What is a World Heritage Site?
Q: What is a World Heritage Site?
A: A World Heritage Site is a place or thing that has been selected by UNESCO as being very important from a cultural or natural point of view.
Q: Who selects the sites?
A: The United Nations' organization UNESCO selects the sites.
Q: How many countries are involved in the selection process?
A: 21 countries are elected to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which sets the list of sites.
Q: What types of sites can be included on the list?
A: Sites can include forests, mountains, lakes, deserts, monuments, buildings, complexes and cities.
Q: Which country has the most World Heritage Sites?
A: Italy has 50 World Heritage Sites - more than any other country.
Q: Who owns each site?
A: Each site is part of the legal territory of the nation where it is located.
Q: What does UNESCO do to protect these sites?
A: UNESCO encourages everyone in the world to work together to protect each site and sometimes provides funds for this purpose.
