All About World Heritage Sites

Today is Independence Day in the west African nation of Senegal. To mark the occasion, here are five reasons to visit once you can…

Source: 5 things to do in Senegal

Goree Island was a transit point over several centuries for enslaved Africans being shipped to the Americas.

Source: Moved by George Floyd’s death, Senegal slave island renames Europe Square

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Senegal occupies a big space in the traveler’s imagination with its colorful maritime culture, dusty red earth, and modernist urban architecture in a seamless jumble of urban topography.  Almost everyone who has visited, whether as a tourist or for business, comes home with words of wonder about the place. The people! The attitude! The chaos! The West African nation that is as mesmerizing as it is accessible for foreigners. There’s plenty of soul and with a dash of quirk to be found—whether in the legendary taxis of Dakar, the jazz bars of…

Source: 10 Reasons You Need to Visit Senegal

From disappearing rose sand islands to a spiritual place in Siberia, these insanely beautiful secret islands around the world are worth the journey.

Source: Off The Map: 11 Insanely Beautiful Lesser-Known Islands Around The World

Source: Ghana cashes in on slave heritage tourism

I’m standing at the Door of No Return. Ahead of me stretches the Atlantic Ocean, flat and blue and boundless.

Source: Cruising through West Africa’s dramatic landscapes and history

How a scholar in Greek language and literature who studied at Trinity College Dublin became involved in an infamous incident in the notorious African slave trade is in some ways the conundrum of western civilisation.

Source: Infamous Irishman’s part in the slave trade

At last count, UNESCO’s World Heritage List included 1,073 locations across 167 countries or states. Here, we explore the 12 original World Heritage sites first listed in 1978.

The aim of UNESCO’s list is to identify, protect and preserve sites of cultural and natural heritage considered to be of exceptional value to humanity. These sites include a range of locations such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, east Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt and Machu Picchu in Peru.

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. – UNESCO

Today, Italy is home to the largest number of World Heritage sites with 53, followed by China (52), Spain (46), France (43), Germany (42), India (36), Mexico(34) and the UK (including British Overseas Territories) (31). A total of 37 sites are transboundary meaning they are positioned in more than one country or state.

According to UNESCO, however, location is largely moot. Instead, World Heritage sites “belong to all the peoples of the world”.

Read more from source: World firsts: exploring UNESCO’s original World Heritage sites

When most people think of West Africa, Ghana or Nigeria come to mind. But Dakar, the capital of Senegal and the rest of the country have been the thriving pulse of Francophone West Africa long before Accra was a tourist hotspot. Dakar has always had a vibrant nightlife, tasty bakeries and cafes (thanks, France), and culture to spare. It’s relatively safe, inexpensive, easy to reach from Europe or the US, and did we mention it has miles of beaches? You could definitely spend a week or more here as it does not lack for activities. Here are 15 things you have to experience when visiting Dakar.

1) House of Slaves

Just off the coast of Dakar is the famed Ile de Goree. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was held by the Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French and harkens to Senegal’s dark past.

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Often overlooked as a holiday destination, sun-kissed Senegal has a few surprises up its sleeve for those intrepid enough to visit. From seashell islands to surfing sheep, here are a few highlights from the West African nation, which celebrates Independence Day today:

1. It has an island made of seashells

In what is probably one of the world’s most original recycling projects, the seafood-loving Senegalese have made an island out of millions of mollusk shells. Houses, pathways and even graveyards on Fadiouth are made from seashells, which crunch under your feet wherever you walk.

2. They are building a wall

Not a Trump-style “keep ‘em out wall” but a wall of trees, designed to hold back the encroaching Sahara Desert and entice wildlife back to the country’s dusty plains.

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From dizzying Dakar to vibrant Saint-Louis, Senegal pulsates with rich culture, history and charm.

If you want to experience it all — from bustling cities to sleepy, seaside villages — hop in a rental car, charge up your favourite navigation device or app, brush up on your conversational French and start your road trip across Africa’s colourful western coast.

DAKAR FOR THE MUSIC, ART LOVER

Senegal’s largest city, on the tip of the Cap-Vert peninsula, is an ideal starting place for your journey. Spend the afternoons filling your suitcases with trinkets and T-shirts from the many frenetic street markets. For a more serene shopping experience, head to La Galerie Antenna. This African art mecca boasts an impressive collection of sculptures, paintings, masks and jewelry from across the continent.

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