The Great Eight
Canadian Geographic|November/December 2018

These places could become the next Canadian UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Fateema Sayani
The Great Eight

CONSIDER IT A GREAT example of crowdsourcing. Two years ago, Parks Canada invited Canadians to submit their nominations for places they deemed worthy of UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition. In the end, eight cultural, ecological and geological treasures were chosen from across the country.

The announcement, made in late 2017, marked the first time Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage Sites had been updated since 2004, when five sites were added to the list. Sites are given the designation by the World Heritage Committee, which gathers annually. The next meeting is set for June 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

List development is an ongoing process. Countries are encouraged to update their tentative list of sites, which must be of “outstanding universal value,” once every decade. They should be inspiring, rare, impressive, and reflect natural and/or cultural heritage. For example, the Pyramids of Egypt and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef are both World Heritage Sites, as is Ottawa’s Rideau Canal, along with 18 other Canadian locations.

The designation brings the world’s attention and tourists, but also promotes pride of place and safeguarding of the sites.

Here are the eight new Canadian contenders hoping for the official nod.

Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs, British Columbia

SIGNIFICANCE The reefs comprise colonies of glass sponges estimated to be 9,000 years old and are considered the largest living example of glass sponge reefs that were abundant in the Jurassic Period. The structure of the reefs — sponges growing on top of sponges for thousands of years — is not found anywhere else in the world.

SIZE 1,000 square kilometres and up to 240 metres deep. The sponges themselves are up to 25 metres tall.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November/December 2018-Ausgabe von Canadian Geographic.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November/December 2018-Ausgabe von Canadian Geographic.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS CANADIAN GEOGRAPHICAlle anzeigen
ANIMAL XING
Canadian Geographic

ANIMAL XING

THIS PAST SUMMER AN AMBITIOUS WILDLIFE UNDER/OVERPASS SYSTEM BROKE GROUND IN B.C. ON A DEADLY STRETCH OF HIGHWAY JUST WEST OF THE ALBERTA BORDER. HERE’S HOW IT HAPPENED.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Canadian Geographic November/December 2021, Vol. 141, No. 6
Unearthing a giant
Canadian Geographic

Unearthing a giant

Almost 30 years ago, paleontologist Elizabeth “Betsy” Nicholls made a discovery of colossal proportions

time-read
4 Minuten  |
Canadian Geographic November/December 2021, Vol. 141, No. 6
WE DID THIS
Canadian Geographic

WE DID THIS

AS THE IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING BECOME INCREASINGLY EVIDENT, THE CONNECTIONS TO BIODIVERSITY LOSS ARE HARD TO IGNORE. CAN THIS FALL’S TWO KEY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES POINT US TO A NATURE-POSITIVE FUTURE?

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Canadian Geographic November/December 2021, Vol. 141, No. 6
The COOLEST COUNTRY
Canadian Geographic

The COOLEST COUNTRY

“The coolest country” celebrates the wonders of winter with an all-Canadian theme. The 20-page travel planner includes a bucket list from travel writer Robin Esrock, steamy spa ideas, ice fishing destinations, festival fun, northern itineraries and more!

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Canadian Geographic November/December 2021, Vol. 141, No. 6
KEEPER of the SEA
Canadian Geographic

KEEPER of the SEA

FROM BEING LABELLED DEVIL’S APRON BY FRUSTRATED FISHERMEN TO BEING LAUDED AS A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOLUTION: HOW KELP’S POTENTIAL IS BEING REALIZED, JUST AS SCIENTISTS LEARN IT’S DECLINING

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Canadian Geographic November/December 2021, Vol. 141, No. 6
WILD THINGS
Canadian Geographic

WILD THINGS

WILD CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC PRESENTS THE WINNERS OF ITS ANNUAL CANADIAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Canadian Geographic November/December 2021, Vol. 141, No. 6
AN EMPTY LANDSCAPE
Canadian Geographic

AN EMPTY LANDSCAPE

AFTER MORE THAN A MILLION YEARS ON EARTH, CARIBOU ARE UNDER THREAT OF GLOBAL EXTINCTION. THE PRECIPITOUS DECLINE OF THE ONCE MIGHTY HERDS IS A TRAGEDY THAT IS HARD TO WATCH — AND EVEN HARDER TO REVERSE.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
September/October 2021
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Canadian Geographic

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

BON INTO A CARIBOU-HUNTING CREE FAMILY IN NORTHERN MANITOBA, ACCLAIMED PLAYWRIGHT AND NOVELIST. TOMSON HIGHWAYS PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MAGICAL WORLD OF HIS CHILDHOOD IN PERMANENT ASTONISHMENT

time-read
5 Minuten  |
September/October 2021
INTO THE ARCTIC
Canadian Geographic

INTO THE ARCTIC

CANADIAN PAINTER AND FILMMAKER CORY TRÉPANIER EXPLORES THE SUBLIME AND RAPIDLY CHANGING CANADIAN ARCTIC

time-read
4 Minuten  |
September/October 2021
Under the ice
Canadian Geographic

Under the ice

Until the last decade, we knew little about what lay beneath the Arctic ice. Now scientists and explorers are shedding light on this vanishing world.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
September/October 2021