Newest Wonders of the World

(Source: Travelandleisure)

Hundreds of years ago, a tribe of Berbers put down stakes at the edge of the Sahara, catering to the desert caravans. The streets in Agadez’s old city center still look much like they did in the 15th century—and recently earned UNESCO’s stamp of approval. Each summer, UNESCO convenes to announce new picks for the World Heritage List, chosen for their cultural, historical, and environmental importance, from vast sand dunes and mountains towering 22,000 feet high to magnificent palaces. Agadez in present-day Niger was recognized for its earthen architecture, becoming one of the 19 new inscriptions that bring the total to 981 sites in 160 countries (Fiji and Qatar debuted this year).

Hill Forts of Rajasthan, India

These six forts are set among the rocky outcroppings of the Aravalli Mountains in India’s “land of kings” and remain a standing testament to the power that Rajput princes enjoyed from the 8th to 18th century. The defensive walls—up to 12 miles around and incorporating natural defenses such as hills, deserts, and rivers— protected the ornate palaces, temples, and other buildings within.

Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China

For the past 1,300 years, the Hani people in southern Yunnan have used a sophisticated system of channels to funnel water from the top of the Ailao Mountains to the terraces below. These 41,000 acres of terraces also form a unique integrated farming system—using buffalo, cattle, ducks, fish, and eel to support the production of red rice, the staple crop. The Hani still live in thatched houses between the mountaintops and terraces, much like they have for a millennium, worshipping mountains, rivers, forests, fire, and other natural forces.

Red Bay Basque Whaling Station, Canada

Beginning in 1550 and continuing for more than 50 years, 600 Basque mariners and 15 whaling ships from southern France and northern Spain would make a summer voyage to remote Red Bay, on the far-eastern shores of Newfoundland. Today, three whaling galleons, four smaller chalupas, and plenty of whale bones lie at the bottom of a watery archaeological site—and visitors can observe the rendering ovens, cooperages, and living quarters that make it one of the best-preserved examples of the European whaling tradition.

Namib Sand Sea, Namibia

Stretching 1,200 miles along the Atlantic and covering roughly 10 million acres of desert and buffer zone, the otherworldly Namib Sand Sea is the oldest desert in the world and is almost completely uninhabited by humans. Dense fog—which can envelop the coastal areas for half the year—is the primary source of water and, combined with the sandstorms, makes this one of the world’s top storm-watching destinations. The animals that manage to live here need to adapt to ever-changing microhabitats.

University of Coimbra–Alta and Sofia, Portugal

If you thought your professors were tough, consider that this university, founded in 1290, once had its own court of law and, naturally, its own prison for students and scholars (under the library). One of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world, the institution grew and evolved for more than 700 years within the old town. It now includes the 12th-century Cathedral of Santa Cruz, the Royal Palace of Alcáçova, and several 16th-century colleges.

Levuka Historical Port Town, Fiji

When American and European traders began building on Levuka’s coconut and mango tree–lined beachfront in the early 19th century, they were considerably outnumbered by the islanders. Rather than foist Western architecture on the landscape, they integrated local building styles into the stores, churches, schools, warehouses, and homes, giving a distinctive look to Fiji’s first colonial capital.

Al Zubarah, Qatar

Nowadays petrodollars fuel Qatar’s economy, but at one time pearls supported the realm. The fortified town of Al Zubarah—an abandoned pearl fishing and trading port that thrived on the Persian Gulf coast beginning in the mid 1700s—provides a glimpse into everyday Arab life before the discovery of oil and emergence of the modern Gulf States.

Mount Etna, Italy

On the eastern coast of Sicily, near the cities of Messina and Catania, Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and the tallest active volcano in Europe at almost 11,000 feet. The volcanic soil supports vineyards along the lower slopes, while its nearly constant eruptions make Mount Etna a natural laboratory for volcanologists and other scientists.

Pamir National Park, Tajikistan

This roughly 6.5-million-acre park is 18 percent of Tajikistan’s total size, yet frequent strong earthquakes and extreme seasonal weather leave it only sparsely populated. That’s worked to splendid advantage for the endangered species that are sheltered there: among them, snow leopards, Siberian ibex, Marco Polo sheep, and markhors (wild goats with spectacularly long, curved horns). The park is at the center of the so-called Pamir Knot, where the highest mountain ranges in Eurasia meet at peaks that reach 22,000 feet.

Xinjiang Tianshan, China

The snow-covered peaks of the vast Tianshan range—one of the largest in the world—form a striking contrast to the high deserts that surround it. Linked geologically to the Himalayas, this area supports beautiful glaciers, pristine forests and meadows, and clear lakes and rivers. Of the world’s estimated 2,500 living snow leopards, two-thirds of them can be found in Xinjiang.