Monasteries and memorials: 10 UNESCO World Heritage contenders

Among the notable cultural properties that could become UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2018 are the First World War graveyards and memorials in Belgium and France. One of them is this cemetery in Thiepval, France, where the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme was commemorated in 2016. The title of World Heritage site is highly coveted because it attracts attention and boosts tourism.

This isn't the first go-around for the 13th-century cathedral in eastern Germany. It had been entered into the running to become cultural UNESCO World Heritage before, but was rejected. Back then, the application included the high medieval cultural landscape surrounding the landmark. This time around, the Naumburgers followed the UNESCO committee's recommendation and entered the cathedral only.

The second German entry includes the archaeological landscape of Hedeby, one of the most important trading centers in northern Europe from the 9th to the 11th century, and the Danevirke, an early medieval fortification wall. The Viking sites are located at the border between Germany and its northern neighbor Denmark.

The Sansa Buddhist Mountain Monasteries are South Korea's only contender in the 2018 round. The Beopjusa Temple, with the Hall of Eight Pictures seen above, is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It's one of seven monasteries in the ensemble up for World Heritage recognition.

One of Italy's entries in the cultural properties section of UNESCO's World Heritage are the lush hills surrounding the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene — home of the famously sparkly Prosecco. Pictured above is the San Martino mountain pass. Should this area make it on the list, you know what its residents will drink to celebrate. Cheers!

One of the older contenders for a World Heritage title in 2018 is Qalhat. The city in northeastern Oman was an important trade hub in the 14th and 15th century. The pictured mausoleum of Bibi Maryam is a reminder of ancient times. In 2010, modern Qalhat had roughly 1,100 inhabitants. Its port, located a little outside the city, is a transfer site for Oman's liquid gas.

The Romanian community of Rosia Montana has always been famous for mining. The rich resources of the area have been exploited since Roman times. Experts say there are hundreds of tons of gold still to be dug up. In 2017, Romania even planned to ask UNESCO to revoke its World Heritage application — it was worried it would interfere with mining. But Rosia Montana remains a contender.

South Africa's Makhonjwa Mountains are vying for a World Heritage title in the natural property category, as opposed to the previous cultural entries. The mountains fringe the town of Barberton at the border of Swaziland. Some of the oldest exposed rocks on Earth, estimated to be between 3.2 and 3.6 billion years old, can be found here.

This dome-like mountain and its 567-square-kilometer (219-square-mile) nature reserve in south-central China are also among the candidates vying for a World Heritage title in the natural property category. The reserve is home to almost 800 different plant families and more than 800 animal species.

The national park in the Colombian Amazon is one of three sites competing for a mixed-property World Heritage title, with both cultural and natural factors playing a role. Chiribiquete is known by the natives as the "maloca," or ancestral long house, of the jaguar. It was nominated before, but rejected due to security concerns. Thanks to Colombia's current peace process, its chances have improved.