UNESCO names 29 new World Heritage sites for 2019

<strong>New UNESCO sites:</strong> The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added 29 new sites to its prestigious World Heritage List at its July 2019 meeting. Among its designations was the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tae Rak in Australia, shown here.

New UNESCO sites: The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added 29 new sites to its prestigious World Heritage List at its July 2019 meeting. Among its designations was the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tae Rak in Australia, shown here.

Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation

<strong>Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan's Palace, Azerbaijan:</strong> Located at the foot of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, this historic city is divided by the Gurjana River.

Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan's Palace, Azerbaijan: Located at the foot of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, this historic city is divided by the Gurjana River.

Courtesy S. Mammadov/Azerberpa

<strong>Dilmun Burial Mounds, Bahrain: </strong>Built between 2050 BC and 1750 BC, the new heritage site includes 21 archaeological sites on the island's western side.

Dilmun Burial Mounds, Bahrain: Built between 2050 BC and 1750 BC, the new heritage site includes 21 archaeological sites on the island's western side.

Melanie Münzner/Think Heritage

<strong>Paraty and Ilha Grande -- Culture and Biodiversity, Brazil: </strong>A mixed natural and cultural heritage site, this new designation includes the historic Paraty coastal town center and four protected parts of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Paraty and Ilha Grande -- Culture and Biodiversity, Brazil: A mixed natural and cultural heritage site, this new designation includes the historic Paraty coastal town center and four protected parts of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

IPHAN/UNESCO

<strong>Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites, Burkina Faso</strong>: The site is actually several different sites located across the country, one of which dates back to the 8th century BC. The new designation includes standing furnaces, mines and evidence of dwellings.

Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites, Burkina Faso: The site is actually several different sites located across the country, one of which dates back to the 8th century BC. The new designation includes standing furnaces, mines and evidence of dwellings.

Courtesy Sébastien Moriset/DSCPM/MCAT

<strong>Writing-on-Stone/Áísínai'pi, Canada: </strong>Located on the Great Plains border between Canada and the United States, this site dates from 1800 BC. The Milk River Valley is home to hoodoos (columns of rock sculpted by erosion into shapes) and the engravings and drawings of the Blackfoot (Siksikáíítsitapi) people.

Writing-on-Stone/Áísínai'pi, Canada: Located on the Great Plains border between Canada and the United States, this site dates from 1800 BC. The Milk River Valley is home to hoodoos (columns of rock sculpted by erosion into shapes) and the engravings and drawings of the Blackfoot (Siksikáíítsitapi) people.

Alberta Parks/UNESCO

<strong>Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, China</strong>: Dating back to about 3300-2300 BC, these ruins in the Yangtze River Basin are evidence of an early regional state in Late Neolithic China.

Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, China: Dating back to about 3300-2300 BC, these ruins in the Yangtze River Basin are evidence of an early regional state in Late Neolithic China.

Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Site Administrative District Management Committee

<strong>Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China: </strong> Some of the world's most endangered bird species rest and nest on this coastline.

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China: Some of the world's most endangered bird species rest and nest on this coastline.

Courtesy Yancheng Broadcasting Television

<strong>Landscape for Breeding and Training of Ceremonial Carriage Horses at Kladruby nad Labem, Czech Republic:</strong> Kladruber horses, a type of draft horse used in ceremonies by the Habsburg imperial court, were bred and trained here starting in 1579.

Landscape for Breeding and Training of Ceremonial Carriage Horses at Kladruby nad Labem, Czech Republic: Kladruber horses, a type of draft horse used in ceremonies by the Habsburg imperial court, were bred and trained here starting in 1579.

National Stud Farm at Kladruby nad Labem, s.p.o.

<strong>Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region, Czech Republic/Germany: </strong>The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří, or Ore Mountains, has been a source of mining from the Middle Ages onward, including silver and uranium.

Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region, Czech Republic/Germany: The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří, or Ore Mountains, has been a source of mining from the Middle Ages onward, including silver and uranium.

Courtesy J. Kugler

<strong>French Austral Lands and Seas, France: </strong>Home to the largest population of King Penguins and Yellow-nosed albatrosses in the world, the French Austral Lands and Seas include the Crozet Archipelago, the Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam Islands and 60 small sub-Antarctic islands in the middle of the southern Indian Ocean.

French Austral Lands and Seas, France: Home to the largest population of King Penguins and Yellow-nosed albatrosses in the world, the French Austral Lands and Seas include the Crozet Archipelago, the Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam Islands and 60 small sub-Antarctic islands in the middle of the southern Indian Ocean.

Courtesy Nelly Gravier

<strong>The Water Management System of Augsburg, Germany:</strong> The city's water management system has evolved since its evolution from the 14th century to the present, making Augsburg a pioneer in hydraulic engineering.

The Water Management System of Augsburg, Germany: The city's water management system has evolved since its evolution from the 14th century to the present, making Augsburg a pioneer in hydraulic engineering.

Planinghaus architekten

<strong>Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland:</strong> This volcanic region is home to 10 volcanoes, two of which are some of the most active in the country and eight of which are subglacial.

Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland: This volcanic region is home to 10 volcanoes, two of which are some of the most active in the country and eight of which are subglacial.

Courtesy Snorri Baldursson

<strong>Jaipur City, Rajasthan, India: </strong>A fortified city, Jaipur was founded in 1727 and built according to a grid plan.

Jaipur City, Rajasthan, India: A fortified city, Jaipur was founded in 1727 and built according to a grid plan.

DRONAH

<strong>Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto, Indonesia:</strong> Developed by the Netherlands' colonial government starting in the late 19th century, it consists of the mining site and company town, coal storage at the port of Emmahaven and the railway network linking the mines to the port.

Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto, Indonesia: Developed by the Netherlands' colonial government starting in the late 19th century, it consists of the mining site and company town, coal storage at the port of Emmahaven and the railway network linking the mines to the port.

Office of Cultural Affairs, Historical Remains and Museum

<strong>Hyrcanian Forests, Iran: </strong>These forests stretch along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, and they're home to 80 species of birds and 58 mammal species.

Hyrcanian Forests, Iran: These forests stretch along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, and they're home to 80 species of birds and 58 mammal species.

Fariba Babaei

<strong>Babylon, Iraq: </strong>Located south of Baghdad, this site includes the ruins of the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire between 626 and 539 BC.

Babylon, Iraq: Located south of Baghdad, this site includes the ruins of the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire between 626 and 539 BC.

Courtesy Qahtan Al-Abeed

<strong>Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene, Italy:</strong> The new site includes some of the wine-growing landscape of the Prosecco wine production region as well as villages, forests and farmland.

Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene, Italy: The new site includes some of the wine-growing landscape of the Prosecco wine production region as well as villages, forests and farmland.

Shutterstock

<strong>Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group/Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan:</strong> Located on a plateau above the Osaka Plain, this site is home to 49 decorated burial mounds meant for the elite. These are considered the best representatives of the Kofun period from the 3rd to the 6th century AD.

Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group/Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan: Located on a plateau above the Osaka Plain, this site is home to 49 decorated burial mounds meant for the elite. These are considered the best representatives of the Kofun period from the 3rd to the 6th century AD.

Sakai City Government

<strong>Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies, Republic of Korea:</strong> Located in central and southern parts of the country, the site consists of nine seowon, a type of Neo-Confucian academy of the Joseon dynasty (15th-19th centuries).

Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies, Republic of Korea: Located in central and southern parts of the country, the site consists of nine seowon, a type of Neo-Confucian academy of the Joseon dynasty (15th-19th centuries).

Council for Promotion of the Inscription of Confucian Academies on the World Heritage List