World Heritage Identification Number: 516
World Heritage since: 1989
Category: Mixed Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇲🇱 Mali
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Africa
Map
Bandiagara Escarpment: A Cultural and Geological Marvel in the Heart of Mali
The Bandiagara Escarpment, colloquially known as the Cliff of Bandiagara or Land of the Dogons, stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of geology, history, and culture in the heart of West Africa. This remarkable sandstone cliff stretches over 150 kilometers (90 miles) in length and towers approximately 500 meters (1,600 feet) above the surrounding sandy plains in the Dogon Country of Mali. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989, the Bandiagara Escarpment offers a unique glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Dogon people while showcasing the breathtaking beauty of its geological formation.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The Bandiagara site is an outstanding landscape of cliffs and sandy plateaux with some beautiful architecture (houses, granaries, altars, sanctuaries and Togu Na, or communal meeting-places). Several age-old social traditions live on in the region (masks, feasts, rituals, and ceremonies involving ancestor worship). The geological, archaeological and ethnological interest, together with the landscape, make the Bandiagara plateau one of West Africa's most impressive sites.
Encyclopedia Record: Bandiagara Escarpment
The Bandiagara Escarpment is a sandstone cliff in the Dogon country of Mali. It rises about 500 m (1,600 ft) above the lower sandy flats to the south, and has a length of approximately 150 km (90 mi).Additional Site Details
Area: 327,390 hectares
(vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
Coordinates: 14.33333 , -3.41667
Image
© Ferdinand Reus from Arnhem, the Netherlands, CC BY-SA 2.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
