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Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia joins UNESCO World Heritage List
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- The Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, a 13th-century Buddhist temple in Thailand, and tidal flats in South Korea were among several sites newly added to the UNESCO World Heritage List at a committee meeting in Busan, South Korea.
- The Okefenokee Swamp, one of the largest freshwater ecosystems with rich biodiversity and a 5,000-year environmental record, was recognized despite some local opposition over concerns about increased UN management.
- Thailand's Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan temple, noted for its distinctive Theravada Buddhist architecture and active worship, became the country's ninth World Heritage site after over a decade of preparation.
- South Korea expanded the World Heritage designation of its "getbol" tidal flats, highlighting their ecological importance as migratory bird habitats and emphasizing international cooperation for conservation.
- Additional new inscriptions include the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in India, historic porcelain production sites in Jingdezhen, China, and six historic towns in Comoros reflecting centuries of cultural exchange in the Indian Ocean region.
