The latest inclusions to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list feature a few new natural gems. Have a look at the five breathtakingly beautiful natural sites of 2011 and know why the sites are considered a “heritage.”

1. West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, China
The West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou includes the West Lake and the hills surrounding its three sides. It has numerous temples, pagodas, pavilions, gardens and ornamental trees, as well as causeways and artificial islands in its vicinity. According to UNESCO, “the West Lake has influenced garden design in the rest of China as well as Japan and Korea over the centuries.” REUTERS/China Daily
2. Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley
The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley is a natural property and is home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world, according to UNESCO. The site is “valuable for the study of ecological processes of major importance.” REUTERS/Radu Sigheti
5. Ningaloo Coast, Australia
The 604,500 hectare marine and terrestrial property of Ningaloo Coast, off the coast of Western Australia, includes one of the world’s longest near-shore reefs, the Ningaloo reef. According to UNESCO, Ningaloo Coast is home to sea turtles and many more marine species, and has annual gatherings of whale sharks. “The terrestrial part of the site supports a variety of rare species that contribute to the exceptional biodiversity of the marine and terrestrial site.” REUTERS