Bissau: The Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Sunday.
According to Nam News Network, the newly listed site, named Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagos Archipelago – Omati Minho, includes a series of coastal and marine ecosystems that represent some of the best-preserved marine and intertidal environments in the region.
Located off the coast of West Africa, the Bijagos Archipelago is recognized as the only active deltaic archipelago on the African Atlantic coast and one of the few of its kind globally. The area is notable for its biodiversity and its connection with traditional local lifestyles.
The archipelago covers over 10,000 square kilometers, featuring extensive sandbanks and mudflats. It consists of 88 islands and islets, with only around 20 permanently inhabited.