Preserving the past.(USER FOCUS: PANORAMAS)

Around the world, there are certain places or structures--natural or manmade--of overwhelming cultural or aesthetic value to the common heritage of humanity. The Great Wall of China. The Statue of Liberty. The Taj Mahal. The Historic Centre of St. Petersburg. Chichen Itza. The Persepolis. The Pyramids of Giza. Those are but a few of the more than 850 designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, international locales designated for preservation so they can be appreciated by future generations.

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Despite being named to this list and receiving the attention of some of the world's foremost scientists and archaeologists, some of these World Heritage Sites are in danger of disappearing forever. Other sites are located in far-off lands, making it virtually impossible for the majority of people to ever drink in their mystique and wonder. Of late, photographers have been documenting these territories and structures, preserving their beauty for all to enjoy, whether for this generation or those to come.

One photo or a series of photos offer but a small look at one of these structures or areas. With that in mind, Belgian photographer Tito Dupret, along with Bijuan Chen, founded WHTour.org, an independent nonprofit organization that has been documenting the UNESCO World Heritage List with a series of panographies that provide a stunning 360-degree virtual tour of these remarkable sites, made possible through the use of computer software.

Currently, the group has visited a majority of the areas of interest, and 300 of them are available on the WHTour.org Web site at www.world-heritage-tour.org. The majority of locations featured on the Web site are designated World Heritage Sites, while a small percentage are listed on the World Monuments Fund Watch List. Several dozen other locales were included by WHTour.org because of their historic, natural, or national value.

During the seven years already committed to this valuable project, Dupret has helped produce some of the most impressive panographies ever seen of some of the most historic, rare, and often unreachable sites from across the planet--in full-color, full-screen splendor. From China, Tanzania, Indonesia, Iran, and India to Egypt and most recently the Middle East, each of Dupret's panographies is produced with the aid of Stitcher Unlimited, panorama ...