DUSHANBE, July 22, 2010, Asia-Plus -- This year’s session of the World Heritage Committee to consider World Heritage Tentative List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) runs in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia from 25 July to 3 August, United Nations News Center reports.

According to it, for the first time, Tajikistan, Kiribati, and Marshall Islands have put forward sites for possible inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The World Heritage List features properties threatened by problems including pollution, urban development, poorly managed mass tourism, wars and natural disasters.

Tajikistan has put forward Mountains of the Pamirs of the National Park in the Natural category and the archeological site of the ancient city of Sarazm in the Cultural category.

At more than 12,000 square kilometers in size, the Tajik National Park takes up almost a tenth of the area of Tajikistan.  According to the Natural Heritage Protection Fund, it is the largest protected area in Central Asia.  It includes Somoni Peak, which at 7,495 meters is the highest mountain in the post-Soviet area.  Other unique features include Fedchenko Glacier, one of the largest mountain valley glaciers on earth; Sarez Lake, one of the world’s highest lakes; and more than 100 endemic and endangered plants and animals, including the snow leopard.

Sarazm is an ancient town and jamoat in northern Tajikistan.  It is located in Panjakent district in Sughd province.  The archaeological site of the ancient city of Sarazm is located in the Zarafshon Valley in the Sughd province.  The ancient city of Sarazm is believed to have been founded as a mining point to collect from nearby sources of turquoise.  Established no later that 1500 BC, the city also served as an important regional agricultural and copper production center.

Currently, the World Heritage List recognizes 890 properties in 148 countries to be of “outstanding universal value.”