World Heritage photo series
We had asked you to send us your holiday snaps of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The response was overwhelming. Here are some great photos we received.
Taj Mahal in India
Our viewer Ram obviously enjoyed visiting the Taj Mahal. Built entirely from marble in the 17th century, the mausoleum has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.
Chichen Itza in Mexico
The Chichen Itza ruins on the Yucatán peninsula are just as popular. Our viewer Antonio visited this archeological site which was built by the Mayas.
Memphis in Egypt
The Sphinx and the pyramids from Giza to Dahshur belong to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They attract many visitors from around the world. A snap from our viewer Angelike.
Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland
Our viewer Jesper photographed a tiny section of this huge mass of ice and even managed to capture a whale on film.
Okavango Delta in Botswana
This delta has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Our viewer Anitz explored it on a boat tour. It became a World Heritage site in 2014.
Sydney Opera House in Australia
This is the most famous landmark in the Australian city of Sydney. Jørn Utzon designed this unusual steel-reinforced concrete building in Sydney harbor back in the 1970's. Our viewer Stephen sent us this photo.
Venetian lagoon in Italy
Venice is a must for romantics as well as fans of architecture and art. The lagoon stretches over 118 islands. Our viewer Alessandro was captivated by this sunset.
Old city center in St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg is often referred to as the Venice of the north. It has many canals and over 400 bridges built during the rule of Czar Peter the Great. Our viewer Paulo Henrique sent us this shot of the Cathedral of the Resurrection in the background.
Machu Picchu in Peru
These Incan ruins are located at an altitude of 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) in the Andes. This viewer captured a unique encounter between curious local animals and tourists against a fantastic backdrop.
Olinda old city center in Brazil
Olinda enjoyed its heyday in the 18th century when the sugar industry flourished. Now the colorful Portuguese colonial architecture is a great backdrop for selfies like this one by our viewer Natalia.
Petra in Jordan
This historical temple city is one of the world's true architectural gems. After a long walk you see the magnificent entrance gate in the red rock. This photo was taken by our viewer Rizek.
Angkor in Cambodia
Angkor served as the seat of the Khmer Empire from the ninth until the fifteenth century. The 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) bear testimony to a lost culture. Angkor Wat is one of the world's largest temples. This photo was sent in by our viewer Daniel.
Rapa Nui National Park in Chile
Rapa Nui refers to the Easter Island in the southeastern Pacific. Our viewer Veronica sent in this photo of the huge stone figures. There are over 300 of them in the national park.
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam
The limestone plateau carrying the bay is slowly sinking. The former mountain peaks loom out of the water. Our viewer Islam took a boat tour of the mostly uninhabited islands and rocks.
Aït Ben Haddou in Morocco
The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou is a prime example of southern Moroccan architecture. It forms a complex of earthen buildings. The houses are crowded together inside the defensive walls. This photo was sent to us by our viewer Flavia.
The winning picture: Chichén Itzá in Mexico
With this picture Joel from Mexico just managed to beat the competition. The Chichén Itzá ruin is located on the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán and has been a World Heritage Site since 1988.