A look at UNESCO’s first ever heritage site in world
Have you ever thought about which was the first place to make it to the list of UNESCO? Well, the Galapagos Islands and Quito (both in Ecuador) were the first ever designated UNESCO sites.
UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The agency was established way back in 1945 and has 193 member states and 12 associate members today. A UNESCO site is of utmost importance, and here’s a look at the first ever UNESCO Heritage Site in the world.
About the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are named after their giant tortoises. The Spanish word ‘galápago’ means ‘turtle’. UNESCO recognized the Galápagos as a World Heritage Site in 1978.
One of the most gorgeous and underrated island destinations in the world, these are renowned for being home to a number of endemic species like Galapagos land iguana, tortoise, flightless cormorant and fur seal, just to name a few. Later, in 1985, it was declared a biosphere reserve and became a marine reserve in 2001.
The islands are basically an archipelago of volcanic islands, set around the Equator, South America. San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela are the three most populated islands here.
About Quinto
A remarkable old town and capital city of Ecuador, Quinto is often overlooked by global travellers. The city was first to be recognized by UNESCO as a historical city in 1978. The city, resting at an altitude of 2850 m,, is the second-highest capital city in the world! It is set in a valley of Pichincha, which is an active stratovolcano in the Andes.
Today, the city is in a sorry condition and is only looked by travellers as a transit city on the way to the Galapagos. This underappreciated city has an amazing history and rich culture. The place brims with great museums and ancient architecture. And the food is simply good!
Not many would be aware of the fact that the city’s historic centre is one of the largest and best-preserved in the whole of America. In fact, Quito and Kraków were the first UNESCO recognised World Cultural Heritage Sites.