The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) was started in 2003, and it quickly gained the cooperation of the three countries (Belgium, Great Britain and Germany) that were the heart of the Industrial Revolution. The ERIH brought together non-profits, academic institutions, and tourism organizations with the goal to "protect Europe's industrial heritage sites and use their preservation as a motor for the development of regions that are often suffering from economic decline." Visitors will enjoy the thoroughness of the ERIH's website, which offers an "Industrial History" of Europe. The links on the left hand menu for "Route System", "Anchor Points", "Regional Routes" and "European Theme Routes" offer different ways for visitors to view the industrial revolution, whether by the types of products produced or the size of their contribution to the industrial revolution. Each section has a map associated with it as well. Finally, the "Photo Gallery" links to photos of many of the industrial sites on the above routes, so visitors can see the beauty and uniqueness of these factories that forever changed how various goods were made.