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World Heritage is a unique cultural-historical and / or natural-historical environment that testifies to the history of man or the earth. In July 2005, there were 812 World Heritage Sites in 137 affiliated countries; the world heritage is divided into 628 cultural heritage, 160 natural heritage and 24 is a combination of both types. Every year, an average of thirty world heritage sites are added. World Heritage should not be confused with world memory. In Sweden there are 14 world heritage sites.
The World Heritage Committee meets once a year to decide which new sites should be added to the World Heritage List. Each country applies for this before the meeting. The committee consists of representatives from 21 countries. This group also decides which of the World Heritage Sites will receive extra protection, because they are in some way at risk of being destroyed.