Referred to as the world`s aquarium by famous sea explorer Jacques Cousteau, Mexico`s islands and protected areas in…
Referred to as the world`s aquarium by famous sea explorer Jacques Cousteau, Mexico`s islands and protected areas in the Gulf of Baja California were declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Ranked first in the Americas and eighth worldwide in this regard, Mexico has an array of sites that have been recognized in recent years for their historical, cultural and natural importance.
Nestled between the shores of the northwestern Mexican states of Sinaloa, Sonora and the Baja California peninsula, the 244 islands, islets and coastal areas comprising the area, have been called a natural laboratory for the investigation of speciation. The rugged islands, with their high cliffs and sandy beaches are also home to 695 vascular plant species, more than any other marine and insular property on the World Heritage List. In addition, the aquatic paradise contains 39% of the world`s total number of species of marine mammals and a third of the world`s marine cetacean species.
UNESCO`s World Heritage sites are cultural, natural, or mixed landmarks that represent the rich culture of a country and deserve international recognition. After a destination is deemed a World Heritage site, a country may receive financial assistance and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its sites. Since 1972, UNESCO has inscribed 812 properties in 137 countries worldwide on its World Heritage List.
A description of Mexico`s other official World Heritage sites with their dates of designation and brief descriptions follow. Some are already popular tourist sites, including Sian Ka`an in the Riviera Maya (1987) and the Historic Center of Mexico City and Xochimilco (1987); others, such as the Historic Center of Zacatecas (1993) and the Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda (2003) in Queretaro, are off the beaten path but undoubtedly merit the extra effort to visit.
House and Studio of Mexican architect Luis Barragan, Mexico City (2004): The house and studio were built in 1948 and are located in a suburb of Mexico City called Tacubaya. Barragan worked in the Second World-War era and his work exemplified a synthesis of modern and traditional artistic elements. The house is built from concrete and consists of a ground floor, two upper stories and a small private garden.
Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda, Queretaro (2003): The five missions, a historical treasure little-known among tourists, were built in the mid-18th century and became an important reference for the continuation of the evangelization and colonization of California, Arizona and Texas. Their richly decorated and colorful facades are a unique example of the joint creative efforts of the missionaries and indigenous populations.
Ancient Mayan City of Calakmul, Campeche (2002): Calakmul is one of the largest known Mayan sites, located in Campeche in the Tierras Bajas jungles. It covers approximately 70 square kilometers, and is estimated to have had a population of 50,000 in the height of its power. The central urban core of Calakmul is delineated on the north by a substantial wall, probably for defense of the most important political structures and residences.
Archaeological Monuments Zone, Xochicalco (1999): Xochicalco (Place of Flowers) is one of the richest archaeological sites in Mexico, developed from 650 to 900 A.D. between the destruction of Teotihuacan (Aztec) and the beginning of Toltec civilization. Xochicalco was not only the oldest known fortress in Middle America, but also a well-fortified religious, political and commercial center.
Historic Fortified Town, Campeche (1999): In colonial times, the port city of Campeche was constantly under attack by European pirates. The walls that were erected around the entire city to protect the harbor from invasion still stand today, offering the visitor a stirring reminder of Mexican history.
Archaeological Zone of Paquime, Casas Grandes (1998): This ancient Indian settlement in Chihuahua State was one of the most important cities in northern Mexico between 900 and 1300 A.D. It served as a major trade center, connecting Mexico`s Toltec civilization with the Pueblo-Oasis tribes of the American southwest.
Historic Monuments Zone, Tlacotalpan (1998): This Spanish colonial river port city near Mexico`s Gulf coast was founded in the 16th century. With its wide streets and colorfully painted houses, the city combines gardens, ancient trees and Spanish and Caribbean traditions of exceptional importance and quality.
Hospicio Cabanas, Guadalajara (1997): Completed in 1810 as a house of charity, it is the city`s proudest cultural institute, with a performing arts center, galleries and a museum. It is noted for simplicity of design and open spaces. The building`s main attraction is a chapel with a mural painted by the great Mexican artist Jose Clemente Orozco between 1936 and 1939.
Historic Monuments Zone, Queretaro (1996): Little has changed in Queretaro`s city center, filled with colonial mansions and immaculate walkways. Founded in 1531, this colonial city located in central Mexico is adorned with inspiring architecture and retains its original street patterns from the period of native Indians and Spanish conquerors.
Prehispanic Town, Uxmal (1996): Uxmal was one of the largest cities of the Yucatan Peninsula, and at its height was home to about 25,000 Mayans. Like the other Puuc sites, it flourished from 600-900 A.D. The name Uxmal means `thrice-built` in Mayan, referring to the construction of its highest structure, the Pyramid of the Magician. The Pyramid of the Soothsayer, as the Spaniards called it, dominates the ceremonial center. Its rulers are said to have presided over the nearby settlements of Kabah, Labna and Sayil, considered the pinnacle of Mayan art and architecture.
Monasteries on the Slopes, Popocatepetl (1994): Fourteen Christian monasteries stand on the slopes of the Popocatepetl, a dormant volcano southeast of Mexico City. They are excellent examples of the architectural style adopted by the first missionaries- Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians-who tried to convert the native Indians to Christianity in the early 16th century.
Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco (1993): These are some of the most mystifying and well-preserved rock paintings in the world. Dating to 100 B.C., the Sierra de San Francisco (in the El Vizcaino reserve on the Baja California Peninsula) was home to people who left behind a magical testimony on history, a unique outlook on the relationship between mankind and the environment and a profound worldview. The drawings show human figures and many animal species.
Historic Center, Zacatecas (1993): Founded in 1546, this fabled silver city`s historic town center houses magnificent churches, abandoned convents and breathtaking Baroque architecture. For centuries, the city served as the northern frontier of Spain`s New World empire. The main attractions are the cathedral (built between 1707 and 1752), the Plaza de Armas (main square dating to the 18th century), the Mina el Edem (an ancient mine) and the Calderon Theater, with its art nouveau facade.
Whale Sanctuary, El Vizcaino (1993): The waters of the Baja California Coast provide shelter for many different species. The fin whale, the humpback whale, the sei whale and the blue whale journey to the Gulf of California every year to reproduce. Out of the 45 marine mammals that coexist in Mexican waters, 38 permanently reside in the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. The gray whale performs one of the longest migrations known, with its southern point in this area. The mammal travels more than 5,000 miles from the Baja California Peninsula to the Arctic Circle and feeds in the Chukchi and Bering seas. The whales return annually to the lagoons of San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre to mate and bear offspring. As a result of protective measures, approximately 900 calves are now born each year in Mexican waters in the protection of El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. Under these conditions, the gray whale population has grown back to more than 27,000.
Prehispanic City of El Tajin (1992): Located in the state of Veracruz, this jungle city was a large, powerful and important ceremonial center. First construction likely began here 2,000 years ago and the city reached its peak from 600 to 900 A.D. Its niche pyramids are unique in the Americas. Its architecture is characterized by elaborate carved reliefs on the columns and friezes.
Historic Center, Morelia (1991): Morelia, the capital city of Michoacan State, was founded in 1541 and contains more than 200 historic buildings, including restored mansions and churches. Its buildings are made mostly of pink-colored stone with intricate facades. The city combines a blend of Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles.
Prehispanic City of Chichen-Itza (1988): Chichen-Itza is one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico, located two hours by bus from Cancun. It is two cities: one was ruled by the Mayans from the 6th to the10th century A.D. and the other was a Toltec-Mayan city that emerged in 1000 A.D. The site combines Toltec and Mayan influences and is ripe with cosmological symbolism. Its four sides contain 365 steps, 52 panels and 18 terraces (for the 18 months of the religious year). The site also contains a cenote (limestone sacred well or sinkhole) and an observatory.
Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines (1988): Located in central Mexico, Guanajuato, which was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, quickly became one of the most important silver centers in the world. For nearly 250 years, nearly one-third of the world`s silver came from this city. The town boasts baroque and neoclassical architecture as a result of its great wealth. One example is La Valenciana, one of Mexico`s most ornate churches, completed in 1788. Another Baroque church is La Basilica, built in the 17th century.
Historic Center, Puebla (1987): The city of Puebla, founded in 1531, is one of Mexico`s most culturally significant cities and home to several important historical events. Capital of Puebla State, the city is home to beautiful buildings in colonial, art deco and other styles made of gray stone, red brick and tiles. The city is known for its intricate hand-painted ceramics, known as Talavera, as well as for its renowned cuisine.
Historic Center of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Alban (1987): Once the center of the Mixtec and Zapotec civilizations, Oaxaca is a combination of pre-conquest, colonial and modern influences. Some of the many sites in the city`s historical downtown include the main plaza, the government palace, the Cathedral of Oaxaca and the city market, as well as some of Mexico`s most ornately decorated churches. The area`s main attraction is the archaeological site of Monte Alban, one of the most impressive burial places in the Western Hemisphere.
Prehispanic City of Teotihuacan (1987): The archaeological zone of Teotihuacan is one of the country`s major tourist attractions. In the past it was one of the largest and most complex metropoli in prehispanic Mexico. Its main structures include the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, as well as an on-site museum. The culture that produced this magnificent city originated in the first century A.D., reaching its peak between the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D., and subsequently declining until it was eventually abandoned.
Historic Center of Mexico City and Xochimilco (1987): Mexico City, the exact site upon which the great Aztec civilization flourished, is a remarkable showcase of 3,000 years of cultural achievement. It is one of the world`s oldest continuously inhabited cities and now one of its largest cities, with a metropolitan area population approaching 23 million. The city has five Aztec temples, the largest cathedral on the continent and 11 ecological parks. Mexico City`s Zocalo is the third largest square in the world and has witnessed a wealth of historical, religious and political development since the 14th century. Xochimilco, with a population of 300,000, is just south of Mexico City. It contains historic buildings, a main plaza, bricked streets, and an intricate network of canals and floating plots of land whose origins date back to prehispanic times. Structures built during the colonial era have been well-preserved.
Prehispanic City and National Park of Palenque (1987): A prime example of a Mayan sanctuary of the classical period, Palenque was at its height between 500 and 700 A.D., when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta River. The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan mythological themes, attest to the creative genius of this civilization.
Sian Ka`an, Riviera Maya (1987): This 1.3-million acre ecological park of forests, lagoons, exotic marine habitats and wetlands is located on the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula. The biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. Located just south of Tulum, Sian Ka`an`s complex hydrological system also provides a habitat for an impressive variety of flora and a fauna.
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