Shey Phoksundo National park (Dolpo region)

 

The largest national park in Nepal, Shey Phoksundo National Park, is situated in the northwestern part of the country. Situated in the districts of Dolpa and Mugu, Shey Phoksundo National Park covers an area of 1373 square miles (3555 square kilometers) and is headquartered in Palam in Dolpa District. The park was established in 1984 with the goal to preserve the unique trans-Himalayan flora and fauna ecosystem that can be found in there. The elevation for the national park ranges from 2,130 metres(6,990 feet) at its lowest point in Ankhe to 6,883 metres(22,582ft) at the peak of Kanjiroba Mountain. An area of 1349 sq. km surrounding the national park was declared as a buffer zone in 1998 to manage the natural and cultural resources and is jointly managed by the park authorities and local communities.

 

Rivers and other water sources:

 

Due to the wide variation in geography and climate, the national park provides wide variety of stunning landscapes. Inside the national park, in the upper regions of Suligad, lies the Phoksundo lake at an elevation of 3,660 metres(12,010 ft). Phoksundo Lake is the deepest and the second largest lake in Nepal and many beautiful glaciers can be found near the lake area. Khung, Nmajung, Panjang and the Langu river are some of the major rivers that can be found in this national park. The major tributaries of the Thuli Bheri River, the Suligad and Jugdual Rivers, also flow through this national park.

 

Climate

 

A wide variety of the climate can be found in the area due to it spanning over the northern and southern aspects of the Himalayan crest. The south experiences about 1500mm of annual rainfall, most of which is during the monsoon season(July to September) whereas the northern area is dry and gets only about 500mm of annual rainfall. For much of the winter season, the temperature remains below freezing (0C or 32F) in areas above 3000metres (9,800ft) and there is frequent snowfall in areas above 2500ft (8200ft).

 

Flora and Fauna

 

The climate in the area supports an extreme diversity of flora and fauna. The barren northern  regions contains barren areas of the upper Himalayas and trans-Himalayan slope lands consisting of rhododendron(the national flower of Nepal), caragana shrubs, salix, juniper, white Himalayan birch and some fir trees. The southern region contains some forested areas. Bluepine, spruce, hemlock, cedar, silver fir, poplar, rhododendron and bamboo can be found in the Suligad Valley in the south.

 

Endangered species like the snow leopard, gray wolf, musk deer and blue sheep inhabit the areas of the national park. Himalayan goral (also called the Himalayan ghural), great Tibetan sheep, leopard, jackal, and Himalayan black bear are also found in this area. The Himalayan tahr, a hoofed animal related to the wild goal, can also be found in this area.

 

The highest butterfly in the world, Paralasa nepalaica, can also be found in this national park. Along with the Paralasa nepalaica, there are 28 other species of butterflies, 6 reptiles and 200 species of birds in this area. Some of the birds found in this area include the yellow-throated marten, Tibetan partridge, wood snipe, white-throated tilt, wood accentor, and the crimson-eared rosefinchl.

In total, the area has 286 species of ethno-botanical importance.

 

Inhabitants and Lifestyle:

The national park is home to more than 9000 people. The local farmers in the area are subsistence farmers and grow potatoes, buckwheat, mustard, beans and barley. They also keep livestock for food and wool. Most of them are Buddhists and are of the Bonpo faith which is a branch of Tibetan Vajrayana. People also engage in salt and wool trade with Tibet, yak herding and tourism.

 

The beautiful Ringmo village, a traditional Tibetan village, is situated inside the national park at about 3660 metres(12000ft).

 

Temples and Monasteries:

 

As most people in the area are Buddhists, Shey Phoksundo National Park contains many monasteries (gompas) of which the most famous is the Shey Gompa. Shey Gompa was established in the 11^th century and is believed to be constructed by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who arrived to the area in a flying snow lion. Thaksung Gompa located near the Phoksundo lake was built around the 12^th century to preserve the wildlife in the area.

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