Aberdeen Country Park
Encyclopedia
Aberdeen Country Park is located on the south end of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...

 near the area called Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Much of the south side of the island is underdeveloped and retains more of the rural feel that predominated on the island before it was settled by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. The park extends to Wan Chai Gap on the north.

The 4.23 square kilometre country park opened in 1931. Like other country parks of Hong Kong, Aberdeen is based on land surrounding reservoirs, in this case the Upper and Lower Reservoirs. The reservoirs were completed in 1932. Designated in 1977, Aberdeen Country Park is one of the oldest country parks in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

.The scenery of the park can be appreciated from Peak Road and Guildford Road.

Geology

This is essentially an area of volcanic rocks of the Repulse Bay
Repulse Bay
Repulse Bay is a bay in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, located in the Southern District, Hong Kong.-Geography:Repulse Bay is located in the south of Hong Kong Island, to the east of Deep Water Bay and to the west of Middle Bay and South Bay...

 Formation formed during the Lower and Middle Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to  Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...

 Period.

Vegetation

As in Tai Tam Country Park
Tai Tam Country Park
Tai Tam Country Park is a country park in the Tai Tam area in the south end of Hong Kong Island. The park was also expanded with the addition of the Tai Tam Country Park...

, most of the trees in the Aberdeen Country Park area suffered ravages during the Second World War and the Japanese occupation
Japanese Occupation
Japanese Occupation may refer to:*Occupation of Japan, the occupation of Japan by United States forces following World War II*Japanese occupation of Burma*Japanese occupation of Cambodia*Japanese occupation of Guam*Japanese occupation of Hong Kong...

. The now well-shaded woods are mainly the result of post war re-afforestation as well as natural regeneration of many of the broad-leafed species. The dominant trees in the park are the Brisbane Box, Schima
Schima
[[Schima is a [[genus]] of evergreen trees belonging to the tea family, [[Theaceae]].The genus inhabits warm temperate to subtropical climates across southern and southeastern Asia, from the eastern [[Himalaya]] of [[Nepal]] and eastern [[India]] across [[Indochina]], southern [[China]],...

, Gordonia
Gordonia
Gordonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, related to Franklinia, Camellia and Stewartia. Of the roughly 40 species, all but two are native to southeast Asia in southern China, Taiwan and Indochina. The remaining species, G...

, Ivy Tree and Rose Myrtle.

Wildlife

The woods in the area are frequented by birds, and are especially a favourite of the Black-eared Kite which can be seen flying around the two reservoirs. Other birds frequenting the area are the Greater Coucal
Greater Coucal
The Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant is a large non-parasitic member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. A widespread resident in Asia, from India, east to south China and Indonesia, it is divided into several subspecies, some being treated as full species...

, Hwamei, Magpie-Robin
Magpie-robin
The magpie-robins or shamas are medium-sized insectivorous birds in the genera Copsychus and Trichixos...

, Magpie
Magpie
Magpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae.In Europe, "magpie" is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia...

, Crested Mynah and Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...

.Occasionally visitors may also catch a glimpse of the pangolin
Pangolin
A pangolin , also scaly anteater or Trenggiling, is a mammal of the order Pholidota. There is only one extant family and one genus of pangolins, comprising eight species. There are also a number of extinct taxa. Pangolins have large keratin scales covering their skin and are the only mammals with...

 or squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...

.

External links

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