UNESCO�s World Heritage Committee commenced its 40th session on Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey, to study proposals to inscribe 26 sites on the World Heritage List, with Iran�s Lut Desert widely expected to make it on the list.

The session will conclude on July 20.

The proposals include nine natural, 14 cultural and three mixed sites, i.e. properties that are outstanding both for their natural and cultural characteristics.

The committee will also examine the state of conservation of 108 sites already on the World Heritage List and of 48 sites on the World Heritage in Danger List.

Lut Desert could become Iran�s first ever natural site on the coveted list if it receives approval from member states during the 11-day event.

Locally called Dasht-e Lut, Lut Desert is a salt desert in northeastern Kerman Province, and is the 25th largest desert in the world. It is also one of hottest places on Earth and recorded the highest temperature ever measured on the planet in 2005: 70.7 degrees Celsius.

Last year, the historical city of Susa in Khuzestan Province and the ancient Meymand village in Kerman Province were inscribed on the list, increasing the number of world heritage sites in Iran to 19.

By Financial Tribune