UNESCO has been formally asked to consider awarding World Heritage Site status to 469,500 acres (190,000ha) of Scotland’s Flow Country.
The area of Caithness and Sutherland contains the most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world.
World Heritage status is an internationally-recognised designation given to places of cultural, historical or scientific significance.
A decision on the Flow Country’s nomination is expected next year.
Scottish locations with the Unesco status include the St Kilda archipelago, Skara Brae prehistoric village and the Antonine Wall. Globally, the sites include Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Egypt’s Historic Cairo.
The Flow Country Partnership, a collaboration that includes Highland Council, NatureScot, RSPB Scotland, University of the Highlands and Islands and Wildland Ltd, handed its 250-page nomination dossier to the UK government.
It was then submitted to UNESCO, a UN organisation promoting cooperation on education and science, for consideration.
