São Tomé’s nearest UNESCO World Heritage Sites are on the African mainland — Lopé-Okanda in Gabon is one hour away, while the Congo Basin’s Dja and Salonga reserves lie within a half-day’s travel for heritage travellers exploring West and Central Africa.
Guyana has no UNESCO sites. Kaieteur Falls (250 km SW of Georgetown) is the world’s most powerful waterfall (226 m drop, 663 m³/s). Nearest UNESCO: Central Suriname Nature Reserve (700 km east).
The only Italian film in competition at Locarno 79 won Best Direction with a story built on a lagoon custom that does not exist. Its director says so himself.
Palau has 1 UNESCO site: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (2012, mixed), 35 km south of Ngerulmud — 445 limestone islands, sting-free Jellyfish Lake, highest coral diversity in the Pacific.
Brunei has no UNESCO sites. Nearest: Gunung Mulu NP in Sarawak (~150 km east, 2000) with world’s largest cave chamber. Brunei’s Kampong Ayer water village (13,000 residents on stilts) is an outstanding heritage site.
Myanmar has 2 UNESCO sites near Naypyidaw: Bagan (2019, 2,000+ Buddhist temples, 250 km NW) and Pyu Ancient Cities (2014, 165 km NW). Bagan is the largest concentration of Buddhist monuments in the world.
North Korea has 2 UNESCO sites near Pyongyang: Complex of Koguryo Tombs (2004, decorated 4th-7th century royal tombs) and Historic Monuments of Kaesong (2013, Goryeo Kingdom capital, 170 km south).
Antigua has no UNESCO sites. Nelson’s Dockyard at English Harbour (20 km south of St John’s) is the only continuously operating Georgian naval dockyard in the world — on the UNESCO Tentative List.
Saint Vincent has no UNESCO sites. Nearest: Pitons Management Area in St Lucia (130 km N). Notable: Kingstown Botanical Garden (oldest in Western Hemisphere, 1765), La Soufrière active volcano.
St Lucia has 1 UNESCO site: Pitons Management Area (2004), 65 km south of Castries — twin volcanic peaks Gros Piton (770 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) + Sulphur Springs.
