Lately in 2014, Myanmar submitted additionally its seven properties on the world heritage tentative list, comprising Mount Khakaborazi, Wildlife Sanctuary in Bogalay Township of Ayeyawady Region, Ayeyawady Dolphin, Nat Ma Mountain in Chin State, Taninthayi nature reserve, Inndawgyi Lake and Mergui (Myeik) Archipelago.
Among Myanmar’s new bid for seven spots, Mt. Khakaborazi is recently given top priority to be inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar.
Towering at 5,581 meters, Mt. Khakaborazi is the highest peak in Southeast Asia settled in Putao of Kachin State in northern Myanmar, an extended area of Himalaya range. The mount was first conquered in 1996 by Takashi Ozaki, a Japanese mountaineer, and Nyama Gyaltsen, a local. Its summit is enclosed by Khakaborazi National Park and Khakaborazi Wildlife Sanctuary. This snow-capped mountain is also a very important watershed area for the eastern Irrawaddy river (the N’mai river). It’s indigenously known as “Ahtanbum”, meaning “mysterious Spirit abode”; thus, no one has dared to venture it in centuries.
At present, Myanmar’s Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry is conducting surveys on the biodiversity of Mt. Khakaborazi and its neighboring areas in cooperation with UNESCO, said the national project coordinator of UNESCO.
Formerly in 1996, Myanmar submitted its first seven properties for inscription as World Heritage Sites. The list includes Bagan Archaeological Area and MonumentsWooden Monasteries of Konbaung Period (Ohn Don, Sala, Pakhangyi, Pakhannge, Legaing, Sagu, Shwe-Kyaung – Mandalay), Badah-lin and associated caves, Ancient cities of Upper Myanmar (Innwa, Amarapura, Sagaing, Mingun, Mandalay), Myauk-U Archaeological Area and Monuments, and Inle Lake.
The Ministry of Culture and organizations concerned are trying to submit Bagan archaeological area and monuments to be recognized. Until now, there are three ancient cities in Myanmar – Thayekhittaya (or Sri Ksetra) near Pyay, Beikthano near Taungdwingyi and Hanlin near Shwebo – had been designated as World Heritages; and Inle lake becomes Myanmar’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
>> Head to Putao, the area adjacent the Roof of Southeast Asia – Mount Khakaborazi:
