America: 7 sites to the world heritage of mankind in danger

On all continents of the world, there are sites of world heritage at risk, and America is not spared with no less than 7 sites.

America, also known as the “New World”, is the second largest continent in the world. It is divided into several parts which possess very different traditions and peoples but which nevertheless have a common history: that of colonization. Whether North America, Central America or South America, each region has a particular biodiversity, language and architecture. There are therefore many places (natural or cultural) classified as the world heritage of humanity, but 7 of them are now at risk.

1. Archaeological area of Chan Chan (Peru)

Chan Chan is an archaeological site that extends over an area of 20 km2. Several types of constructions have been identified in this city of land according to the social classes: workshops for modest families, homes for wealthy classes, palaces for aristocrats... Traces of temples and frescoes highlight the culture of this people. However, the coastal current "El Niño" endangers this territory. Indeed, the large rainfalls cause floods and thus contribute to the erosion of this world heritage.

2. Everglades National Park (United States)

Everglades National Park is located in Florida. It is considered a biosphere reserve in order to protect the environment and species at risk that meet there: panthers, crocodiles, lamantins... This large ecosystem includes many specimens (birds, reptiles, mammals, fish) as well as unique plants and landscapes. But nature suffers because of human activity, so it is important to preserve this space.

3. Biosphere Reserve Río Plátano (Honduras)

The Río Plátano is a stream that flows into the Caribbean Sea. In its surroundings, fauna and flora experience exceptional diversity. But this world heritage is at risk because of trade, deforestation, agriculture and a hydroelectric plant project.

4. Humberstone and Santa Laura Salpest Plants (Chile)

A salt plant (stone salt) is based on the treatment of a chemical body called potassium nitrate. By mixing it with sulphur powder and charcoal we get cannon powder. These two sites are classified world heritages because after having experienced great prosperity, they were finally abandoned and became ghost monuments in the middle of the desert. So the tourists were interested in their ruins.

5. Coro and its port (Venezuela)

Coro is a state capital of about 260,000 inhabitants, located in Venezuela. This city and its port are among the important cultural sites in the world because their architectural style is amazing. Indeed, the buildings are mostly built on earth and their style has influences of several horizons due to the colonial past of Coro, especially by the Spanish.

6. Barrier Reef Reserve Network (Belize)

Les Cayes du Belize are a set of islands and corals located in the Caribbean Sea. The reef presents a large marine reserve and represents one of the largest in the world after the Great Coral Barrier in Australia and the Lagoons of New Caledonia.

7. Town of Potosí (Bolivia)

Potosí is a city of Bolivia that translates into French by "Thunder". It is one of the highest cities in the world. Its landscape has many rocks since it is built at the foot of the Cerro Rico, a mountain of silver ore that dominates the valley of its 4824 m altitude. The old city has been a world heritage of American humanity in peril since 2014, as the exploitation by Man has gradually degraded the territory.

Main photo credit: Wikimedia – Rewbs.soal