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.
