Notre Dame de Paris is a famous tourist attraction in France and a milestone in the history of European architecture. This is a typical Gothic church building located on the Seine River in the center of Paris. It was started in 1163 and completed in 1345. It is one of the most representative monuments in France. Notre Dame de Paris is a representative of early European Gothic architecture and sculpture art. In recent years, approximately 12 million tourists have visited Notre Dame every year, making it the most visited attraction in France.Notre Dame de Paris is located in a temperate maritime climate. The average temperature in summer is between 15 and 25 degrees. In winter, it rains a lot and is often foggy. Restoring Notre Dame will require consideration of climate change and its impacts, as well as the use of sustainable building materials and technologies. This can contribute to SDG 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Restoring Notre Dame will provide the public with research and learning opportunities that advance SDG 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Serengeti, spanning 30,000 square kilometers across Tanzania and Kenya, is a biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its annual wildebeest migration, showcasing over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, is a global wildlife spectacle. With diverse landscapes, from savannas to rocky outcrops, it offers thrilling safari adventures. Indigenous tribes like the Maasai, practicing nomadic pastoralism, contribute to its cultural richness. To address Sustainable Development Goal 8.9 of Sustainable Tourism, digital interpretation tools like VR tours and interactive exhibits are vital. They educate visitors on conservation, promote responsible travel, and showcase local culture and wildlife. Digital platforms also highlight indigenous traditions and encourage support for local artisans and businesses. By embracing sustainable tourism practices, the Serengeti preserves its natural beauty and cultural heritage while creating employment opportunities. Through digital interpretation, it fosters a deeper understanding of the importance of conservation and responsible travel, ensuring the sustainable development of this iconic natural site.
Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Tourism
The Parthenon, an architectural masterpiece atop the Acropolis of Athens, Greece, was built between 447 and 432 BCE during the Golden Age of Athens. Dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the temple exemplifies Doric order with 46 towering marble columns. Crafted by renowned sculptor Phidias, its friezes depict Greek mythology and history. Despite time's toll, the Parthenon endures as a symbol of Greek civilization's ingenuity and cultural dominance. Its harmonious design and narrative reliefs inspire awe and reverence, embodying the principles of Greek classical architecture. User: Visitors to the Parthenon can now engage with digital interpretation tools, such as virtual reality tours, interactive exhibits, and multimedia presentations, to enhance their experience and understanding of this ancient wonder. These digital platforms provide an immersive journey into the history and significance of the Parthenon, allowing users to explore its architectural details and learn about the stories depicted in its sculptures and reliefs. Moreover, digital interpretation can address Sustainable Tourism (SDG 8), particularly target 8.9, which focuses on promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. By educating visitors about the importance of conservation, promoting responsible travel, and fostering a deeper appreciation for local culture and heritage, digital interpretation contributes to sustainable tourism practices. Through these digital platforms, visitors can gain insights into initiatives aimed at preserving the Parthenon and its surrounding environment for future generations, aligning with the goals of sustainable development.
The Temple of Artemis, also known as the Artemision or the Temple of Diana, was an ancient Greek marvel dedicated to the goddess Artemis near Ephesus, Turkey. Built around 550 BCE, it stood as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Designed by Chersiphron and Metagenes, its grandeur was evident in its vast dimensions: approximately 377 feet long, 180 feet wide, with columns over 60 feet tall. Artemis, revered as the goddess of the hunt and fertility, was worshipped at this temple, attracting pilgrims from afar. The interior housed a magnificent statue crafted by Phidias. Despite reconstructions after a fire in 356 BCE, the temple eventually succumbed to decline and destruction by invaders and natural calamities. Today, only scattered ruins remain, a testament to the temple's former glory and its significance in ancient Greek religion and culture. Digital interpretation of the Temple of Artemis can address Sustainable Tourism (SDG 8), particularly target 8.9, which focuses on promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. By educating visitors about the importance of conservation, promoting responsible travel, and fostering a deeper appreciation for local culture and heritage, digital interpretation contributes to sustainable tourism practices. Through these digital platforms, visitors can gain insights into initiatives aimed at preserving the historical significance of the Temple of Artemis and its surrounding environment for future generations, aligning with the goals of sustainable development.
Cinque Terre - timelapse from Italy (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore)
Very complete video showing the beauty of Cinque Terre!
The Great Barrier Reef exists as the pinnacle example of underwater natural heritage. Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, it spans over 2300km in area, containing a staggering and diverse array of marine wildlife and an abundance of coral reefs. Its legendary status and immense value make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site with substantial ecological significance. Beyond the value that it has in its ecological diversity, it also has significant cultural and economic importance, for the internal indigenous communities and tourism industry respectively. With reference to sustainable development goals (SDG), the Great Barrier Reef has significant connection to SDG14: Life Below Water, a goal which aims to utilise the natural resources of our oceans as well as conserving them over time. Using digital interpretations of the Great Barrier Reef can provide substantial assistance in achieving this target, as it can engage users worldwide by fostering an improved awareness and educating them about the fragility of the Reef, and vitally the action which can be taken to preserve it. This can be through immersive experiences, such as 3D or Virtual Reality tours, and resources for education.
Shell ring site are a type of ancient human settlement site. The cultural accumulation at such sites is dominated by shellfish. Shell ring site of the ancient city of Jinning in Yunnan is the most complete known annular shell mound site of the Pre-Dian period in Yunnan Province, China. The core area of the site reaches 42,000 square meters, and the shell mound accumulation thickness is nearly 6.5 meters. There are a large number of snail shells stacked alternately with layers of lime soil in the site. After the ancients ate the snail meat, they discarded the snail shells as food waste, and gradually accumulated them over the years, forming the shell mounds we see today. Protecting shell midden sites can help people understand past ways of life, promote tourism and local economic development, and promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG 4 quality education and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Shell ring site of the ancient city of Jinning
The Herculaneum Scrolls are ancient scrolls discovered in Herculaneum in the 18th century AD. The scrolls were buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Now these ancient scrolls have been severely carbonized and are very fragile. If they are not careful, they will be completely broken, making it difficult for people to open these scrolls. In the early days, the scrolls were even thought to be carbonized tree branches and were abandoned or even burned. Currently, researchers are using a variety of methods to try to unfold The Herculaneum Scrolls, even using the latest three-dimensional scanning technology and artificial intelligence algorithms, and have made a lot of progress. Years of research revealed that the scrolls came from ancient libraries and contained many ancient Greek philosophical texts, including the works of ancient Greek philosophers and poets.Preserving The Herculaneum Scrolls can provide researchers and the public with an important resource for learning about ancient cultures and languages, and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG 4 quality education and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
The Aletsch Glacier is a major tourist attraction, and an example of natural heritage, located in Switzlerland. It is home to various rare animal and plant species, offering breathtaking views of the ice formations in the surrounding landscapes. Moreover, it is part of a protected area which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it holds significant cultural and economic value. For example, many communities rely on the water from the glacier for their livelihoods; i.e. drinking and agriculture, while it is also essential for creating liveable habitats for the high number of rare species in the ecosystem. Climate change is, however, causing the glacier to gradually melt which is having profoundly negative impacts on the ecosystem and culture. Digital interpretations of the Aletsch Glacier can help raise awareness for - and study - climate change. By allowing users to observe the gradual deterioration of the glacier over time, they can perhaps realise the extent of the damage that climate change can have. It is something that can be seen as a way to 'experience' climate change; comparing the glacier from thousands of years ago to the modern day provides irrefutable evidence for global warming.
The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic example of natural heritage, with it's unique chalk cliffs and beautiful view over the coastline facing France across the Channel. They have significant historical, cultural, and ecological value which makes them an essential component of natural heritage in the United Kingdom. However, the Cliffs are being significantly affected by climate change. With reference to the UN's sustainable development goals, this have particular connection to SDG13: Climate Action, due to the increasing erosion and rising sea levels causing the gradual deterioration and destabilisation of the cliffs. Moerover, it is also connected to SDG14: Life Below Water, as gradual changes in temperate has profound impact on the fauna, birds, and fish that inhabit the surrounding area.
Angkor Wat, located in the Siem Reap province of Cambodia, is one of the world's largest religious monuments and cultural heritage sites. It was constructed in the 12th century by the Khmer Empire and utilised as a Hindu temple followed by its utilisation as a Buddhist monastery. The temple structure spans over 400 square kilometers, showcasing magnicent architecture, detailed carvings, and deep connections to art, history and religion. Beyond its enormous physical structure, Angkor Wat incorporates significant cultural, spiritual, and archaeological value. In addition to its reputation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it also holds great spiritual and cultural signicance for the people of the country and across the world.