UNESCO Adds Three Sites to Danger List, Names Next World Book Capital

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  07.10.07 | 11:14 AM ET

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has had a busy few weeks. Not only was it busy issuing a press release claiming no affiliation with the new seven wonders, during meetings in Christchurch, New Zealand, the group added the Galapagos and their surrounding marine reserve; Samarra, Iraq; and Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park to its list of endangered World Heritage sites. Two more sites—the Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin and Kathmandu Valley, Nepal—were removed from the Danger List.

UNESCO also added 22 natural and cultural sites to its World Heritage List, bringing the total sites it urges protecting and preserving to 851. Among the sites added to the heritage list: The Sydney Opera House and the Old Town of Corfu, Greece.

In Paris, UNESCO named Beirut, Lebanon its 2009 “World Book Capital.” Its current book capital is Bogotá. Next year, it will be Amsterdam.



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