Around the world in a few minutes?

Hey all! 

I thought I'd just put up a bit of information about UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which is what my thematic presentation is about. There are 981 sites that are currently on this list (check out this awesome website if you're interested in exploring your favorite country's sites!) http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/

It is definitely really fun to play around on the website - they have great videos, materials, justifications for inclusion on the list, and photographs. I'd highly recommend it if you're interested in taking a little trip to some awesome places around the world. It's fascinating to me to see which places are included on the list, and I definitely enjoyed making my presentation.

I thought I'd go through a few of the sites in Brazil for those of us obviously going on the seminar but also for those people who are thinking about traveling afterwards! Brazil has 19 sites.

The Pantanal:

As you may know, the Pantanal is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which means that the World Heritage Committee is dedicated towards preserving its natural beauty and conserving the area in its untouched state. A lot of the information presented about the merits of the Pantanal is familiar to us, including the amazing flora and fauna of the area and the wide ranges of ecosystems it supports.

Rio de Janeiro:

Rio de Janeiro is a popular tourist location in Brazil, and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site! It has great cultural value in terms of artistic inspiration and is recognized for this by UNESCO as well. Rio has a lot of natural factors that add to its beauty as well, including the Sugar Loaf mountain, the Corcovado mountain, the Copacabana Bay, and other features that have added to the outdoor beauty of the city!

Thanks Dr. Bob for your pictures (living vicariously through you for now!)

Brasilia:

Brasilia is the capital of Brazil, and it was designed to be very symmetric and have a harmonious overall design. The feel of the city is meant to be very urban and modern, so definitely check if out if you get the chance! 

Iguazu Falls:

The Iguazu National Park in Argentina/ Brazil contains one of the world's largest waterfalls, which extends over 2700 m. It also features some rare and endangered species like the giant otter and the giant anteater.

Iguazu Falls: Thanks Dr. Bob for the pictures!

Hope that for those on the trip who are planning to travel that this information is helpful!
-Nicole