UNESCO inscribes Iran's Yazd on world heritage list

The island of Okinoshima in Munakata Fukuoka Prefecture
The island of Okinoshima in Munakata Fukuoka Prefecture
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11 July, 2017

Participants in a UNESCO World Heritage conference have put the historic center of Vienna on the United Nations cultural agency's list of sites in danger due to a high-rise construction project there.

Yazd is home to UNESCO-listed ancient Persian qanats as well as Dolatabad Garden, which is one of nine Iranian gardens inscribed collectively on the World Heritage List as "the Persian Gardens".

Dating back to five thousand years ago, Yazd is believed to be the world's largest inhabited adobe city.

Nearly 200 hectares of the city's 2,270-hectare historical texture now boast world heritage status. Iran now has 21 world heritage sites, more than any other country in the Middle East.

Cultural heritage authorities have envisioned a buffer zone of around 665.93 hectares for the designated area.

Winding lanes, wind towers, mud-brick houses and enchanting places to stay have turned Yazd into staple on every tourist's go-to list.

Envoy of Turkey also referred to the multicultural character of Yazd and peaceful coexistence of various religions like Islam, Zoroastrianism and Zenith adding "Yazd possesses all conditions of a great work of valuable world heritage". The World Heritage Committee registered the site as a world heritage during its 41st meeting in Krakow, Poland, on Sunday.

The list of sites in danger draws the global community's attention to conditions that threaten value of unique sites.


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