Amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South America

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Chavin Archaeological Site, Peru - Location: Huari Province, Ancash
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 1985
Description: The Chavin culture developed in the Andean highlands between 1500 and 300 BCE. Archaeologists have described the site as "the birthplace of South American culture." It consists of a complex of terraces and squares cut from rock.

 

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Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas, Brazil -

Location: Congonhas
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 1985
Description: Commissioned by the Portuguese in the 18th century and designed by sculptor and architect Aleijadinho, the sanctuary's basilica features 12 sculptures of old testament prophets around the terrace.

 

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Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil -

Location: Piauí
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 1991
Description: The park has the largest and the oldest concentration of prehistoric sites in the Americas. A number of rock shelters found in the area are illustrated with extraordinary examples of cave art and littered with stone tools and other ancient artifacts.

 

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Cerrado Protected Areas, Brazil -

Location: Central Brazil Plateau
Criteria: Natural
Year established: 2001
Description: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas national parks, located in the country's Goiás state, exemplify the cerrado, one of the world's oldest ecosystems and an important refuge for species during climate change.

 

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Carioca Landscapes Between the Mountain and the Sea, Brazil -

Location: Rio de Janeiro
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 2012
Description: Rio is recognized for its exceptional urban setting, and the site includes Tijuca National Park, the Botanical Gardens, Guanabara and Copacabana bays, Corcovado Mountain, and the iconic statue of Christ.

 

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Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, Colombia - Location: Cauca Department
Criteria: Natural
Year established: 2006
Description: Located in the East Pacific Ocean, the small island of Malpelo is home to a unique shark population. An oceanic island, Malpelo has never been connected with any other islands or the mainland.

 

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Historic Center of Lima, Peru - Location: Lima
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 1988
Description: The Archbishop Palace, Goyeneche House, and the Basílica Cathedral are just three of the outstanding buildings that distinguish the Peruvian capital's historic center.

 

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Canaima National Park, Venezuela - Location: Bolivar
Criteria: Natural
Year established: 1994
Description: The impressive tabletop mountains, or tepui, that characterize the park are of great geographical and biological interest. Angel Falls (pictured), the highest waterfall in the world, is included in the site.

 

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Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia, Colombia - Location: Caldas, Quindio, and Risaralda Departments
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 2011
Description: Colombian coffee is renowned the world over for its quality and delicious taste. The 100-year-old coffee cultivation is emblematic of Colombian culture and has impacted social traditions in music, architecture, education, and cuisine.

 

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Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site, Brazil - Location: Rio de Janeiro
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 2017
Description: Built in 1811, this was the site of landing and trading of enslaved Africans until 1831. When the area was excavated in 2011, a large number of amulets and worship objects from Congo, Angola, and Mozambique were unearthed.

 

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Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia - Location: Bolivar Department
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 1995
Description: The town is known for the preservation of its colonial architectural features, a fascinating mix of Spanish and Indian styles exemplified by the Santa Bárbara Church (pictured) and the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

 

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Fuerte de Samaipata, Bolivia - Location: Florida Province, Santa Cruz Department
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 1998
Description: This pre-Columbian archaeological site consists of the remains of a town and a large sculptured rock almost totally covered with carvings of both Inca and pre-Inca origin.

 

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Iguaçu National Park, Brazil - Location: Paraná
Criteria: Natural
Year established: 1986
Description: A world-renowned natural wonder, the park shares with Iguazú National Park in Argentina (same name, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, established 1984) one of the planet’s largest waterfalls. The surrounding habitats are home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

Nice

 

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Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba, Argentina - Location: Córdoba
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 2000
Description: This former early 17th-century Jesuit settlement preserves a university (one of the oldest in South America), a church, residences, and five farming estates (estancias).

 

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National Archaeological Park of Tierradentro, Colombia - Location: Inza, Cauca Department
Criteria: Cultural
Year established: 1995
Description: Several hypogea (underground temples or tombs) distinguish this site. They were created by the Tierradentro, one of the pre-Columbian cultures of Colombia, and most date from between the 6th and 9th centuries CE.

 

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Manú National Park, Peru - Location: Madre de Dios
Criteria: Natural
Year established: 1987
Description: Around 1,000 bird species, over 200 species of mammals, and over 15,000 species of flowering plants have been recorded in this reserve, which protects diverse ecosystems.