Known for its holiday-worthy exotic beaches, soaring granite giants, and verdant urban rainforests - the "Marvellous City" Rio De Janeiro officially entered the United Nation's list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its landscape grandeur.
The United Nation's cultural body, UNESCO, accentuated the man-made and natural beauty's "extraordinary fusion" in certifying Rio on the World Heritage list during a ceremony that was held at the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue which looms over the city.
According to the UN, this fusion has "created an urban landscape perceived to be of great beauty by many writers and travelers and one that has shaped the culture of the city."
Thanks to the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 August Olympic Games, Rio got a sizeable tourism boost. On the other hand, persistent high crime, the 2015 Zika epidemic and political instability have threatened to hurt the image of the city.
Although the UNESCO status was first announced in 2012, it was only made official after the Brazilian authorities were given four years to report on their plans for protecting spots such as Flamengo Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Corcovado, Copacabana Beach, the Botanical Garden and Tijuca Forest.
Sugarloaf Mountain
