In late June - early July 2012, the 36th session of UNESCO was held in St. Petersburg, at which the issues of expanding the list of World Heritage sites were discussed. Representatives of 21 states took part in its work. Following the results of the session, the list was increased by 31 items.
Of the three objects submitted for inclusion in the list by Russia, a complete package of documents was prepared only for the natural monument "Lenskie Stolby" located in Yakutia. It was included in the list of World Heritage of Humanity on the last day of the session, July 6, with the support of 19 states.
The so-called "red list", which includes cultural and natural monuments that are endangered, has been replenished with the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ and the pilgrim paths in Bethlehem. This structure is already damaged and suffers from constant water leaks. This object is located 10 km south of Jerusalem. Of the Israeli monuments, the list also included the Nahal Mearot and Wadi el-Mugara caves, found on Mount Carmel.
The objects of global importance were the entire Chinese city of Shandu, the cultural landscapes of the Bassari, Fula and Bedik peoples in Senegal and the first capital of Côte d'Ivoire, the historic city of Grand Bassam. The modern capital of Morocco - the city of Rabat and its historical part were included as a common heritage.
17 buildings in the city of Muharrak, located on the island of the same name, as well as objects located on its coast: three oyster banks and a piece of the coast in the southern part of the island, on which the fort of Kalat Abu Mahir is located, fell under the auspices of UNESCO. The island belongs to the state of Bahrain and is an example of an economy entirely based on the extraction and processing of pearls.
From Iran, the list was replenished with the Friday Mosque of Masjid-e Jameh in Isfahan and the city of Gonbad-e-Gabus. UNESCO took several natural sites under its protection, among which were the landscapes of the Grand-Pre in Canada, the rocky islands of the southern Lagoon in Palau, the complex of 18 Unianga lakes in the Sahara, the Western Ghats mountain range in India.
From the man-made heritage, the archaeological heritage of the Malaysian Lenggong Valley, the Almadene and Idrija mercury mines in Spain and Slovenia were marked and taken under protection. As well as decorations for rural houses in the Swedish province of Helsingland and the Portuguese military town of Elvas with its fortifications built from the 17th to the 19th century.
