<strong>Ancient City of Qalhat (Oman):</strong> The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is currently debating which incredible sights across the world should be given the coveted UNESCO World Heritage status. The options include the Ancient City of Qalhat, home to the Bibi Maryam Mausoleum, pictured here.
Ancient City of Qalhat (Oman): The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is currently debating which incredible sights across the world should be given the coveted UNESCO World Heritage status. The options include the Ancient City of Qalhat, home to the Bibi Maryam Mausoleum, pictured here.
Courtesy QDP/MHC/UNESCO
<strong>The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene (Italy)</strong>: The UNESCO Committee is meeting in Manama, Bahrain. One of the nominees it'll debate is these beautiful Italian hills, the home of famous fizzy wine vineyards.
The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene (Italy): The UNESCO Committee is meeting in Manama, Bahrain. One of the nominees it'll debate is these beautiful Italian hills, the home of famous fizzy wine vineyards.
Shutterstock
<strong>Funeral and memorial sites of the First World War Western Front (Belgium and France)</strong>: Another nominee is the funeral and memorial sites of the First World War's Western Front in Belgium and France. These vast graveyards, including the Commonwealth Military Cemetery "Prowse Point Military Cemetery," pictured here, commemorate the extensive loss of life during this conflict.
Funeral and memorial sites of the First World War Western Front (Belgium and France): Another nominee is the funeral and memorial sites of the First World War's Western Front in Belgium and France. These vast graveyards, including the Commonwealth Military Cemetery "Prowse Point Military Cemetery," pictured here, commemorate the extensive loss of life during this conflict.
Courtesy Guy Focant/Service Public de Wallonie/UNESCO
<strong>Caliphate City of Medina Azahara (Spain)</strong>: This ruined medieval 10th century palace city is another potential UNESCO site. Representatives from 21 countries assess the options -- additions need to be of "outstanding universal value."
Caliphate City of Medina Azahara (Spain): This ruined medieval 10th century palace city is another potential UNESCO site. Representatives from 21 countries assess the options -- additions need to be of "outstanding universal value."
Shutterstock
<strong>Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (South Africa):</strong> Also on the agenda are these South African mountains, known for their green-hued rocks that date back an incredible 3.5 billion years.
Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (South Africa): Also on the agenda are these South African mountains, known for their green-hued rocks that date back an incredible 3.5 billion years.
Courtesy Tony Ferrar/UNESCO
<strong>Fanjingshan mountain (China):</strong> Another incredible mountain on the agenda is this awe-inspiring peak in the Wuling Mountain range, known for its mid-subtropical atmosphere.
Fanjingshan mountain (China): Another incredible mountain on the agenda is this awe-inspiring peak in the Wuling Mountain range, known for its mid-subtropical atmosphere.
Shutterstock
<strong>Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries (South Korea)</strong>: Sansa consists of seven mountain temples that provide a living history of Buddhism. It's another UNESCO applicant to be debated in the 2018 session.
Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries (South Korea): Sansa consists of seven mountain temples that provide a living history of Buddhism. It's another UNESCO applicant to be debated in the 2018 session.
Shutterstock
<strong>Chiribiquete National Park -- "The Maloca of the Jaguar," (Colombia)</strong>: Another nominee is Colombia's largest national park, home to ancient rock art, tropical forest and mountains.
Chiribiquete National Park -- "The Maloca of the Jaguar," (Colombia): Another nominee is Colombia's largest national park, home to ancient rock art, tropical forest and mountains.
Guillermo Legaria/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>The Historic Urban Ensemble of Nîmes (France)</strong>: This impressive Roman amphitheater, situated in this Southern French city, was built in roughly 70 AD and remains standing in 2018, playing host to concerts. Will it be granted UNESCO status?
The Historic Urban Ensemble of Nîmes (France): This impressive Roman amphitheater, situated in this Southern French city, was built in roughly 70 AD and remains standing in 2018, playing host to concerts. Will it be granted UNESCO status?
Shutterstock
<strong>Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region (Iran):</strong> Also up for consideration are these relics of the Sassanian period (224 to 651 AD), which provide an insight into a bygone world.
Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region (Iran): Also up for consideration are these relics of the Sassanian period (224 to 651 AD), which provide an insight into a bygone world.
Courtesy B. Sedighi/ICHHTO/UNESCO
<strong>Roșia Montană Mining Landscape, Romania</strong>: This nominee from Romania is an area rich with metals. It's been a mining hotspot for centuries and is home to prehistoric and Roman mining settlements.
Roșia Montană Mining Landscape, Romania: This nominee from Romania is an area rich with metals. It's been a mining hotspot for centuries and is home to prehistoric and Roman mining settlements.
Shutterstock
<strong>Aasivissuit -- Nipisat. Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea (Denmark)</strong>: This area has been used by hunters since the 3rd century and is now campaigning for World Heritage Status.
Aasivissuit -- Nipisat. Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea (Denmark): This area has been used by hunters since the 3rd century and is now campaigning for World Heritage Status.
Courtesy Olafur Rafnar Olafsson/UNESCO
Beguiling photos of UNESCO Heritage Site nominees
CNN  — 

Incredible natural beauty, amazing archaeological treasures, historic cityscape – what makes a destination worthy of UNESCO World Heritage status?

A stunning selection of must-see spots are among the 2018 nominees to join the extensive list of World Heritage properties.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee met in Manama, Bahrain to debate which sites to add to its catalog.

Among those awarded World Heritage Status were the Ancient City of Qalhat in Oman, known for its incredible archaeological remains, Al-Ahsa Oasis, an evolving cultural landscape in Saudi Arabia, and Kenya’s Thimlich Ohinga archaeological site.

In total, 19 sites were added – and the extension of one site was also approved.

Amazing destinations

The funeral and memorial sites of the First World War in Belgium and France were among the nominees.
The funeral and memorial sites of the First World War in Belgium and France were among the nominees.
Courtesy Guy Focant/Service Public de Wallonie/UNESCO

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets annually to review additions to the list, which must be deemed of “outstanding universal value” to warrant inclusion. Representatives from 21 countries assess the options.

The first list was published in 1978 and included Yellowstone National Park in the United States and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.

Four decades later, UNESCO World Heritage status is highly coveted among tourist destinations across the world, often credited with bringing in more visitors.

This year’s additions fall into different categories. Some are cultural properties such as the Caliphate City of Medina Azahara, a palatial city built in the 10th century near Cordoba, Spain. This one-time Arab Muslim medieval town is now a collection of vast, beautiful ruins.

Natural sites have also made the cut. These include South Africa’s Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains and the awe-inspiring Fanjingshan mountain in China.

Related article UNESCO 2017: Which sites have been added to the World Heritage List?

Movers and shakers

The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in Italy are also being debated.
The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in Italy are also being debated.
Shutterstock

UNESCO concluded its deliberations by July 4.

The Committee decided to remove the world’s second largest coral reef, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve system, from the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger.

The reef has been on the list for the past nine years, but after what UNESCO calls a “visionary” plan by the government of Belize, it’s deemed no longer in extreme peril.

Fanjingshan mountain in China is also a nominee.
Fanjingshan mountain in China is also a nominee.
Shutterstock

Related article 8 endangered UNESCO sites to see now in the Americas

“Today’s removal of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System from the List of World Heritage in Danger is a pivotal moment for the World Heritage Convention and the oceans,” said Mechtild Rossler, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in a statement.

Related article 20 of the world's most beautiful World Heritage Sites

2018 additions

Here’s the list of destinations added to the UNESCO list in 2018:

Denmark: Aasivissuit – Nipisat. Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea

Saudi Arabia: Al-Ahsa Oasis, an evolving Cultural Landscape

Oman: Ancient City of Qalhat

Spain: Caiphate City of Medina Azahara

Turkey: Göbekli Tepe

Japan: Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region

Italy: Ivrea, industrial city of the 20th century

Germany: Naumburg Cathedral

Republic of Korea: Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea

Iran: Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region

Germany: The Archaeological Border Landscape of Hedeby and the Danevirke

Kenya: Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site

India: Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai

South Africa: Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains

France: Chaine des Puys - Limagne fault tectonic arena

China: Fanjingshan

Colombia: Chiribiquete National Park – “The Maloca of the Jaguar”

Canada: Pimachiowin Aki

Mexico: Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: originary habitat of Mesoamerica

Russia: Bikin River Valley