UNESCO Heritage Sites

Ha Long Bay, situated in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1600 islands and islets forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and relatively unaffected by human influence. The geomorphology of Ha Long Bay is known as a drowned karst landscape due to the exceptional combination of its limestone karst features which have been subject to repeated regression and transgression of the sea over geological time. The limestones of Ha Long Bay have been eroded into a mature landscape of fengcong (clusters of conical peaks) and fenglin (isolated tower features) karst features, modified by sea invasion at a later stage. Continent: Asia Country: Vietnam Category: Natural Criterion: (II)(IV) Date of Inscription: 1994

The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It the world's most extensive stretch of coral reef and is probably the richest area in terms of faunal diversity in the world. Its great diversity reflects the maturity of an ecosystem which has evolved over millions of years on the north-east continental shelf of Australia. The site contains a huge diversity of species including over 1,500 species of fish, about 360 species of hard coral, 5,000 species of mollusc, and more than 175 species of bird, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms and crustaceans, among others. Continent: Oceania Country: Australia Category: Cultural Criterion: (VII)(VIII) (IX) (X) Date of Inscription: 1981

Complex of Hue Monuments represents an outstanding demonstration of the power of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire at its apogee in the early 19th century. The complex of monuments is an outstanding example of an eastern feudal capital and of the planning and construction of a complete defended capital city in a relatively short period. The integrity of town layout and building design make it an exceptional specimen of late feudal urban planning. Hue served as the administrative centre of southern Vietnam in the 17th and 18th centuries. Gia Long, first ruler of the Nguyen dynasty, made it the national capital of united Vietnam in 1802, a position that it held until 1945. Continent: Asia Country: Vietnam Category: Cultural Criterion: (IV) Date of Inscription: 1993

The Bank of Israel released the fourth coin in its series of UNESCO world heritage sites, celebrating the biblical site of Tel Megiddo. The Tel Megiddo Commemorative Coin, which was designed by Osnat Eshel and is available through the Israel Coins and Medals Corp., is being issued in three denominations. These denominations are: a NIS 10 coins struck in 22-carat gold with proof finish, with maximum mintage of 555 coins. A NIS 2 coins struck in silver .925, weighing 28.8 grams, with a maximum mintage of 2,800; and a NIS 1 coin struck in silver .925, weighing 14.4 grams, with maximum mintage of 1,800. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Truths behind Megiddo Megiddo was an important city in the Canaanite and Israelite periods because of its strategic location at the head of a pass through the Carmel Ridge. The city played a particularly important role during the reign of King Solomon and is mentioned a dozen times in the Tanakh. Some Christians believe it t...

A new heritage management plan for the remote St Kilda archipelago is to be signed by a charity, public bodies and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said the document set out a vision for the islands for the next 20 to 30 years. St Kilda, which lies 41 miles (66km) west of the Western Isles, is the UK's only natural and cultural Unesco World Heritage Site. The MoD has a radar station on the main island of Hirta. It tracks missiles fired on a range in the Western Isles. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the local authority for the Western Isles, Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage will also sign up to the plan. NTS staff and volunteers, MoD contractors and scientists can spend several months at a time on Hirta. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! St Kilda Residents St Kilda does not have any permanent residents.The largest island in the archipelago, Hirta was occupied until 1930 when the last islanders left after the...

The University City of Caracas is an outstanding example, and one of the best in the world, of the modern urban, architectural and artistic concepts of the early 20th century. It therefore illustrates in an excellent way this recent but already significant period in human history. The urban and architectural spaces created by Carlos Raúl Villanueva in association with the works of the artists who participated in the 'integration of the arts' are of incomparable quality and character. The essence of the work is in the message and the aesthetic emotion that its authors have managed to transmit. Continent: South America Country: Venezuela Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(IV) Date of Inscription: 2000

Chief Roi Mata's Domain is the first site to be inscribed in Vanuatu. It consists of three early 17th century AD sites on the islands of Efate, Lelepa and Artok associated with the life and death of the last paramount chief, or Roi Mata, of what is now Central Vanuatu. The property includes Roi Mata's residence, the site of his death and Roi Mata's mass burial site. It is closely associated with the oral traditions surrounding the chief and the moral values he espoused. The site reflects the convergence between oral tradition and archaeology and bears witness to the persistence of Roi Mata's social reforms and conflict resolution, still relevant to the people of the region. Continent: Oceania Country: Vanuatu Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(V) (VI) Date of Inscription: 2008

The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long -- Hanoi, located in the heart of the capital of Viet Nam, is the most important and best-preserved part of the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Vietnamese Ly Dynasty, marking the independence of the Đại Việt. It was built on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the centre of regional political power for almost thirteen centuries without interruption. Continent: Asia Country: Vietnam Category: Cultural Criterion: (II)(III) (VI) Date of Inscription: 2010

Canaima National Park is spread over 3 million ha in south-eastern Venezuela along the border between Guyana and Brazil. Roughly 65% of the park is covered by table mountain (tepui) formations. The tepuis constitute a unique biogeological entity and are of great geological interest. The sheer cliffs and waterfalls, including the world's highest (1,000 m), form a spectacular landscape. Canaima was established as a national park in 1962 and its size was doubled to the present area in 1975 and inscribed Word Heritage in 1994. Continent: South America Country: Venezuela Category: Natural Criterion: (VII)(VIII) (IX) (X) Date of Inscription: 1994

The site of at-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah illustrates a significant phase in the human settlement of the central Arabian plateau, when in the mid-18th century Ad-Dir'iyah became the capital of an independent Arab State and an important religious centre. At-Turaif District in Ad-Dir'iyah is an outstanding example of traditional human settlement in a desert environment. This property was the first capital of the Saudi Dynasty, in the heart of the Arabian Penisula, north-west of Riyadh. Founded in the 15th century, it bears witness to the Najdi architectural style, which is specific to the centre of the Arabian Peninsula. In the 18th and early 19th century, its political and religious role increased, and the citadel at at-Turaif became the centre of the temporal power of the House of Saud and the spread of the Wahhabi reform inside the Muslim religion. The property includes the remains of many palaces and an urban ensemble built on the edge of the ad-Dir'iyah oasis. ...

If Gazprom's skyscraper distorts the historical view of the city, UNESCO might strike St. Petersburg from its World Heritage List. In Russia's northern capital, authorities have given Gazprom the green light to build its proposed skyscraper in St. Petersburg's Primorsky District. The decision has not only outraged a number of the city's residents but has also drawn the attention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). There are concerns that the 472-meter-tall building, which is the center-piece of Gazprom's future business complex, might mar the historical panorama of the city's center and disrupt the architectural integrity of St. Petersburg. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Lakhta Center, Okhta Center Gazprom's construction project, which now goes by the name "Lakhta Center", was previously referred to as "Okhta Center". "In June 2011, we took part in publ...

SCOTS across the globe will now be able to enjoy one of Orkney's most enigmatic Neolithic monuments from their own homes. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a new virtual tour of the 5,000-year-old chambered tomb at Maeshowe at a special reception in Kirkwall on Tuesday. The tour has been created using 3D laser-scanning data collected as part of the Scottish Ten project, collaboration between Historic Scotland, Glasgow School of Art and CyArk to digitally document Scotland's five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The project will also document five historic sites from around the world. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site comprises Maeshowe, the Stones of Stenness, the Barnhouse settlement, Skara Brae prehistoric village and the famous standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar. In addition to the tomb, images of the Orkney stone circles and stan...

The historic Esrefoglu Mosque and social complex in the Central Anatolian province of Konya's Beyşehir district is expected to be included in the permanent list of the UNESCO's world heritage site. UNESCO Turkey National Committee Chairman Professor Ocal Oguz and the committee members made examinations at the mosque and received information about it from Selçuk University Faculty of Literature member Associate Professor Yasar Erdemir. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Esrefoglu Mosque is expected to be World Heritage Site Speaking to press members at the mosque, Oguz said a structure had to be unique to be included in the UNESCO list. "We think the Esrefoglu Mosque deserves to be included in the world heritage list," he said. "It is a historic structure and very unique one. We hope that the mosque, which is currently included in the temporary list, will move to the permanent list, and we will keep this issue on the agenda," O...

China's Grand Canal, the world's longest and oldest artificial waterway, could be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014 with the help of a new campaign launched by the Shandong provincial government. Starting in Beijing in the north, the 1,747-kilometer-long canal passes through Tianjin as well as the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang before reaching the city of Hangzhou in the south. The canal's oldest sections can be traced back 2,500 years, and they were linked together in the Sui Dynasty (581-618). It connects China's five major rivers - the Yellow River, the Haihe River, the Huai River, the Yangtze River and the Qiantang River. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Truth behind Grand Canal As a major water route for business over the centuries, it is now dotted with numerous ancient buildings and cultural relics, including not only ancient docks and ship locks but also business streets, temples, and former re...

Panasonic Partnership with NGC to broadcast The World Heritage Special Programme from September. Panasonic Corporation has announced the sponsorship of a new television series focused on UNESCO World Heritage sites to be aired on the National Geographic Channel (NGC) across the world from this autumn. As part of its strategic partnership agreement* with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Panasonic has been solely sponsoring "The World Heritage Special" broadcast on the NGC in 193 countries and regions since June 2011. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Access 360° World Heritage To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage this year and support its principles, Panasonic has further strengthened its partnership with the NGC to sponsor the new TV series. Called "Access 360° World Heritage," which was newly commissioned to the NGC for productions,...

Libya to take care of Sufi Holy Sites asked U.N. cultural body UNESCO on Tuesday immediately cease the destruction of Sufi holy sites after Islamist hardliners wrecked shrines across the country. UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova expressed "grave concern" at the destruction of Sufi sites in Zliten, Misrata and Tripoli and urged perpetrators to "cease the destruction immediately." "I am deeply concerned about these brutal attacks on places of cultural and religious significance. Such acts must be halted, if Libyan society is to complete its transition to democracy," she said in a statement. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Muslim Shrines Attacked "For this, we need dialogue and mutual respect. Libya's future prospects depend on its inhabitants' ability to build a participatory democracy that respects the rights and the heritage of all its citizens." Several Muslim shrines have been attacked in recent da...

Mbaru Niang, a village of traditional houses on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, has been honoured with the Award of Excellence in the 2012 Unesco AsiaPacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Two Awards of Distinction were the Sethna Buildings in Mumbai, India and the Water Systems in Hampi, India. Three Awards of Merit include the Zhizhusi Complex in Beijing, China; the Chandramauleshwat Temple in Hampi, India; and Khilingrong Mosque in Shigar, Pakistan. Two Honourable Mentions were also announced. They include the William Street Precinct in Perth, Western Australia and Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan, India. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards Top award was given to Mbaru Niang in Indonesia for the 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards.The Award of Excellence given to Mbaru Niang represents a new kind of recognition for architectural conservation, whereby intangible heritage and traditional knowledge fo...

The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon consists of numerous large and small forested limestone islands, scattered within a marine lagoon protected by a barrier reef. The property lies within Koror State, immediately to the south of Palau's main volcanic island Babeldaob in the western Pacific Ocean. The living paradise Palau rock islands inscribed as world heritage this year. Rock Islands Southern Lagoon covers 100,200 ha and includes 445 uninhabited limestone islands of volcanic origin. Many of them display unique mushroom-like shapes in turquoise lagoons surrounded by coral reefs. The aesthetic beauty of the site is heightened by a complex reef system featuring over 385 coral species and different types of habitat. They sustain a large diversity of plants, birds and marine life including dugong and at least thirteen shark species. The site harbours the highest concentration of marine lakes anywhere, isolated bodies of seawater separated from the ocean by land barriers. We update a...

The old walled city of Shibam and Wadi Hadramaut constitute an outstanding example of human settlement and land use. The domestic architecture of Shibam is an outstanding characteristic example of houses in the Arab and Muslim world. The rigorous city planning based on the principle of vertical construction is exceptional and an example of a traditional but vulnerable culture. In Shibam there are some mosques, two ancient sultan's palaces, a double monumental door and 500 more buildings, separated or grouped, but all made uniform by the material of which they are constructed: unfired clay. Continent: Asia Country: India Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(IV) (V) Date of Inscription: 1982

Socotra Archipelago, in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden, is 250 km long and comprises four islands and two rocky islets which appear as a prolongation of the Horn of Africa. The site is of universal importance because of its biodiversity with rich and distinct flora and fauna: 37% of Socotra's 825 plant species, 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world. The site also supports globally significant populations of land and sea birds (192 bird species, 44 of which breed on the islands while 85 are regular migrants), including a number of threatened species. The marine life of Socotra is also very diverse, with 253 species of reef-building corals, 730 species of coastal fish and 300 species of crab, lobster and shrimp. Continent: Asia Country: Yemen Category: Natural Criterion: (X) Date of Inscription: 2008

The old city of Sana'a is an outstanding example of a homogeneous architectural ensemble whose design and detail illustrate an organization of space characteristic of the early centuries of Islam which has been respected over time. The houses of Sana'a, which have become vulnerable as a result of contemporary social changes, are an outstanding example of a unique, traditional human settlement. Countless partial studies have been made of the houses of Sana'a, with the objective of eventual demolition. The beauty of the urban landscape of Sana'a, whose overall appearance should remain intact, attests that they should be preserved integrally. Continent: Asia Country: Yemen Category: Cultural Criterion: (IV)(V) (VI) Date of Inscription: 1986

The Citadel of Ho Dynasty built in 1397, composed of the Inner Citadel, La Thanh Outer Wall and the Nam Giao Altar covers 155.5 ha, surrounded by a buffer zone of 5078.5 ha. It is located in accordance with geomantic principles in a landscape of great scenic beauty between the Ma and Buoi rivers in Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province of Viet Nam. The Inner Citadel constructed of large limestone blocks represents a new development of architectural technology and adaptation of geomantic city planning in an East Asian and South-east Asian context. It demonstrates the use of architectural elements in terms of space management and decoration designed for a centralized imperial city in order to show a concept of royal power, based on the adoption of the Confucian philosophy within a predominantly Buddhist culture. Continent: Asia Country: Vietnam Category: Cultural Criterion: (II)(IV) Date of Inscription: 2011

The historic centre of Tel Aviv was declared a World Heritage Site because of the large number of buildings that were built in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s in the international architectural style of Bauhaus. As defined by UNESCO, a World Heritage Site is one that signifies an important landmark in the development of mankind. Tel Aviv is the third World Heritage Site in Israel after Masada and the walled Crusader city of Acre. The fact that there are only three such site in a region that has a civilized history going back more than 3,000 years is puzzling. Spain, for example, has 14. But perhaps although we have a sense of history, we are less willing than the Spaniards to devote the resources to preserve and enhance our historical landmarks. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! The World Heritage Tel Aviv Tel Aviv only recently made it to fame. Up to the mid-1980s, real estate developers had a field day tearing down any building that got in the way of makin...

The Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas World Heritage Site is an area of dramatic landscape and ecological processes. Physically protected by the Zambezi River to the north and the steep escarpment (which rises to over 1,000 m from the valley floor) to the south, this substantial property of 676,600 ha provides shelter for immense congregations of Africa's large mammal populations which concentrate in its flood plains. The Mana Pools are former channels of the Zambezi River, and ongoing geological processes present a good example of erosion and deposition by a large seasonal river including a clear pattern of plant succession on its alluvial deposits. While black rhino has disappeared since the property's inscription, huge herds of elephant and buffalo, followed by zebra, waterbuck and many other antelope species and their associated predators including lion and hyena migrate to the area each year during the dry winter months. Continent: Africa Co...

Great Zimbabwe National Monument is approximately 30 km from Masvingo and located in the lowveld at an altitude of some 1100 m in a sparsely populated region of the Bantu/Shona people. The property, built between 1100 and 1450 AD, extends over almost 800 ha and is divided into three groups: the Hill Ruins, the Great Enclosure and the Valley Ruins. The Hill Ruins, forming a huge granite mass atop a spur facing north-east/south-west, were continuously inhabited from the 11th to 15th centuries, and there are numerous layers of traces of human settlements. Rough granite rubble-stone blocks form distinct enclosures, accessed by narrow, partly covered, passageways. This acropolis is generally considered a 'royal city'; the west enclosure is thought to have been the residence of successive chiefs and the east enclosure, where six steatite upright posts topped with birds were found, considered to serve a ritual purpose. Continent: Africa Country: Zimbabwe Category: Cultural...

Khami Ruins National Monument is located to the west of the Khami River, 22 km from the City of Bulawayo. The property, located on a 1300 m hilltop downstream from a dam built during 1928-1929, covers an area of about 108 ha, spread over a distance of about 2 km from the Passage Ruin to the North Ruin. The property was the capital of the Torwa dynasty, which arose from the collapse of the Great Zimbabwe Kingdom between 1450 -1650 and was abandoned during the Ndebele incursions of the 19th century. It is composed of a complex series of platforms of dry-stone walled structures, emulating a later development of Stone Age culture. The chief's residence (Mambo) was located towards the north on the Hill Ruin site with its adjacent cultivation terraces. The population lived in daga huts of cobwork, surrounded by a series of granite walls. Continent: Africa Country: Zimbabwe Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(IV) Date of Inscription: 1986

The Mosi-oa-Tunya or Victoria Falls National Park contains one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls. The falls and associated gorges are an outstanding example of river capture and the erosive forces of the water still continue to sculpture the hard basalts. The complex of conservation areas in Zimbabwe covers over 1,846,700 ha excluding forest reserves. The park abuts Dambwa Forest Reserve in Zambia. The falls are the most significant feature of the park, and when the Zambezi is in full flood (usually February or March) they form the largest curtain of falling water in the world. During these months, over 500 million litres of water per minute go over the falls, which are 1,708 m wide, and drop 99 m at Rainbow Falls in Zambia. At low water in November flow can be reduced to around 10 million litres per minute, and the river is divided into a series of braided channels that descend in many separate falls. Continent: Africa Country: Zimbabwe, Natural Category: Natu...

The Matobo Hills have one of the highest concentrations of rock art in Southern Africa. The rich evidence from archaeology and from the rock paintings at Matobo provide a very full picture of the lives of foraging societies in the Stone Age and the way agricultural societies came to replace them. The interaction between communities and the landscape, manifest in the rock art and also in the long-standing religious traditions still associated with the rocks, are community responses to a landscape. The Mwari religion, centred on Matobo, which may date back to the Iron Age, is the most powerful oracular tradition in southern Africa. Continent: Africa Country: Zimbabwe Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(V) (VI) Date of Inscription: 2003

Charminar and Golconda Fort, pillars of the Qutb Shahi heritage that adorn the now modern city of Hyderabad, will be inspected by a UNESCO panel next month for their possible inclusion in the coveted World Heritage List. Experts from the UNESCO's International Council of Monuments and Sites will visit Charminar, Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi tombs in September before they prepare the World Heritage Sites list of 2013. The visit by the panel is mandatory before the UNESCO takes a call on whether these sites are eligible to be inscribed on the World Heritage Sites list. UNESCO will inspect Himachal Pradesh too Around the same time, another UNESCO panel, International Union for Conservation of Nature, will also travel to Himachal Pradesh to inspect the Great Himalayan National Park. Both the sites have been forwarded by the government to the UNESCO for declaring them as World Heritage sites in 2013. Currently, India has 29 World Heritage sites.

Rwanda has been awarded with $200, 000 for their efforts in promoting adult literacy. The award was given to Rwanda by the Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Bhutan, Colombia and Indonesia also got a similar award, under the 2012 International Literacy Prizes (King Sejong Literacy Prize). According to Director-General of UNESCO Ms Irina Bokova, National Adult Literacy Programme of the Pentecostal Church in Rwanda won for its focus on women and youth school drop-outs. The winning countries will receive their awards at a ceremony to be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, on 6 September, as part of the celebrations to mark the International Literacy Day that falls on 8 September. National Adult Literacy Programme The programme targets 100,000 people and aims to ensure that individuals learn about human rights, reconciliation and peace building through literacy.Rwanda's illiteracy rate has sharply been on the decline in recent years ...

The recently rediscovered Quay of Valongo, the arrival point for half a million slaves into Rio de Janeiro, is being considered for inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The city's black community want to ensure that descendants of slaves and their African heritage will be celebrated and not lost as the area becomes more of a tourist attraction. Rio Slave Port May be considered as World Heritage List, the news passes from Rio de Janeiro, Quentin Sommerville reports. Rio Slave Port It was one of the busiest slave ports in the Americas, a filthy, bustling harbour where hundreds of thousands of Africans were sold into a life of exploitation and abuse. Archaeologists find remains of port where hundreds of thousands of Africans were sold to plantation owners. Famished, exhausted and with their heads half-shaved, the slaves were herded off ships, groomed in "fattening houses" and dispatched to sugar and coffee plantations across Brazil.

The Portal website to the Heritage of Astronomy http://www2.astronomicalheritage.net/ aims to give astronomical sites the same place in public awareness as UNESCO's World Heritage List does for places of historical importance. The website was launched on the sidelines of an International Astronomical Union (IAU) meeting in Beijing on Friday, the IAU said in a press release. It is being backed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The UNESCO Portal Website The UNESCO Portal Website has a preliminary listing of around three dozen sites, ranging from prehistoric caves to 20th-century observatories, but should expand swiftly in the coming months, the IAU said. Among the first entries are Stonehenge, which is aligned along the axis of the midwinter sunset and midsummer sunrise, and the Dengfeng Observatory in Henan, China, where Tang Dynasty astronomers used a pillar to measure the Sun's shadow and thus calculate the length of the year.

UN attractions up new heritage list for ancient stargazing sites such as A PHARAONIC temple in Egypt, a 3000-year-old pillar in China and a 1920s tower in Berlin have been inscribed on an UN-backed heritage list for astronomy. The Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy aims to give astronomical sites the same place in public awareness as UNESCO's World Heritage List does for places of historical importance. The website was launched on the side-lines of an International Astrononomical Union (IAU) meeting in Beijing on Friday, the IAU said in a press release. It is being backed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The portal has a preliminary listing of around three dozen sites, ranging from prehistoric caves to 20th-century observatories, but should expand swiftly in the coming months, the IAU said. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Stonehenge is on a new list of ancient heritage astronomy sites Among the first entries ...

The president of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday that a recent award by UNESCO for an Indonesian literacy programme was a sign that the nation's human capital had developed greatly and was ready to compete regionally and globally. "This award is recognition of Indonesia's hard work to improve the quality of education, particularly the eradication of illiteracy," Yudhoyono said before commencing a Cabinet meeting at the Bogor State Palace in Bogor, West Java. Want to read UNESCO Daily News Updates? Click Here!!! Stronger Demographic Structure "This achievement is important and necessary for our long-term development. In the future, we will see fewer social, political and economic problems caused by the gap between those who are literate and those who are not. This will also help develop a stronger demographic structure," the President added.

Marking the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today called for reflection on the transformation brought about by the slave trade to the world, and urged countries to protect their citizens against racism and forced labour. "The long series of uprisings by slaves in their quest for freedom are sources for reflection and action for protecting human rights and combating modern forms of servitude," said UNESCO's Director-General, Irina Bokova, in a message to mark the Day, which is observed annually on 23 August. Slavery should be abolished "The history of the slave trade and its abolition has shaped the world in which we live," she added. "We are all heirs to this past, which has transformed the world's map, its laws, cultures and social relations, even giving rise to new food habits – especially through the sugar tra...

The inclusion of parts of India's Western Ghats in the United Nation's Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Natural Heritage List in early July has highlighted the abiding concerns of the global community to conserve what is aptly deemed to be the lingering vestige of all substantive ecosystems in the sub-continent. Even as the mountain range here runs parallel to the country's west coast straddling six States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the 39 sites selected by UNESCO to protect effectively their brittle conservation status with due global monitoring cover only an area of some 8,000 km. This is roughly five per cent of the 140,000 sq km of the Ghats. This is not surprising, considering the fact that the Western Ghats were once covered in dense forests but down the ages, a large part of the range was logged or converted into agricultural land for commercial crops such as tea, coffee, rubber and oil palm or clea...

As the battle for Aleppo closes in on the historical centre in northern Syria, heritage sites in one of the world's oldest cities are being damaged and experts fear the worst is yet to come. In Bab al-Nasr neighbourhood, a Free Syrian Army rebel pointed to a gaping hole in the base of the delicately chiseled minaret of the 700-year-old Mahmandar mosque. "Bashar al-Assad's forces don't respect anything, not our history, not our religion," said the fighter, who sported a short black beard and green bandana, broken glass crackling under his feet as he walked into the prayer room. The fight is still going on So long as the rebels maintain a position next to it, the mosque is likely to be hit again by shelling or sniper fire from the nearby Aleppo Citadel, the iconic medieval fortress that crowns the UNESCO-listed ancient city. Rebels seeking to seize Syria's second city and oust President Bashar al-Assad have been conquering street after street, inching c...

The government formalized plans Thursday to recommend Tomioka Silk Mill and related industrial heritage be put on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The government plans to submit provisional recommendation papers to UNESCO in September, followed by final ones by February 2013. The U.N. body is expected to examine the recommendation in 2014.Four properties in Gunma Prefecture will be recommended, including the silk mill set up in 1872, which was Japan's first state-run silk mill to use modern technology from the West. The mill enabled the mass production of high-quality silk and contributed to the global silk industry. Tomioka Silk Mill Industrial Heritage Tomioka Silk Mill is Japan's oldest modern model silk reeling factory, established in 1872 by the government to introduce modern machine silk reeling from France and spread its technology in Japan. The factory is designated by the government as a historical site and all its buildings are preserved in very good condition...

Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina is the supreme example of a luxury Roman villa, graphically illustrating the predominant social and economic structure of its age. Its decorative mosaics are exceptional for their artistic quality and invention as well as their extent.An earlier rural settlement generally thought to have been a farm, although on slender evidence, existed on the site where the late Roman villa was built. Its orientation was the same as that of the baths of the villa, and its foundations were discovered beneath parts of the villa. Continent: Europe Country: Italy Category: Cultural Criterion: (I) (II) (III) Date of Inscription: 1997

The Villa Adriana (at Tivoli, near Rome) is an exceptional complex of classical buildings created in the 2nd century A.D. by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It combines the best elements of the architectural heritage of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an 'ideal city'. The Villa Adriana is a masterpiece that uniquely brings together the highest expressions of the material cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world. Study of the monuments that make up the Villa Adriana played a crucial role in the rediscovery of the elements of classical architecture by the architects of the Renaissance and the Baroque period. It also profoundly influenced many 19th and 20th century architects and designers. Continent: Europe Country: Italy Category: Cultural Criterion: (I) (II) (III) Date of Inscription: 1999

Aquileia one of the largest and wealthiest cities of the Early Roman Empire, was destroyed by Attila in the mid-5th century. Most of it still lies unexcavated beneath the fields, and as such it constitutes the greatest archaeological reserve of its kind. The patriarchal basilica, an outstanding building with an exceptional mosaic pavement, played a key role in the evangelization of a large region of central Europe. Aquileia was one of the largest and most wealthy cities of the Early Roman Empire. By virtue of the fact that most of ancient Aquileia survives intact and unexcavated, it is the most complete example of an Early Roman city in the Mediterranean world. The Patriarchal Basilica Complex in Aquileia played a decisive role in the spread of Christianity into central Europe in the early middle Ages. Continent: Europe Country: Italy Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(IV) (VI) Date of Inscription: 1998

The nuraghi of Sardinia, of which Su Nuraxi is the pre-eminent example, represent an exceptional response to political and social conditions, making an imaginative and innovative use of the materials and techniques available to a prehistoric island community.During the middle and late Bronze Age (c . 1500-800 BC) on Sardinia a unique form of architecture developed: circular defensive towers in the form of truncated cones built from dressed stone, with corbel-vaulted internal chambers. Some (as at Barumini) were surrounded by quadrilobate enclosures consisting of towers linked by massive walls. Villages of small circular-plan houses developed around these strongpoints. Continent: Europe Country: Italy Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(III) (IV) Date of Inscription: 1997

The Ellora Caves not only bear witness to three great religions Buddhism, Brahminism and Jainism but they also illustrate the spirit of tolerance, characteristic of ancient India, which permitted these three religions to establish their sanctuaries and their communities in a single place, which thus served to reinforce its universal value. The caves, with their uninterrupted sequence of from 600 to 1,000 monuments, bring to life again the civilization of ancient India. Continent: Asia Country: India Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(III) (VI) Date of Inscription: 1983

The historic city of Verona was founded in the 1st century B.C. It particularly flourished under the rule of the Scaliger family in the 13th and 14th centuries and as part of the Republic of Venice from the 15th to 18th centuries. Verona has preserved a remarkable number of monuments from antiquity, the medieval and Renaissance periods, and represents an outstanding example of a military stronghold. Verona is an outstanding example of a town that has developed progressively and uninterruptedly over two thousand years, incorporating artistic elements of the highest quality from each succeeding period. Verona represents in an exceptional way the concept of the fortified town at several seminal stages of European history. Continent: Europe Country: Italy Category: Cultural Criterion: (II)(IV) Date of Inscription: 2000

Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula; The Cilento is an outstanding cultural landscape. The dramatic groups of sanctuaries and settlements along its three east–west mountain ridges vividly portray the area's historical evolution: it was a major route not only for trade, but also for cultural and political interaction during the prehistoric and medieval periods. The Cilento was also the boundary between the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia and the indigenous Etruscan and Lucanian peoples. The remains of two major cities from classical times, Paestum and Velia, are found there. Continent: Europe Country: Italy Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(IV) Date of Inscription: 1998

The Japanese city of Hiroshima, devastated by a World War II atomic bomb, has backed the granting of world heritage site status to the D-Day landing beaches in France, a local official said Wednesday. The support for the bid for the coveted status - granted by the UN culture and science body UNESCO - came from the mayor of Hiroshima during a visit there by president of the Lower Normandy region, Laurent Beauvais. Beauvais Beauvais, whose region is home to the beaches that saw the 1944 landings by Allied troops who went on to end Nazi rule in Europe, said in a statement that the support by Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui was a "message of hope and peace". The Lower Normandy region last year launched its bid to have five D-Day beaches listed as world heritage sites, and in June this year the newly-elected Socialist President Francois Hollande voiced his support. If the bid is successful, the beaches will join sites that mark a dramatic moment in human history.

Osogbo town and the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo on Tuesday were beehive of activity as residents and foreigners got set for the grand finale of the 2012 Osun Osogbo Festival. The palace and the festival centre were bustling with activities. The Osun Osogbo groove, which is the centre-point of the festival, is receiving a face-lift, given its status as a UNESCO heritage site. The activities leading to the festival commenced on Aug. 9 and would be rounded off on Aug. 25, which was meant to celebrate the special "Oroki" day. Men and women were seen playing the traditional "ayo olopon" (native ayo game) as part of the games lined up for the festival. Osun Osogbo Festival According to Mr Fatai Adewusi, an indigene of Osogbo, the game is part of the traditional rites that would usher in the grand finale of the festival scheduled for Friday.Mr Folorunsho Yusuf, Secretary of Osun Osogbo Festival Planning Committee, said that film shows, ayo game, raffle promotions a...

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur, Aug 23 (PIA) -- President Aquino has signed Executive Order 79, identifying Vigan, UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, banning mining in the city. It seems that the mining activity will close in the city. City Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina in a radio interview Thursday morning said that aside from the ordinance banning mining in the city, EO 79 also guarantees that Vigan will always stand as it is, free from any mining activity. Vigan is market thematic tourism cluster destination Medina said Vigan is one of the 20 "product-market thematic tourism cluster destinations" under the national government's National Tourism Development Plan. These tourism areas or clusters were listed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) after "extensive consultations" with tourism stakeholders in the whole nation.

LUBECK, Germany — Wide sandy beaches, fascinating islands, World Heritage Sites and plentiful seafood, may not immediately come to mind when you think of Germany. But all of this and more — historic cities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites — can be found on the country's north coast. Yes, Germany has a coast, though it's still largely undiscovered by foreign tourists. In the seaside resort town of Cuxhaven for example, only 2% of visitors come from outside the country. Now you can be among those in on the secret of Germany's coastal pleasures. SEAFOOD Move over schnitzel, bratwurst and sauerkraut. This is the land of herring, shrimp and zander (a delicate perch-like fish) — a few of the seafood items to be found on local menus. This part of Germany definitely gets its culinary inspiration from the sea. During five days I sampled everything from halibut, scampi, shrimp soup, shrimp sandwiches and zander (my favourite), to rainbow trout, cod, salmon and white fish. If ...

Every year, UNESCO adds new sites to its World Heritage List due to their cultural and historic value to the world. Current UNESCO World Heritage Sites include sweeping wonders like The Great Wall and historical cities like Hoi An, Vietnam. UNESCO's goals include raising awareness about the preservation of places that are important to humanity and hold important historical and cultural significance. It's also pushes tourism towards these places, making the sites on UNESCO's list historical must see. 26 New Unesco World Heritage Sites This year UNESCO has added 26 new additions to its expansive list. The 18th century theatre in Germany, Bayreuth Opera House is one new addition. Many of these new wonders are ones that many have never heard of. The Bali Province's Subak System in Indonesia is a new addition to the list. It's five rice terraces and water temples that make up the irrigation system of canals dates back to the 19th century.