Mapping Every Wonder on Earth (1978–2026)

Описание: Watch all 1,253 UNESCO World Heritage Sites light up the globe one by one, in the exact order they were inscribed — from the first 12 in 1978 to the newest sites added in 2025. A 47-year journey across every continent, narrated by the map itself.

The data covers 1,253 sites: 977 cultural, 237 natural, and 41 mixed. A live country leaderboard tracks the race for #1 — China (58) and Italy (55) trade blows at the top, chased by France (51), Germany (49), Spain (46) and India (44). Along the way we mark "Lost Heritage" — the handful of places stripped from the list or destroyed forever.

Key moments:
1978 — The first 12: Yellowstone, the Galápagos, Aachen Cathedral, Kraków and the very first World Heritage Sites
2007 — Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary becomes the first site ever delisted
2001 — The Bamiyan Buddhas of Afghanistan are dynamited — later inscribed as endangered ruins
2009 — Germany's Dresden Elbe Valley is delisted over a new bridge
2015 — Palmyra, Syria, is destroyed during the war
2021 — Liverpool loses its status over waterfront development
2025 — The newest sites join the list, completing 47 years of world heritage

Data: UNESCO World Heritage List via Wikidata. 43 sites currently on the "In Danger" list.

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