Boasting the largest dune field in South America, Lencois Maranhenses National Park is also newly inscribed by UNESCO for 2024. The stunning coastal landscape can be found in northeastern Brazil, where a sea of rippling sand dunes transforms into a patchwork of lagoons during the wet season. The otherworldly spectacle, with ivory desert contrasting against blue and green pools, is caused by prevailing winds sculpting the sand into chains of barchans which are then filled by rainwater.

Now check out these early photos of some of the world's beloved national parks

Ranked: the most fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites from recent years