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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Natural sites
- UNESCO categorizes their World Heritage Sites into two categories, the first of which is natural sites that are chosen for their ability to represent major stages of Earth's history and significant evolutionary ecological and biological processes—as well as their exceptional beauty.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - A combination of larger National Parks in both Alberta and British Columbia, as well as three British Columbia provincial parks, make up the UNESCO protected site of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. This area is simply stunning.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Yoho National Park in British Columbia is included in this World Heritage Site. Its name comes from the Cree word for awe and wonder, which you'll find is very appropriate when you see it.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Kootenay Park is also part of the World Heritage Site, and it takes its name from the Kootenay River, one of the two major rivers which flow through the park. Kootenay draws tourists with its hot springs, hiking, camping, and phenomenal views.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Jasper is in Alberta and is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, adding 11,000 sq km to the World Heritage Site. The park includes lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, and the jaw-dropping Columbia Icefield glaciers.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Banff is Canada's oldest park and the last national park included in this World Heritage Site.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
- Banff is in Alberta and combines dense forests, beautiful lakes and alpine landscapes that are popular for skiing. It connects to Jasper through the Columbia Icefields.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Dinosaur Provincial Park
- Located east of Calgary, this park is unsurprisingly famous for being one of the richest dinosaur fossil reserves in the world.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Dinosaur Provincial Park - Nearly 60 dinosaur species have been discovered here, some of which you might have seen at museums around the world. After exploring the unique badlands in the park, you can see some of the fossils in the visitor centre.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Gros Morne National Park - This Newfoundland national park is known for its incredibly unusual rock formations.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Gros Morne National Park - The park is a strong and rare example of continental drift, where the deep ocean crust and pieces of the Earth's mantle are visible from land.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Joggins Fossil Cliffs - This World Heritage Site is a 15 km stretch of the Nova Scotia coast where you can take a peek at fossils from a rainforest ecosystem that existed approximately 310 million years ago.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Kluane-Wrangell-St. Elias-Glacier Bay-Tatshenshini-Alsek park system - The name just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? Located across the Yukon territory, British Columbia, and Alaska, this bi-national park system was declared a World Heritage Site for its magnificent icefield landscapes, as well as its significance as a home for grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Miguasha National Park - Situated on the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, this World Heritage Site contains fossils that tell the story of a critical point in the evolution of life on Earth.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Mistaken Point - Only added to the list in 2016, this site on the south-eastern tip of Newfoundland has a 17 km stretch of cliff that dates back to approximately 570 million years ago.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Nahanni National Park - This diverse park in the Northwest Territories boasts the South Nahanni River, which runs through the park's various land forms made of sediment, ancient molten lava, and remnants of sea beds.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park - The Peace Park combines the United States’ Glacier Park and Alberta’s Waterton Lakes Park in an outstanding union that is both symbolically and physically beautiful.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Wood Buffalo National Park - This World Heritage Site in both Alberta and the Northwest Territories is larger than the country of Switzerland and was chosen by UNESCO for its biological diversity of the Peace-Athabasca Delta, as well as its remarkable population of bison (also known as buffalo, hence the name).
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Cultural sites - The second category of World Heritage Sites are those that represent a masterpiece of human creativeness, a significant stage in human history, and/or are associated with significant ideas, traditions, beliefs, or artistic works of universal value.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump - Perhaps not the first on many people’s list of places to visit, buffalo jumps are cliff formations where Indigenous people would historically hunt and kill bison in large quantities. This particular buffalo jump dates back to 5,500 years ago and is protected for its testimony of prehistoric life.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Historic District of Old Québec - Quebec City is the only North American city to have preserved its 17th century founding history so well. It's also just too charming to not want to protect its narrow streets and vibrant old buildings.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Landscape of Grand Pré - This marshland and archeological site, located in the Minas Basin of Nova Scotia, provides a visual example of how the first European settlers adapted to the conditions of the North American Atlantic coast.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site - You can find remnants of an 11th-century Viking settlement at the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. It is the earliest evidence of Europeans in North America!
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Old Town Lunenburg - The port town in Nova Scotia, established in 1753, is the best surviving example of a premeditated colonial settlement in North America.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Old Town Lunenburg - It is protected for its unique architecture and civic design, some of which dates back to the 18th century. Old Lunenburg is precious to this country, and consequently the historic core of the town is also a designated National Historic Site of Canada.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Red Bay Basque Whaling Station - This whaling station was established in the 16th century and stands as evidence of early whale hunting traditions. Remnants of ovens used to render the whale fat, wharves, temporary living quarters, and underwater remains of ships and whales are all here.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Rideau Canal - Ontario's only UNESCO World Heritage Site is designated as the largest naturally frozen skating rink in the world by Guinness World Records. Every winter thousands of people flock to the city to glide along its 7.8 km surface.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Rideau Canal - The Rideau is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America, connecting Ottawa to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
SGang Gwaay - Commonly known by its English name, Ninstints, this old village site of the Haida people is located on a tiny island off the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands and exhibits the Haida's unique connection to the land and the sea.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
SGang Gwaay
- Protecting the site also means protecting the culture of the Haida people, including remains of houses, carved mortuary and memorial poles, and other representations of art and ways of life. See also: World-famous food markets in Canada
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Natural sites
- UNESCO categorizes their World Heritage Sites into two categories, the first of which is natural sites that are chosen for their ability to represent major stages of Earth's history and significant evolutionary ecological and biological processes—as well as their exceptional beauty.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - A combination of larger National Parks in both Alberta and British Columbia, as well as three British Columbia provincial parks, make up the UNESCO protected site of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. This area is simply stunning.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Yoho National Park in British Columbia is included in this World Heritage Site. Its name comes from the Cree word for awe and wonder, which you'll find is very appropriate when you see it.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Kootenay Park is also part of the World Heritage Site, and it takes its name from the Kootenay River, one of the two major rivers which flow through the park. Kootenay draws tourists with its hot springs, hiking, camping, and phenomenal views.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Jasper is in Alberta and is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, adding 11,000 sq km to the World Heritage Site. The park includes lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, and the jaw-dropping Columbia Icefield glaciers.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - Banff is Canada's oldest park and the last national park included in this World Heritage Site.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
- Banff is in Alberta and combines dense forests, beautiful lakes and alpine landscapes that are popular for skiing. It connects to Jasper through the Columbia Icefields.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Dinosaur Provincial Park
- Located east of Calgary, this park is unsurprisingly famous for being one of the richest dinosaur fossil reserves in the world.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Dinosaur Provincial Park - Nearly 60 dinosaur species have been discovered here, some of which you might have seen at museums around the world. After exploring the unique badlands in the park, you can see some of the fossils in the visitor centre.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Gros Morne National Park - This Newfoundland national park is known for its incredibly unusual rock formations.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Gros Morne National Park - The park is a strong and rare example of continental drift, where the deep ocean crust and pieces of the Earth's mantle are visible from land.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Joggins Fossil Cliffs - This World Heritage Site is a 15 km stretch of the Nova Scotia coast where you can take a peek at fossils from a rainforest ecosystem that existed approximately 310 million years ago.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Kluane-Wrangell-St. Elias-Glacier Bay-Tatshenshini-Alsek park system - The name just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? Located across the Yukon territory, British Columbia, and Alaska, this bi-national park system was declared a World Heritage Site for its magnificent icefield landscapes, as well as its significance as a home for grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Miguasha National Park - Situated on the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, this World Heritage Site contains fossils that tell the story of a critical point in the evolution of life on Earth.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Mistaken Point - Only added to the list in 2016, this site on the south-eastern tip of Newfoundland has a 17 km stretch of cliff that dates back to approximately 570 million years ago.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Nahanni National Park - This diverse park in the Northwest Territories boasts the South Nahanni River, which runs through the park's various land forms made of sediment, ancient molten lava, and remnants of sea beds.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park - The Peace Park combines the United States’ Glacier Park and Alberta’s Waterton Lakes Park in an outstanding union that is both symbolically and physically beautiful.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Wood Buffalo National Park - This World Heritage Site in both Alberta and the Northwest Territories is larger than the country of Switzerland and was chosen by UNESCO for its biological diversity of the Peace-Athabasca Delta, as well as its remarkable population of bison (also known as buffalo, hence the name).
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Cultural sites - The second category of World Heritage Sites are those that represent a masterpiece of human creativeness, a significant stage in human history, and/or are associated with significant ideas, traditions, beliefs, or artistic works of universal value.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump - Perhaps not the first on many people’s list of places to visit, buffalo jumps are cliff formations where Indigenous people would historically hunt and kill bison in large quantities. This particular buffalo jump dates back to 5,500 years ago and is protected for its testimony of prehistoric life.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Historic District of Old Québec - Quebec City is the only North American city to have preserved its 17th century founding history so well. It's also just too charming to not want to protect its narrow streets and vibrant old buildings.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Landscape of Grand Pré - This marshland and archeological site, located in the Minas Basin of Nova Scotia, provides a visual example of how the first European settlers adapted to the conditions of the North American Atlantic coast.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site - You can find remnants of an 11th-century Viking settlement at the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. It is the earliest evidence of Europeans in North America!
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Old Town Lunenburg - The port town in Nova Scotia, established in 1753, is the best surviving example of a premeditated colonial settlement in North America.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Old Town Lunenburg - It is protected for its unique architecture and civic design, some of which dates back to the 18th century. Old Lunenburg is precious to this country, and consequently the historic core of the town is also a designated National Historic Site of Canada.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Red Bay Basque Whaling Station - This whaling station was established in the 16th century and stands as evidence of early whale hunting traditions. Remnants of ovens used to render the whale fat, wharves, temporary living quarters, and underwater remains of ships and whales are all here.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Rideau Canal - Ontario's only UNESCO World Heritage Site is designated as the largest naturally frozen skating rink in the world by Guinness World Records. Every winter thousands of people flock to the city to glide along its 7.8 km surface.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Rideau Canal - The Rideau is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America, connecting Ottawa to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
SGang Gwaay - Commonly known by its English name, Ninstints, this old village site of the Haida people is located on a tiny island off the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands and exhibits the Haida's unique connection to the land and the sea.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
SGang Gwaay
- Protecting the site also means protecting the culture of the Haida people, including remains of houses, carved mortuary and memorial poles, and other representations of art and ways of life. See also: World-famous food markets in Canada
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Breathtaking World Heritage Sites in Canada
Don't miss these when visiting Canada
© <p>Getty Images</p>
Check out this gallery for a carefully curated list of stunningly beautiful sites right in Canada that have been certified as a deeply enriching experience by some very intelligent and well-researched people.
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