The 2014 new 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites in pictures

Last year we failed to publish this post on time, but all good things are worth waiting for. Also the qualities of these new 26 inscriptions (plus 4 extensions) are -supposedly- timeless.

You know that no one makes UNESCO lists look as good as we do. You can also review the places that achieved the recognition in 2011, 2012 and 2013 following these links, plus (update) the ones from 2015 and 2016.

Including these new properties, the list has already more than a thousand sites, 1,007 in total:

The Grand Canal of China, going all the way from Beijing to Hangzhou.
Image by Albert Choi

Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, India. Subterranean water resource and storage systems that were found almost intact under the sand, in the late 1980s. Image by DSM888

Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex, Russia. During the Soviet Union, Muslims from the communist bloc used to come here in pilgrimage, instead to Mecca.

Bursa and Cumalıkızık, Turkey: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire.
Image by Charles Roffey

Okavango Delta, Botswana. A very large inland delta of a river that is evaporated and transpired in the soil, instead of flowing into the sea. Image by Gigi H

Caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin in the Judean Lowlands as a Microcosm of the Land of the Caves, Israel.
Image by Michael Plawner

Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey, Germany. The Westwork was a facade looking westwards, built to highlight the presence of the emperor, even if he wasn't there. The original Carolingian monastery was erected between AD 822 and 885. Image by Roger Joseph

Erbil Citadel, Iraq. According to themselves, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, dating back at least 8,000 years. Image by Erbil City

Decorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche, France. Featured in the amazing film Cave of Forgotten Dreams of Werner Herzog. Image by Nachosan

Historic Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the Gate to Mecca.
Image by Charles Roffey

Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point, USA. The remains of a large complex built by an aboriginal North American society, more than 3,000 years ago. Image by CeeDave

Namhansanseong, South Korea. A mountain fortress city, designed as capital in case of emergency.
Image by Korea.net

Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines. Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir.
Image by Andrea Moroni

Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape, Turkey.
Image by Benh Lieu Song

Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquís, Costa Rica.
Image by Rodtico21

Pyu Ancient Cities, Myanmar.
Image by Bernhard Huber

Qhapaq Ñan, the Andean Road System that goes across Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Image by Ministerio de Cultura de la Nación Argentina

Shahr-i Sokhta or the Burnt City, Iran. A mysterious civilization where many interesting artifacts are still being found. Image by Zhobin Ariayee

Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China.
Image by TG650

Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites in Japan.
Image by Tanaka Juuyoh

The Van Nelle Factory in the Netherlands. It was designed as an ideal factory, trying to create pleasant working conditions. Image by Vincent AF

The Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, Italy.
Image by Stefano Pertusati

The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, India.
Image by Andrew Miller

Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, in Philippines.
Image by Kleo Marlo

Stevns Klint, is a coastal cliff with plenty of fossils in Denmark. It provides exceptional evidence of the impact of the meteorite that crashed in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, responsible for the mass extinction 65 million years ago. Image by Bo Nielsen

The Białowieża Forest between Belarus and Poland. It's one of the last remaining untouched parts of the forest that once stretched across Europe. Image by Frank Vassen

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul in Campeche, Mexico.
Image by Rageforst æsthir

The Wadden Sea, comprises around 500 km of coast rich in biological diversity in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Image by Alexander Steinhof

South China Karst is an extension of the site, consisting in spectacular types of karst landforms, already included in 2007. Image by Shizhao

Trang An Landscape Complex in Vietnam. A popular day excursion from Hanoi, where you can be amazed by skilled feet rowers. Image by Atlas of Wonders