Even More Interesting Ones

As of just last year (that is 2013), there were 39 countries that still didn't have at least one UNESCO World Heritage site. (The United States also gained a site.) Since 2013, the number has dropped to 35, with four new inclusions. Here are the new members of the club, listed below. Congratulations, and good luck to the remaining 35 countries.

Fiji

In 2011 I suggested: Great Astrolabe Reef. One of the worlds largest barrier reefs, important ray habitat.

UNESCO went with: Levuka Historical Port Town. Very nice example of a Pacific port town for American and British interests in the 1800s.

 

Lesotho

In 2011 I suggested: Sehlabathebe National Park. A remote plateau ecosystem, on the UNESCO tentative list.

UNESCO: did it! Sehlabathebe is part of the new Maloti-Drakensberg Park, shared with South Africa. 

 

 

Myanmar

In 2011 I suggested: Bagan. A collection of 11-13 century Theravada Buddhist temples.

UNESCO went with: Pyu Ancient Cities. Lasting for 1,000 years from 200 BCE to 900 CE, Pyu was very important to the region.

 

Qatar

In 2011 I suggested: Khor Al-Adaid. This is an inland sea, on the UNESCO tentative list.

UNESCO went with:  Al Zubhara Archaeological Site. A historically important pearling and trading center.