Cultural heritage is an important part of the life of every nation. For this reason, one should know what cultural heritage is and why its preservation is so important. It helps to better learn and understand the history of the formation of modern society.
What is cultural heritage
Nature and culture together form the human environment. The skills and knowledge acquired by mankind from the beginning of time are accumulated and multiplied over the centuries, forming a cultural heritage. There is no single definition of what cultural heritage is, since this term is considered from different points of view.
From the point of view of cultural studies, this is the main way of existence of culture. Heritage objects preserve and pass on to future generations values that carry an emotional aspect. History considers cultural heritage primarily as a source of information about the development and formation of modern society. The legal point of view does not take into account the emotional value, but determines the degree of information content and relevance of an object, as well as its ability to influence society.
If we combine these concepts, then cultural heritage can be defined as a set of material and non-material values created by nature and man during previous historical eras.
social memory
Social memory should be understood as the basis of social cognition. The experience and knowledge accumulated by mankind are passed down from generation to generation. The development of modern man is possible only based on the knowledge of ancestors.
Cultural heritage and social memory are concepts that always go hand in hand with each other. Heritage objects are the main means of transferring knowledge, thoughts and worldviews to future generations. This is irrefutable evidence of the existence of certain people, events and ideas. In addition, they guarantee the authenticity of social memory, preventing it from being distorted.
Social memory is a kind of library where all useful knowledge is stored that can be used and improved by society in the future. Unlike the memory of one person, social memory has no end and belongs to every member of society. Ultimately, heritage determines the basic elements of social memory. Those values that are not part of the cultural heritage, sooner or later lose their meaning, are forgotten and excluded from social memory.
Organization UNESCO
UNESCO is a UN agency dealing with education, science and culture (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). One of the goals of UNESCO is to unite countries and peoples to preserve the world's cultural values.
The organization was formed in November 1945 and is based in Paris. To date, more than two hundred states are members of UNESCO.
In the field of culture, the organization is engaged in the preservation and protection of the cultural and natural heritage of mankind. The Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, became the basis for this area of activity. During the first session, the main provisions and tasks of the World Heritage Committee were adopted.
The Committee also determined the natural and cultural criteria for assessing objects, according to which they were included or not included in the list of protected. The preservation of cultural heritage is an obligation undertaken by the state that has this or that object, with the support of UNESCO. Today, the register includes more than a thousand protected objects.
world heritage
The 1972 Convention gave a clear definition of what cultural heritage is and divided it into categories. Cultural heritage means:
- monuments;
- ensembles;
- places of interest.
Monuments include all works of art (painting, sculpture, etc.), as well as objects of archaeological significance (rock inscriptions, burials) created by man and valuable for science, history and art. Ensembles are architectural groups harmoniously inscribed in the surrounding landscape. Places of interest are human creations separate from nature or together with it.
The Convention also outlined the criteria for natural heritage. It includes natural monuments, places of interest, geological and physiographic formations.
Cultural heritage of Russia
To date, the World Heritage Register includes twenty-seven objects that are located on the territory of Russia. Sixteen of them are selected according to cultural criteria and eleven are natural sites. The first objects were classified as World Heritage in 1990. Twenty-three more objects are on the list of candidates. Of these, eleven are cultural, three are natural and cultural, and nine are natural objects.
Among the UNESCO Member States, the Russian Federation is in ninth place in terms of the number of World Heritage Sites.
Cultural Heritage Days in Moscow - International Day for the Protection of Monuments and Sites (celebrated on April 18) and International Museum Day (May 18). Every year these days in Moscow free access to heritage sites is opened, excursions, quests, lectures are organized. All these events are aimed at popularization of cultural values, familiarization with them.
Legal aspect
The Federal Law (FZ) on cultural heritage objects was adopted by the State Duma of the Russian Federation in 2002. This law defines the preservation of cultural heritage as a priority for the authorities. The law also establishes the procedure for identifying heritage sites and including them in the register.
This register includes tangible and intangible cultural values that have passed peer review. Each object entered in the register is assigned a registration number and a passport. The passport contains detailed characteristics of the object: name, date of occurrence, photographic materials, description, location information. The passport also reflects data on the expert assessment of the object and the conditions for protecting the object.
According to the Federal Law on objects of cultural heritage, cultural values are recognized as the property of the state. In this regard, the need to preserve them, as well as to popularize and provide access to heritage sites, has been declared. The law prohibits alteration and demolition of objects. Management of cultural heritage objects is a set of measures aimed at the control, preservation and development of cultural objects.
Natural objects of Russia
On the territory of the Russian Federation there are ten objects included in the World Heritage. Six of them, according to the UNESCO classification, should be considered as a phenomenon of exceptional beauty. One of these objects is Lake Baikal. This is one of the oldest freshwater formations on the planet. Thanks to this, a unique ecosystem has formed in the lake.
Volcanoes of Kamchatka are also natural phenomena. This formation is the largest cluster of active volcanoes. The area is constantly evolving and has unique landscapes. The Golden Altai Mountains are unique in their geographical features. The total area of this heritage site is one million six hundred and forty thousand hectares. This is a habitat for rare animals, some of which are on the verge of extinction.
Cultural objects of Russia
Among the objects that represent the cultural heritage of Russia, it is difficult to single out more significant exhibits. Russian culture is ancient and very diverse. These are monuments of Russian architecture, and a colossal project of interweaving the streets and canals of St. Petersburg, and numerous monasteries, cathedrals and Kremlins.
The Moscow Kremlin occupies a special place among the heritage sites. The walls of the Moscow Kremlin are witnesses of many historical events that affect the life of Russia. St. Basil's Cathedral, located on Red Square, is a unique masterpiece of architecture. Churches and monasteries form the main part of the World Heritage Site in Russia. Among them is the ensemble "Solovki Islands", the first settlement of which dates back to the fifth century BC.
Importance of cultural heritage
The value of cultural heritage is very great both for society as a whole and for each person individually. The formation of personality is impossible without knowledge of the traditions and experience of ancestors. Preservation of heritage sites and their enhancement is an important task of every generation. This ensures the spiritual growth and development of mankind. Cultural heritage is an important component of culture, which helps to assimilate the experience of world history.
Among the most important tourist and recreational resources, which often determine the choice of a travel route by a tourist, are unique natural and cultural landscapes, historical and cultural monuments, which are designated as "natural and cultural heritage" and are declared national treasures by many countries. Of particular importance are the objects included by UNESCO in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites began to be drawn up in 1972, when the Convention for the Protection of Outstanding Cultural and Natural Sites was adopted. This includes archaeological sites, unique cultural landscapes, historical city centers and individual architectural monuments that have become the property of all mankind, monuments that exemplify the traditional way of life, monuments associated with teachings and beliefs of worldwide importance, nature reserves and national parks.
At the beginning of 2010, the list of objects of cultural and natural heritage included 890 objects, incl. 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed (natural and cultural). In fact, there are much more of them (over a thousand), because. some of them include entire complexes and architectural ensembles like the castles of the Loire Valley in or palaces and temples in the historical center of St. Petersburg. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in 148 , the first twenty of which are presented in Table. 4.
Table 4
There is a clear disproportion in the distribution of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites by parts of the world: 44% of UNESCO sites are in Europe, and another 23.5% in Asia (Table 5). The noted contrast is even more noticeable in the distribution of cultural monuments - 3/4 of the world cultural heritage is concentrated in Eurasia (50% in Europe and 25% in Asia). This phenomenon is explained by the Eurocentricity of modern world culture, and the preserved heritage of the ancient civilizations of the East, on the one hand, and the youth of European civilization in America, Australia, and the almost unpreserved heritage of ancient African civilizations, on the other hand.
Table 5
Leadership in natural monuments in the world is held by America, which is significantly ahead of Europe in this regard. Due to natural monuments in the general list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Africa and Australia are also noticeably “pulled up”.
We also note that in the distribution of UNESCO World Heritage Sites by the three structural elements of the world economy, there is no such disproportion as in the geography of international tourism. World Heritage sites are divided approximately in equal proportion between the post-industrial "core", the industrial "semi-periphery" and the agricultural "periphery" (Table 6).
Table 6
Distribution of UNESCO World Heritage Sites by Structural
elements of the world economic hierarchy
However, additional (relative) indicators of the distribution of natural and cultural monuments recognized by UNESCO still indicate their greater concentration in the post-industrial "core". In terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites per unit area, the “core” is almost twice the world average, and in terms of the number of natural and cultural monuments in proportion to the population, it is almost three times higher.
In terms of the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites (i.e., their number per unit area), the leading positions in the world are occupied by small but densely populated European countries: , etc. (Table 7, Fig. 4). In most cases, these countries act as the most famous centers of attraction for foreign tourists in Europe and the world.
Table 7
Top 20 countries and Russia by number of World Heritage Sites
UNESCO per unit area and in proportion to population
It is quite natural that large countries, such as Russia, the USA, Brazil, Australia, etc., occupy rather low positions in terms of the density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For this reason, we propose another relative indicator characterizing the distribution of natural and cultural monuments in the world: the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in proportion to the population of states (Table 7, Fig. 5).
Rice. 5. Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites per 10 million inhabitants.
Apparently, a relatively more even distribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites across countries and continents in comparison with the current global tourist flows should in the near future affect the increase in the weight of the “semi-periphery” in the tourism industry of the world economy, and in the more distant perspective - and "periphery". Tourism can play in the countries of the "semi-periphery" and "periphery" the role of the locomotive of post-industrial development.
I would be grateful if you share this article on social networks:
The list of natural and cultural attractions created by UNESCO is a kind of quality mark that tells the traveler that it is worth seeing. We decided to tell you about those Russian objects that were included in the World Heritage Register. What if you don't know about some of them?
Architectural and historical complex Bulgar
On the territory of Tatarstan, the ruins of a city founded by the Volga Bulgars (Turkic tribes) have been preserved. In 1361, the city was destroyed by the Golden Horde prince Bulat-Timur - fortunately, not completely. The settlement has survived to this day, which was recognized as a unique monument in 2014.
Wrangel Island
Wrangel Island is the northernmost of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It includes not only the island of the same name, but also the neighboring Herald Island, as well as the adjacent waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas. The islands are known for their huge walrus rookeries and the highest density of polar bear dens in the world. The reserve was recognized as the heritage of mankind in 2004.
Historic center of Yaroslavl
One of the dominant features of Yaroslavl is the complex of the Spassky Monastery, which is often referred to as the Kremlin. Together with other historical buildings of the city, it was included in the World Heritage List in 2005.
Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye
Built in the royal estate in 1532, when Kolomenskoye was not yet the territory of Moscow. The church was recognized as a heritage of mankind in 1994.
Lake Baikal
Surprisingly, the deepest lake in the world was recognized as the heritage of mankind not among the first natural attractions. UNESCO noted the exclusivity of this reservoir only in 1996.
The architectural ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
In 1993, the main attraction of Sergiev Posad was added to the list. The largest male monastery in Russia was founded in 1337, and the laurel acquired its familiar appearance by the 18th century, when most of the buildings available to the public today appeared here.
Western Caucasus
The mountains of the Western Caucasus, on the territory of which, for example, the Sochi National Park and the Ritsa Reserve are located, stretch from Anapa to Elbrus. Here you can find both low-mountain relief and typically alpine landscapes with numerous glaciers. The mountains were included in the UNESCO list in 1999.
Citadel, old city and fortifications of Derbent
Derbent is considered the oldest city in Russia. The first mention of it dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was called the Caspian Gate. Here is the citadel and fortifications, whose age is 16 centuries. In 2003, UNESCO recognized them as an exceptional historical monument.
Golden Altai Mountains
It was under this name that three sections of the Altai Mountains were included in the UNESCO list in 1998: the Altai and Katunsky reserves and the Ukok plateau. Despite the status of specially protected areas, there are still frequent cases of poaching.
Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery
The Ferapontov monastery in the Vologda region began to be built in the 15th century. For centuries it has been the most important cultural and religious center of the Belozersk region. Today, in the buildings of the monastery, included in the UNESCO list in 2000, there is a museum and a bishop's residence of the Vologda Metropolis.
Volcanoes of Kamchatka
In 1996, the Kamchatka volcanoes were recognized as a World Heritage Site, and five years later, UNESCO expanded the protected area. A large number of active volcanoes are concentrated here, which makes this area unique even by global standards.
Historical and architectural complex "Kazan Kremlin"
The only Russian Kremlin, on the territory of which the church is adjacent to the mosque, is located in Kazan. It began to be built in the 10th century, and it acquired a more or less modern look only six centuries later. Today, the fortress, which has been considered the heritage of mankind since 2000, is the main attraction of the capital of Tatarstan and a favorite place for walks of the townspeople.
Putorana Plateau
Lenta.ru wrote more than once about the Putorana Plateau, which was included in the World Heritage List in 2010. The natural reserve, stunning in its beauty, is located in the north of Central Siberia, 100 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle. Here you can see the untouched taiga, forest tundra and the Arctic desert.
White stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal
In 1992, the white-stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal were recognized as World Heritage. Located very close to each other, the cities are an ideal weekend itinerary, varied and not tiring.
Moscow Kremlin and Red Square
In 1990, the main square of Russia (together with the Kremlin) was one of the first to be included in the list. In total, there are three UNESCO-marked sights in Moscow - more than in any other region of the country.
curonian spit
Partially located on the territory of Lithuania, the Curonian Spit is one of the main natural attractions of the Kaliningrad region. Its length is 98 kilometers, and its width is from 400 meters at its narrowest point to four kilometers at its widest. The spit was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000.
Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent
Another Moscow attraction - the Novodevichy Convent - was created in the 16th-17th centuries. The monastery is a prominent representative of the Moscow baroque and is known for the fact that women from the royal family were tonsured as nuns here. The importance of the monastery for world culture was recognized in 2005.
Virgin forests of Komi
The largest Russian attraction on the list covers an area of 3.28 million hectares, including lowland tundra, mountain tundra of the Urals and one of the largest tracts of primary boreal forests. These territories have been protected by the state for the past 50 years; forests were included in the UNESCO list in 1995.
The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost
Many go to Karelia for the sake of Kizhi and Solovki. Both islands are on the World Heritage List. Kizhi churchyard, a monument of wooden architecture, was included in the list in 1990.
Lena Pillars
Located in the largest region of the country - in Yakutia, the pillars are located almost 200 kilometers from the republican center. Excursions here are expensive, but those who have been at the pillars say that they do not regret the money spent. In 2012, the uniqueness of the natural monument was also noted by UNESCO.
Historic center of St. Petersburg
One of the most famous sights not only in Russia, but also abroad is the center of St. Petersburg. The "Venice of the North" with its canals and over 400 bridges was included in the UNESCO list in 1990.
Ubsunur hollow
Another attraction that Russia shares with other states (there are three in total). The Ubsunur basin, partly located on the territory of Mongolia, consists of 12 disparate sections, united by a common name. A huge number of birds live in the local steppes, rare mammals are found in the desert areas, and the snow leopard, listed in the Red Book, lives in the highlands. The basin was included in the UNESCO list in 2006.
The ancient city of Tauric Chersonesos and its choirChersonesos is familiar to everyone who at least once rested in the Crimea. The ruins of the ancient polis, which is now part of Sevastopol, were included in the UNESCO list in 2013.
Struve geodesic arc
The Struve Arc is a chain of triangulation points stretching almost three thousand kilometers across the territory of ten European countries from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea. It appeared at the beginning of the 19th century and was used for the first reliable measurement of a large segment of the Earth's meridian arc. It was created by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, better known in those days under the name of Vasily Yakovlevich Struve. In 2005, the attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Historical monuments of Novgorod and its environs
In the 9th century Novgorod became the first capital of Russia. It is quite logical that it was one of the first to be included in the World Heritage List. UNESCO recognized it as a heritage of mankind already in 1992.
In Russia, a lot of monuments and cultural heritage are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now we will introduce you to some of them.
All these monuments and places are under the strict protection of the UN, UNESCO and a number of other organizations related to culture, science and education.
Moscow Kremlin and Red Square
Any resident of Russia knows what the Kremlin and Red Square are. Any tourist and resident of our vast country first of all when he comes to Moscow visits these memorable places. UNESCO took these sites under protection in 1990.
This monument reflects the entire centuries-old history of Moscow and Russia in general. Also on the territory of the Kremlin there are unique objects of foundry art of Russia: the Tsar Bell, which weighs more than 200 tons and is 6.6 m in diameter, and the Tsar Cannon with its mass of 40 tons.
Lake Baikal
Baikal, a unique natural monument of Eastern Siberia, was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1996. The lake is the deepest in the world and contains 19% of the planet's fresh water reserves. When viewed from a height, the lake resembles a crescent moon, covers an area of over 3 million hectares and is fed by more than 300 rivers and streams.
Lake Baikal is one of the most picturesque
The water in the lake has a high oxygen content, and due to its transparency, it is possible to see a depth of up to 40 m. The age of the ancient lake is especially impressive - more than 25 million years, the complete isolation of which contributed to the development of a unique ecosystem in it.
Natural Park "Lena Pillars"
Included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 2012, the Lena Pillars Park is a place where priceless finds of the inhabitants of the Cambrian period were discovered. The park is located in the center of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) near the coast of the Lena River, occupying 1.27 million hectares.
"Lena Pillars" - a unique natural monument
The park is inhabited by 12 species of fauna listed in the Red Book. Due to its antiquity, the park is of particular interest for geology: the natural monument is distinguished by its relief, dotted with caves, stone spiers, towers and niches.
The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost
The unique architectural complex of wooden architecture of the 18th-19th centuries was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990 and is an ensemble of two wooden churches and a bell tower in Karelia.
Kizhi churchyard is the epitome of Russian architecture
It houses the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum with many objects of wooden religious architecture, including an eight-winged windmill from 1929 and the Church of the Transfiguration, built without a single nail.
Novgorod historical monuments
The architectural complexes of Veliky Novgorod and its environs were included in the UNESCO National Heritage List in 1992. The cultural objects include such significant Orthodox buildings of antiquity as the Znamensky, Antoniev, Yuryev, Zverin monasteries, as well as the churches of the Nativity of Christ, the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa, the Novgorodsky Detinets Kremlin.
Monuments of Veliky Novgorod - UNESCO heritage site
Nature Reserve Wrangel Island
The reserve was included in the UNESCO list in 2004. The unique protected area is known for its almost untouched natural ecosystem dominated by the largest population of polar bears, walruses, more than 50 species of birds.
Wrangel Island is famous for its pristine ecosystem
The territory of the reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle, including Wrangel and Gerald Islands and the waters of the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas. Despite the harsh conditions of the waters of the Arctic, more than 400 species of plants predominate.
curonian spit
The famous sand spit stretches for 98 km with a maximum width of up to 3.8 km, located on the dividing line between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The natural attraction was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 2000 and is interesting for its unique anthropogenic landscape, which is represented by a variety of reliefs - from deserts to swampy tundras.
The Curonian Spit serves as a resting place for migratory birds
The spit is of great importance during the migration of 10 to 20 million birds and serves as a haven for them during their rest. Only here you can find dunes up to 68 m in height, the width of which sometimes reaches 1 km.
Novodevichy Convent in Moscow
Since 2004, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO list, which since 1524 has been one of the defensive structures of Moscow. In 1926, a historical and domestic and historical museum was founded on the site of the monastery, and in 1980, the residence of the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna was placed. In 1994, the convent was officially approved.
Previously, the Novodevichy Convent housed a historical museum.
Komi Forest
Recognized as the most virgin forests in Europe with a total area of 32,600 sq. km, which belong to the territory of the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve and occupy part of the YugydVa National Park.
The forest area of Komi is famous for its virgin forests.
Protected by UNESCO since 1995. Forests are distinguished by the diversity of flora and fauna, and many plant species are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.
Kamchatka volcanoes
Volcanoes of Kamchatka are considered part of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire of the planet and have been under the protection of UNESCO since 1996. Particularly impressive are the surrounding landscapes with unique nature and biological diversity.
The number of volcanoes in Kamchatka is more than a thousand
Work is underway to include the following natural objects in the List: Volga Delta, Lena Delta, Green Belt of Fennoscandia, Kurile Islands, Valdai - Great Watershed, Western Sayan, Beringia and the Solovetsky Islands.
Natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage List |
||
| Square | State | |
| Virgin forests of Komi | 3.279 million ha | Inscribed on the World Heritage List (1995) Criteria - N ii, iii |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Pechora-Ilychsky" | 721 322 | |
| 2. National Park "Yugyd Va" | 1 891 701 | |
| 3. Reserve zone | 666 000 | |
| Lake Baikal | 8.8 million ha | Listed (1996) Criteria - N i, ii, iii, iv |
| 1. Baikalsky State Biosphere Reserve | 165 724 | |
| 2. State Biosphere Reserve "Barguzinsky" | 374 322 | |
| 3. State Nature Reserve "Baikal-Lensky" | 660 000 | |
| 4. National Park "Pribaikalsky" | 418 000 | |
| 5. Zabaikalsky National Park | 246 000 | |
| 6. Reserve "Frolikhinsky" | 910 200 | |
| 7. Reserve "Kabansky" | 18 000 | |
| 8. Tunkinsky National Park (partially) | ||
| Volcanoes of Kamchatka | 3.996 million ha | Included in the List (1996). Expanded in 2001 Criteria - N i, ii, iii, iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Kronotsky" | 1 147 619,37 | |
| 2. Natural park "Bystrinsky" | 1 368 592 | |
| 3. Natural park "Nalychevskiy" | 286 025 | |
| 4. Natural park "South Kamchatsky" | 500 511 | |
| 5. Reserve of federal importance "South Kamchatsky" | 322 000 | |
| 6. Natural park "Klyuchevskoy" | 371 022 | |
| Golden Mountains of Altai | 1.509 million ha | Listed (1998) Criterion - N iv |
| 1. Altai State Biosphere Reserve | 881 238 | |
| 2. State Biosphere Reserve "Katunsky" | 150 079 | |
| 3. Belukha Mountain Natural Park | 131 337 | |
| 4. Natural park "Ukok" | 252 904 | |
| 5. Buffer zone "Teletskoe Lake" | 93 753 | |
| Western Caucasus | 0.301 million ha | Listed (1999) Criteria - N ii, iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Kavkazsky" with a buffer zone | 288 200 | |
| 2. Natural park "Big Thach" | 3 700 | |
| 3. Monument of nature "Upper reaches of the rivers Pshekha and Pshekhashkha" | 5 776 | |
| 4. Monument of nature "Upper reaches of the river Tsitsa" | 1 913 | |
| 5. Monument of nature "Ridge Buiny" | 1 480 | |
| Curonian Spit(jointly with Lithuania) | 0.031 million ha | Listed (2000) Criterion - Cv |
| 1. Curonian Spit National Park (Russia) | 6 600 | |
| 2. National Park "Kursiu Nerijos" (Lithuania) | 24 600 | |
| 1.567 million ha | Included in the List (2001). Expanded in 2018 Criterion - N iv |
|
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Sikhote-Alinsky" | 401 600 | |
| 2. Bikin National Park | 1 160 469 | |
| 3. Reserve "Goralovy" | 4 749 | |
| Ubsunur Hollow(shared with Mongolia) | 0.883 million ha | Listed (2003) Criteria - N ii, iv |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina" (Russia) | 73 529 | |
| 2. Biosphere Reserve "Uvs Nuur" (Mongolia) | 810 233,5 | |
| Wrangel Island | 2.226 mln ha | Listed (2004) Criteria - N ii, iv |
| State Nature Reserve "Wrangel Island" | ||
| Putorana Plateau | 1.887 million ha | Listed (2010) Criteria - vii, ix |
| State Nature Reserve "Putoransky" | ||
| Lena Pillars | 1.387 million ha | Listed (2012) Criteria - viii |
| Natural Park of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) "Lena Pillars" | ||
| Landscapes of Dauria(shared with Mongolia) | 0.913 million ha | Included in the List (2017) Criteria - (ix), (x) |
| 1. State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Daursky" | 49 765 | |
| 2. Protected zone of the State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Daursky" | 117 690 | |
| 3. Reserve of federal significance "Valley of Dzeren" | 111 568 | |
| Total area in the Russian Federation: | 279 023 | |
| 4. Strictly protected area "Mongol Daguur" | 110 377 | |
| 5. Buffer zone of the Mongol Daguur Strictly Protected Area | 477 064 | |
| 6. Nature reserve "Ugtam" | 46 160 | |
| Total area in Mongolia: | 633 601 | |
Natural properties included in the Tentative List |
||
| Objects and their territories | Square | State |
| Valaam archipelago | 0.026 million ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on May 15, 1996. |
| Natural Park "Valaam Archipelago" | ||
| Magadan Reserve | 0.884 million ha | Nomination prepared |
| State natural reserve "Magadansky" | ||
| Commander Islands | 3.649 million ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on February 7, 2005. Nomination prepared |
| State Natural Reserve "Komandorsky" | ||
| Big Vasyugan swamp | 0.4 million ha | |
| State complex reserve of the Tyumen region "Vasyugansky" | ||
| Krasnoyarsk pillars | 0.047 million ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. |
| State Nature Reserve "Stolby" | ||
| Ilmensky mountains | 0.034 million ha |
Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on August 11, 2008. Nomination prepared |
| State Natural Reserve of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Ilmensky" | ||
| Bashkir Ural | 0.045 million ha | Included in the Tentative List of the Russian Federation on January 30, 2012. |
Natural properties promising for inclusion on the Tentative List |
||
| Objects and their territories | Square | State |
| Beringia | 2.911 million ha | Recommended by the IUCN for inclusion in the List |
| 1. Beringia National Park (RF) | 1,819,154 ha | |
| 2. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (USA) | 1,091,595 ha | |
| Volga Delta | 0.068 million ha | criterion N iv. Nomination prepared |
| State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Astrakhansky" | ||
| Lena Delta | 1.433 million ha | Recommended by the IUCN for inclusion in the List in accordance with criterion N iv. Nomination prepared |
| State Nature Reserve "Ust-Lensky" | ||
| Kurile Islands | 0.295 million ha | Nomination prepared |
| 1. Kurilsky State Nature Reserve and its buffer zone | 65 365 and 41 475 | |
| 2. Biological reserve "Small Kuriles" | 45 000 | |
| 3. Reserve of regional significance "Urup Island" | 143 000 | |
| Green Belt of Fennoscandia(shared with Finland and Norway) | 0.541 million ha | The Russian part of the nomination is ready |
| 1. State Biosphere Reserve "Laplandsky" | 278 436 | |
| 2. State Nature Reserve "Kostomukshsky" | 47 457 | |
| 3. State Nature Reserve "Pasvik" | 14 727 | |
| 4. Paanajärvi National Park | 104 354 | |
| 5. Kalevalsky National Park | 95 886 | |
| Valdai - Great Watershed | 0.183 million ha | Nomination prepared |
| 1. Valdaisky National Park | 158 500 | |
| 2. State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Central Forest" | 24 447 | |
Natural objects not included in the List |
||
| Objects and their territories | Square | State |
| Vodlozersky National Park | 0.58 million ha | |
| 1. National Park "Vodlozersky" | 404 700 | |
| 2. Reserve "Kozhozersky" | 178 600 | |
| Bashkir Ural | 0.2 million ha | Not included in the List (1998) |
| 1. Shulgan-Tash State Biosphere Reserve | 22 531 | |
| 2. State natural reserve "Bashkir" | 49 609 | |
| 3. National Park "Bashkiria" (strictly protected area) | 32 740 | |
| 4. Reserve "Altyn Solok" | 93 580 | |
| Teberdinsky Reserve(expansion of the object "Western Caucasus") | 0.085 million ha | Not included in the List (2004) |
| State Biosphere Reserve "Teberdinsky" | ||
Russia, of course, is rich in unique and, which is very important, natural complexes not affected by economic activity. According to rough estimates of scientists, there are about 20 territories in our country worthy of the status of a World Natural Heritage Site. The list of the most promising territories was determined during the joint project of UNESCO and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) on boreal forests.
