NATIONAL
PARKS IN NEPAL
LANGTANG
NATIONAL PARKS
Area :
1710 sq. km.
Established :
Designated in 1970-71 and gazetted in
1976.
Location :
Situated in the Central Himalayas,
Langtang is the nearest park to Kathmandu.
The area extends from 32 km. north of
Kathmandu to the Nepal-China (Tibet)
border.
Features :
Langtang National Park encloses
the catchments of two major river systems:
one draining west into the Trisuli River
and the other east to the Sun Koshi
River.
Some of the best
examples of graded climatic conditions
in the Central Himalayas are
found here. The complex topography
and geography together with the
varied climatic patterns have enabled
a wide spectrum of vegetation types
to be established. These include small
areas of subtropical forest (below 1000m),
temperate oak and pine forests at mid-elevations,
with alpine scrub and grasses giving
way to bare rocks and snow.
Oaks, chir pine,
maple, fir, blue pine, hemlock, spruce
and various species of rhododendron
make up the main forest species.
The variations in
altitude and topography along
with the existing forest cover (approx.
25% of the total area) provide habitat
for a wide range of animals including
wild dog, red panda, pika, muntjack,
musk deer, Himalayan black bear,
Himalaya tahr, ghoral, serow, rhesus
monkey and common langur. The Trisuli
- Bhote Rivers forms an important route
for birds on spring and autumn migration
between India and Tibet.
About 45 villages
(846 households = 4,500 people) are
situated within the park boundaries,
but they are not under park jurisdiction.
In total, about 3000 households (about
16,200 people) depend on park resources
for wood and firewood. Culturally the
area is mixed, the home of several
ethnic groups which have influenced
the natural environment over the centuries.
The majority of people are Tamang,
an ancient Nepalese race. The Tamangs,
traditionally farmers and cattle breeders,
are especially well known for their
weaving. Their religion is related to
the Bon and the pre-Buddhist doctrines
of Tibet. Today this religion has merged
with the newer teachings of from Tibet.
The Helambu area,
immediately north of Kathmandu, has
many scenic villages inhabited
by Sherpas and Tamangs who emigrated
from Tibet.
