New UNESCO World Heritage Sites Around the World Have Been Announced — See Where They Are

August 1st, 2024 | In The News

Written by Alison Fox for Travel + Leisure

Two dozen new sites were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List this month, ranging from cultural treasures to natural wonders.

The 24 additions were inscribed on the list as part of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, which was held from in July in New Delhi, India. In total, the list now features 1,223 properties across 168 countries and states.

New to the list this year are Japan’s Sado Island Gold Mines, which are located about 21 miles west of the Niigata Prefecture coast, along with the archaeological heritage of Malaysia’s Niah National Park’s Caves Complex, which contain “the longest known records of human interaction with rainforest.” 

The list also added several cultural properties like the Schwerin Residence Ensemble in Germany, which was largely built in the 19th century and features the Grand Duke’s Residence Palace and manor houses.

No new sites in the United States were added to the list, but UNESCO did recognize “significant modifications to the boundaries [of] cultural properties” for Moravian Church Settlements, including in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

“Each settlement has its own architectural character based on ideals of the Moravian Church but adapted to local conditions,” UNESCO wrote as part of its new list. “Together, they represent the transnational scope and consistency of the international Moravian community as a global network.”

This year’s additions join 42 other sites that were added to the World Heritage List last year.

In addition to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites, the group examines sites it deems “in danger.” Last year, UNESCO decided not to add the city of Venice to its list of world heritage sites in danger despite recommendations to do so.

This is a full list of the sites newly inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for 2024.

Cultural properties: 

• Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital (China) 
• Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu (Romania)
• Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake (Russian Federation)
• Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia (Romania)
• Hegmataneh (Iran)
• Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites (South Africa)
• Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia (Ethiopia)
• Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (India)
• Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period (Thailand)
• Royal Court of Tiébélé (Burkina Faso)
• Sado Island Gold Mines (Japan)
• Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer (State of Palestine)
• Schwerin Residence Ensemble (Germany)
• The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex (Malaysia)
• The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area (Saudi Arabia)
• The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa (South Africa)
• The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi (Kenya)
• Umm Al-Jimāl (Jordan)
• Via Appia. Regina Viarum (Italy)

Natural properties: 

• Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes (China)
• Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (Brazil)
• The Flow Country (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
• Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

New Inscribed Mixed properties:

• Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands (France)

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