Seeing the (World Heritage) Sites Quiz

Answer: China

This site was chosen as a World Heritage site in 1998, illustrating the evolution of the Chinese civilisation and this particular site's influence on Far Eastern architecture. It can be found in Beijing and was where the Ming and Qing dynasties would pray for a plentiful harvest. Though built in the early 15th century, it was the Jiajing emperor of the 16th century who named it 'Temple of Heaven': he also oversaw the building of the Temples of Sun, Moon and Earth.

Answer: Norway

This church is so named because it is in the village of Ornes and because of its architectural framework of staves - upright posts - that keep it standing. It dates to the 12th century AD, around 1130, and was added to the World Heritage list in 1979.

It was deemed a good representative for wooden buildings in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, and according to the UNESCO website this particular building brought out the 'language of Romanesque stone architecture' in a wooden construct.

Answer: Italy

The Val d'Orcia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2004 and can be found in the province of Siena, in Tuscany. Its flat chalk plains contrast with conical hills topped with fortified settlements and have been the subject of many forms of Renaissance artistry. Prestigious wines like the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano have been associated with the area.

Answer: Uruguay

This site was was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2015 and was an industrial complex in south-western Uruguay. Here is depicted the means of sourcing, processing, packaging and delivering processed meat in the 19th century. The company was originally founded by German chemist Justus von Liebig in 1865, who sold products like beef extract (Oxo) and tins of corned beef sold under the Fray Bentos name.

In World War II, millions of corned beef tins from the factory were delivered to Allied forces.

Answer: France

This Roman aqueduct crosses the Gardon River in Gard, France, a southern department bordering the Mediterranean. It was the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and was constructed in the 1st century AD using shelly (fossil-dense) limestone. It fell out of use after the Roman Empire had declined.

It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1985 due to being a marvel of creative, cultural and technical genius.

Answer: Australia

This 2010-inscribed World Heritage property is made up of eleven former penal sites across Australia which were an example of how convicts were forced to migrate to far-off colonies of the British Empire. Around 166,000 people were sent to convict colonies over 80 years, with these eleven being particularly notable among the 3000 or so total convict sites.

The sites also provide insight as to global developments in approaches to crime, and how many convicts were ultimately able to become free people.

Answer: Afghanistan

The Minaret of Jam is found in western Afghanistan, and is intricately decorated with geometric patterns, turquoise tiles and writings from the Qu'ran. It is a rare surviving monument from 12th century Ghurid Empire. In 2002, it was inscribed as a World Heritage site and also added to a list of endangered World Heritage sites due to its proximity to the Hari river whose erosion has left the tower tilted.

Answer: Japan

These monuments were inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1998 and comprise eight sites in total, five of which are Buddhist temples. Nara was once the capital of Japan, between 710 and 784, and these sites are a testament to the cultural prosperity of the region at the time. UNESCO also appreciated how these sites were an example of planning in early Asian capital cities, as well as demonstrating the sustained cultural relevance of the Buddhist and Shinto religions.

Answer: United Kingdom

Gorham's Cave complex can be found in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is considered one of the last known points of residence for Neanderthals and evidence of their occupation here spans over 100,000 years. The use of engravings, birds and marine animals for food and the caves' archaeological deposits show how the Neanderthals had a capacity for abstract thought and these were reasons they were inscribed as a World Heritage site.

Answer: Netherlands

This 135km ring of fortifications surrounds Amsterdam and was a network of 45 forts built between 1883 and 1920. It was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1996. The people of the Netherlands had a history of using things like dikes and sluices to manage the regional water levels.

They used that ingenuity to create a form of defence that would render the area too shallow for boats and too deep in which to wade. The development and subsequent popularity of aircraft meant that the Defence Line of Amsterdam never saw much military use, but it is still an interesting example of hydraulic engineering as well as evidence of the transition from brick to concrete.