Africa gets two new names on UNESCO list of 'Golden Oldies'

24 July 2016 - 02:00 By Elizabeth Sleith

The latest additions to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites include Chad’s amazing rock formations and Sudan’s marine parks, writes Elizabeth Sleith UNESCO has bumped up its list of World Heritage Sites to include a fossil site in Canada, a collection of islands in Micronesia and two more sites in Africa.The cultural arm of the United Nations meets annually to consider additions to its list of places of "outstanding universal value to humanity". At its 40th session this month in Istanbul, Turkey, it added 21 new names to the list that now covers 1,040 properties in 164 states.Divided into cultural sites, natural sites and mixed sites, here are five of the highlights.story_article_left11) The Ennedi MassifThe Ennedi Massif in northeastern Chad is a spectacular landscape of sandstone cliffs, natural arches and astonishing rock formations. Covering an area of about 40,000km², this compact region of mountains, surrounded on all sides by sand, would dwarf the US national parks of Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyon Lands and Grand Canyon National Parks put together, according to Africa Geographic.However, visitors are scarce due to its extremely remote location - it's a four-day drive on potholed and dirt roads from the capital, N'Djamena. Because there are thousands of cave paintings and carvings here too - one of the largest collections of rock art in the Sahara - the site is classified as a mixed treasure, both cultural and natural.2)Sanganeb and Dungonab Bay/Mukkawar IslandAfrica's second new site is actually in two places in Sudan, the Sanganeb and Dungonab Bay/Mukkawar Island marine national parks.The first is an isolated coral-reef structure in the central Red Sea (that sea's only atoll), about 30km northeast of Port Sudan, which is home to a high number of marine species.Dungonab Bay, which encompasses Mukkawar Island, is 125km north of Port Sudan. It is an important nesting area for marine turtles and seabirds as well as seasonal aggregations of manta rays and whale sharks. There is also a globally significant population of dugongs.3) The Mistaken Point Ecological ReserveThe Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve is on a rocky stretch of coast on the southern tip of Newfoundland island, Canada. Named for the navigational hazards its often foggy conditions present, it made the list thanks to its fossils, many dating back some 580-560 million years, the Earth's oldest-known evidence of early multicellular creatures.story_article_right24)Works by Swiss architect Le CorbusierSeventeen works by the Swiss architect Le Corbusier (1887-1965) were called an "outstanding contribution to the Modern movement".He famously used concrete, glass and iron in his work, which had a controversial focus on bold lines and functionality. The sites are in seven countries - Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Japan and Switzerland.5) Nan MadolNan Madol is an ancient city built on 92 man-made islets off the Pacific island of Pohnpei (part of the Federated States of Micronesia). Built between 1200 and 1500 AD with walls of basalt and coral boulders, it is the only ancient city ever built atop a coral reef.Its remains of stone palaces, temples, tombs and homes were also added to the list of World Heritage in Danger.• For the full list, see http://whc.unesco.org...

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