It's one of Britain's most beautiful national parks, and now the Lake District has finally been awarded Unesco World Heritage status after 31 years of trying. The title means the area is now the 31st place in the UK to be put on the list, alongside other world landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu.
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The Lake District has been trying to obtain the Unesco status since 1986, so the decision to award the area with the title on Sunday was described as "momentous". Lord Clark of Windermere, chairman of the Lake District National Park Partnership which put together the bid, said of the decision: "A great many people have come together to make this happen and we believe the decision will have long and lasting benefits for the spectacular Lake District landscape, the visitors we welcome every year and for the people who call the National Park their home."
© Photo: RexThe Lake District has been named a Unesco World Heritage site
About 18 million people visit the Lake District each year, spending a total of £1.2billion, and providing about 18,000 jobs. And it's easy to see why the area has such great appeal; the 912 square-mile site is home to England's largest natural lake, Windermere, as well as the highest mountain, Scafell Pike.
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Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and Taylor Swift are among the celebrities who have all been charmed by the region, which boasts countless mountains, lakes and areas of stunning natural beauty to explore, along with a huge 16,510 archaeological sites and monuments, and 23 Conservation areas.
The other Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK include Stonehenge, Durham Castle and Cathedral, as well as the city of Bath, the Forth Bridge, and select parts of the Cornwall and West Devon coast.
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