If you haven’t noticed yet, this website’s main purpose is to evaluate and rank UNESCO World Heritage Sites and pin them against each other. Have you ever wondered what guidelines are used to rank every world heritage site? No? Not really? Well, here they are anyways!
Cultural Sites
1) Completeness and Originality (out of 15): What remains today? Is it original or a rebuilt replica. How well is it taken care of?
Example Scores:
Just the location remains: 0-3
Reconstructed but in poor condition: 3-6
Original but in poor condition: 6-9
Reconstructed and in good condition: 9-12
Original and in good condition: 12-15
2) Extensiveness of the Site (out of 15): How large is this site? Will I spend all day here, or will five minutes of staring at it be enough?
Example Scores:
Can be completely viewed in under an hour: 0-2
Can be viewed in about an hour: 2-4
Can be viewed in about 2-3 hours: 4-7
Can be viewed in about 3-6 hours: 7-10
Can be viewed in about 6-10 hours (full day): 10-12
Takes multiple days: 12-15
3) Cultural Significance (out of 25): How did this affect regional or even world history/culture? How would the region or the world be different without this place?
Example Scores:
Had very little significance: 0-3
Significance only to the locals: 3-6
Significant to the locals for centuries: 6-9
Significant to the locals and other cultures: 9-12
Significant to the locals and other cultures for centuries: 12-15
Significant on a global scale: 15-20
Significant on a global scale for centuries: 20-23
Significant on a global scale causing planet-wide paradigm-shift: 23-25
4) Personal Impact (out of 15): How did this place make you feel upon entering? What was the general ‘awe’ feeling?
Example Scores:
Waste of time: 0-2
Good for a slow Tuesday: 2-4
Great weekend getaway: 4-7
Awesome place, glad I came: 7-10
I would recommend this to anyone I know: 10-12
Never wanted to leave and can’t wait to come back: 12-14
Jaw-dropping, best place I have ever visited: 14-15
5) Logistics (out of 10): How difficult is it to reach? How crowded is it? (Of course, I mean relatively. I don’t expect the Great Wall to be deserted, but would feel uncomfortable if it is so crowded that I can’t even move around). What was the cost and was it worth it? (This will be pinned relative to the cost of other equally magnificent sites).
Example Scores:
Totally not worth it: 0-4
So-so worth it for the effort: 4-7
Totally worth it 7-10
6) Uniqueness (out of 20): How unique is it compared to other sites? Did you feel like “there is nothing else like it in the world!” or, “very similar to…”? (In this category, things like churches/temples would lose points unless they are extraordinarily unique and places like ” The Tree of Life” in Bahrain would get a good score.)
Example Scores:
Very common, not sure why THIS one was picked as a UNESCO Site: 0-4
Very nice, but seen something like it: 4-8
Moderately uncommon: 8-12
Pretty unique: 12-17
Never seen or heard of anything even similar: 17-20
Natural Sites
1) Completeness / Preservation (out of 15): How well is it preserved?
Example Scores:
Destroyed Extensively: 0-3
Very Developed, Hardly Considered Nature: 2-5
So-so condition: 5-8
Good Condition 8-10
Pristine Condition: 10-12
Untouched, The Garden of Eden: 12-15
2) Extensiveness of the Site (out of 15): How large is this site? Will I spend all day here, or will five minutes of staring at it be enough? (same as a cultural sites)
Note:
Since natural sites tend to be bigger, the time it takes to explore them will be counted as how long would it take to get the full effect of the site.
3) Natural Significance (out of 25): What does it contribute to the biodiversity of the world? How is it in terms of landscape, cleanliness, and natural beauty?
Example Scores:
Common Site, no wildlife: 0-3
A bit unusual, few wildlife: 3-6
Alright site with some wildlife: 6-10
Good site with wildlife, weekend getaway: 10-14
Awesome place you would travel to visit: 14-18
Amazing place, recommended to all your friends: 18-21
Unreal, National Geographic status: 21-25
4) Personal Impact (out of 15): How did this place make you feel upon entering? What was the general ‘awe’ feeling? (same as cultural sites).
5) Logistics (out of 10): How difficult is it to reach? How crowded is it (Of course, I mean relatively. I don’t expect the Grand Canyon to be deserted, but would feel uncomfortable if it is so crowded that I can’t even more around). What is the cost and is it worth it? (This will be pinned relative to the cost of other equally magnificent sites). (same as cultural sites)
6) Uniqueness (out of 20): How unique is it compared to other sites? Did you feel like “there is nothing else like it in the world!” or, “very similar to…”? In this case, things like churches would lose points unless they are extraordinarily unique, and unusual sites like the “Tree of Life” in Bahrain would get a bump up the ranks. (Same as cultural sites)
Mixed Sites
Because there are so few mixed sites, their score will derive from either a mixture of the categories above, or will be weighed on the stronger of the two (cultural or natural) based on a judgment call on my part.