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CulturalRef. 10

Lower Valley of the Awash

Cultural World Heritage property in Ethiopia, inscribed in 1980 under criteria (ii), (iii), (iv).

Lower Valley of the Awash, Ethiopia
Photo: Bjørg Sandkjær (Bjorg Sandkjaer) · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Aflaj Irrigation System of OmanAl-Balad, JeddahArchaeological Sites of the Island of MeroeAsmara: A Modernist African CityAt-Turaif DistrictAxumBahla FortBale Mountains National ParkBat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn archaeological sitesBir Hima Rock Petroglyphs and InscriptionsBoma-Badingilo Migratory LandscapeBwindi Impenetrable National ParkCultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)Ennedi PlateauFasil GhebbiGaramba National ParkGebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan RegionHarar Jugol, the Fortified Historic TownKahuzi-Biéga National ParkKasubi TombsKenya Lake System in the Great Rift ValleyKonso Cultural LandscapeLake Turkana National ParksLakes of OuniangaLamu Old TownLand of FrankincenseLandmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of SabaLower Valley of the AwashManovo-Gounda St. Floris National ParkMelka KuntureMonolithic churches in LalibelaMount Kenya National ParkNubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to PhilaeNyungwe ForestOkapi Wildlife ReserveOld Sana'aOmo RiverQalhatQaryat al-FawRwenzori Mountains National ParkSalonga National ParkSanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National ParkSerengeti National ParkShibamSimien Mountains National ParkSocotra ArchipelagoThe Gedeo Cultural LandscapeThimlich OhingaTiya archaeological site'Uruq Bani Ma'aridVirunga National ParkZabid11.100° N, 40.579° E
State Party
Ethiopia
Region
Africa
Year of inscription
1980
Criteria
iiiiiiv
Location
Afar Region
What it is
valley
Next to
Awash River
Reference
WHC 10 · Wikidata Q6153869

Why it is on the List

(ii)Shows a major exchange of ideas — in architecture, technology, art, town planning or landscape design — over time or across a cultural area.(iii)A unique or exceptional witness to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, living or vanished.(iv)An outstanding example of a building type, ensemble or landscape that illustrates a significant stage in human history.
nearby

Closest World Heritage sites

Straight-line distance between the recorded coordinates.

Monolithic churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia197 kmMonolithic churches in LalibelaEthiopia · 1978CulturalHarar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town, Ethiopia262 kmHarar Jugol, the Fortified Historic TownEthiopia · 2006CulturalMelka Kunture, Ethiopia343 kmMelka KuntureEthiopia · 2024CulturalSimien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia358 kmSimien Mountains National ParkEthiopia · 1978NaturalTiya archaeological site, Ethiopia366 kmTiya archaeological siteEthiopia · 1980CulturalFasil Ghebbi, Ethiopia378 kmFasil GhebbiEthiopia · 1979Cultural
Ethiopia

More sites in Ethiopia

All 12
1980

Also inscribed in 1980

All of 1980

Data: Wikidata (CC0) · danger list as published in 2026 · independent atlas, not affiliated with UNESCO or Petit Futé.