Rio de Janeiro Declared World Heritage Site

The landscapes of Rio de Janeiro have been entered onto the World Heritage List, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said.

The decision regarding the Brazilian city was adopted by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in Russia's second-largest city.

Rio de Janeiro, Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea was the only Latin American site aspiring to be included on the list at the current meeting.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said that the UNESCO designation was a "reason for pride for all of Brazil" and an incentive to continue with Rio's "revitalization."

In a communique the head of state added that the designation comes at a time when the city has proven that it has "management competence and capacity to host important national and international events," including the recent U.N. conference on sustainable development.

In addition, she noted that Rio will be one of the sites for the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

The UNESCO panel, which is tasked with ensuring fulfillment of the tenets enshrined in the 1972 World Heritage Convention, is made up of representatives of 21 countries elected by the signatory nations.

At the beginning of the 36th session of the Committee, which will last until July 6, the World Heritage List included 725 sites in 153 countries.