UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has a set of criteria that a site must meet in order to be recognized as a World Heritage Site. The criteria are as follows:
The site represents a masterpiece of human creative genius.
The site exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design.
The site bears a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.
The site is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.
The site is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
The site is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
In addition to meeting these criteria, a site must also have adequate protection and management systems in place to preserve its cultural or natural value.
