UNESCO's newest World Heritage Sites

A narrow, 10-mile strip of Canadian coastal cliffs dating back more than 500 million years contains the oldest known collection of large fossils in the world.

Located on the southeastern tip of the island of Newfoundland, the Mistaken Point cliffs were added to the exclusive UNESCO World Heritage List on Sunday.

A series of 99 artificial islets built off the the southeast coast of the Micronesian island of Pohnpei sometime between 1200 and 1500 AD were also added to the list.

The ruins on the islets were the ceremonial center of the Saudeleur dynasty, and the structures are evidence of the religious and social practices of the period.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed 21 sites on the Wold Heritage List during its annual meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, from July 10 to 17.

The committee cut short its session due to the United Nations security protocol put in place following the coup attempt in Turkey. It will meet in Paris in October to discuss the rest of its agenda.

The United Nations' cultural body meets annually to name natural, cultural and sites of mixed significance around the world to its prestigious preservation list, which now has 1,052 sites considered to be places of "outstanding universal value."

The inscribed sites must meet one or more of 10 criteria such as "representing a masterpiece of human creative genius," containing "exceptional natural beauty" or being an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement.

UNESCO has been adding sites to the World Heritage List since 1978.

Nations often spend years developing pitches for inclusion on the list because of its significant cultural cachet and the fame and resources it can attract to sites in need of restoration and protection. They must convince the UNESCO committee that they will protect their sites and support them financially.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/18/travel/new-unesco-world-heritage-sites-2016/index.html

Image Source: http://geol.queensu.ca/museum/images/stories/frond_spindles_l.jpg

Vocabulary Words:
1. Fossil - (noun) The remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form

2. Exclusive - (adj.) Excluding or not admitting other things

3. Islet- (noun) A small island

4. Coup - (noun) A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government

5. Prestigious - (adj.) Inspiring respect and admiration having high status

6. Cachet - (noun) The state of being respected or admired prestige

Discussion Questions:
1. What is included to the newest list of UNESCO World Heritage?
2. Can you name and describe at least one World Heritage site that you know?
3. In your opinion, what would you consider as criterias for a site to be included in the prestigious list?
4. What is the importance of preserving natural and cultural sites?
5. How can you contribute to the protection of these sites?