We have thoroughly discussed topics related to Missing Countries here. In this thread, I am seeking to highlight regions, states or provinces that have no world heritage sites and in some way stand out for their geographic location, size, or world heritage potential. There are undoubtably many more areas of interest, but I chose to highlight these for now. Perhaps, our community is aware of some other regions that stand out?

Azerbaijan - Nakhichivan Autonomous Republic, a landlocked exclave that in past centuries was ruled by Iran and then Russia. Borders Armenia, Iran, and Türkiye. No world heritage sites, but two tentative nominations.

Brazil - State of Para (2nd largest province), is about the size of South Africa and includes much of the Eastern terminus of the Amazon River. There are no WHS in the province, but there are two tentative nominations.

Canada - Saskatchewan, a province the size of Afghanistan. No world heritage sites, though one tentative nomination is scheduled for 2026.

China - Hainan Province, an island about the size of Taiwan with no world heritage sites, but 2 tentative nominations (one scheduled in 2026).

Egypt - Western Governorates (New Valley & Matrouh), about the size of Ukraine, no world heritage sites, but 4 tentative nominations.

Netherlands - Limburg Province, an area of Netherlands bordering Belgium and Germany (in effect a salient/panhandle). Higher in elevation than the rest of the Netherlands, this region has often been contested by various states over the last two millennia until 1839. There are no world heritage sites in this region, nor tentative nominations.

United States - Mississippi River to the Eastern boundary of the Rocky Mountains, including much of the 'Great Plains' (States included: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the Texas Panhandle. If this area was a country, it would be the 18th largest, slightly larger than Iran. Not only is there no WHS in this region, there is only 1 tentative nomination (2 components - Civil Rights Movement Sites).

Netherlands: How about Groningen (if you don't count the Wadden Sea) with the oldest cultural landscape in Northwestern Europe, or Zeeland with its Delta Works, declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Zeeland has no WHS, Groningen only has the Wadden Sea which it shares with the province of Fryslân and Germany and Denmark. I don't see any world heritage potential for Limburg though, to be honest.

This topic make me think of how desperate governors and mayors of 4 provinces of Shikoku to promote 88 temples pilgrimage routes for WHS. Kind of peer pressure and lack of prestige among regions of Japan.

Certainly Durian, I think of several countries that follow a policy where the state or provinces submit nominations (sometimes as a limited quota) or the extra push for a region with no WHS. This forum topic is not limited to the deserving or underserving.


I didn't automatically expect high potential here as the Netherlands already have 13 WHS. However, I am surprised that there is no tentative nominations located in this province, nor has a transnational nomination ever developed considering its borders.

When browsing the inscribed sites map, it can be interesting to see these blank parts of the map and wonder, is there really nothing of cultural or natural value that could demonstrate OUV there? For example, Els held Ver-o-Peso in Belém as a deserving site, the capital of the State of Para in Brazil. I can think of multiple worthy sites in the broader Great Plains region that have potential for OUV.

Area of United States Lacking a WHS

I thought I would actually share what this looks like on a US map. Eastern boundary is the Mississippi River. Western boundary is the lower range of the Rocky Mountains generally following state lines. Northern boundary is Canada. The Southern Boundary corresponds to the Texas panhandle and the Oklahoma/Arkansas border. Perhaps there is a stereotype that this region is 'empty', but it does include 6 National Parks, multiple national historic trails, numerous tribal lands/nations and several cities: St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Omaha, Lincoln, and Wichita.

For the record, I vote against the inscription of Wichita.

Probably no hope for Witchita! However, these would be the sites I would propose for consideration or at least worthy of discussion.

Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
Gateway Arch (Missouri)
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (North Dakota)
Louis Sullivan 'Jewel Box' Banks (Iowa / serial nomination)
Pipestone National Monument (Minnesota)
Price Tower (Oklahoma) *Extension to FLW Buildings
Scotts Bluff National Monument & Overland Trails Landmark [Oregon Trail, California Trail, Pony Express Trail, Mormon Trail] (Nebraska)
Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)

Tentative Nomination - Civil Rights Movement Sites (Scheduled for 2027)
- Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park - Monroe Elementary School (Kansas)
- Little Rock Central High School (Arkansas)

The Isle of Man is, to my eyes, one of the most glaring omissions. Tynwald Hill is host to the oldest continuous parliament, and the hill itself is considered to be from the 13th century and a prime example of a Thing mound. The Great Laxey Wheel also demands consideration.

Certainly among the 'Crown Dependencies', the Isle of Man seems to have the greatest potential for a world heritage nomination. Others have also shared your sentiment.


Solivagant has also provided insight into past attempts for world heritage status.

This document from 2011 pages 69/70 shows what the appointed "Panel" thought of Laxey's attempt at getting on the UK T List - in summary -
"B. The Panel's Response
The Panel noted that there were many examples of the lead industry and of mining landscapes, some of which were already on the World Heritage List, and considered that the Laxey Valley was of local and national interest rather than global.
Recommendation
The Panel judged that The Laxey Valley did not have the potential to demonstrate OUV and recommends that The Laxey Valley should not be included in the Tentative List"
I can't find the PDF I have of the application on the Web (it was like pulling teeth getting it from the DCMS!) but have sent it to Els and she can put it up so people can read the pitch made by the Isle of Man if they wish. They didn't bother to re-apply at the most recent T List update. but the entire island had, in the meantime acquired UNESCO "Biosphere Reserve" status so seems to have settled for that..

Regarding "Non represented regions" of Countries it has only just hit me that England has NO WHS East of the main A1 highway between London and Newcastle - .ie NOTHING in the whole of East Anglia (from Essex up to Norfolk, Lincolnshire or East Yorkshire. The recent addition of almost the entire coast as the East Atlantic Flyway together with the City of York could alter that situation in coming years. It could be of course that the area has little of value and/or that what it does have is now a bit old hat for nomination and should have been pursued 40 years ago -
Cathedrals - Lincoln, Peterborough, Ely, Norwich in addition to York
Cities - Norwich in addition to York
Vernacular Architecture/CLs - there are numerous examples of what the World would see as archetypal English villages in the region - e.g Lavenham
Country Houses - UK has never tried to propose another of its "typical" features - the English Country house - i.e "down" of a "Palace" as per Blenheim or many equivalent buildings in mainland Europe - but archetypically "English". East Anglia has several fine examples crossing the centuries from its emergence as a "fortified house"
Universities - Cambridge of course as we know just isn't interested!!
Landscapes- The Broads have tried and I guess that the Fens are mere copies of what NL has already inscribed! There are also numerous "abandoned villages" as "relict landscapes" in the area as evidence of the ebbs and flows of history in Medieval times
Prehistory - Grimes Graves are IMO superior as Flint mines to Spiennes - but, if you don't nominate you don't get. The Anglo-Saxon ship burial site at Sutton Hoo - an as yet unrepresented period in English history

Here's the document on the Isle of Man nomination Solivagant is referring to https://www.worldheritagesite.org/img/laxeyvalley.pdf

Solivagant, do you think population has played a role? Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, and the North East regions are the least populated in England. While East of England (in particular East Anglia) like those regions already mentioned has a low population density. A more modest population leads to less representatives in Government. There might be some correlation here also with the broader 'Great Plains' region in the United States. Then again, perhaps these regions don't have as many obvious candidates for world heritage status?

I really don't think so. The most important "regional" differentiator in UK is of course "Country" (Eng, Scot, Wales, N Ire) and there is no doubt that the WHS spoils have been shared out across them.....whether "fairly" is another matter. "Region" within country doesn't attract much loyalty since many of these are to some degree "modern" creations -tarred verry much with the EU brush which "required" England to be so divided for various purposes including EU parliamentary representation. There are 9 of these see this map
The "East of England" for that purpose is somewhat larger than traditional "East Anglia" but still has no WHS..... its population is in fact rather larger than some of the other regions.

"County" would be a stronger entity for garnering loyalty but even a lot of these have been mixed up by governmental reorganisation - they are not as "Immutable" as US States!!! There will be a number of historic "counties" without WHS, including those of East Anglia, but I don't think any of them would see it as a great snub. Interestingly historic "Lancashire" doesn't have a WHS either since the removal of Liverpool. Yorkshire has done ok even if not East Yorks. The West Country too is well represented even though its population isn't that great.

I think the biggest reason the East of England has failed to get a WHS is that it doesn't have the sorts of sites which UK decided to major on - in particular those related to the Industrial Revolution. Being south east of the "Tees/Exe line" (the approximate boundary of "high" ground in Great Britain) it lacks mountains and mining. And UK arrived late to WHS and hasn't favoured its religious buildings once Canterbury, Durham and Westminster had been covered.. Plus then possibly a lack of imagination as to what the "east" could offer? UK doesn't seem to have considered its agricultural/landed tangible heritage as worth nominating.