Jigme Dorji National Park

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Jigme Dorji National Park
Protected Area
Name origin: Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Country Bhutan
District Gasa, Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, Wangdue Phodrang
Highest point
 - elevation 7,000 m (22,966 ft)
Lowest point
 - elevation 1,400 m (4,593 ft)
Area 4,316 km2 (1,666 sq mi)
Animal blue sheep, takin, snow leopard,
musk deer, Himalayan black bear,
Bengal tiger, and red panda
Date 1974
Website: Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation

The Jigme Dorji National Park, named after the late Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, is the second-largest National Park of Bhutan. It occupies almost the entire Gasa District, as well as the northern areas of Thimphu District, Paro District, Punakha, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts. It was established in 1974 and stretches over an area of 4316 km², thereby spanning all three climate zones of Bhutan, ranging in elevation from 1400 to over 7000 meters. About 6,500 people in 1,000 households live within the park, from subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry. It is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.[1][2]

Flora and fauna

The park provides sanctuary for 37 known species of mammals including several endangered, threatened or vulnerable species, such as the takin, snow leopard, clouded leopard, Bengal tiger, bharal or Himalayan blue sheep, black musk deer, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Ussuri dhole, and spotted linsang. It is also home to the Indian leopard, serow, sambar, barking deer, goral, marmot, pika and more than 300 species of birds. It is also the only park in Bhutan where the national animal (takin), flower (blue poppy), bird (raven) and tree (cypress) exist together.[1][2]

Cultural sites

Jigme Dorji also contains sites of cultural and economic significance. Mount Jomolhari and Mount Jitchu Drake are worshipped as homes of the local deity. The fortresses of Lingshi Dzong and Gasa Dzong are sites of historical importance. The rivers Mo Chhu, Wangdi Chhu and Pa Chhu have their sources in the glacial lakes located in the park.[2][3]

Glaciers

Jigme Dorji National Park covers most of northern Gasa District, including the bulk of Lunana and Laya Gewogs. These gewogs are the site of some of the most notable and precarious glaciers of Bhutan. These glaciers have thawed significantly over the course of recorded history, causing lethal and destructive glacial lake outburst floods. Chief among the glaciers and glacial lakes within the park are Thorthormi,[4][5] Luggye,[6] and Teri Kang.[7] As the seasons allow, temporary camps of laborers work within the park to reduce water levels to assuage the threat of flooding downstream.[6]

File:Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan.JPG
Peaks of the Himalayas in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan.

See also

References

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