New UNESCO World Heritage Sites Added

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has recently recognized 42 new sites across the globe, enhancing its World Heritage List with a rich tapestry of cultural and natural properties. This update occurred during the 45th session of the committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a significant moment for global heritage recognition.

New Cultural and Natural Sites

With 33 new cultural sites and nine new natural sites added, the total number of UNESCO World Heritage sites now stands at 1,199, spanning 168 countries. According to UNESCO, these additions will receive the highest level of protection available worldwide, as well as opportunities for financial and technical assistance.

U.S. Heritage Designations

Among the new entries is the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, located in the Historic Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Ohio. This site features eight monumental earthen enclosure complexes crafted by ancient peoples between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago along the Ohio River’s tributaries. Consequently, this designation elevates the total number of World Heritage Sites in the U.S. to 25.

Global Listings and Significance

The latest entries include a variety of sites from Africa, such as the first two sites from Rwanda—Nyungwe National Park and several genocide memorial sites in Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi, and Bisesero. Thus, Africa now boasts 100 sites recognized on the World Heritage List.

Additional notable sites added include:

• Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt (Germany)
• Funerary and Memory Sites of the First World War (Belgium and France)
• Prehistoric Sites of Talayotic Menorca (Spain)

Moreover, UNESCO refrained from adding Venice to its list of endangered World Heritage sites despite ongoing threats like climate change and over-tourism.

Cultural Properties:

• Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan (State of Palestine)
• Astronomical Observatories of Kazan Federal University (Russian Federation)
• Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route (Azerbaijan)
• Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er (China)
• Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites (Mongolia)
• Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory (Tunisia)

Natural Properties:

• Anticosti (Canada)
• Bale Mountains National Park (Ethiopia)
• Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)