Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, who was also the Chairman of this WHC session was the first to congratulate Italy on gaining another World Heritage Site.
According to IUCN (International Union for Conservation Nature) press release, Mount Etna, that is situated on the coast of Sicily, is famous for its high level of ongoing volcanic activity. IUCN, who is also advisory on World Heritage Sites for UNESCO, said that since this February alone, 13 eruptions have taken place.
The oldest documentation of Mount Etna dates back over 2,700 years. Now it is probably one of the most studied and watched volcanoes on the planet. It has a strong influence on geophysics, volcanology, and other sciences.
Director of the IUCN World Heritage Program, Tim Badman, said that researches have always been intrigued about Mount Etna and that its cultural, scientific and educational values are very important to the whole world. He also hoped that the status of being a World Heritage site would bring more protection to the mountain, especially now that tourism in the area has been leaving its mark.
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Consultez la source sur Veille info tourisme: LEtna devient un site du patrimoine mondial