the 12th century, as well as the Golden Gate. In Suzdal there is a 12th-century Kremlin with the Nativity Cathedral and the Spaso-Efimievsky Monastery, built in the 16th-17th centuries. The village of Bogolyubovo is known to Orthodox pilgrims for the Palace of Andrei Bogolyubsky and the magnificent Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. The Church of Boris and Gleb in the village of Kideksha is the first white stone building in northeastern Rus'.
7. Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye
Built in the 16th century, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord is the first stone Orthodox church to use a tent instead of a classic dome. According to legend, it was erected on the occasion of the birth of Ivan the Terrible. The place for the temple was chosen on the right bank of the Moscow River, famous for its miraculous spring. The Church of the Ascension of the Lord has the appearance of a centric temple-tower, rising above the ground to a height of 62 meters. The architectural design of the church shows features of the early Renaissance. The temple is surrounded in a circle by a two-tiered gallery-promenade.
8. Trinity - Sergius Lavra.
The Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius was founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh in 1337. Currently it is the largest Orthodox monastery in Russia. The Trinity-Sergius Lavra is located in the center of Sergiev Posad, a city in the Moscow region. The designation “Laurel” indicates the crowded, large population of the monastery. The architectural ensemble of the monastery consists of fifty buildings of various functional purposes. Among them there are Orthodox cathedrals, numerous bell towers, and royal palaces. Boris Godunov and members of his family found their final refuge in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
9. Komi forest.
The virgin forests of Komi are known as the largest intact forests growing in Europe. They occupy an area of 32,600 square kilometers in the north of the Ural Mountains, within the Pechero-Ilychsky Nature Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park. In terms of their composition, Komi forests belong to the taiga ecosystem. They are dominated by coniferous trees. The western part of the forests is in the foothills area, the eastern part is in the mountains themselves. The Komi forest is distinguished by the diversity of not only flora, but also fauna. More than two hundred species of birds live here, and rare species of fish are found. Many forest plants are protected.
10. Lake Baikal.
For the whole world, Baikal is a lake, for residents of Russia, who are in love with a unique natural object, Baikal is a sea! Located in Eastern Siberia, it is the deepest lake on the planet and, at the same time, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water by volume. The shape of Baikal looks like a crescent. The maximum depth of the lake is 1642 meters with an average depth of 744. Baikal contains 19 percent of all fresh water on the planet. The lake is fed by more than three hundred rivers and streams. Baikal water has a high oxygen content. Its temperature rarely exceeds plus 8-9 degrees Celsius even in summer in the surface area. The water of the lake is so clean and transparent that it allows you to see at a depth of up to forty meters.
11. Kamchatka volcanoes.
The volcanoes of Kamchatka are part of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire - a large chain of the main active volcanoes of the planet. Unique natural sites were included in the UNESCO List in 1996, along with adjacent areas characterized by picturesque views and biological diversity. The exact number of volcanoes on the peninsula is unknown. Scientists talk about several hundred and even thousands of objects. About thirty of them are classified as active. The most famous Kamchatka volcano is Klyuchevskaya Sopka - the highest volcano in Eurasia and the most active on the peninsula. The volcanoes of Kamchatka have different volcanic origins and are divided into two belts superimposed on each other - the Middle and East Kamchatka.
12. Sikhote - Alinsky Nature Reserve.
A large biosphere reserve in the Primorsky Territory was originally created to preserve the sable population. Currently, it represents the most convenient place for observing the life of the Amur tiger. A huge number of plants grow on the territory of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. More than a thousand higher species, more than a hundred mosses, about four hundred lichens, more than six hundred species of algae and more than five hundred fungi. The local fauna is represented by a large number of birds, marine invertebrates and insects. Many plants, birds, animals and insects are protected species. Schisandra chinensis and edelweiss Palibina, spotted deer and Himalayan bear, black kite and Japanese starling, Sakhalin sturgeon and swallowtail butterfly - they all found shelter in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve.
13. Golden Mountains of Altai.
The three most significant areas of the Altai Mountains - the Altai and Katunsky reserves and the Ukok plateau - were included in the UNESCO list in 1998 under the name “Golden Mountains of Altai”. Mount Belukha and Lake Teletskoye were also included in the list of protected geographical sites. The Altai Mountains received the natural criterion “x” for the most fully presented picture of alpine vegetation. In this area, five belts follow one after another: steppe, forest-steppe, mixed, subalpine and alpine. The territory of the golden mountains of Altai is home to rare species of animals - snow leopard, Siberian mountain goat and others.
14. Ubsunur basin.
The basin of Lake Uvs-Nur, located in the Republic of Tyva, belongs to both Russia and Mongolia. On the part of the Russian Federation, it is represented by the Ubsunur Basin biosphere nature reserve, which includes both the waters of the lake itself and the adjacent land areas. The latter is home to a unique and, in many ways, diverse ecosystem of the region - here you can find both glaciers and the northernmost deserts in Eurasia. On the territory of the Ubsunur depression there are taiga zones, forest and classical steppes, alpine tundra and meadows. The area of the reserve is replete with several tens of thousands of unexcavated burial mounds of ancient nomadic tribes.
15.Caucasian Nature Reserve.
Located in the Western Caucasus, the natural biosphere reserve belongs to the category of state ones. It is a large natural formation belonging to two climatic zones - temperate and subtropical. More than 900 species of vascular plants and 700 species of fungi grow on the territory of the reserve. Initially, the Caucasian Reserve was called the bison reserve. Nowadays, it was decided to abandon this definition, since, in addition to bison, there are a large number of other mammals in the Western Caucasus, each of which requires state protection. Today, on the territory of the reserve you can find wild boars and roe deer, Western Caucasian tur and brown bear, Caucasian mink and bison.
16 Kazan Kremlin.
Not only the Moscow and Novgorod Kremlin are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Kazan Kremlin is also among the culturally significant objects of world significance. Its historical and architectural complex, consisting of a white-stone Kremlin, temples and other buildings, is a monument of three historical periods: XII-XIII, XIV-XV and XV-XVI centuries. The Kremlin territory of Kazan has the shape of an irregular polygon, coinciding in outline with the hill on which the ancient settlement is located. Initially, the Kazan Kremlin was a Bulgarian fortress. Then it came under the rule of the Kazan Khanate. After the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, the first Orthodox churches appeared on Kremlin territory. In 2005, in honor of the millennium of Kazan, the main mosque of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kul Sharif, was built within the Kazan Kremlin.
17. Ferapontov monastery.
Currently, the Ferapontov Monastery is one of the inactive monasteries. The Ferapontovsky branch of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve and the unique Museum of Dionysian Frescoes located there became a stumbling block between the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2000, the Ferapontov Monastery was included in the UNESCO List, which finally gave it the status of not so much a religious, but a cultural heritage of humanity. The architectural ensemble of the monastery is represented by the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, painted by the famous Moscow icon painter of the 15th-16th centuries - Dionysius, the monumental Church of the Annunciation, the treasury chamber and service buildings.
18. Curonian Spit.
The Curonian Spit is a long, narrow strip of sandy land that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. According to its geographical status, this natural object is sometimes classified as a peninsula. The length of the Curonian Spit is 98 kilometers, the width is from 400 to 4 kilometers. The saber-shaped strip of land belongs half to Russia, half to Lithuania. On Russian territory, the Curonian Spit contains the national park of the same name. The original peninsula was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its biological diversity. Numerous landscapes, from deserts to tundra, a large amount of flora and fauna, as well as the ancient migration route of birds make the Curonian Spit a unique natural complex that needs protection.
19. Derbent.
The southernmost city of Russia, located in the Republic of Dagestan, Derbent, is one of the oldest cities in the world. The first settlements on its territory arose at the end of the 4th millennium BC. The city acquired its modern appearance in 438. In those distant times, Derbent was a Persian fortress, consisting of the Naryn-Kala citadel and double walls descending to the Caspian Sea. The ancient fortress, old town and fortifications of Derbent were included in the UNESCO List in 2003. Naryn-Kala has survived to this day in the form of ruins, an ancient fire-worshipping temple, a mosque, bathhouses and water reservoirs located on its territory.
20. Wrangel Island.
Wrangel Island, located in the Arctic Ocean, was discovered in 1849. In 1926, the first polar station was created on it, in 1948 the island was inhabited by domesticated reindeer, and in 1975 by musk oxen. The latest event led to the fact that the authorities of the Magadan region decided to establish a nature reserve on Wrangel Island, which also included the neighboring Herald Island. At the end of the 20th century, the adjacent water areas also became part of the Wrangel Island nature reserve. The island's flora consists mainly of ancient plant species. The fauna of the area is poorly developed: most often, birds and walruses are found here, which have established their main Russian rookery on Wrangel Island.
21. Novodevichy Convent.
The Novodevichy Mother of God-Smolensk Monastery was founded in 1524 in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria”. The location of the Orthodox women's monastery is the Maiden's Field in Moscow. In the center of the monastery is the five-domed Smolensk Cathedral, from which the creation of the entire architectural ensemble of the religious monument of the Russian capital began. In the 17th century, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of the Transfiguration, the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a bell tower, a refectory, the Lopukhinsky, Mariinsky and Funeral Chambers were built around it.
22. Historical center of Yaroslavl.
The historical center of Yaroslavl, consisting of Rubleny Gorod (the local Kremlin) and Zemlyanoy Gorod, was noted by UNESCO in 2005 as an outstanding architectural example of urban planning reform carried out under Catherine II. Construction from the time of classicism took place near the parish church of Elijah the Prophet, in front of which there was a semicircular square. Streets were drawn to it, each of which ended with an architectural monument that was earlier in construction - the Assumption Cathedral on Strelka, the Znamenskaya and Uglichskaya towers, the Church of Simeon the Stylite.
23. Struve geodetic arc.
A network of 265 geodetic reference points, created in the first half of the 19th century to study earth parameters, is currently found in many European cities. On Russian territory it is represented by two points - “Point Mäkipällus” and “Point Z”, located on the island of Gogland. Of more than two hundred objects of the Struve arc, only 34 points have survived to this day, which served as the basis for including a unique scientific monument of humanity in the List of especially valuable cultural objects of our time.
24. Putarana plateau.
Like many natural sites in Russia included in the UNESCO List, the Putarana Plateau was included in it due to the unique combination of different ecological systems. Located within an isolated mountain range, the Putorana State Nature Reserve combines the subarctic and arctic zones, taiga, forest-tundra and arctic desert within its territory. The Putorana subspecies of the snow leopard, listed in the Red Book of Russia, lives on the territory of the reserve. The world's largest population of wild reindeer also winters on the plateau.
25. Lena Pillars.
Located on the territory of the Sakha Republic, the Lena Pillars are the most recent Russian site included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. The geological formation, located on the banks of the Lena, is a multi-kilometer complex of vertically elongated rocks. The basis of this unique natural monument is Cambrian limestone. Scientists attribute the beginning of the formation of the Lena Pillars to the Early Cambrian - a time 560 million years distant from ours. The relief form of the Lena Pillars was formed much later - only 400 thousand years ago. Near the Lena Pillars there is a natural park of the same name. On its territory there are blowing sands and the site of an ancient man. Fossilized remains of mammoths are also found here.
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In Russia, many priceless natural and cultural monuments are recognized as World Heritage Sites.
They are under the close attention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). We present to your attention the most protected UNESCO sites in Russia.
Moscow Kremlin and Red Square
Real symbols of Russia, which are known throughout the world and are considered the main cultural attractions of the planet. The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square were included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1990.Almost the oldest monument in Russia with numerous buildings reflects the centuries-old history of the Russian people. Unique examples of Russian foundry art are exhibited on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin - the “Tsar Cannon” weighing 40 tons and the “Tsar Bell” weighing over 200 tons and with a diameter of 6.6 m.
Lake Baikal
A unique natural monument of Eastern Siberia, Baikal was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1996. The lake is the deepest in the world and contains 19% of the planet's fresh water. When viewed from above, the lake resembles a crescent moon, covers an area of over 3 million hectares and is fed by more than 300 rivers and streams. 
The water in the lake has a high oxygen content, and thanks to its transparency, it is possible to discern a depth of up to 40 m. The age of the ancient lake is especially impressive - more than 25 million years, the complete isolation of which contributed to the development of a unique ecosystem in it.
Natural Park "Lena Pillars"
Included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 2012, the Lena Pillars Park is the site where priceless finds from the inhabitants of the Cambrian period were discovered. The park is located in the center of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) near the coast of the Lena River, occupying 1.27 million hectares. 
The park is home to 12 species of fauna listed in the Red Book. Due to its antiquity, the park is of particular geological interest: the natural monument is distinguished by its relief dotted with caves, stone spiers, towers and niches.
Architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost
The unique architectural complex of wooden architecture of the 18th-19th centuries was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 and is an ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower in Karelia. 
The Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum is located here, with many objects of wooden religious architecture, including an eight-wing windmill from 1929 and the Church of the Transfiguration, built without a single nail.
Novgorod historical monuments
The architectural complexes of Veliky Novgorod and its environs were included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 1992. The number of cultural sites includes such significant Orthodox buildings of antiquity as the Znamensky, Antoniev, Yuryev, Zverin monasteries, as well as the churches of the Nativity of Christ, the Savior on Nereditsa, and the Novgorod Detinets Kremlin. 
Nature Reserve Wrangel Island
The reserve was included in the UNESCO list in 2004. The unique protected area is known for its virtually untouched natural ecosystem dominated by the largest population of polar bears, walruses, and more than 50 species of birds. 
The territory of the reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle, including Wrangel and Herald Islands and the waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian seas. Despite the harsh conditions of the Arctic waters, more than 400 species of plants can be seen here.
Curonian Spit
The famous sand spit stretches for 98 km with a maximum width of up to 3.8 km, located on the dividing line of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The natural attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000 and is interesting for its unique anthropogenic landscape, which is represented by a variety of reliefs - from deserts to swampy tundras. 
The spit is of great importance during the migration of 10 to 20 million birds and serves as a haven for them during rest. Only here you can find dunes up to 68 m in height, the width of which sometimes reaches 1 km.
Novodevichy Convent in Moscow
Since 2004, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO list, which since 1524 was one of the defensive structures of Moscow. In 1926, a historical museum was founded in the building of the monastery, and in 1980, the residence of the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna was located. In 1994, the convent was officially approved. There are more than eight hundred monasteries in Russia. ABOUT the most beautiful temples you can read in our article. 
Komi forest
The Komi forest area is recognized as the most pristine forests in Europe with a total area of 32,600 square meters. km, which belong to the territory of the Pechero-Ilychsky Nature Reserve and occupy part of the YugydVa National Park. The number of volcanoes in Kamchatka totals more than a thousandThe exact number of volcanoes on the peninsula is still unknown. The highest volcano is considered to be Klyuchevskaya Sopka with a height of 4835 m. The editors of the site also invite you to learn more about the most beautiful places in Russia.
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