Also on the big list…

Unesco’s World Heritage List 2017 is out, with 21 new places receiving the prestigious accolade of being declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Essentially the Oscars for sites of natural beautiful or cultural significance, the Unesco World Heritage List are reappraised every year at the annual committee meeting.

The 2017 edition was held in Krakow. The 41st session of the World Heritage Committee decided which of 33 nominated sites, including six natural sites, 26 cultural and one that was proposed both as a natural and cultural site, were worthy of being named World Heritage Sites.

Among the sites to have made it to the list is Okinoshima, the sacred Japanese island where women are banned. Located in southwest Japan, the 700-square metre land mass of Okinoshima is home to the 17th century shrine of Okitsu, which was once used to pray for maritime safety. 

The tiny, remote island is a treasure trove of 80,000 offerings to Shinto sea gods, from beads to swords. It also facilitated exchanges between Korea and China from the fourth to ninth centuries. 

Today, only male priests from Munakata Taisha, a group of Shinto shrines, are permitted to travel to worship at the island’s shrine.

In addition, up to 200 men are allowed to visit once a year, on May 27. Then they honour sailors who died in a nearby naval battle during the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese war.

Following strict rules, they strip naked and perform a cleansing ritual before they set foot on the land. When they leave, they are not permitted to take anything with them and must never speak of the trip. 

Women are banned from visiting because of Shinto traditions, although the original reason for the ban is unclear.

Some believe it is because of the Shinto belief that menstrual blood is unpure. 

Others say that women were banned from travelling because the journey by sea was considered dangerous and men wanted to protect child-bearers. 

    — The Independent

 the 21 sites that made the cut

• Ahmedabad, India
• City of Yazd, Iran
• Venetian Works of Defence, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro
• Valongo Wharf, Brazil
• Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine, Poland
• Taputapuatea, France
•  Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia
• Qinghai Hoh Xil, China
• Okinoshima, Japan
• Mbanza Kongo, Angola
•  Los Alerces national park, Argentina
•  Kulangsu, China
•  Kujataa, Denmark
•  Assumption Cathedral, Russia
•  Aphrodisias, Turkey
•  Swabian Jura, Germany
•  Khomani Cultural Landscape, South Africa
•  Dauria, Mongolia / Russia
•  Hebron/Al-Khalil, Palestine
•  Asmara, Eritrea