List of World Heritage Sites in Northern Europe
The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has designated 36 World Heritage Sites in eight countries (also called "state parties") commonly referred to as Northern Europe: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, i.e. a combination of Nordic and Baltic countries.[1] Greenland lying on the North American continent is not included in this list despite of its political ties with Denmark; it is included in the List of World Heritage Sites in the Americas. The United Kingdom and Ireland are included in Western Europe even though they are sometimes listed in Northern Europe.[2]
Sweden is home to the most inscribed sites with 15 sites, two of which are transborder properties. Three sites are shared between several countries: the Curonian Spit (Lithuania and Russia), the High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (Sweden and Finland) and the Struve Geodetic Arc (ten countries in Northern and Eastern Europe).[3] The first sites from the region were inscribed in 1979, when the Urnes Stave Church and Bryggen, both in Norway were chosen a year after the list's conception.[4][5] Each year, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee may inscribe new sites on the list, or delist sites that that no longer meet the criteria. Selection is based on ten criteria: six for cultural heritage (i–vi) and four for natural heritage (vii–x).[6] Some sites, designated "mixed sites," represent both cultural and natural heritage. In Northern Europe, there are 32 cultural, 3 natural, and 1 mixed sites.[7]
The World Heritage Committee may also specify that a site is endangered, citing "conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List." None of the sites in Northern Europe has ever been listed as endangered, though possible danger listing has been considered by UNESCO in a number of cases.[8][9]
Legend
The table is sortable by column by clicking on the at the top of the appropriate column; alphanumerically for the Site, Area, and Year columns; by state party for the Location column; and by criteria type for the Criteria column. Transborder sites sort at the bottom.
- Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation[3]
- Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
- Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee[6]
- Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
- Year; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List
- Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable
Inscribed sites
Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area ha (acre) |
Year | Description | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland | Kalmar, Sweden |
Cultural: (iv), (v) |
—
|
2000 | [10] | ||
Birka and Hovgården | Stockholm, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
—
|
1993 | [11] | ||
Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki | Rauma (Lappi), Satakunta, Finland |
Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
—
|
1999 | [12] | ||
Bryggen | Bergen, Hordaland, Norway Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iii) |
—
|
1979 | [13] | ||
Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church Settlement | Christiansfeld, Kolding Municipality, Southern Denmark, Denmark Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
—
|
2015 | [14] | ||
Church Village of Gammelstad, Luleå | Norrbotten, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v) |
—
|
1996 | [15] | ||
Curonian Spit | Neringa and Klaipėda district, Klaipėda County, Lithuania* and Zelenogradsky District, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia* Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (v) |
—
|
2000 | [16] | ||
Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland | Gävleborg, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (v) |
14 (35); buffer zone 537 (1,330) | 2012 | [17] | ||
Engelsberg Ironworks | Västmanland, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iv) |
—
|
1993 | [18] | ||
Fortress of Suomenlinna | Helsinki, Finland |
Cultural: (iv) |
—
|
1991 | [19] | ||
Hanseatic Town of Visby | Gotland, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iv), (v) |
—
|
1995 | [20] | ||
High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago | Västernorrland, Sweden* and Finland* Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Natural: (viii) |
194,400 (480,000) | 2000[nb 1] | [21] | ||
Historic Centre of Riga | Riga, Latvia Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (i), (ii) |
438 (1,080); buffer zone 1,574 (3,890) | 1997 | [22] | ||
Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn | Tallinn, Harju County, Estonia Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
113 (280); buffer zone 2,253 (5,570) | 1997[nb 2] | [23] | ||
Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church | Jelling, Vejle Municipality, Southern Denmark, Denmark |
Cultural: (iii) |
4.96 (12.3) | 1994 | [24] | ||
Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė) | Kernavė, Širvintos district, Vilnius County, Lithuania Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
194 (480); buffer zone 2,455 (6,070) | 2004 | [25] | ||
Kronborg Castle | Helsingør, Capital Region, Zealand, Denmark |
Cultural: (iv) |
—
|
2000 | [26] | ||
Laponian Area | Norrbotten, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Mixed: (iii), (v), (vii), (viii), (ix) |
940,000 (2,300,000) | 1996 | [27] | ||
Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun | Dalarna, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iii), (v) |
43 (110); buffer zone 3,500 (8,600) | 2001 | [28] | ||
Naval Port of Karlskrona | Blekinge, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
—
|
1998 | [29] | ||
Old Rauma | Rauma, Satakunta, Finland |
Cultural: (iv), (v) |
29 (72); buffer zone 142 (350) | 1991[nb 3] | [30][31] | ||
The par force hunting landscape in North Zealand | Capital Region, Zealand, Denmark Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Natural: (ii), (iv) |
—
|
2015 | Includes three forest locations: Store Dyrehave, Gribskov and Jægersborg Dyrehave with Jægersborg Hegn | [32] | |
Petäjävesi Old Church | Petäjävesi, Central Finland, Finland |
Cultural: (iv) |
—
|
1994 | [33] | ||
Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site | Notodden / Rjukan, Telemark, Norway Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
—
|
2015 | [34] | ||
Rock Art of Alta | Alta, Finnmark, Norway Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: {iii} |
—
|
1985 | [35] | ||
Rock Carvings in Tanum | Västra Götaland, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (i), (iii), (iv) |
—
|
1994 | [36] | ||
Røros Mining Town and the Circumference | Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iii), (iv), {v} |
—
|
1980[nb 4] | [37] | ||
Roskilde Cathedral | Roskilde, Region Zealand, Zealand, Denmark |
Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
0.40 (0.99); buffer zone 1.50 (3.7) | 1995 | [38] | ||
Royal Domain of Drottningholm | Stockholm, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iv) |
—
|
1991 | [39] | ||
Skogskyrkogården | Stockholm, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
—
|
1994 | [40] | ||
Stevns Klint | Store Heddinge, Zealand, Denmark Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (viii) |
50 (120); buffer zone 4,136 (10,220) | 2014 | Stevns Klint is a 15 km (9.3 mi) long fossil rich chalk cliff. The fossil record includes evidence of the ash cloud following the Chicxulub meteorite impact that is believed to have caused a mass extinction 65 million years ago. The site also includes evidence of the recovery after the extinction. | [41] | |
Struve Geodetic Arc | Belarus*, Estonia*, Finland*, Latvia*, Lithuania*, Moldova*, Norway*, Russia*, Sweden* and Ukraine* | Cultural: (ii), (iii), (vi) |
—
|
2005 | [42] | ||
Surtsey | Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Natural: (ix) |
3,370 (8,300); buffer zone 3,190 (7,900) | 2008 | [43] | ||
Þingvellir National Park | Bláskógabyggð, Iceland Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (iii), (vi) |
9,270 (22,900) | 2004 | [44] | ||
Urnes Stave Church | Luster, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (i), (ii), {iii} |
—
|
1979 | [45] | ||
Varberg Radio Station | Halland, Sweden Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
109 (270); buffer zone 3,854 (9,520) | 2004 | [46] | ||
Vegaøyan — The Vega Archipelago | Vega, Nordland, Norway Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (v) |
103,710 (256,300); buffer zone 28,040 (69,300) | 2004 | [47] | ||
Verla Groundwood and Board Mill | Kouvola (Jaala), Kymenlaakso, Finland |
Cultural: (iv) |
23 (57); buffer zone 80 (200) | 1996 | [48] | ||
Vilnius Historic Centre | Vilnius, Lithuania Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
—
|
1994 | [49] | ||
The Wadden Sea | Denmark*, Germany*, Netherlands* Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Natural: (viii), (ix), (x) |
968,393 (2,392,950) | 2009 | The Wadden Sea contains the Dutch Wadden Sea Conservation Area and the German Wadden Sea National Parks of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. The coast line is generally flat and has may mudflats, marshes and dunes. The site covers two-thirds of the entire Wadden Sea and is home to many plant and animal species. It is a breeding ground for up to 12 millions birds annually and supports more than 10 percent of the population of 29 species. Was expanded in 2014 to include the Danish part of the Wadden Sea. | [50] | |
West Norwegian Fjords — Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord | Møre og Romsdal, Norway Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Natural: (vii), (viii) |
—
|
2005 | [51] | ||
Ilulissat Icefjord | Ilulissat, Greenland, Denmark Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Natural: (vii), (viii) |
40,240 (99,400) | 2004 | On west coast of Greenland, where Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world, meets the sea | [52] |
Tentative List
Denmark (7)
- Amalienborg and its district (1993)
- Kujataa - a subarctic farming landscape in Greenland (2003)
- Aasivissiot. Arnangarnup Qoorua (Greenlandic inland and coastal area) (2003)
- Moler landscape of Limfjord (2010)
- The Trelleborg fortresses (2010)
- Viking Monuments and Sites/Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church (2011)
- Viking Monuments and Sites/The Trelleborg fortresses (2011)
Estonia (3)
- Kuressaare Fortress (2002)
- Baltic Klint (2004)
- Wooded meadows (Laelatu, Kalli-Nedrema, Mäepea, Allika, Tagamoisa, Loode, Koiva, Halliste) (2004)
Finland (6)
- The Carvings from historic time at the island of Gaddtarmen (Hauensuoli) (1990)
- The large Stone Age ruin of Kastelli at Pattijoki (1990)
- The Rock paintings of Astuvansalmi at Ristiina (1990)
- The Holy place of worship of Ukonsaari by the Sami people at Inari (1990)
- Paimio Hospital (formerly Paimio Sanatorium) (2004)
- Saimaa-Pielinen Lake System (2004)
Iceland (7)
- Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve (2011)
- Mývatn and Laxá (2011)
- Viking monuments and sites/Þingvellir National Park (2011)
- Þingvellir National Park (2011)
- The Turf House Tradition (2011)
- Vatnajökull National Park (2011)
- Torfajökull Volcanic System/Fjallabak Nature Reserve (2013)
Latvia (3)
- Viking Monuments and Sites/Grobnia archaeological complex (2011)
- Kuldīga Old Town in the Primeval Valley of the River Venta (2011)
- Meanders of the Upper Daugava (2011)
Lithuania (1)
- Trakai Historical National Park (2003)
Norway (5)
- The Laponian area - Tysfjord, the fjord of Hellenbotn and Rago (extension) (2002)
- The Lofoten Islands (2007)
- Svalbard Archipelago (2007)
- Islands of Jan Mayen og Bouvet as part of a serial transnational nomination of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge System (2007)
- Viking Monuments and Sites/Vestfold Ship Burials and Hyllestad Quernstone Quarries (2011)
Sweden (1)
- The Rise of Systematic Biology (2009)
Notes
- ↑ Extended in 2006 to include the Kvarken Archipelago and name change from High Coast to the present name.
- ↑ Minor modification of boundaries in 2008.
- ↑ Addition of the buffer zone in 2009 which had been established on a national level in 2003.
- ↑ Extended in 2010 to include the circumference and name change from Røros Mining Town to the present name.
References
- Notes
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