National-Parks-Of-Nepal: December 2010

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park[estd. 2002] is the ninth national park in Nepal. It is located in the country's mid-hills on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley and named after Shivapuri Peak of 2,732 metres (8,963 ft) altitude. It covers an area of 159 km2 in the districts of Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk, adjoining 23 Village Development Committees.

Makalu Barun National Park

Makalu Barun National Park[estd. 1992] is the eighth national park in the Himalayas of Nepal as eastern extension of the Sagarmatha National Park Covering an area of 1500 km2 in the districts of Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha. It is the world’s only protected area with an elevation gain of more than 8,000 metres (26,000 ft) enclosing tropical forest as well as snow-capped peaks.

The northern border of the national park coincides with the international border to the Tibet Autonomous Region. Adjacent to the southern and southeastern border is the bufferzone Makalu Barun Conservation Area covering an area of 830 km2.

The rugged summits of Makalu, with 8,463 m (27,766 ft) the fifth highest mountain of the world, Chamalang (7,319 m (24,012 ft)), Baruntse (7,129 m (23,389 ft)) and Mera (6,654 m (21,831 ft)) are included in the national park. The protected area extends to about 66 km (41 mi) from west to east and to about 44 km (27 mi) from north to south. From the Arun river valley in the southeast, located at 344–377 m (1,129–1,237 ft) above sea level, elevation gains about 8,025 m (26,329 ft) to the peak of Makalu.

Bardia National Park

Bardia National Park[estd. 1988] is located in the Far-Western Region, Nepal . Covering an area of 968 km2 it is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai, adjoining the eastern bank of the Karnali River in the Bardia District.

The northern limits of the protected area are demarcated by the crest of the Siwalik Hills. The Nepalgunj-Surkhet highway partly forms the southern boundary, but seriously disrupts the protected area. Natural boundaries to human settlements are formed in the west by the Geruwa, a branch of the Karnali River, and in the southeast by the Babai River.

Together with the neighboring Banke National Park, the coherent protected area of 1,518 km2 represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Bardia-Banke.

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Shey Phoksundo National Park[estd. 1984] is the largest and only trans-Himalayan National Park in Nepal. It covers an area of 3,555 km2 in the districts of Dolpa and Mugu in the northwestern part of the country. Its headquarters is in Palam, in Dolpa District.

The park contains the famous Phoksundo Lake, the deepest lake in Nepal.

Khaptad National Park

Khaptad National Park[estd. 2006] is a national park in the Far-Western Region, Nepal stretching over the four districts of Bajhang, Bajura, Achham and Doti. It covers an area of 225 km2 and displays an altitude of 3,300 m

Rara National Park

Rara National Park[estd.1976] is a protected area in the Himalayas of Nepal Covering an area of 106 km2 in the Mugu and Dolpa districts. It is the country's smallest national park. Its main feature is Rara Lake at an altitude of 2,990 metres (9,810 ft). The park was established to protect the unique flora and fauna of the Humla-Jumla Region of Nepal.

The park ranges in elevation from 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) to 4,039 metres (13,251 ft) at Chuchemara Peak on the southern side of Rara Lake. On the northern side, the peaks of Ruma Kand and Malika Kand frame the alpine freshwater lake, which is the largest lake in Nepal with a surface of 10.8 km2 and a maximum depth of 167 metres (548 ft). It is oval-shaped with an east-west axis, a length of 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) and a width of 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) draining into the Mugu-Karnali River via Nijar Khola.[1]

Rara NP is managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), and protected with the assistance of the Nepal Army.

Langtang National Park

Langtang National Park[estd. 1970] is the fourth national park in Nepal and was established in 1976 as the first Himalayan national park.The protected area exceeds an altitudinal range of 6,450 metres (21,160 ft) and covers an area of 1710 km2 in the Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Sindhulpalchok districts of the central Himalayan region encompassing 26 Village Development Committees.

The northern and eastern border of the national park coincide with the international border to the Tibet Autonomous Region.The western boundary follows the rivers Bhote Kosi and Trisuli.The southern border lies 32 km north of the Kathmandu Valley. The rugged summits of Langtang Lirung with an elevation of 7,227 metres (23,711 ft) and Dorje Lakpa (6,966 metres (22,854 ft)) are included in the national park as well as the high altitude sacred lake of Gosainkunda.