Langtang National Park
Encyclopedia
Langtang National Park 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 6450 m (21,161.4 ft) and covers an area of 1710 km² (660.2 sq mi) 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 (19.9 mi) north of the Kathmandu Valley
. The rugged summits of Langtang Lirung
with an elevation of 7227 m (23,710.6 ft) and Dorje Lakpa
(6966 m (22,854.3 ft)) are included in the national park as well as the high altitude sacred lake of Gosainkunda.
of 420 km² (162.2 sq mi) in 1998.
. Temperatures vary greatly due to the extreme difference in altitude in the entire area. Most of the annual precipitation occurs from June to September. In fall (October – November) and spring (April – May), days are warm and sunny, and nights cool. In spring, rain at 3000 m elevation often turns to snow at higher elevations. In winter from December to March, days are clear and mild but nights near freezing.
types, ranging from upper tropical forests below 1000 m (3,280.8 ft) m altitude to alpine scrub and perennial ice.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and was established in 1976 as the first Himalayan national park. The protected area exceeds an altitudinal range of 6450 m (21,161.4 ft) and covers an area of 1710 km² (660.2 sq mi) in the Nuwakot
Nuwakot District
Nuwakot District of 288,478.The district contains places of historical significance such as Nuwakot Palace located in the village of Nuwakot and Devighat located at the confluence of the Tadi and Trishuli Rivers.-Towns and villages:...
, Rasuwa
Rasuwa District
Rasuwa District of 44,731.Gosaikunda lake is located in the district.-Village Development Committees :*Bhorle*Briddhim*Chilime*Dandagaun*Dhaibung*Dhunche*Gatlang*Goljung*Haku*Jibjibe*Khamjim*Laharepauwa*Langtang*Ramche*Saramthali...
and Sindhulpalchok
Sindhulpalchok District
Sindhupalchok District is a part of Bagmati Zone and one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, with an area of . The district's headquarters is in Chautara...
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
Tibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
. The western boundary follows the rivers Bhote Kosi and Trisuli. The southern border lies 32 km (19.9 mi) north of the Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley , located in Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within this valley.-Etymology:The city of...
. The rugged summits of Langtang Lirung
Langtang Lirung
Langtang Lirung is the highest peak of the Langtang Himal,which is a subrange of the Nepalese Himalayas, southwest of the Eight-thousander Shisha Pangma.-Location:The Langtang Himal forms the western portion of a complex of mountains which also...
with an elevation of 7227 m (23,710.6 ft) and Dorje Lakpa
Dorje Lakpa
Dorje Lakpa is a mountain in the Langtang Himal area in Nepal.Visible also from Kathmandu valley it has an elegant pyramid-shaped figure and is an ideal target for photographers and mountaineers. Considered by many of intermediate difficulty with easiest route from the west ridge...
(6966 m (22,854.3 ft)) are included in the national park as well as the high altitude sacred lake of Gosainkunda.
History
In 1970, royal approval designated the establishment of Langtang National Park as the first protected area in the Himalayas. The national park was gazetted in 1976 and extended by a buffer zoneBuffer zone
A buffer zone is generally a zonal area that lies between two or more other areas , but depending on the type of buffer zone, the reason for it may be to segregate regions or to conjoin them....
of 420 km² (162.2 sq mi) in 1998.
Climate
The climate of the park is dominated by the southwest summer monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
. Temperatures vary greatly due to the extreme difference in altitude in the entire area. Most of the annual precipitation occurs from June to September. In fall (October – November) and spring (April – May), days are warm and sunny, and nights cool. In spring, rain at 3000 m elevation often turns to snow at higher elevations. In winter from December to March, days are clear and mild but nights near freezing.
Vegetation
The Langtang National Park exhibits a high diversity of 14 vegetation types in 18 ecosystemEcosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
types, ranging from upper tropical forests below 1000 m (3,280.8 ft) m altitude to alpine scrub and perennial ice.