Czech Republic Castles

Like multiple countries throughout Europe, the CZECH REPUBLIC is home to many stoically spectacular castles! Over twenty notable examples include Bezděz, Bouzov, Český Krumlov, Český Šternberk, Děčín, Hluboká nad Vltavou, Jindřichův Hradec, Karlštejn, Kokořín, Konopiště, Kost, Křivoklát, Kunětická Hora (Kunetice Mountain), Ledeč nad Sázavou, Lednice, Loket, Orlík, Pernštejn, Rabí, Raduň, Sovinec, and Trosky. Lovely pictures, an interactive Google map showing castle locations sprinkled throughout the Czech Republic, and many details about twenty of these castles are found in this Road Affair post (↗). There is a particularly picturesque photo of a castle at sunset with over a dozen hot air balloons floating in the sky! The Czech words that translate from castle include hrad and zámek. At least three UNESCO World Heritage Sites feature majestic Czech castles. Including the Lednice and Valtice castles, the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (↗) was inscribed to the Heritage List in 1996 and underwent a recent boundary update in 2025. The Kroměříž Gardens and Castle (↗) site was inscribed in 1998 and Litomyšl Castle (↗) was inscribed in 1999.

October 2024 Geography Bee Quiz

Learn more about our planet with the help of a GeoFact of the Day Geography Bee Quiz (↗) like this one! The answers to this quiz are listed below — enjoy and good luck!

1)      Situated in the extreme northwest corner of British Columbia, Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park is wedged in a triangular area between Alaska to the south and west and which territory of CANADA to the north?
A — Northwest Territories
B — Nunavut
C — Yukon

2)      True or false: The state of Georgia in the UNITED STATES has two towns named Mountain Park.

3)      Tanbaly (Tamgaly) is an archaeological UNESCO world heritage site situated in the historic Zhetysu region of southeastern KAZAKHSTAN. Tanbaly is featured on an interestingly shaped 500 Tenge coin (↗) from the year 2012. The landscape is particularly notable for having about 5,000 ____________.
A — hieroglyphs
B — petroglyphs
C — buildings
D — vases

































































ANSWERS

Question 1:
C . . . . . Yukon

Question 2:
True . . . . . a small Mountain Park town is in Fulton County, and a Census-designated place with the same name is in Gwinnett County.

Question 3:
B . . . . . petroglyphs

October 2023 Geography Bee Quiz

Learn more about the wonderful world with the help of a GeoFact of the Day Geography Bee Quiz (↗) like this one! Think of this ad-free resource as free food for your mind. Whether you are preparing for a geography bee — or maybe a geography-themed trivia contest — or just want to cherish the positive aspects of our planet, I hope you enjoy these tasty morsels of knowledge. The answers to this quiz are listed below — good luck!

I hope you have a Happy Halloween!

1)      HUNGARY is home to several national parks that are mostly located in the northeast. Which of the following is not the name of a national park in Hungary?
A — Biogradska
B — Bükk
C — Hortobágyi

2)      Which river does not flow beside or through TAJIKISTAN?
A — Naryn
B — Panj
C — Syr Darya

3)      Which is a South Asian country with several UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Fort and Shalamar Gardens, Makli, Moenjodaro (Moenjo-daro), Rohtas Fort, and Taxila?
A — SLOVAKIA
B — PAKISTAN
C — The PHILIPPINES





















ANSWERS

Question 1:
A . . . . . Biogradska

Question 2:
A . . . . . Naryn

Question 3:
B . . . . . Pakistan

What in the World? Piggy Banks

The world's first “piggy banks” — made of terracotta — date back to the 12th century and were discovered at the Trowulan archaeological site on the world’s most populated island. Which island in Southeast Asia is home to this discovery? The answer is listed below!
A — Tioman, MALAYSIA
B — Java, INDONESIA
C — Marinduque, THE PHILIPPINES























Answer:
B — Java, Indonesia

As of December 2022, Trowulan is featured on UNESCO's Tentative Lists (↗), meaning the historic place is eligible for designation as a World Heritage Site if UNESCO approves.

Flag of the Day: Qrendi, Malta

This flag is the flag of Qrendi, a town of about 3,000 residents near the Mediterranean Sea on the southern shore of Malta island in MALTA. Qrendi is home to some of the world’s oldest standing manmade structures — Ħaġar Qim (Hagar Qim) and Mnajdra — which are components of a nationwide UNESCO World Heritage complex known as the Megalithic Temples of Malta (↗). The town’s Latin motto, Tyrium Dirutas Servo Moles, translates into Maltese as “Inhares il-Bini tal-Fenici” and into English as “Conserve the Buildings of the Phoenicians.” An alternative flag in use consists of a white background, topped by a blue coat-of-arms shield with a central white star and yellow/gold outline. Neighboring cities and communities of Qrendi include (Hal) Kirkop, Mqabba, (Hal) Safi, Siġġiewi, and Żurrieq.

The Amazing Race 31, Episode 9 Recap

In episode 9 of The Amazing Race season 31 on CBS (April-June 2019), teams departed from the airport in Zurich, SWITZERLAND and flew to Split, a city nestled beside the Adriatic Sea in southern CROATIA. Episode 9 is named “Let’s Split” as a direct quote (and pun) from contestant Colin Guinn, whose fellow team member is Christie Woods. Sorted by chronological order, here were the challenges and happenings encountered by the six remaining teams in this episode (“leg of the race”) of The Amazing Race, UNITED STATES series:

● Departures: Korey & Tyler were allowed to begin this leg of the race first at 4:19 PM (Switzerland’s time zone), followed within several-minute intervals by these teams: Bret & Chris, then Christie & Colin, then Becca & Floyd, then Nicole & Victor, and finally Jamal & Leo.

● Once arriving in Split, Croatia, teams drove to Bačvice Beach. Here, team members became waiters and waitresses — serving beverages to relaxed beachgoers and subsequently receiving a Travelocity® gnome.

● The teams’ gnomes and clues were brought to the Marjan Cave Church. To receive their next clue, teams utilized a pulley system to deliver a gnome and a loaf of bread in a basket to a monk several stories up.

● Detour, choice between “Poetry in Motion” or “Washed in from the Ocean”: Teams choosing Poetry in Motion were definitely in motion — because they had to ride a bumpy, inflated raft towed by a fast boat in the Adriatic Sea. Despite any possible seasickness such a ride could cause, the teams also had to worry about memorizing and reciting a relatively lengthy poem before receiving the next clue. Teams failing to correctly retell the poem to a “poetry master” had to ride the raft again … and again … and again until their recitation was perfect! Believe it or not, all teams eventually decided to take on this task.

The “Washed in from the Ocean” option caused even more difficulties; in fact, no team successfully completed that task! In this Detour, teams snorkeled in the sea with a metal detector in a treasure-hunting quest to find a chalice/goblet and five ancient (although likely imitation ancient) coins. This Detour sounded really enjoyable to me, but I was proven wrong once teams looked “under the surface”! The difficulty of finding these objects — even though they were placed in the sea recently for the purpose of this scavenger hunt — was notable, as most Detours are achievable by at least a couple teams. After many hours attempting this task, Bret & Chris were able to find a goblet and three coins before giving up to complete the poetry Detour. This situation risked the friends’ prospects for continuing The Amazing Race competition; they quickly fell behind their opponents in the race to the Pit Stop.



● Teams visited Diocletian’s Palace — a UNESCO World Heritage Site (↗) designated in 1979 — where the entrance of the spooky catacombs held their next clue.

● Roadblock: One competitor from each duo team sported a royal red robe and went to the Diocletian Palace’s Senator Room. They had to witness the synchronized movements of five Roman gladiators wearing helmets with red ribbons, who were trading places with 13 other gladiators. All gladiators soon held up shields blocking their helmets, so the team member had to correctly identify the five red ribbon-helmeted gladiators before receiving his or her next clue.

●Teams rowed a dinghy boat to a picturesque Pit Stop…

● Pit Stop: Matejuška Pier in Split (teams were greeted by adorable Dalmatian dogs!)

  Season 31, Episode 9
  First and Last Places at the Pit Stop

  1st — Korey Kuhl & Tyler Oakley
       1st place prize — resort vacation in MEXICO

  Last — Bret Hammons & Chris LaBelle
       Eliminated from the competition? Yes
With the elimination of Bret & Chris from The Amazing Race, none of the teams that were previously known for their appearance on CBS Survivor remained in this season of TAR.

The Amazing Race 31, Episode 2 Recap

In episode 2 of the U.S. version of The Amazing Race on CBS, teams flew from Tokyo, JAPAN to Louangphrabang (Luang Phabang or various other spellings), a UNESCO World Heritage community of over 55,000 people in northern LAOS. Sorted by chronological order, here were the challenges and happenings in this episode:

● Participating in the morning alms ceremony with Buddhist monks and serving them rice at the Wat Sensoukharam temple in Louangphrabang.

● Double U-Turn: Becca & Floyd were first U-Turned by Elissa & Rachel, but then Becca & Floyd U-Turned Korey & Tyler.

● Detour, choice between "ABC" and "BBQ": learning the Laotian alphabet or preparing duck and fish skewers.

● Roadblock: directing an elephant with Laotian commands to cross the Nam Khan river in the forested countryside east or southeast of Louangphrabang.

● Hopping in a tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) and travelling to Wat Xieng Thong temple (not very far away from the temple mentioned above), then boarding a Southeast Asian long-tail boat to head toward the Pit Stop at Prince Phetsarath's Palace (The Grand Luang Prabang Hotel).

  Season 31, Episode 2
  First and Last Places at the Pit Stop

  1st — Jamal Zadran & Leo Temory
       1st place prize — $2,500 each

  Last — Laura Boneham & Rupert Boneham
       Eliminated from the competition? Yes

Struve Geodetic Arc

What is the Struve Geodetic Arc, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning across the countries of BELARUS, ESTONIA, FINLAND, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, MOLDOVA, NORWAY, RUSSIA, SWEDEN, and UKRAINE? The UNESCO World Heritage Site webpage (↗) provides an interactive map and description:

The Struve Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through 10 countries and over 2,820 km. These are points of a survey, carried out between 1816 and 1855 by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, which represented the first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian. This helped to establish the exact size and shape of the planet and marked an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographic mapping. It is an extraordinary example of scientific collaboration among scientists from different countries, and of collaboration between monarchs for a scientific cause. The original arc consisted of 258 main triangles with 265 main station points. The listed site includes 34 of the original station points, with different markings, i.e. a drilled hole in rock, iron cross, cairns, or built obelisks.

Surveyors from around the world and other people involved in geodesy and geography might consider adding a [probably expensive] trip through Eastern Europe onto their travel "Bucket List"! The UNESCO description is available under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Intergovernmental Organization 3.0 license (↗).

Uganda's Kasubi Tomb Ruins

Surrounded by the urban sprawl of west-side Kampala, UGANDA, the forested Kasubi Royal Tombs site experienced a mysterious fire on March 16th, 2010. Dedicated to the kings (kabakas) ruling over the Buganda Kingdom's Baganda people, the Kasubi Tombs were housed underground in a hilltop mausoleum since the 13th century. The latest mausoleum building was originally constructed in 1882 by Kabaka Mutesa I to be a palace and then was converted as a burial location two years later. This Muzibu Azaala Mpanga mausoleum was once the world's largest grass-thatched hut and was considered the site's main building. While the mausoleum was completely destroyed by flames, the cultural traditions and construction techniques of the Buganda Kingdom people persevered through time.



Utilizing information based on historic precedent, a replica building project was spearheaded in 2013 by UNESCO, a world-heritage organization which donated 2 billion Ugandan Shillings ($554,800 USD today) for the initiative. According to the Daily Monitor (Kampala) newspaper, however, the reconstruction process was recently halted. The "Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi" was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (↗) in 2001 and listed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (↗) in 2010. More information and photos pertaining to this site of destruction and rebirth — about the thatching technique, royal drums, mausoleum's floor plan, mausoleum's interior, etc. — can be found at the Kabaka Foundation's Kasubi Tombs website (↗).

UNESCO Heritage Sites in Sudan

Since 2003, three properties in northeastern Africa's SUDAN were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (↗). Before that, Sudan ratified the 1970 UNESCO Convention on June 6th, 1974. Meanwhile, five sites are on the Tentative List and have not yet been nominated for the coveted World Heritage Site designation — the port city of Suakin, Kerma the former capital city, Old Dongola the former capital city (of the Makouria Kingdom), Dinder National Park, and Wadi Howar National Park. Below are details pertaining to Sudan's three UNESCO Heritage Sites.

Gebel Barkal and Napatan Region (↗), 2003
UNESCO description: "These five archaeological sites, stretching over more than 60 kilometers in the Nile valley, are testimony to the Napatan (900 to 270 BC) and Meroitic (270 BC to 350 AD) cultures of the second kingdom of Kush. Tombs — with and without pyramids, temples, living complexes and palaces — are to be found on the site. Since Antiquity, the hill of Gebel Barkal has been strongly associated with religious traditions and folklore. The largest temples are still considered by the local people as sacred places." Present-day Gebel Barkal is located near the Nile River's western bank in the city of Karima.



Island of Meroë Archaeological Sites (↗), 2011
Located east of the Nile River in the River Nile state (wilayat) in northeastern Sudan, Meroë is particularly known for its smooth pyramids, animal sculptures (particularly of sheep), and petroglyphs. Did You Know? The general Meroë and Nubian Desert region in Sudan touts a larger number of pyramids compared to Egypt! Egypt has about 138 discovered pyramids, while Sudan has more than 220. Many of Egypt's versions are more famous due to their immense sizes.



Here is UNESCO's description of the Meroë site: "The Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroë, a semi-desert landscape between the Nile and Atbara rivers, was the heartland of the Kingdom of Kush, a major power from the 8th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. The property consists of the royal city of the Kushite kings at Meroë, near the River Nile, the nearby religious site of Naqa and Musawwarat es Sufra. It was the seat of the rulers who occupied Egypt for close to a century and features, among other vestiges, pyramids, temples and domestic buildings as well as major installations connected to water management. Their vast empire extended from the Mediterranean to the heart of Africa, and the property testifies to the exchange between the art, architectures, religions, and languages of both regions."

Dungonab Bay, Sanganeb Reef, and Mukkawar Island (↗), 2016
UNESCO's official title for this bisected property is rather lengthy: "Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay - Mukkawar Island Marine National Park." Whatever you want to call it, these protected marine areas became officially designated — by the World Heritage Committee in Istanbul, Turkey — as one UNESCO site in July of 2016. Sanganeb is an isolated coral reef area in the Red Sea. Mukkawar (Mukawwar) Island and Dungonab Bay are both located approximately 125 kilometers north of Port Sudan. The whole property is known for its biodiverse beaches, coral reefs, islets, mangroves, and seagrass patches providing habitat for seabirds and various aquatic organisms (including dugongs).

Sahara's Architectural Oasis

Described by UNESCO and the Hammond World Atlas (6th edition, 2010) as a "Pearl of the [Sahara] Desert," the historic city of Ghadamès in western LIBYA features gleaming and plastered walls, towers, and residential and commercial buildings. These structures helped form the setting for trade and travel along a vital trans-Saharan caravan route. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (↗) in 1986, Ghadamès is situated near the tri-state border between southeastern Algeria, Tunisia's southern point, and northwestern Libya. Ghademès is one of five Libyan UNESCO Heritage Sites threatened due to armed conflicts throughout Libya and in the vicinity of these significant places, according to UNESCO.

Posts About South America

Below are various GeoFact of the Day posts pertaining to South America and its countries (and territory), culture, environment, and landscape. All blog post hyperlinks open in new tabs or windows — depending on your Internet browser — for your convenience. Want to see a future post regarding a particular topic you enjoy or want to know more about? Please feel free to submit a comment below!
          — Languages of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay
          — Landlocked countries
          — Previous presidents of South America match game
          — Rivers near South American capital cities

ARGENTINA
          — Argentinean flag
          — Extinct and endangered species
          — Pope Francis I becomes Pope (he was born in Argentina)
          — UNESCO heritage sites

BOLIVIA
          — Bolivian salt flats
          — Extinct and endangered species
          — Former name of Sucre, Bolivia
          — World's highest navigable lake (quick GeoFact) — post with photograph

BRAZIL
          — 10 largest countries in the world
          — 10 most-populated cities in Brazil
          — Countries with Z in their names
          — Endangered species
          — New Brazil map
          — Rio Grande do Sul state

CHILE
          — Extinct and endangered species
          — Strait of Magellan
          — Topography (land surface)

COLOMBIA
          — 2 Tallest mountain peaks (quick GeoFact)
          — Extinct and endangered species
          — New Colombia map
          — What in the World? Country #10

ECUADOR
          — Ecuadorian cities
          — Ecuadorian islands
          — Extinct and endangered species

FRENCH GUIANA (overseas territory of France)
          — French Guiana's capital (quick GeoFact)

GUYANA
          — Endangered species
          — Highest mountain and nearby features
          — Mount Venamo (Guyana and Venezuela)

PARAGUAY
          — Endangered species
          — Route 9 highway
          — What in the World? Country #5

PERU
          — Extinct and endangered species
          — Paracas Peninsula
          — Species named after Peru
          — World's highest navigable lake (quick GeoFact) — post with photograph

SURINAME
          — Brokopondo Reservoir
          — Disputed borders
          — Endangered species

URUGUAY
          — Endangered species
          — Flags with the Sun
          — Uruguay's capital (quick GeoFact)


VENEZUELA
          — Endangered species
          — Mount Venamo (Guyana and Venezuela)
          — Paría Peninsula

Ha Long Bay

Hạ Long, VIETNAM (GeoFact of the Day) — Northeastern Vietnam, particularly the Quảng Ninh Province, boasts several characteristics: contiguous forests on mountainous terrain, a dominant coal industry compared to other Vietnamese provinces, coveted access to the Gulf of Tonkin, and many virtually untouched islands in the gulf and its smaller Ha Long Bay (Vietnamese: Vinh Hạ Long). Translating into “Where the Dragon Descends to the Sea,” Ha Long Bay contains over 1,600 islands and small islets — most of which are not inhabited by people — in addition to waterside caves and hundreds of tall limestone pillars. Islands and islets in Ha Long Bay include Đảo* Cát Bà (largest island in near the bay), Đảo Quá Muỗm, Đảo Quan Lạn, Đảo Trà Bản, Hòn Công Chéo Nam, Hòn Mây, Hòn Vạn Buồng, Hòn Vạn Cảnh, and Sha Pak Wan. With an approximate size of over 1500 square kilometers and 580 square miles, Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (↗).

The Legend of Zelda Tarasque
The bay's mythical origin story consists of two main legends involving Tarasque, a folkloric marine dragon (hence Ha Long Bay's nickname above). One legend describes the Tarasque dragon creating a bunch of valleys by walking on mountainous terrain and crumbling it. Soon, all of those valleys filled up with water and subsequently formed Ha Long Bay. A similar legend purports that Tarasque used its powerful tail to carve out crevices and valleys, which all flooded once Tarasque landed in nearby water and thereby helped form Ha Long Bay. The six-legged Tarasque's head resembles that of a lion, while its spiky shell gives Tarasque a menacing turtle-like appearance. Visiting tourists to islands in Ha Long Bay might come for a chance to witness the magical Tarasque, although the area's picturesque views are worthwhile enough!

* Đảo means island in Vietnamese.

View Larger Map (↗)  —  View Bird's Eye (↗)

UNESCO Attractions in Nigeria

Even though the government of West Africa's NIGERIA submitted a total of twelve potential UNESCO properties in 1995 and 2007 for review, only two architectural and cultural landscapes are official UNESCO World Heritage Sites (↗). Tentative sites of interest for Nigeria's list include Alok Ikom Stone Monoliths, Ancient Kano City Walls, Gashaki-Gumpti National Park, Niger Delta Mangroves, and Old Oyo city. By the way, Nigeria ratified the 1970 UNESCO Convention on October 23rd, 1974. The Osun Sacred Grove (↗) in Osogbo, Osun (state) and Sukur Cultural Landscape (↗) in Madagali, Adamawa were inscribed as official UNESCO sites in 2005 and 1999, respectively. Photographs and more information can be found with the two webpages linked in the previous sentence.

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Located in southwestern Nigeria, this sacred grove is believed to be the Yoruba people's last remaining large spiritual site in the country. Comprised of shrines, sculptures, artwork, and a riverside landscape, Osun-Osogbo was dedicated to the Yoruba culture's goddess of fertility, Osun. The Osun River meanders its way through dense forests — prime, high-quality examples compared to most other Nigerian forests. About 400 years ago and after that, virtually every Yoruba community established a sacred grove to revere Osun. Unfortunately, many of these sites were destroyed or reduced in size. Fortunately, the Osun-Osogbo sacred grove continues to be a worship site and a vessel for new artwork — connecting Yoruba people to their history and heritage. An annual festival is held every July and August as a way to spiritually connect with Osun. Austrian-born artist and anti-Nazi civilian Susanne Wenger (1915-2009) was famous for her efforts in helping the Yoruba people elevate and preserve their artistry, history, and traditions. Finally, about 200 plant species in and around Osun-Osogbo are known and used for their medicinal qualities.

Sukur Cultural Landscape
Since the 1500s, the ancient hilltop Sukur civilization and settlement in eastern Nigeria (near Cameroon) established itself with a burgeoning iron-smelting industry and trading system. There was even an arguably strong, stable political structure governed by the powerful Hidi chief. Various topographic and cultural qualities make the Sukur site an ideal UNESCO Heritage Site — undulating peaks of the Mandara volcanic mountain range, stone-paved paths, well-built stone structures (including the Hidi Palace), ceramic shrines, and terraced farmland. Antique iron-smelting furnaces were found at the Sukur settlement and remain there today. Just like in Osogbo, people from the Sukur village and surrounding areas host ceremonies and festivals to celebrate local ancestry and traditions.

Did you find a broken website hyperlink on the GeoFact of the Day Blog, of which the accessed website or source was unavailable? Is this an enjoyable post? Definitely let me know with a comment — thank you so much!

Hué Monuments

Once serving as the capital of VIETNAM starting in 1802, Hué in central Vietnam now serves as the picturesque home of about 350,000 residents (2016 estimate). Until 1945, Hué boasted its designation as a cultural, political, and religious center of the Nguyen Dynasty. Despite destructive wars and the typical forces of building deterioration, plenty of architectural amazement remains visible in the city of Hué today. The Sông Huong (Perfume River) and Ngu Bình mountain both straddle the city and various places belonging in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a site which was designated as a place of cultural importance in 1993. Some sites within the Heritage Site area include Điện Voi Ré (Temple of the Roaring Elephant), Hoàng Thành (Imperial City) palace, the Imperial Palace, Trai Bình Dài and Trai Bìn Thành fortresses, Tu Cam Thành (Forbidden Purple City) palace, and Van Mieu (Temple of Literature). Tombs of the dynasty's emperors are housed upstream along the Perfume River. To view more photos of this Heritage Site, access this UNESCO Image Gallery.

President Obama Visits Midway Islands

SAND ISLAND, Midway Atoll (GeoFact of the Day Blog) — On the first day of September in his last year as president, U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to the isolated Midway Atoll to commemorate an expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which includes some small islands of northwestern Hawai'i. Previously encompassing 139,797 square miles of the North Pacific Ocean, Papahānaumokuākea MNM now protects 583,000 square miles (about 1.510,000 sq. kilometers) of territory to help protect over 7,000 aquatic species and prevent fishing. UNESCO designated this marine preserve as a « World Heritage Site » in 2010. Since the arrival of President Richard Nixon in 1969, no other president has visited Midway before Obama did. Being a portmanteau word, Papahānaumokuākea refers to Papahānaumoku and Wākea, two Hawaiian ancestral spirits known for mythically creating the Hawaiian islands and its native people.

Vega Archipelago

Hundreds of native Norwegians fish and collect eider ducks' fluffy down on hundreds of native islands off the Norwegian Sea coast — and among fascinating fjords and the Kilværfjorden marine channel — in Central NORWAY. These people live on islands in the Vega Archipelago (Norwegian: Vegaøyan), and their centuries-old way of life is even celebrated by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The whole archipelago is designated a « UNESCO World Heritage Site », inscribed in 2004. Based on archaeological evidence, it is believed that people have lived on these islands since the Stone Age (8,700-2,000 BC). Some inhabited islands feature beacons and lighthouses, warehouses, fishing villages, and eider houses for ducks to nest in. Some islands and islets in the Vega Archipelago include Bremsteinvær, Heimøya, Hysvær, Igerøya, Islandsøya, Skjervær, Søla, Steinan, Vega (of course!), and Ytter-Flesa (Ytre Flesan).

Léon Cathedral, Nicaragua

Situated in the middle of its namesake city in western NICARAGUA, the 18th-or-19th-century Léon Cathedral (Spanish: Catedral de Léon) marks a transition from Baroque to Neoclassical architecture and was designed by Diego José de Porres Esquivel of Guatemala. Visitors might note the abundance of natural light radiating inside the rather subduedly decorated interior. For visitors who enjoy vibrant interior design, the sanctuary's vault and altar are thankfully decorated with ornate yet elegant Baroque elements. As the Google Earth 3D image above shows, Léon Cathedral features several towers and at least 20 cupolas (mini towers). Máximo Jerez. Nicaraguans would know that earthquakes are always possible threats, but at least the Léon Cathedral is constructed with thick walls and horizontal-oriented layout to withstand earthly tremors. Located immediately east of the Máximo Jerez Monument, this cathedral is protected by UNESCO and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

Sacred Sites of the Mijikenda People

Living mostly in southeastern KENYA near the Indian Ocean, Mijikenda tribes constructed and formed fortified villages beginning in the 16th century. These Kayas in the forested lands of coastal Kenya were and are still regarded as sacred ancestral homes. In 2008, UNESCO established the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (« UNESCO World Heritage webpage ») as a World Heritage Site. Kayas have been abandoned by the 1940s when the Mijikenda people resettled, but their former homes are now preserved by tribal elders for the sacred significance of these lands and structures. The eleven Kaya sites protected by UNESCO — some of which are named Duruma, Giriama, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, Kinondo, and Ribe — occupy 1,538 hectares (about 3,800 acres) of land and are spread out about 200 kilometers near the southeast Kenyan coast.

Ruins of Loropeni

Scattered across southwestern BURKINA FASO are about a dozen historic fortified settlements and at least 100 stone enclosures, signifying where the Koulango people established a burgeoning gold mining and trading civilization. While the trans-Saharan gold trade particularly helped Koulango society flourish between the 14th and 17th centuries, stone ruins near the city of Loropéni possibly date back about 1,000 years ago to the 11th century. These ruins are protected the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2016. Update: a couple newly established sites in Burkina Faso were inscribed to the World Heritage List in 2017 and 2019. The height of Loropéni's laterite stone walls can reach up to six meters or almost 20 feet. The UNESCO map below shows the ruins' location — northwest of Loropéni and north of Hobikoko village in an isolated, forested area. More photos and information can be found on UNESCO's webpage, conveniently linked above.