World Heritage

An International Treasure

What does Glacier Bay have in common with the Great Wall of China, the Taj Majal, the Galapagos Islands, and the Tower of London?

Some places transcend time and national boundaries and become the common inheritance of mankind. These places are now given international recognition as World Heritage Sites, outstanding universally recognized natural and cultural features that attract the attention and merit protection of all people worldwide.

There are twenty World Heritage sites in the United States (including two sites jointly administered with Canada). Significantly eighteen units of the United States National Park System have been designated as World Heritage Sites.

In 1978, in combination with its Yukon neighbor Kluane National Park, the United Nations recognized Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park as part of an international World Heritage site...the first bi-national designation. Glacier Bay, and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia were added in 1993. Together, these four units include 24.3 million acres, one of the largest internationally protected ecosystems on the planet!