30 Jun UNESCO Names New World Heritage Sites
30.06.07
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- Sydney Opera House, Australia
- Old town of Corfu, Greece
- Red Fort Complex, India
- Bordeaux, France
- Volcanic island of Jeju, South Korea
- Iwami Ginzan silver mine, Japan
- Parthian fortresses of Nisa, Turkmenistan
- Samarra archaeological city, Iraq
- Rideau Canal, Canada
- Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge, Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Teide National Park, Spain
- Primeval beech forests of the Carpathian, Ukraine
- Lope-Okanda, Gabon
- Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, South Africa
- Twyfelfontein, Namibia
- Diaolou villages in Kaiping, China
I hope that the new additions will renew interest in preserving the 30 World Heritage sites that UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has listed as “in danger,” such as the Walled City of Baku in Azerbaijan, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel, and a number of medieval monuments in Kosovo.
I have only been to one of the new sites — Red Fort, in Delhi. It really is an amazing place to visit, even in 115 degree weather.
Readers? How many have you visited? If we had Opinio Juris coffee mugs, I’d give one to the reader who has been to the most…
You forgot to mention the most significant announcement from the WHC today, though! For the first time ever, the WHC delisted a site: the Arabian oryx sanctuary in Oman. Only 95 of the species are left, with only 4 mating pairs, and Oman is reducing the sanctuary’s size by 90% so it can open up to new oil drilling. Surprising equation? I don’t think so: dwindling oil reserves + blindly swelling world oil demand > irreplaceable animal species.
Jacob,
I didn’t see the announcement. Thanks for the tip!
You should be able to check the Sydney Opera House off the list — if you’re still in that part of the world.
I have not been to any of the new sites, but I know two of the endangered list – the Galapagos Islands, and the port of Coro in Venezuela. (Most of these sites are in rather exotic locations for the ordinary traveller.)
While I’d do almost anything to get an Opinio Juris coffee mug, I confess I’ve only been to three new WH sites: Corfu, Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge, and Bordeaux (what? the whole town? Did someone drink too much wine?); but I’m puzzled by the inclusion of the Old City of Jerusalem on the endangered list. It looked in pretty good nick last time I was there. Political, by any chance?
Judith
Visit Zenobia’s new website Empress of the East
Desirous of a coffee mug, and becoming old(er), from the list above, I’ve
donevisited Sydney Opera House, Corfu, Bordeaux, Baku and Jerusalem (the last repeatedly: does each visit count?).Judith, in relation to Jerusalem, if I remember correctly, concerns have been voiced about developments in and around the Old City, including the relatively recent construction activity near the Western Wall.
Peggy–I’ll be in touch soon.
iain
While I’ve only been to one–Canada’s Rideau Canal–I did work on the canal. I had to crank the 10+ tonne gates open and closed for three summers in my teen years. I think that would merit a mug despite my lacklustre overall performance, no? (Re: Iain, if every visit counted I’d be at 200+!)
Jeez–looks like you win Bentley, albeit in a somewhat minimalist way. I am convinced that Philip Glass (for instance, although he is more than mere minimalist)could write a compelling score about your compelled (remember you were a wage slave) visitations to the canal.
I doff my hat at your devotion to a WHS but do remember, the mugs, alas, are as yet still conceptual.
i
Iain,
If developments outside the protected area of WH sites counted as ‘endangering’, I’m afraid that a good many of the current sites — not to mention the old town of Corfu and Bordeaux in the new group — are endangered. Start with the Pyramids and work your way down: you’ll see what I mean.
If I list all the thus-endangered sites that I have visited, could I collect a conceptual coffee mug?
Judith