New World Heritage sites
1st July 2009
13 new sites have been added to Unesco’s World Heritage List following the committee’s annual meeting.
Germany’s Wadden Sea and Italy’s Dolomite Mountains were added to the list of Outstanding Natural Sites.
11 sites were added to the list of Outstanding Cultural Sites:
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, Wales – One of engineer Thomas Telford’s most famous works, it’s the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain, carrying water and canal boats 38m (126ft) above the River Dee
La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, Switzerland – These two towns in the Jura Mountains were planned and built around the needs of the watch-making industry, mixing housing and workshops, back in the 17th century; that industry is still the lifeblood of the towns today
The Tower of Hercules, La Coruña, Spain – A lighthouse and harbour landmark that has been progressively built upon since it was founded in Roman times, although it still retains much of its original design
Stoclet House, Brussels, Belgium – An opulent home built for banker Adolphe Stoclet by renowned architect Josef Hoffmann, completed in 1911
The ruins of Loropéni, Burkina Faso – 1,000-year-old ruins of a fortress in the Lobi region of the country, an important area in the Saharan gold trade
Cidade Velha, the historic centre of Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde – In the south of the island of Santiago, the old town features many well-preserved examples of colonial-era architecture
Mount Wutai, China – The highest spot in north China, Mount Wutai is a sacred Buddhist mountain with 53 monasteries and Shuxiang Temple, dating from the Ming Dynasty. The area is described as “a catalogue of the way Buddhist architecture developed and influenced palace building in China over more than one millennium”
Shustar’s hydraulic system, Iran – In the fifth century BC, two canals were diverted off the River Kârun, one of which still provides water to the city of Shustar today
Sulamain-Too Sacred Mountain, Kyrgyzstan – Worshipped as a sacred site, the mountain contains numerous places of worship, including two 16th-century mosques and caves with petroglyphs
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe, Peru – The oldest centre of civilisation in the Americas, the well-preserved site has six pyramidal structures and various circular court buildings
The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, South Korea – A collection of 40 tombs, built from 1408 to 1966, scattered at various spots specifically chosen for their natural beauty
Also at the meeting, the city of Dresden in Germany became only the second site to lose its World Heritage status.
Three sites were added to the List of World Heritage In Danger. Belize’s Barrier Reef reserve system was cited due to “mangrove cutting and increased development”.
Colombia’s Los Katios National Park was added at the request of the country’s government in an attempt to rally international support against illegal logging, fishing and hunting.
And the monuments of Mtskheta in Georgia were cited due to “concerns over the preservation of these important edifices”.
But the walled city in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku was removed from the list after “improvements in management”.