The first book that fully describes every official UNESCO World Heritage site -- the world's most extraordinary places.

In 1959 the government of Egypt decided to build the Aswan High Dam, which would flood a valley containing treasures of ancient civilizations. In response, UNESCO launched an international safeguarding campaign, which ultimately led to the list of World Heritage sites. In clear text that highlights all the fascinating facts, World Heritage Sites details all 878 properties, including the 20 American and 15 Canadian sites.

Covering 141 countries, the World Heritage List has proved to be a valuable tool in the battle to preserve much of the world's cultural and natural heritage. Its strict criteria result in only the world's most spectacular and extraordinary sites making it onto the list, including:

• The Acropolis in Athens
• The Statue of Liberty in New York
• The Rideau Canal in eastern Ontario
• Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, the world's first international peace park, which straddles the US-Canada border
• The ancient Nabataean city of Petra in Jordan
• The remarkable Dazu Rock Carvings in China
• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Missouri, the largest pre- Columbian settlement north of Mexico
• The unique ecosystem of the Serengeti in Tanzania
• And 870 more.

Featuring gorgeous photographs and a location map for every site, World Heritage Sites is uniquely comprehensive.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded in 1945 with the ambitious goal to build peace in the minds of men and women through education, social and natural science, culture and communication.