The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)announced four new World Heritage Sites on Friday.
(Above, you'll see the four most recent additions, as well as additional UNESCO sites.)
The additions include India'sNalanda Mahavihara, an archeological ruin of a Buddhist monastery,theFederated States of Micronesia's Nan Madol, a ceremonial site consisting ofartificial islets made from basalt and coral,China's Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, featuring some of the most striking ancient rock paintings in the world and Iran's Qanat, anage-old system of underground water tunnels.
(MORE:Half of UNESCO World Heritage Sites Threatened by 'Harmful Industrial Activities')
The UN agency said that these new sites bring the total number of World Heritage Sites on the list to 1,035.
UNESCO was established in 1972 and provides legal protection pursuant to the Law of War, under the Geneva Convention, helping provide security to places in the world that have cultural, religious or environmental significance.
MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Threatened UNESCO World Heritage Sites