Heritage with Related Tags
Namib Sand Sea
The Namib Sand Sea is the only coastal desert in the world with an extensive dune field affected by fog. The site covers over 3 million hectares, with a buffer zone of 899,500 hectares, and consists of two dune systems, an ancient semi-consolidated dune system overlain by a younger active dune system. The desert dunes are formed by rivers, ocean currents and winds transporting material thousands of kilometers inland. It features gravel plains, coastal plains, rocky hills, isolated mountains in the sand sea, coastal lagoons and seasonal rivers, forming an exceptionally beautiful landscape. Fog is the main source of water for the site, providing a unique environment for endemic invertebrates, reptiles and mammals, which are able to adapt to changing microhabitats and niches.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park, located in northwest Washington, is renowned for its diversity of ecosystems. Glacier-capped peaks are interspersed with vast alpine meadows, surrounded by vast old-growth forests, some of which are the best-preserved temperate rainforests in the Pacific Northwest. Eleven major rivers flow through the Olympic Mountains, providing some of the best habitat for anadromous fish in the country. The park also includes 100 kilometers of wilderness coastline, the longest undeveloped coast in the contiguous United States, and is rich in native and endemic plant and animal species, including key populations of the endangered northern spotted owl, marbled guillemot, and bull trout.
Marquesas Islands: The Land of Humankind
The Marquesas Islands are located in the South Pacific. Humans arrived by sea to these remote islands around 1000 AD. This mixed collection is an excellent example of this process and its development between the 10th and 19th centuries. It is also a biodiversity hotspot with an irreplaceable and well-preserved marine and terrestrial ecosystem. Characterized by steep ridges, majestic peaks and high sea-facing cliffs, the archipelago's natural landscape is unparalleled in the tropical region at this latitude. It is an important center of endemism, with rare and diverse plants, a rich variety of iconic marine species, and the most diverse population of seabirds in the South Pacific. The Marquesas waters are virtually unexplored by humans and are one of the few remaining marine wilderness areas in the world. Archaeological remains such as large dry stone structures, stone carvings and stone carvings are also preserved on the islands.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Sustained fluvial, marine, and aeolian processes in the region have created a variety of landforms, including coral reefs, long sandy beaches, coastal dunes, lake systems, swamps, and extensive reed and papyrus wetlands. The park's environmental heterogeneity, with its interaction with major floods and coastal storms, and its transitional geographical location between subtropical and tropical Africa, has resulted in an exceptional diversity of species and ongoing speciation. The mix of landforms and habitat types creates a stunning landscape. The site contains important habitats for a range of species from African marine, wetland, and savannah environments.