Registration on the Unesco World Heritage List:
Cairns (Australia), November 27-December 2, 2000.
The Aeolian Islands an exceptional record of transformations of volcanic islands and volcanic phenomena in progress. Studied since at least the eighteenth century, the islands have provided the science of volcanology with examples of two types of eruptions (Vulcan and Strombolian) and have played a leading role in the education of geologists for over 200 years.
The site continues to enrich the field of volcanology.
Criteria adopted for UNESCO recognition
Criterion (VIII): the volcanic morphologies of the islands represent classical characteristics, in the continuous study of volcanology all over the world.
Through their scientific study, at least since the eighteenth century, the islands have provided examples of two of the types of eruptions (Vulcanian and Strombolian), contributing to the dissemination of such knowledge, through the textbooks of volcanology and geology: The Aeolian Islands had a leading role in the education of all geo-scientists for over 200 years.
They continue to provide important data for volcanological studies and ongoing geological processes in the development of earth forms.