• The ancient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina Faso include about 15 natural-draught furnaces. Courtesy DSCPM/MCAT
    The ancient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina Faso include about 15 natural-draught furnaces. Courtesy DSCPM/MCAT
  • The Budj Bim landscape is located around an extinct volcano in southwestern Victoria, Australia. Courtesy Gunditj Mirring
    The Budj Bim landscape is located around an extinct volcano in southwestern Victoria, Australia. Courtesy Gunditj Mirring
  • The Hyrcanian forests, in Iran, cover about 55,000 square kilometres. Getty Images
    The Hyrcanian forests, in Iran, cover about 55,000 square kilometres. Getty Images
  • Kladruby nad Labem, in the Czech Republic, breeds and trains ceremonial carriage horses. AP
    Kladruby nad Labem, in the Czech Republic, breeds and trains ceremonial carriage horses. AP
  • The town of Paraty, in Brazil, was built shortly after Portugal colonised Brazil in 1500. Getty Images
    The town of Paraty, in Brazil, was built shortly after Portugal colonised Brazil in 1500. Getty Images
  • A building that forms part of the Seowon Korean Neo-Confucian Academies, which have been declared a World Heritage Site, in South Korea. Alamy
    A building that forms part of the Seowon Korean Neo-Confucian Academies, which have been declared a World Heritage Site, in South Korea. Alamy
  • The Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada, bears archaeological remains from 1800 BC. Getty Images
    The Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada, bears archaeological remains from 1800 BC. Getty Images
  • The Erzgebirge and Krusnohorí mining region, which straddles Germany and the Czech Republic. AP
    The Erzgebirge and Krusnohorí mining region, which straddles Germany and the Czech Republic. AP
  • The Ombilin Mining Heritage of Sawahluntoa, in Indonesia, was developed by the Netherlands’ colonial government from the late 19th century. Alamy
    The Ombilin Mining Heritage of Sawahluntoa, in Indonesia, was developed by the Netherlands’ colonial government from the late 19th century. Alamy
  • Penguins on Possession Island, part of the French Austral Lands and Seas, which have been classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. AFP
    Penguins on Possession Island, part of the French Austral Lands and Seas, which have been classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. AFP
  • The Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain span across 21 archaeological sites in the western part of the Gulf island. Supplied
    The Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain span across 21 archaeological sites in the western part of the Gulf island. Supplied
  • China's Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City show civilisation between 3300 BC and 2300 BC. AFP
    China's Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City show civilisation between 3300 BC and 2300 BC. AFP
  • Migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China serve as growth areas for many species of fish and crustaceans. AFP
    Migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China serve as growth areas for many species of fish and crustaceans. AFP
  • Myanmar's ancient city of Bagan features a range of Buddhist art and architecture. AFP
    Myanmar's ancient city of Bagan features a range of Buddhist art and architecture. AFP
  • Iraq's historic city of Babylon was the capital of the Neo-Babylonian empire. EPA
    Iraq's historic city of Babylon was the capital of the Neo-Babylonian empire. EPA
  • The water management system of Germany's Augsburg has been listed as World Heritage Site. EPA
    The water management system of Germany's Augsburg has been listed as World Heritage Site. EPA
  • The Krzemionki Opatowskie Nature Reserve, in Poland, features four mining sites, dating from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. EPA
    The Krzemionki Opatowskie Nature Reserve, in Poland, features four mining sites, dating from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. EPA
  • The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun group (known as the mounded tombs of ancient Japan) in Sakai, is where members of the elite were buried. EPA
    The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun group (known as the mounded tombs of ancient Japan) in Sakai, is where members of the elite were buried. EPA
  • The city of Jaipur, which was founded in 1727, has been recognised for its architecture and urban planning. Getty Images
    The city of Jaipur, which was founded in 1727, has been recognised for its architecture and urban planning. Getty Images
  • Iceland's Vatnajokull National Park covers an area of more than 1,400,000 hectares. Alamy
    Iceland's Vatnajokull National Park covers an area of more than 1,400,000 hectares. Alamy

All of the new Unesco World Heritage Sites named in 2019 – in pictures

Iraq's city of Babylon, Bahrain's Dilmun Burial Mounds and Myanmar's ancient city of Bagan all made the cut

Emma Day
Emma Day

July 07, 2019

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  • Arabic

The World Heritage Committee is currently in session in Azerbaijan where, among other matters, they will judge which worldly locations will make the cut for the prestigious Unesco World Heritage List.

The committee, which is meeting in Baku until July 10, has already declared a number of new entries for 2019, selected from a nomination list of more than 30.

Among them is Iraq's Mesopotamian metropolis of Babylon, as well as Bahrain's Dilmun Burial Mounds. Locations renowned for their cultural significance, ranging as far as China, Poland, Australia and Laos, have also been awarded the honour.

Scroll through the gallery to see the Unesco World Heritage Sites announced for 2019 so far.

Once a landmark has been awarded heritage status, it is legally protected by international treaties, in a bid to conserve it as best as possible for future generations.

There are currently more than 1,000 World Heritage Sites scattered across the globe, with entries including cities such as Vienna and Rome, as well as landmarks such as Peru's Machu Picchu, Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Oman's Ancient City of Qalhat.

IraqPolandOmanAustralia