WHS+-+Old+city+of+Dubrovnik+(Croatia)+(Nikola)

Nikola Martic **__ World __****__ Heritage Site- Old City of Dubrovnik in Croatia __** A World Heritage Site is a place such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert,building, or city that is listed by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as of special cultural or physical significance. UNESCO’s selection criteria for World Heritage Sites is: The site must-
 * 1) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius
 * 2) show an important interchange of human values, over a period of time or within a cultural area of the world in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
 * 3) have evidence to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
 * 4) be an outstanding example of a type of building or landscape which demonstrates significant stages in human history;
 * 5) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture or human interaction with the environment especially when it is at risk under the impact of irreversible change;
 * 6) be directly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
 * 7) contain areas of exceptional natural beauty and importance;
 * 8) be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
 * 9) be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
 * 10) contain the most important and significant natural habitats for conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

The Old City of Dubrovnik in Croatia was designated a World Heritage site in 1979 and then extended in 1994 to include the suburbs and the island of Lokrum. It meets UNESCO’s selection criteria.

It is situated on the Dalmatian coast and known as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. The Old City of Dubrovnik is the site of beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. It is surrounded by impressive city walls which are 2 kilometers long around the town. The walls are 6 meters wide on landward side and thinner on the seaward side, there are also towers which where used for protection of this great city. The third oldest European pharmacy, which dates back to 1317 and is still open today, can be found in the Old City. Other notable monuments are: Dominican Monastery which resembles a fortress on the outside and inside contains an art museum with impressive library and a Gothic-Romanesque church; the Renaissance Sponza Palace from the 16th century which is today home of the National Archives; the Gothic-Renaissance Rectors Palace; The St Saviour Church from the Renaissance period, and often visited Franciscan Monastery, and the oldest arboretum in the world, dating back to 1492.

It has survived several earthquakes over the centuries. The site was damaged in the 1990s by armed conflict, and was the focus of a major restoration programme coordinated by UNESCO. During this time the city was immediately included on the List of World Heritage in Danger. With UNESCO providing technical advice and financial assistance, the Croatian Government restored the facades of the Franciscan and Dominican cloisters, repaired roofs and rebuilt palaces. As a result, in December 1998, it became possible to remove the city from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Therefore the purpose of the World Heritage Site is to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, regardless of the country on which they are located.

A geographer studies locations and spaces to learn more about the world. A physical geographer studies the surface of the Earth. They look at topics like terrain, the distribution of water, climate patterns, and the relationships between living organisms. A physical geographer might be interested, for example, in the role of seasonal weather patterns on the natural environment, or how animals have adapted to live in particularly harsh or unique terrain. Human geographers study the relationship between people and places. They can study things like the urban environment and impact of environment on human activities. Human geographers are very interested in human cultures and societies and the role which geography plays in human activities. Commonly, a geographer works for a government organization In order to investigate the characteristics of environments geographers use these questions like What is there

where is it

Why is it there

What effects of the being is there

How has it changed over time

Should it be like this

What action is appropriate