Discover the Enchanting Russian Landmark Newly Inscribed into UNESCO World Heritage List!

The Kazan Federal University's astronomical observatories in Russia have recently been included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List during the ongoing discussions of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The site consists of the Kazan Observatory, constructed in 1837 in the heart of the city's historic center, and a complex housing the Engelhardt Astronomical Observatory and several other notable historical structures.

New additions

Ethiopias Bale Mountains National Park has been inscribed on the coveted UNESCO World Heritage List.

On Monday, several new sites were inscribed, including Ethiopias Bale Mountains National Park, spanning 830 square miles; the well-preserved Roman temple, Maison Carrée of Nîmes, located in southern France; and Gordion, the ancient capital city of Phrygia in Turkey.

Gaya Tumuli, a collection of burial mounds constructed by the Gaya Kingdom, was recently included as the 16th site in South Korea. Additionally, the Viking-Age Ring Fortresses in Denmark, which have a history spanning over 1,000 years, were also added to the list. The announcement of UNESCO designating the ancient ruins of Jericho as a World Heritage Site has caused controversy and dissatisfaction among Israelis.

The committee started including new sites on the esteemed list on Saturday. The Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua in Congo and the volcanic Mount Pelée and the Pitons in Martinique, a French island, were both selected. To be eligible for inclusion on the list, which was established in 1978, a site must be determined to possess "outstanding universal value," as per UNESCO.

Outstanding universal value

Maison Carrée, an ancient Roman temple in Nîmes, southern France, was added to the World Heritage List.

Dominique Marck/Ville de Nîmes/UNESCO World Heritage Nomination Office

The committee will review the remaining nominations, including Ohio's Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, in the coming days.

Last week, two sites in Ukraine were added to the World Heritage in Danger List: the St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, both located in the capital city of Kyiv, and the historical center of Lviv in western Ukraine.

UNESCO stated that the decision was taken because the Russian offensive presents a significant threat of destruction. The statement further explained that these sites are not only at risk of direct attack but also susceptible to the shockwaves resulting from the bombing of the two cities.

CNNs Marnie Hunter and Francesca Street also contributed to this article.