Gunay: Turkey is home to 9 World Heritage Sites
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkish Culture & Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay said Friday that there were 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey. Gunay paid a visit to the ancient city of "Pamukkale" (Hierapolis) located in western province of Denizli accompanied by Denizli Governor Hasan Canpolat and Denizli Mayor Nihat Zeybekci.
Replying to questions of reporters during the visit, Gunay said Turkey was a rich country, home of many historical sites.
"A total of 9 locations in Turkey are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We are trying to make southern province of Mardin the 10th World Heritage Site," Gunay said.
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Turkey are Goreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, Great Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi, Historical Areas of Istanbul, Hattusa, Nemrut Mountain, Hierapolis-Pamukkale, Xanthos- Letoon, City of Safranbolu and Archaeological Site of Troy.
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UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State Parties (countries) which are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a fixed term.
The programme aims to catalogue, name, and conserve sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. As of 2007, a total of 851 sites are listed: 660 cultural, 166 natural, and 25
mixed properties, in 142 States Parties.
Each World Heritage Site is the property of the country on whose territory the site is located, but it is considered in the interest of the international community to preserve each site for future generations of humanity. The protection and conservation of these sites are a concern of all the World Heritage countries.
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