Let's Randomly Tour World Heritage Sites - 2 Quiz

Answer: Boris Godunov

In the latter part of the 16th century Ivan the Terrible was Tsar. After killing his own son and heir Ivan, the succession passed to another son who became Feodor I. Owing to the latter's health problems, a regency was put in place with trust being given to Boris Godunov. Following Feodor I's death, Boris Godunov himself became Tsar, thus starting the Godunov dynasty. This was relatively short-lived as when Boris Godunov died in the early 17th century, his wife and son were subsequently murdered and a period of political instability ensued.

The Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius is a very important centre for the Russian Orthodox Church. In the 18th century it had the title of "Lavra" bestowed upon it, the highest honour that can be awarded to a Russian Orthodox monastery. Sergius of Radonezh was its founder. One legend tells of how he was unable to read. He was cured of this unfortunate trait after eating a piece of bread given to him by a holy man. The monastery also acted as a military stronghold and withstood a 16 month siege early in the 17th century.

Essential viewing at the monastic complex includes the "Trinity" icon by Andrei Rublev. This depicts the three angels that visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre. Rublev is a significant figure in Russian icon painting, and was the subject of a 1966 film by the famous director Andrei Tarkovsky. It should be noted that the "Trinity" on display at Sergius Lavra is a copy. The original sits in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Answer: Mayans

Situated on the Yucatán Peninsula, Uxmal gives a sense of how the Mayans here lived towards the end of the first millennium AD. The most prominent site is the scarily steep Pyramid of the Soothsayer. Other buildings were built in two layers, with the top layer being significantly more ornamental. This type of architecture is now known as the "Puuc" style.

The most prominent deity represented at Uxmal is the Mayan rain god Chaac. The site was not built close to a water source, so the residents relied on the plentiful rainfall which was collected in underground reservoirs. Along with Uxmal, the nearby sites of Kabah, Labna and Sayil are also included in this World Heritage listing. They also have many carvings of Chaac and serve to highlight his importance.

Of the wrong answers, the Olmecs also thrived in Mexico, but declined well before the common era. The Incas and Chimú were both South American cultures.

Answer: Maranhão

The city actually gets its name from the French king Louis XIII. The French set up a fort there in the early 17th century, but were soon driven out by the Portuguese. Approaching the middle of the 17th century, the Dutch also had a go at setting themselves up on the site, but once again, the Portuguese had other ideas.

The rectangular street plan that the Portuguese used for this colonial town was unusual for the time. It is in contrast to cities such as Rio de Janeiro where a more winding street pattern could be found. The colonial architecture on display in the "Historic Centre of São Luís" covers developments from the 17th century through to the early 20th century. It has remained remarkably well preserved, partly as a result of economic decline in the city during the 20th century.

In case you were wondering, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul are in the southern half of Brazil. Mato Grosso do Sul contains a large portion of the ecological wonder that is the Pantanal tropical wetland.

Answer: Bamiyan

The standing Buddhas were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, to much international condemnation. Their given justification was that it was in accordance with Islamic law, where it was interpreted that any idol must be destroyed. On a positive note, there is still much of cultural importance in the valley that was not destroyed. This includes Buddhist art and architecture that illustrate a unique fusion of culture within the valley. This has enabled the "Cultural Landscape and Architectural Remains of the Bamiyan Valley" to retain its World Heritage status despite the loss of its prize possessions.

What is also amazing is the amount of effort that went into destroying the statues. Shooting at them didn't do as much damage as intended. Mines were even placed at the bottom of the statues that would detonate when shell fragments fell on them. Not enough, the Taliban resorted to using dynamite in order to get the job done. Perhaps it makes it easier to understand why others had failed beforehand it their attempts to destroy the statues.

The wrong answers are all Bhutan themed. Dzongkha is Bhutan's language and Gangkhar Puensum is possibly Bhutan's highest peak, as well as being the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. I say possibly, as some claim that Kula Kangri is not entirely within Tibet. If true, that would make it Bhutan's highest peak.

Answer: China

"Kaiping Diaolou and Villages" are located in Guangdong province, an area that also contains the major city of Guangzhou (Canton) and has a border with Hong Kong. One of the reasons that the villages in the area built towers was as protection from a surge in banditry, initially during the rule of the Ming dynasty. This construction had some success, resulting in the formation of Kaiping ("Beginning of Peace") County.

In the 19th century many Chinese from Kaiping County began to emigrate to other countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States. Although they worked in poorly paid jobs, they managed to amass savings and many subsequently returned to Kaiping County. Using this wealth and knowledge of western architectural styles, they began incorporating these designs into the towers in their home villages. This resulted in a fantastic fusion of styles that can still be seen today.

Emigration has remained a major feature of the area. It is even claimed that there are more Kaipingnese living abroad that in Kaiping County itself!

Answer: 350 CE

The Koguryo kingdom was founded in the 1st century BCE and lasted until the 7th century CE. Baekje and Silla, the other two of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, were also founded in the 1st century BCE. Baekje declined at a similar time to Koguryo, with Silla managing to outlast both by nearly 300 years before its decline in the 10th century.

The Koguryo kingdom covered the northern part of Korea and a small part of China. The sites that are covered under the "Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom" are all within the current borders of China. The main archaeological sites are Wunu Mountain City, Guonei City and Wandu Mountain City. These were mountain cities whose design influenced subsequent city design in the area. Inscriptions using Chinese script can be found in the tombs that serve to illustrate the influence of the Chinese on a kingdom that never developed its own form of writing.

Following the fall of the Silla kingdom in the 10th century, the Korean peninsula united under the Koryo dynasty. Koryo derived its name from the Koguryo kingdom and subsequently lent its name to the Korea we know today.

Answer: Belize

The "Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System" is the largest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere and the second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef. It is a diver's paradise, where people take to the waters to view the wonderful diversity of aquatic flora and fauna.

The Barrier Reef acts as a haven for a number of vulnerable and endangered species such as loggerhead turtles and the West Indian manatee. It is also an area where new species are continually being discovered. The reef also contains a particularly beautiful site called the Great Blue Hole. This is a dark blue sink hole that stands out for its drastic difference in colour to the surrounding waters.

In 2009 this World Heritage Site was added to the list of those in danger. This was as a direct result of human impact on the site such as the cutting of mangrove forest. Unfortunately, the site has also suffered some severe coral bleaching incidents. Rising sea temperatures and the 1998 Hurricane Mitch have been some of the main culprits here.

Answer: Wales

Blaenavon originally developed in the late 18th century as a site to mine iron ore. With the rise of the Industrial Revolution, demand for fossil fuels greatly increased leading to a large expansion in operations. It became a significant source for iron and coal to be used in the process of making steel.

The World Heritage Site gives a feel of the activities that took place in the era with its largely untarnished industrial landscape. The Big Pit now acts as a museum, helping to provide a picture of what life in the mines was like. The site lies on the border of Brecon Beacons National Park, and there is a heritage railway in Blaenavon that allows one to experience a steam train ride.

Unfortunately, the site went into decline in the 20th century as economic circumstances changed. The Big Pit finally closed in 1980, bringing to an end the mining era in this part of Wales.

Answer: Okapi

Although in the same family (giraffidae), the okapi is significantly smaller. It also looks quite different, with a white and dark brown coat and horizontal stripes on the top of its legs as well as its hindquarters, making it look like it is part zebra. Like the giraffe, it sports a rather impressive tongue!

The "Okapi Wildlife Reserve" is situated in the Itari Forest, a site that lies entirely within the Democratic Republic of Congo close to its borders with South Sudan and Uganda. It is home to a significant number of okapis, but also contains an astonishing variety of other mammals. Two of my personal favourites are the bongo (tragelaphus eurycerus), an antelope with stripes, and the giant pangolin (manis gigantea), a scaly anteater.

One of the main threats to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve has been armed conflict in the region. Unfortunately, since the Democratic Republic of Congo gained independence from Belgium it has been politically very unstable. With armed soldiers encroaching on the World Heritage Site, it has made it very difficult for people to implement the policies needed to protect the site from further degradation.

Answer: Pyramid of Cheops

The main site of interest at Teotihuacan is a massive burial complex. This features numerous pyramids and tombs, with the Pyramids of the Sun, Moon and Quetzalcoatl being three of the largest structures. The Pyramid of the Sun is one of the largest pyramids in the world, with the Pyramid of the Moon also reaching a particularly impressive height. If you were wondering, the Pyramid of Cheops is an alternative name for the Great Pyramid in Egypt.

Quetzalcoatl was the feathered serpent god. Legend among the Aztecs told of how he would one day return. One story has it, that in an unfortunate case of mistaken identity, some took conquistador Hernán Cortés as the great feathered one. After a while, he repaid such devotion by wreaking havoc at the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, thus instigating the demise of a once great empire.

Teotihuacan became a prominent site in the first half of the first millennium CE. It shows how the Aztecs treated and revered their dead, as well as their knowledge of astronomy. A sight line over the Pyramid of the Sun allowed the religious leaders to determine noon and midnight with complete accuracy.