Eleven new inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List
At its session in Busan, South Korea, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee today added eleven new sites to the World Heritage List (comprising both cultural and natural heritage)
First World Heritage site in the Comoros designated – here are the other new inscriptions (ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
UNESCO World Heritage List – New Inscriptions. The new inscriptions include, among others, the remarkably well-preserved bony fish fossils of the western Limfjord in Denmark, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in the USA, and the medinas of the historic Sultanates of the Comoros—the East African island nation's first World Heritage site. Additionally, the Getbol natural heritage site—the tidal flats off the coast of South Korea—was expanded. The UNESCO Committee will continue its deliberations regarding further World Heritage List inscriptions tomorrow.
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| Grasshopper on a polished stone – Photo: Helga Waess (Kunst-Kultur-Blog – Munich) |
Here are the first new inscriptions on the
UNESCO World Heritage List
Getbol, Korean tidal flats (South Korea)
The vast tidal flats of the Yellow Sea, located along the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021. Known as *Getbol*, these areas rank among the world’s most significant tidal landscapes. The mudflats are continuously shaped by the ebb and flow of the tides, which constantly create new habitats. Home to nearly 2,500 species of flora and fauna, the *Getbol* serve as a crucial stopover for millions of migratory birds in East Asia. The World Heritage site has now been expanded.
New Inscriptions
Sites of the Jingdezhen Porcelain Production Industry (China)
The sites associated with Jingdezhen’s artisanal porcelain industry illustrate the evolution of a highly sophisticated porcelain manufacturing system in China between the 10th and 19th centuries. From the 16th century onwards, the city was recognized as a global hub of ceramic production, thanks to an ingenious infrastructure: raw materials and fuel were transported via waterways to production sites, which were in turn linked to sales markets. Jingdezhen’s blue-and-white porcelain, in particular, became a major symbol of Chinese culture.
Bony Fish Fossils of the Western Limfjord (Denmark)
Along the coastal cliffs of the western Limfjord in North Jutland, exceptionally well-preserved fossils offer insight into an early phase in the evolution of modern bony fish. These finds date back to the period immediately following the last major mass extinction. They reveal how life changed during the rapid global warming of 55 million years ago—known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum—and the cooler period that followed. The coastal cliffs of Hanklit and Knudeklint are considered a globally unique record of the early development of marine ecosystems and the link between evolution and climate change.
Buddhist Site of Sarnath (India)
Sarnath, near Varanasi, is one of the most important sites in Buddhism. It is here that Siddhartha Gautama is said to have preached to his first disciples after attaining enlightenment. Over many centuries, a major pilgrimage center featuring stupas, temples, and monastic complexes developed at the site. The surviving archaeological and architectural remains bear witness to the location's long religious tradition. Sarnath represents a pivotal event in Buddhist history and is regarded as one of the religion's most important pilgrimage sites.
Aqaba Marine Reserve (Jordan)
Located at the northernmost tip of the Red Sea, this marine protected area is home to an exceptionally biodiverse network of tropical coral reefs and seagrass meadows. Together, these diverse habitats provide a vital refuge for numerous endemic, rare, and threatened species. The area is particularly renowned for its exceptionally resilient corals—adapted to high temperatures—which are considered highly resistant to the impacts of climate change.
Rock-hewn Mosques and Sacred Sites of Mangystau (Kazakhstan)
Five mosques carved into the rock—closely linked to Sufism—are located in the Mangystau region of western Kazakhstan: Shopan-Ata, Karaman-Ata, Shakpak-Ata, Sultan-Epe, and Beket-Ata. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, they are situated within natural caves and steep rock faces. Known locally as "underground mosques," these complexes encompass cemeteries, shrines, water sources, pathways, and trees venerated as sacred. They emerged in a region shaped by nomadic culture, where Islamic piety blended with older traditions of ancestor and landscape veneration.
The Medinas of the Historic Sultanates of the Comoros (Comoros)
In the Comoros, six historic towns preserve the legacy of the ancient sultanates of the Indian Ocean. Urban centers—closely linked to Swahili society—evolved from early settlement nuclei around the 14th and 15th centuries. The medinas have largely retained their historic character and remain defined by living traditions to this day. The architecture of their palaces, squares, houses, and fortifications bears witness to cultural exchange along the historic trade routes of the Indian Ocean. Thus, the towns reflect the unique history of the Comoros as a crossroads between Africa, the Arab world, and Europe. This is the African nation's first World Heritage Site.
Burial Complexes of the Xiongnu Nobility (Mongolia)
Several burial complexes in Mongolia bear witness to the Xiongnu people. Between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE, these equestrian nomads established a powerful empire in the territory of present-day Mongolia. They maintained contact with Han China and controlled key sections of the Silk Road. The tombs offer significant insights into Xiongnu burial customs—a subject that has not yet been fully explored. Grave goods such as horse-drawn carriages, weapons, and tools shed light on the life and social structure of this vanished civilization.
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Monastery Complex (Thailand)
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is a significant Buddhist monastery in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. Situated at a crossroads between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, it has served as a regional religious center since its founding in the 8th century. The monastery complex’s architecture and art bear witness to the intense exchange between various faiths in Southeast Asia and have influenced architectural styles in Thailand, Malaysia, and beyond.
Sidi Bou Saïd (Tunisia)
The village of Sidi Bou Saïd is located on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean in northern Tunisia. It grew up around the mausoleum of the Sufi saint of the same name, who settled there in the 13th century. From the 16th century onwards, various ruling dynasties linked their secular power to the saint's religious authority. The Husainids, in particular, developed the village into a retreat for the country's elite. With the saint's tomb at its center, Sidi Bou Saïd stands as an impressive example of traditional Arab-Islamic urban planning, enriched by distinguished residential architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Wadi Wurayah (United Arab Emirates)
Wadi Wurayah in the United Arab Emirates is a rare freshwater landscape situated in a region defined by aridity. Nestled among the rugged rocks of the Hajar Mountains, springs, streams, and pools persist year-round, providing a habitat for numerous plant and animal species. This is made possible by a unique interplay of geology, precipitation, and groundwater within the mountains. Wadi Wurayah strikingly demonstrates how complex freshwater ecosystems can thrive even under extremely arid conditions.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (United States of America)
Located in the southeastern United States, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge protects a subtropical swamp—unique on a global scale—straddling the border between Georgia and Florida. The area is one of the largest and best-preserved ecosystems of the North American coastal plain. Within this mosaic of wetlands and savannas, water, fire, flora, and fauna exist in a highly dynamic balance. This interplay creates habitats for numerous endemic species. At the same time, the landscape holds historical and spiritual significance for the Muscogee Nation.
Background: The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is meeting from
July 19 to 29 in Busan, South Korea.
It is the primary body responsible for implementing the World Heritage Convention. It generally meets annually to decide on the inscription of new cultural and natural sites on the World Heritage List and addresses the state of conservation of sites already inscribed. Around 30 sites have been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List this year. The list currently comprises more than 1,250 cultural and natural sites across 171 countries; 58 of these are considered endangered. Germany currently has 55 World Heritage sites.
SOURCE: UNESCO press release dated July 25, 2026
