UNESCO’s newest World Heritage Sites | CNN

UNESCO’s newest World Heritage Sites

Katia Hetter, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 4:21 PM EDT, Mon June 23, 2014
The Pyu ancient cities make up Myanmar's first-ever World Heritage Site. Halin, Beikthano and Sri Ksetra, three walled and moated cities, are partially excavated archaeological sites that are evidence of the Pyu kingdoms that existed between 200 B.C. and 900 A.D.
Pyu ancient cities, Myanmar —
The Pyu ancient cities make up Myanmar's first-ever World Heritage Site. Halin, Beikthano and Sri Ksetra, three walled and moated cities, are partially excavated archaeological sites that are evidence of the Pyu kingdoms that existed between 200 B.C. and 900 A.D.
Department of Archaeology, National museum & Library/UNESCO
Costa Rica's newest site, the pre-Columbian chiefdom settlements of the Diquis, has archaeological evidence of economic and political systems dating to between 500 and 1500 A.D. The most mysterious find of the archaeological digs is a collection of stone spheres measuring between 0.7 meters and 2.57 meters in diameter. How they were shaped, placed and used is still a mystery.
Pre-Columbian settlements, Costa Rica —
Costa Rica's newest site, the pre-Columbian chiefdom settlements of the Diquis, has archaeological evidence of economic and political systems dating to between 500 and 1500 A.D. The most mysterious find of the archaeological digs is a collection of stone spheres measuring between 0.7 meters and 2.57 meters in diameter. How they were shaped, placed and used is still a mystery.
courtesy Adrián Badilla/Museo Nacional de Costa Rica/UNESCO
Want to see the impact of the meteorite widely believed to have caused the end of the age of the dinosaurs? Although the actual impact site was off the Yucatan Peninsula, you can see evidence of the destruction it caused at Stevns Klint, Denmark's newest World Heritage Site.
Stevns Klint chalk cliffs, Denmark —
Want to see the impact of the meteorite widely believed to have caused the end of the age of the dinosaurs? Although the actual impact site was off the Yucatan Peninsula, you can see evidence of the destruction it caused at Stevns Klint, Denmark's newest World Heritage Site.
Holger Leue/Getty images
Russia's Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex has evidence of the medieval city of Bolgar, where the Volga-Bolgar civilization existed between the 7th and 15th centuries.
Bolgar complex, Russia —
Russia's Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex has evidence of the medieval city of Bolgar, where the Volga-Bolgar civilization existed between the 7th and 15th centuries.
courtesy Fondation Vozrojdenie/unesco
Vietnam's Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a mix of spectacular nature and human development. Naturalists can enjoy the peaks, cliffs and valleys, while some caves have evidence of human life dating back nearly 30,000 years. The site also includes Hoa Lu, the country's 10th- and 11th-century capital.
Trang An complex, Viet Nam —
Vietnam's Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a mix of spectacular nature and human development. Naturalists can enjoy the peaks, cliffs and valleys, while some caves have evidence of human life dating back nearly 30,000 years. The site also includes Hoa Lu, the country's 10th- and 11th-century capital.
courtesy Xuan Lam/Trang An/UNESCO
The Italian vineyard landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato is considered "one of the most harmonious and most consistent with the ideal of a 'scenic' rural and vineyard landscape" by the World Heritage Committee. The site includes five distinct wine-growing areas and a castle.
Vineyard landscape of Piedmont, Italy —
The Italian vineyard landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato is considered "one of the most harmonious and most consistent with the ideal of a 'scenic' rural and vineyard landscape" by the World Heritage Committee. The site includes five distinct wine-growing areas and a castle.
DEA/C. SAPPA/De Agostini/Getty Images
The monumental earthworks of Poverty Point in Louisiana are the newest U.S. site on the World Heritage List. The complex was built and used by a hunter-fisher-gatherer society that lived between 3700 B.C. and 3100 B.C. The complex has a central plaza, five mounds and six semi-elliptical ridges.
Earthworks of Poverty Point, United States —
The monumental earthworks of Poverty Point in Louisiana are the newest U.S. site on the World Heritage List. The complex was built and used by a hunter-fisher-gatherer society that lived between 3700 B.C. and 3100 B.C. The complex has a central plaza, five mounds and six semi-elliptical ridges.
Susan Guice/UNESCO
The Tian-Shan Corridor of the ancient 35,000-kilometer Silk Roads network passes through China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The corridor includes a system of trade routes that extend about 8,700 kilometers (5,400 miles). Tian-Shan was developed to link central China with the Central Asian heartland beginning more than 2,000 years ago, as trade in silk and other high-value goods flourished between the Chinese and Roman empires. It remained in use until the 1500s.
Tian-Shan Corridor, Silk Roads, Asia —
The Tian-Shan Corridor of the ancient 35,000-kilometer Silk Roads network passes through China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The corridor includes a system of trade routes that extend about 8,700 kilometers (5,400 miles). Tian-Shan was developed to link central China with the Central Asian heartland beginning more than 2,000 years ago, as trade in silk and other high-value goods flourished between the Chinese and Roman empires. It remained in use until the 1500s.
Guang Niu/Getty Images
Designed as an emergency capital for the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) near Seoul, South Korea, Namhansanseong is an excellent example of a fortified city built by Buddhist soldier-monks.
Namhansanseong, South Korea —
Designed as an emergency capital for the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) near Seoul, South Korea, Namhansanseong is an excellent example of a fortified city built by Buddhist soldier-monks.
Jinho Park/Getty Images
Rani-ki-Vav, also known as the Queen's Stepwell, was originally built as a memorial in the 11th century. It had religious significance but was also functional in nature. Stepwells are well-like structures built with steps going down into the water, used to manage the water supply amid changing seasonal conditions.
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell), India —
Rani-ki-Vav, also known as the Queen's Stepwell, was originally built as a memorial in the 11th century. It had religious significance but was also functional in nature. Stepwells are well-like structures built with steps going down into the water, used to manage the water supply amid changing seasonal conditions.
Priyesh Balakrishnan/Getty Images
The man-made caves below the ancient cities of Maresha and Bet Guvrin are part of the 1,250-acre Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park in Israel. These caves were first excavated as quarries and later used for agricultural and other business, social, religious and funeral uses from the eighth century B.C. through the 12th century A.D.
Caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin, Israel —
The man-made caves below the ancient cities of Maresha and Bet Guvrin are part of the 1,250-acre Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park in Israel. These caves were first excavated as quarries and later used for agricultural and other business, social, religious and funeral uses from the eighth century B.C. through the 12th century A.D.
DeAgostini/Getty Images
Botswana's Okavango Delta is a rare delta system without an outlet to the sea. Its waters instead drain into the Kalahari Basin's desert sands. The new 2 million-hectare World Heritage Site is home to some of the world's most endangered animals, including cheetahs, white and black rhinos and lions.
Okavango Delta, Botswana —
Botswana's Okavango Delta is a rare delta system without an outlet to the sea. Its waters instead drain into the Kalahari Basin's desert sands. The new 2 million-hectare World Heritage Site is home to some of the world's most endangered animals, including cheetahs, white and black rhinos and lions.
Beverly Joubert/National Geographic/Getty Images
The decorated cave of Pont d'Arc, known as the Grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc, is France's newest World Heritage Site. The 8,500-square meter cave in southern France contains some of the first known expressions of human artistic genius: More than 1,000 drawings, mostly of animals, dating back some 31,000 years. Preserved by a rockfall about 20,000 years ago, the cave remained sealed until it was discovered in 1994.
Grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc, France —
The decorated cave of Pont d'Arc, known as the Grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc, is France's newest World Heritage Site. The 8,500-square meter cave in southern France contains some of the first known expressions of human artistic genius: More than 1,000 drawings, mostly of animals, dating back some 31,000 years. Preserved by a rockfall about 20,000 years ago, the cave remained sealed until it was discovered in 1994.
JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images
The Qhapaq Nan, Andean road system, was the Inca Empire's extensive network of roads and structures covering more than 30,000 kilometers (18,600 miles) through Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Constructed over several centuries, linking the 6,000-meter-high caps of the Andes to the coast, the system reached its maximum expansion in the 15th century. Four main routes originate from the central square of Cuzco, Peru, emanating out and joining other smaller networks of roads.
Andean road system, South America —
The Qhapaq Nan, Andean road system, was the Inca Empire's extensive network of roads and structures covering more than 30,000 kilometers (18,600 miles) through Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Constructed over several centuries, linking the 6,000-meter-high caps of the Andes to the coast, the system reached its maximum expansion in the 15th century. Four main routes originate from the central square of Cuzco, Peru, emanating out and joining other smaller networks of roads.
Gordon Wiltsie/National Geographic/Getty Images
The Westwork and Civitas Corvey together are Germany's newest World Heritage Site. Built between 822 and 885 A.D., Westwork is the last remaining structure from the important Carolingian architectural period.
Westwork and Civitas Corvey, Germany —
The Westwork and Civitas Corvey together are Germany's newest World Heritage Site. Built between 822 and 885 A.D., Westwork is the last remaining structure from the important Carolingian architectural period.
Baoquan Song/UNESCO
Constructed in the 1920s, the Van Nellefabriek in the Netherlands, the country's newest World Heritage Site, is considered a factory far ahead of its time. The progressive design is open to the outside world, uses daylight to improve working conditions and showcases rational production flows and distribution.
Van Nellefabriek, Netherlands —
Constructed in the 1920s, the Van Nellefabriek in the Netherlands, the country's newest World Heritage Site, is considered a factory far ahead of its time. The progressive design is open to the outside world, uses daylight to improve working conditions and showcases rational production flows and distribution.
View Pictures/UIG via Getty Images
Built by the Meiji government in 1872, the Tomioka Silk Mill and its related sites are Japan's newest World Heritage Site. The mill represents the country's efforts to update its methods of traditional silk production and move it into the modern industrialized world.
Tomioka Silk Mill, Japan —
Built by the Meiji government in 1872, the Tomioka Silk Mill and its related sites are Japan's newest World Heritage Site. The mill represents the country's efforts to update its methods of traditional silk production and move it into the modern industrialized world.
The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
Located on the shore of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia's new World Heritage Site was a major port from the 7th century onward. Historic Jedda, the Gate to Makkah, was the means by which goods and pilgrims arriving by sea went to Mecca.
Historic Jedda, Gate to Makkah, Saudi Arabia —
Located on the shore of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia's new World Heritage Site was a major port from the 7th century onward. Historic Jedda, the Gate to Makkah, was the means by which goods and pilgrims arriving by sea went to Mecca.
François Cristofoli/UNESCO
The fortified settlement of Irbil Citadel is Iraq's new World Heritage Site. Located in the country's Kurdistan region in the north, the citadel still has a continuous wall of 19th-century facades. But it's built on layers and layers of archaeological ruins that give evidence of continuous civilizations dating back to the sixth millennium B.C.
Irbil Citadel, Iraq —
The fortified settlement of Irbil Citadel is Iraq's new World Heritage Site. Located in the country's Kurdistan region in the north, the citadel still has a continuous wall of 19th-century facades. But it's built on layers and layers of archaeological ruins that give evidence of continuous civilizations dating back to the sixth millennium B.C.
SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian children jump in an ancient spring in the West Bank village of Battir, which was the first site UNESCO added to its World Heritage List during its June 2014 meeting in Qatar.
Battir, West Bank —
Palestinian children jump in an ancient spring in the West Bank village of Battir, which was the first site UNESCO added to its World Heritage List during its June 2014 meeting in Qatar.
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/GettyImages/File
UNESCO World Heritage sites

Story highlights

UNESCO has named new World Heritage Sites around the world

The United States' newest site is in Louisiana

The landscape of the West Bank village of Battir was the first site named this year

Botswana, Japan, Netherlands and South America also have new listings

CNN  — 

To explore a site inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List is to see a place of outstanding universal value.

And with more natural and cultural wonders added to the prestigious preservation list over the last few days, there are now more than 1,000 sites to visit all over the world.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has been considering new sites at a meeting in Qatar since June 15.

New World Heritage Sites include the earthen remains of a Louisiana civilization dating back to 3700 B.C., Myanmar’s Pyu ancient cities (Myanmar’s first-ever site), and evidence of the end of the age of dinosaurs at the cliffs of Stevns Klint in Denmark.

Trading routes that crossed modern borders across South America and Asia were also inscribed on the list. The Qhapac Nan, the Andean road system, runs through Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. A 5,000-kilometer section of the Silk Roads known as the routes network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor crosses through China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

In addition to being of “outstanding universal value,” an inscribed site must also meet at least one of 10 criteria such as “representing a masterpiece of human creative genius,” containing “exceptional natural beauty” or being an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement.

Other new sites include the Okavango Delta (Botswana); the Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc (France); Rani-ki-Vav (India); Caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin in the Judean Lowlands (Israel); the vineyard landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato (Italy); Namhansanseong emergency capital city (South Korea); and Saudi Arabia’s historic Jedda, the Gate to Makkah.

UNESCO has been gradually adding to the World Heritage List since 1978.

Click on the gallery or go to whc.unesco.org/en/newproperties to learn more about other newly named sites.

Sites in danger

The West Bank village of Battir, a few miles outside Bethlehem, was named to the World Heritage List, and at the same time, it was added to another UNESCO list for sites in danger.

The hills where Battir’s ancient terraces are located date back some 2,000 years to Roman times. Some of the terraces are irrigated for market garden production and others are planted with grapevines and olive trees. The landscape is in danger of being damaged by Israel’s plans to build a barrier through the area. The wall “may isolate farmers from fields they have cultivated for centuries,” according to a UNESCO press statement.

Australia gets time to keep Great Barrier Reef off endangered list

In addition to Battir, the committee added two other sites to the List of World Heritage in Danger last week. One is Bolivia’s city of Potosi, which is threatened by mining operations. Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve was added to the danger list because of widespread poaching that has caused a serious decline in the wildlife populations there, including a 90% drop in the elephant and rhinoceros populations since 1982.

At the same time, Tanzania’s ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and ruins of Songo Mnara were removed from the danger list due to improved management and safeguards.

Getting on the list

Nations sometimes spend years developing their pitches to qualify for the World Heritage List, and they must convince the UNESCO committee that they will protect their sites and support them financially.

Explore Yellowstone and 11 more of the first World Heritage Sites

The United States doesn’t have much sway over UNESCO decisions anymore. That’s because the U.S. government withdrew its dues and other financial contributions to UNESCO in 2011 after the agency admitted the Palestinian government as a full member representing a country. After failing to pay its dues for two years, the United States lost UNESCO voting rights in 2013 per the agency’s rules.