Rio de Janeiro – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization decided on this Friday (5) to recognize Paraty’s historical center (pictured) and Ilha Grande, in the South of the state of Rio de Janeiro as world heritage sites.
This is the first mixed world heritage site in Brazil – an area where both cultural and natural features are found. Out of over 1,000 world heritage sites, only 39 in 31 countries are mixed sites. Paraty and Ilha Grande join the other 21 world heritage sites in Brazil, out of which 7 are natural and 14 are cultural.
The list of world heritage sites in Brazil includes Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais), Olinda (Pernambuco), City of Goiás (Goiás), and Salvador (Bahia), Brasília, Pantanal, Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas, Iguaçu National Park (Paraná), Carioca Landscapes (Rio de Janeiro), and Valongo Wharfs (Rio de Janeiro).
Translated by Guilherme Miranda