The UNESCO World Heritage Program identifies and protects natural and cultural sites that outstanding universal value to the common heritage of humanity.  Over 1100 locations are inscribed as World Heritage Sites, and the World Heritage Convention is the most popular international treaty in the world.  This introduction to the World Heritage Program showcases over one hundred of the most spectacular UNESCO sites around the world.

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Lighthouses: Silent Sentinels of the Sea:   Lighthouses have guided mariners since antiquity.  Arising in the earliest sea going cultures, these silent sentinels of the Sea have wielded a powerful influence on our history, culture, and art.  This discussion of the evolution, structure, and function of these artifacts of our nautical heritage will be illustrated by photographs of more than 200 of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.

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Communication at Sea: Whistles, Codes and Flags:   Ships and their captains use a variety of devices and colorful signals to identify themselves and to communicate with each other.  A historical review of maritime communication explains the origins, meanings, and uses of signals, flags, and codes.

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The Box That Changed the World:   Shipping containers have revolutionized the construction industry, created millions of new jobs, introduced thousands of new products, and improved the health and lives of hundreds of millions of people.  They have lifted over a billion people out of poverty and revolutionized humanitarian aid in the developing world.  They feed one half of the world and keep the other half warm.  This simple invention justly deserves the title of The Box that Changed the World.

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Nautical Heritage I: Traditions, Customs and Etiquette:  Nautical traditions and customs are time-honored rituals practiced by generations of mariners.  On board ship, these practices are supplemented with formal principles of respect and courtesy that form the basis of shipboard etiquette and binds mariners with a common legacy.  Generations of mariners honor their nautical heritage through a combination of maritime customs and traditions.  Formal principles of respect and courtesy complement those traditions and establishes an atmosphere of shipboard etiquette that further binds mariners to their nautical heritage.

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Nautical Heritage II: Ceremonies and Celebrations:   Pride and dignity are hallmarks of ceremonies that honor specific episodes in the life of a ship (Keel Laying, Ship Christening) or events in the life of mariners (Crossing the equator, Retirement).  Many maritime nations designate national holidays that allow their citizen an opportunity to remember and celebrate the contribution of the sea services to their national heritage.

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Crossing the Line:  For centuries, mariners crossing the equator for the first timeTra endured a harsh initiation ceremony called Crossing the Line.  Today, cruise ship passengers celebrate this crossing with a frivolous ceremony symbolizing their transition from lowly Pollywogs into Exalted Shellbacks and honored guests in the Realm of King Neptune.

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Healthy Travel:  Travelers can encounter a variety of interesting medical problems.  With a little forethought and preparation, simple management of many problems can reduce them to a minor inconvenience.  This informal discussion of a variety of travel related medical problems by a practicing physician describes methods for minimizing problems of jet lag, motion sickness, cabin air problems, sun exposure, and other common travel related problems.

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The Most Powerful Ship in the World: This is a very personal account of a humanitarian mission to Banda Aceh, Indonesia, a city destroyed by the most devastating natural disaster of the 20th century.  Such humanitarian missions are becoming more common and affects responders as well as victims.  Out of the magnitude of such a human tragedy, comes a deep appreciation of other people and other faiths.  Anyone who participates in such a mission in profoundly affected by the experience and never looks at the world the same way again.