UNESCO's new World Heritage Sites

The Speicherstadt is Hamburg's first World Heritage Site. The 15 warehouses on the Elbe River are a testimonial to the city's historical maritime, industrial architecture. The nearby Kontorhaus district is included in the site. In particular, its Chilehaus represents the most significant artistic and architectural achievement of German Brick Expressionism.

Italy already has 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it just got one more: Arab-Norman Palermo (see picture) and the nearby Cathedral Churches of Cefalù und Monreale. They represent the 12th century Norman kingdom of Sicily. The rulers of the time combined architectural style elements of both eastern and western cultures.

In France, two famous wine-making regions have been declared World Heritage Sites. The various 'climats' in Burgundy have been cultivating grapes since the High Middle Ages. The second designation this year goes to the vineyards, production sites and underground cellars of Champagne (pictured).

The Par Force hunting landscape (pictured) encompasses two sculpted hunting woodlands. They were designed for the Danish kings and their court for hunting with hounds and demonstrate the application of Baroque landscape principles in forested areas in the 17th and 18th centuries. Denmark's second site is Christiansfeld, a Moravian church settlement founded in 1773.

Along with Norway's industrial complexes in the towns of Rjukan und Notodden, Britain's Forth Bridge (pictured) was added to the list of World Heritage Sites. The bridge spanning the estuary of the Forth River in Scotland is considered an important milestone in bridge design and construction.

Two new World Heritage Sites have been declared in Turkey. The ancient city of Ephesus (pictured) includes what little remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Ephesus is considered an outstanding example of a Roman port city. Turkey's other site is the Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens.

During the 2nd century AD, the necropolis of Bet She’arim in Israel (pictured) was the most important Jewish burial site outside of Jerusalem. Inscriptions in the underground tombs provide evidence of a revival period of Jewish religious culture. Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the home and workplace of John the Baptist, was also added to the list of World Heritage sites.

Jamaica has been granted its first ever World Heritage listing. The Blue and John Crown mountain ranges are rich in wildlife, and have now been declared a World Heritage Natural Site and Cultural Site. They are home to numerous endangered species. The area also has cultural significance, as it's closely linked to the history of the Maroons and their fight against slavery.

Singapore also received its first World Heritage title. The Botanic Gardens have more than 3,000 tropical plant species, a rainforest and an orchid garden, and are now some of the most beautiful and scientifically significant botanic gardens in the world. The history dates back 150 years, and they now attract more than four million visitors a year.

Also added to the World Heritage listings were the Tusi Sites in Asia (pictured) - the areas from which the former tribal leaders ruled in southern China. Other places to receive a World Heritage title include the holy Burkhan Mountain in Mongolia, the archaeological sites of the Baekje Dynasty in Korea and the Japanese industrial sites from the Meiji period.

Susa in Iran was once a resplendent city. Excavations in the ruins (pictured) have revealed a treasure trove of archeological finds dating back through the 5,000-year long settlement history. Iran was granted a second World Heritage listing for its historic cave village of Meymand, Kerman. The prehistoric rock drawings in Ha’il in Saudi Arabia also received a place on the UNESCO list.

The 18th century San Antonio Missions in Texas (pictured) provide a glimpse into the age of colonization and are an example of the intertwining of Spanish and Native American culture. The Aqueduct in Mexico’s Padre Tembleque was also declared a World Heritage site, as was the Cultural-Industrial Landscape of Fray Bentos in Uruguay.