UDC

911.2:911.52

Authors

Knyazev Yury Petrovich
Volgograd State Socio-Pedagogical University (Volgograd, Russia)
е-mail: plakor@mail.ru

Abstract

The paper presents an ecological and geographical analysis of the distribution of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites with the criterion of natural landscape diversity across the sub-continents and physiographic countries in Eurasia. The research was based on the following scientific methods: descriptive, comparative, statistical, cartographic, and systems analysis. Distribution of heritage sites across sub-continents and physiographic countries was conducted using the method of A.G. Isachenko and A.A. Shlyapnikov and in accordance with the map of physiographic zoning of Eurasia. The paper analyzes the term “World Heritage” and its criteria. Further, it shows the role played by the World Heritage sites in the system of Eurasia’s natural heritage and highlights the importance of expanding their network. The system of heritage sites is not representative of the natural complexes existing in Eurasia, and these sites often have a cluster structure. The sites are very unevenly located, most of them being forest and savanna subequatorial landscapes, wetlands and ocean coasts. In addition, the paper presents sketch maps of the distribution of the sites under study.

Keywords

World Heritage, natural and landscape diversity, reserves of Eurasia

References

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