Discover the Spectacular New Additions to UNESCO's World Heritage List

The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO concluded its discussions on the sites at risk and commenced the inclusion of new sites on the esteemed World Heritage List on Saturday.

Earlier this week, the St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, both situated in the capital city of Kyiv, along with the historical center of Lviv in western Ukraine, were categorized as being "in danger."

On Saturday, deliberations commenced on the selection of 50 nominated sites for the prestigious World Heritage List. Among the chosen sites on the very first day were the renowned Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua in Congo and the breathtaking volcanoes and forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons on the French island of Martinique.

World Heritage in Danger List

The Holy Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Yurii Stefanyak/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

The heritage sites in danger list consists of sites that are at risk due to various factors such as armed conflict, natural disasters, pollution, and more. St. Sophia cathedral, constructed in the 11th century and adorned with captivating mosaics and frescoes, was included in the in danger list together with the nearby monastic complex Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves.

Situated close to the Polish border, the city of Lviv's historic center includes a fifth-century castle, a synagogue, and a range of other religious buildings. Additionally, it has been included in the list of UNESCO's World Heritage potential additions. With almost 50 international treasures, let's take a look at what is included in the list.

UNESCO stated that the decision was made because of the threat posed by the Russian offensive. Both sites have been continuously under threat since the invasion began. The statement further highlights that these sites are at risk of direct attack and are vulnerable to the shockwaves resulting from the bombing of the two cities.

Adding the Ukraine sites would allow for further financial and technical assistance to implement new emergency measures, consistent with the measures already taken by Ukraine with UNESCO. This decision was made following the committee's choice to not include the Italian city of Venice and its lagoon on the list.

World Heritage List

The Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua in Congo was added to the list of contenders for the World Heritage List on Saturday. This park is not only one of Africa's oldest, but it is also among the largest tropical rainforests worldwide.

During the initial day of discussions, the volcanoes and forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons in the northern region of the French island of Martinique were officially included in the list as a fresh addition.

On another note, Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, an already existing World Heritage Site, underwent an extension to encompass the Cat Ba Archipelago, the largest limestone archipelago in the country. Now recognized as a single entity called Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Ha Long Bay had originally gained recognition in 1994.

An African forest elephant at the Lekoli River in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Congo.

The Andrefana Dry Forests, a unique ecosystem found exclusively on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, have been incorporated into the protected areas of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. This extension further enhances the status of the park, which already consists of five protected areas.

The committee will be reviewing the remaining nominations in the coming days, which consist of a Viking age ring fortress located in Denmark and a 2,000-year-old earthworks site in Ohio. In order to be added to the World Heritage List, UNESCO requires these sites to possess "outstanding universal value."

To be eligible, a website must fulfill at least one criterion from a designated list, which is regularly updated by the committee to align with the evolving concept of World Heritage. CNN's Marnie Hunter and Francesca Street provided contributions for this report.