Although 2020 didn’t lead to the designation of any new UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a number of them from the 2019 batch that are worth taking a deeper look at. These three fascinating new World Heritage Sites spread across three different continents and have all kinds of extraordinary things to offer.
Vatnajökull National Park (Iceland)
Defined by UNESCO as a “dynamic nature of fire and ice”, this Icelandic national park occupies nearly 15% of the land area of the country! Glaciers are part of the draw here, as are volcanic landscapes that you truly must see to believe. It’s the best of Iceland all in one spot.
Bagan (Myanmar)
The former capital of the Pagan Kingdom from the 9th to the 13th century, Bagan was once one of the most opulent cities on Earth and has maintained much of its patrimony. Over 2,200 centuries-old temples and pagodas remain and can be seen on tours.
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (Canada)
Discover the First Nation’s culture and history at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada. Here, you will find an impressive collection of preserved rock art, including carvings and paintings dating back to Canada’s original residents thousands of years ago.