One newly proclaimed World Heritage Site is the medieval town of Ani. It is located in Turkey, the host nation of the UNESCO conference. Between 961 and 1045, Ani was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom. Other new listings include the ancient Greek town of Philippi and the Stécci medieval tombstones that are located in the former Yugoslavia.

The Persian Qanat underground channels are the only technological monument to be added to the list this time around. Qanats traditionally supply water to settlements in arid regions. The second site to be named in Iran is the Lut desert. It is the hottest place on earth and Iran's first UNESCO natural heritage site.

The four caves in the eastern part of Gibraltar bore witness to the evolution of mankind. Experts say the abstract engravings on the cave walls date back to the times of the Neanderthals. Other listed prehistoric sites include the dolmens in Antequera in southern Spain. They are among the most important Megalithic tombs in Europe.

The ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara in north eastern India were home to one of the nation's oldest Buddhist universities. The monks prayed here from the third to the eighth centuries. Another new UNESCO site: the Khangchendzonga national park with its glaciers and forests in the Himalayas.

China is also home to two new heritage sites: the rock paintings on Mount Hua Shan illustrate the life and rituals of the ancient Luoyue people who settled in the region in the fifth century BC. Another new UNESCO site is the Shennongjia Forest. The largest forests in central China are home to golden monkeys and other rare species of primates.

This is the first Micronesian UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins of palaces, temples, burial sites and settlements are on 99 artificial small islands off the coast of Pohnpei. The once highly developed center of the island society lost its importance 500 years ago. Now the ruined city of Nan Madol is threatened by rising water levels due to climate change.

The modern ensemble in Pampulha inclues a casino, a ballroom, a golf and yacht club and the São Francisco de Assis church. This leisure center was designed around an artificial lake. Building began in 1940 and it was planned by star architect Oscar Niemeyer.

The first UNESCO World Heritage Site for Antigua and Barbuda: the two islands are rich in colonial architecture from the 18th century. These include Nelson's Dockyard, a marina named after Admiral Horatio Nelson, who lived in the dockyard from 1784 until 1787.

The Revillagigedo Archipelago are Mexico's sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oceanic islands of volcanic origin are home to endangered species including wales, dolphins, sharks and turtles. Further underwater sites include the Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay in Sudan.

Ships used to be smashed to pieces on Mistaken Point. Now it is a significant fossil site located on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. The fossils here are up to five million years old and among the oldest worldwide. The rock paintings in the Ennedi region of Chad are somewhat younger. The huge sandstone complex in the Sahara is also a new World Heritage Site.

The two Le Corbusier houses in the Weissenhofsiedlung in Stuttgart are famous with fans of architecture. One is lived in, while the double house has contained a museum since 2002. It shows exactly how the architect envisaged modern living in 1927.