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The new inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List are out, dampened by the sites in peril.
- Tusi sites (China)
- Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church Settlement (Denmark)
- The Par Force Hunting Landscape in North Zealand (Denmark)
- The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy (France)
- Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars (France)
- Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus (Germany)
- Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale (Italy)
- Cultural Landscape of Maymand (Islamic Republic of Iran)
- Susa (Islamic Republic of Iran)
- Necropolis of Beth She’arim—a Landmark of Jewish Revival (Israel)
- Blue and John Crow Mountains (Jamaica, it’s first)
- Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining (Japan)
- Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) (Jordan)
- Baekje Historic Areas (Republic of Korea)
- Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System (Mexico)
- Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape (Mongolia)
- Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (Norway)
- Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia)
- Singapore Botanical Gardens (Singapore)
- Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (Turkey)
- Ephesus (Turkey)
- The Forth Bridge (United Kingdom)
- San Antonio Missions (United States of America)
- Fray Bentos Cultural-Industrial Landscape (Uruguay)
New to List of World Heritage in Danger, of which there are now 48:
- Hatra (Iraq)
- Old City of Sana’a and Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen)
Several other sites were extended.
I have been to most of the countries holding the new additions. Of these newly listed sites, I can only think of the Singapore Botanical Gardens as possibly having visited. I remember the Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park, not sure on Botanical Gardens.
As the list grows, the sites become more obscure to the general public. That can be good for the traveler, a motivation to go off the tourist trail. There are plenty I have tracked down to see a hole in the ground or a grassy hill yet had a great outing and experience of local culture on the way.
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[…] Travel Chai shares the new UNESCO World Heritage sites. I track the ones I’ve been to – it’s included in part of my MostTraveledPeople […]
Somebody really “sanitized” that report about the perils facing the sites in Yemen, attributing them vaguely to “armed conflict.” (and not a peep about obvious damage being caused by Saudi bombing — even more ironic considering that the US is supposed to be helping with targeting) Guess UNESCO caved to Saudi $$$…. damned disgrace.
Of the new sites I’ve only been to the Singapore Botanic Gardens – they’re quite nice though!
@john – indeed, I was striving to see the positive side. China, for one, has elaborate national and provincial rating systems for its own tourist sites. Hard to imagine UNESCO being able to implement tiers.
Been reading about these in the news over the last few weeks. Definitely more obscure and I get that there are positives as you mentioned. I am really starting to think there should be tiers. Its great to promote conservation, but its hard to fathom a hundred year old steel bridge being in the same class as five thousand year old pyramids….