Thursday, April 4, 2013

Slightly More Interesting Ones


Back in May of 2011 I wrote up a column called ‘Helping Out the Uninteresting Ones’ which looked to provide a UNESCO World Heritage site for each of the 43 sad countries left out. I’m pleased to say that in the interval five states have now joined the club, listed below.

Barbados

I suggested: the Morgan Lewis Windmill, one of the last two operational in the world.

UNESCO went with: Historic Brisdgetown and its Garrison, which shows off the British Caribbean.



Chad

I suggested: Zakouma National Park, a megafauna preserve.

UNESCO went with: Lakes of Ounianga, the only fresh water lakes in the world in hyper-arid deserts that don’t dry up.



Republic of the Congo

I suggested: Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, an endangered species hideaway.

UNESCO: did it! Nouable-Ndoki is joined by two other parks in the even larger Sangha Trinational, combining the Congo’s park with those of Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

Yay, elephants.

Palau

I suggested: Ngarameduu Conservation Area, already a UNESCO biosphere.

UNESCO went with: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, which, frankly, may have been a part of the vast Ngarameduu, but I can’t find any accurate info. According to maps Ngarameduu Bay is to the north, off the largest island, and the Rock Islands are to the south. So, it may be a different site.



United Arab Emirates

I suggested: Al-Ain, a four-thousand year trading hub, originally settled in the Neolithic.

UNESCO: did it! Inducted as the Cultural Sites of Al-Ain.

Yay, trade.


Now there are only 39 to go. How can 43-5=39 you ask? Ah, because one country has been added to the United Nations roster since 2011.

South Sudan – Bandingilo National Park. Home to the world’s second largest migration (after the Serengeti).


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