Bắc Kạn Province
Encyclopedia
Bắc Kạn , also spelt as Bắc Cạn, is a province
of Vietnam
. It is located in the northeastern
part of the country, due north of the capital Hanoi
. Bắc Kạn is the only town of the province which is the capital of the province and is a municipality. The province covers an area of 4859.4 square kilometres and as of 2008 it had a population of 308,900 people.
Bac Kan is a mountainous terrain with rich natural resources of minerals and forests. It has numerous mountains, rivers and lakes which are very scenic; Ba Be National Park and the Ba Be Lake within its precincts are popular attractions.
The province is located in the Northeast Midland Mountainous province of Vietnam. Its terrain has the highest altitude among the 11 provinces of the region. Forest area dominates more than 95% of the province and the balance about 5% (of which about 30000 hectares (74,131.5 acre) is under agriculture) is available for agricultural and other uses. Due to this rugged and forested topography, development of water resources has been limited resulting in exploitation of its forest resources; this has caused degradation of the forests. The topography is highly variable, varying from 1640 metres (5,380.6 ft) (highest point in the Khie Thiouing mountains in the province) to the lowest point of 40 metres (131.2 ft) in the Chợ Mới district. There are numerous rivers and streams flowing through the province, each with small catchment areas. However, most of them have steep slopes and short lengths. Out of the total population, 83% are dependent on agriculture.
Climate
The climatic condition of the province is typically tropical monsoonal, which exhibits two distinct seasons namely, the rainy season from May to October accounting for about 88-90 % of the annual rainfall and dry climatic conditions between November and April. This results in water shortage conditions during the dry months.
and seven rural districts (huyện): Ba Bể District, Bạch Thông District, Chợ Đồn District, Chợ Mới District, Na Rì District, Ngân Sơn District, Pác Nặm District, four precincts,six towns under districts and 112 communes.
In 2008, there were only 10 farms as against the national number of 120,699 farms.
The province's agricultural output produce in 2008, at constant 1994 prices, was worth 406.3 billion dongs against the national value of 156,681.9 billion dongs.
The province produced 151,800 tonnes of cereals as against the national production of 43.68 million tonnes, in 2008.
The per capita production of cereals in the district was 491.4 kg as against the national figure of 501.8 kg, in 2007.
In 2007, the industrial output of the province was a meagre 376.5 billion dongs against the national output of 1.47 million billion dongs.
, with the mountains, rivers, and lakes of Bắc Kạn being considered quite scenic. Ba Bể Lake (part of Ba Bể National Park) is a particularly popular destination.
Ba Bể Lake located at an altitude of 178 metres (584 ft), in the midst of the Ba Bể National Park has a water spread area of 500 ha bounded within geographic coordinates of (22.233°N 105.566°E) and (22.5166°N 105.733°W). Lake's water stretch is over 8 kilometres (5 mi) (from north to south) with a width of 800 metres (2,624.7 ft)(average). Due to its long length the lake is also known as the "Ha Long Bay of the mountains." The depth of water in the lake varies from 20–25 m (65.6–82 ft), with deepest depth of 35 metres (114.8 ft). The bed of the lake is uneven with submerged mounts and also limestone islets. The details of the lake have been submitted for UNESCO recognition under the Criteria: (viii)(ix), Category: Natural Submitted by the Ministry of Culture and Information - Government of Vietnam. It is the biggest natural lake in Vietnam, formed in the Cho Ra-Ba Be-Cho Don karstic or 'Karst' terrain, a low-lying terrain in North midlands. Its formation is attributed to the raising mass formation “from the destruction of South East Asia continental mass at the end of Cambrian era, around 200 million years ago.” Its special feature, as against similar karstic lakes in the world, is that it retains its full storage all through the year. The Government of Vietnam has also notified the lake as a forest preserve and a techno-economic study was instituted as part of the National Park Conservation programme.
The lake and its environs have rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Among the flora recorded are 417 species of trees, several species of orchids and species of medicinal plants; 179 species of phytoplankton
belonging to Chorophyta, Cyanophyta, Bacillariophyta, Euglenophyta, Pyrrophyta and Chrysophyta
have also been observed in the lake. The faunal species recorded are of terrestrial, aquatic and flying varieties. These are 319 species of animals, out which 42 species are recorded in Vietnam’s Red Book with 3 endemic animal species; the endemic species are the gibbon
(snub nose), Bamboo-Thread and Red Algae
. 106 species of fish recorded in the lake consist of 61 genera, 17 families and 5 orders.
The three lakes, also called the Slam Pe in the local Tay
ethnic language, that form the Ba Be lake are called the Pe Leng, Pe Lu, and Pe Lam; all linked as one waterbody. The lake’s central part is contracted while its outer two parts are wider. The lake’s hilly catchment drains 3 rivers into the lake, namely, the Ta Han, the Nam Cuong and the Cho Leng rivers from south and west and is drained by the Nang River flowing to the north. The lake water is very clear with blue colour, and it is a flowing lake with a velocity maintained by controls at 0.5 metres (1.6 ft)/s. The Lake also acts as a flood absorption reservoir during the high flow stages of the Nang river when reverse flow occurs from the river into the lake, preventing flooding in the Nang, Gam and Lo river deltas. The Nang river flows southwards, eventually joining the Lo river in southern Tuyen Quang province, before debouching in the Red River west of Hanoi.
Ba Be National Park, established in 1992, covers an area of 100.48 square kilometre, delimited within geographical coordinates of 22°24′19"N 105°36′55"E. It was set up to protect the Ba Bể Lake along with its surrounding limestone
and lowland evergreen forests. The South-West valley of Phiabyior Range of the park has mountain peaks with an elevation range of 517–1,525 m.
The reserve forest has two main types of forest vegetation namely the limestone and lowland evergreen forests. The limestone forest, the larger of the two types in the reserve has steep limestone slopes with shallow soil cover. The forest species recorded are mostly Burretiodendron hsienmu
and Streblus tonkinensis. The other type is the lowland evergreen forest shallow slopes with a thicker mantle of soils. It has a rich ground flora with a higher diversity of tree species.
There are 65 mammal species in the park. The prominent ones are the Owston's Civet
Hemigalus owstoni (globally vulnerable), Francois's Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus francoisi and Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus avunculus (the globally critically endangered). The other species include Chinese Pangolin
(Manis pentadactyla), Slow Loris
(Nycticebus coucang), Rhesus Macaque
, Stump-tailed Macaque
, Francois' Langur
, Asiatic Black Bear
, European Otter
, Asian Golden Cat, Mainland Serow
, Red Giant Flying Squirrel
, Particolored Flying Squirrel
(Hylopetes alboniger), Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel
as well as 27 bat
species.
About 330 species of butterfly have been recorded, of which 22 are said to be new.
Facilities at the park include an information centre, guest houses, a lake management station, and an ecological research station opened in 2004. The park has 13 villages inhabited by five ethnic groups comprising more than 3,000 people of which the Tay people are the oldest group (over 2,000 years) and form the majority. The other ethnic groups are Dao, Mong, Nung and Kinh in the descending order of their population.
The "Fairy Pond" is an isolated rock basin filled with clear water that seeps through the surrounding limestone rock. However, the water level in this pond is the same as the Ba Be Lake.
The Dau Dang Waterfall is formed by the Nang River. It consist of a sequence of rapids which stretch over a length of almost one kilometre as the river flows into the Tuyen Quang Province
.
Widow Island is a small, cone-shaped islet near the centre of the southern part of the lake. According to local legend, the islet was once the home of an old widow who was spared from a flood through divine intervention.
Other well known caves include Puông Cave, Nả Poỏng, Ba Cửa Cave, Sơn Dương Cave and Kim Hỷ Nature Reserve.
Provinces of Vietnam
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces and five centrally governed cities existing at the same level as provinces ....
of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It is located in the northeastern
Dong Bac
The Northeast is the region at the north of the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Northeast called to distinguish them from the Northwest, but it's actually in the north and northeast of Hanoi, wider than Việt Bắc. The northeast is one of three sub-regions of northern Vietnam...
part of the country, due north of the capital Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. Bắc Kạn is the only town of the province which is the capital of the province and is a municipality. The province covers an area of 4859.4 square kilometres and as of 2008 it had a population of 308,900 people.
Bac Kan is a mountainous terrain with rich natural resources of minerals and forests. It has numerous mountains, rivers and lakes which are very scenic; Ba Be National Park and the Ba Be Lake within its precincts are popular attractions.
Etymology
The name Bắc Kạn is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese Bắc, meaning north, and the native Vietnamese Kạn; Bắc Kạn is rendered in Hán-Nôm as 北𣴓.Geography
Climate
The climatic condition of the province is typically tropical monsoonal, which exhibits two distinct seasons namely, the rainy season from May to October accounting for about 88-90 % of the annual rainfall and dry climatic conditions between November and April. This results in water shortage conditions during the dry months.
Demographics
According to the General Statistics Office of the Government of Vietnam, the population of Bắc Kạn province, as on 2008, was 308900 with a density of 64 persons per km2 over a total land area of 4859.4 square kilometre of the province. It is one of the least populated provinces in the Northern midlands and mountain areas of Vietnam. The male population during this period was 152800 with females accounting for 156,100. The rural population was 262,000 against an urban population of 56,900 (about 5% of the rural population). The main ethnic groups in the province in decreasing number, are ethnic Vietnamese, Tay, Nung and Dao.Administrative divisions
Bắc Kạn is divided into: one town municipality (thị xã) Bắc KạnBac Kan
-Administrative divisions:The town is divided into 4 wards: Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Đức Xuân, Sông Cầu and Phùng Chí Kiên and 4 communes: Huyền Tụng, Dương Quang, Nông Thượng, Xuất Hóa....
and seven rural districts (huyện): Ba Bể District, Bạch Thông District, Chợ Đồn District, Chợ Mới District, Na Rì District, Ngân Sơn District, Pác Nặm District, four precincts,six towns under districts and 112 communes.
| Name | Division type | Population (2003) | Area (km²) | Towns (huyện lỵ or thị trấn) (bold) and communes (xã) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bắc Kạn Bac Kan -Administrative divisions:The town is divided into 4 wards: Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Đức Xuân, Sông Cầu and Phùng Chí Kiên and 4 communes: Huyền Tụng, Dương Quang, Nông Thượng, Xuất Hóa.... |
Township (thị xã) | 29,227 (2007) | 131.95 | Wards (phường): Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai is an urban ward of Bac Kan Township, Bắc Kạn Province, in North Vietnam. The ward named after the revolutionist madam Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai.... , Đức Xuân Đức Xuân Đức Xuân is an urban ward of Bắc Kạn, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Sông Cầu Sông Cầu, Bắc Kạn Sông Cầu is an urban ward of Bắc Kạn, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Phùng Chí Kiên Phùng Chí Kiên Phùng Chí Kiên is an urban ward of Bắc Kạn, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Communes: Huyền Tụng Huyền Tụng Huyền Tụng is a commune and village in Bắc Kạn, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Dương Quang, Nông Thượng, Xuất Hóa |
| Ba Bể District | District (huyện) | 47,910 | 678 | Chợ Rã Chợ Rã Chợ Rã is a township and capital town of Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Mỹ Phương Mỹ Phương Mỹ Phương is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Đồng Phúc Đồng Phúc, Bac Kan Đồng Phúc is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Hoàng Trĩ Hoàng Trĩ Hoàng Trĩ is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Quảng Khê Quảng Khê Quảng Khê is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yến Dương Yến Dương Yến Dương is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Chu Hương Chu Hương Chu Hương is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Địa Linh Địa Linh Địa Linh is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Thượng Giáo Thượng Giáo Thượng Giáo is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Khang Ninh Khang Ninh Khang Ninh is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nam Mẫu Nam Mẫu Nam Mẫu is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cao Thượng Cao Thượng, Bac Kan Cao Thượng is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cao Trí Cao Trí Cao Trí is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Phúc Lộc Phúc Lộc Phúc Lộc is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Bành Trạch Bành Trạch Bành Trạch is a commune and village in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Hà Hiệu Hà Hiệu Hà Hiệu is a commune and small town in Ba Bể District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... |
| Bạch Thông District | District (huyện) | 31,585 | 546 | Phủ Thông Phủ Thông Phủ Thông is a township and capital town of Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Phương Linh Phương Linh Phương Linh is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Vi Hương Vi Hương Vi Hương is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Tú Trĩ Tú Trĩ Tú Trĩ is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lục Bình Lục Bình Lục Bình is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Đôn Phong Đôn Phong Đôn Phong is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Dương Phong Dương Phong Dương Phong is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Quang Thuận Quang Thuận Quang Thuận is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Hà Vị Hà Vị Hà Vị is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Quân Bình Quân Bình Quân Bình is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cẩm Giàng, Tân Tiến Tân Tiến, Bắc Kạn Tân Tiến, Bắc Kạn is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Sĩ Bình Sĩ Bình Sĩ Bình is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Vũ Muộn Vũ Muộn Vũ Muộn is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cao Sơn Cao Sơn Cao Sơn is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nguyên Phúc Nguyên Phúc Nguyên Phúc is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Mỹ Thanh Mỹ Thanh Mỹ Thanh is a commune and village in Bạch Thông District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... |
| Chợ Đồn District | District (huyện) | 49,296 | 913 | Bằng Lũng Bằng Lũng Bằng Lũng is a township and capital town of Chợ Đồn District, Bac Kan province, in Vietnam.... , Bình Trung Bình Trung, Bắc Kạn Bình Trung, Bắc Kạn is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yên Nhuận Yên Nhuận Yên Nhuận is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nghĩa Tá Nghĩa Tá Nghĩa Tá is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lương Bằng Lương Bằng Lương Bằng is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Phong Huân Phong Huân Phong Huân is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yên Mỹ Yên Mỹ, Bac Kan Yên Mỹ is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Đại Sảo Đại Sảo Đại Sảo is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Bằng Lãng Bằng Lãng Bằng Lãng is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Đông Viên Đông Viên Đông Viên is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Rã Bản Rã Bản Rã Bản is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Phương Viên Phương Viên Phương Viên is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Ngọc Phái Ngọc Phái Ngọc Phái is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yên Thượng Yên Thượng Yên Thượng is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yên Thịnh Yên Thịnh Yên Thịnh is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Bản Thi Bản Thi Bản Thi is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Quảng Bạch Quảng Bạch Quảng Bạch is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Bằng Phúc Bằng Phúc Bằng Phúc is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Tân Lập Tân Lập, Bac Kan Tân Lập is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Đồng Lạc Đồng Lạc Đồng Lạc is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Xuân Lạc Xuân Lạc Xuân Lạc is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nam Cường Nam Cường Nam Cường is a commune and village in Chợ Đồn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... |
| Chợ Mới District | District (huyện) | 37,665 | 606 | Chợ Mới Chợ Mới, Bắc Kạn Chợ Mới is a township and capital town of Cho Moi District, Bac Kan province, in Vietnam.... , Quảng Chu Quảng Chu Quảng Chu is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yên Đĩnh Yên Đĩnh Yên Đĩnh is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Như Cố Như Cố Như Cố is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Bình Văn Bình Văn Bình Văn is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yên Hân Yên Hân Yên Hân is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Yên Cư Yên Cư Yên Cư is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Thanh Bình Thanh Bình Thanh Bình is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nông Hạ Nông Hạ Nông Hạ is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nông Thịnh Nông Thịnh Nông Thịnh is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cao Kỳ Cao Kỳ Cao Kỳ is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Tân Sơn Tân Sơn, Bac Kan Tân Sơn is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Hòa Mục Hòa Mục Hòa Mục is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Thanh Vận Thanh Vận Thanh Vận is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Thanh Mai Thanh Mai Thanh Mai is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Mai Lạp Mai Lạp Mai Lạp is a commune and village in Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... |
| Na Rì District | District (huyện) | 38,833 | 834 | Yên Lạc Yên Lạc, Bắc Kạn Yên Lạc is a township and capital town of Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Đồng Xá Đồng Xá Đồng Xá is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Liêm Thủy Liêm Thủy Liêm Thủy is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Xuân Dương Xuân Dương Xuân Dương is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Dương Sơn Dương Sơn Dương Sơn is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Quang Phong Quang Phong Quang Phong is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Hảo Nghĩa Hảo Nghĩa Hảo Nghĩa is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cư Lễ Cư Lễ Cư Lễ is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Hữu Thác Hữu Thác Hữu Thác is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Côn Minh Côn Minh Côn Minh is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Văn Minh Văn Minh Văn Minh is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Ân Tình Ân Tình Ân Tình is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lam Sơn Lam Sơn is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Kim Lư Kim Lư Kim Lư is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lương Thành Lương Thành Lương Thành is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lạng San Lạng San Lạng San is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Kim Hỷ Kim Hỷ Kim Hỷ is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lương Thượng Lương Thượng Lương Thượng is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Văn Học Văn Học Văn Học is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lương Hạ Lương Hạ Lương Hạ is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cường Lợi Cường Lợi Cường Lợi is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Vũ Loan Vũ Loan Vũ Loan is a commune and village in Na Rì District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... |
| Ngân Sơn District | District (huyện) | 29,509 | 644.4 | Ngân Sơn Ngân Sơn (town) Ngân Sơn is a township and capital town of Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Hương Nê Hương Nê Hương Nê is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Lãng Ngâm Lãng Ngâm Lãng Ngâm is a commune and village in Gia Bình District, Bắc Ninh Province, in Vietnam.... , Thuần Mang Thuần Mang Thuần Mang is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Thượng Quan Thượng Quan Thượng Quan is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Đức Vân Đức Vân Đức Vân is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Vân Tùng Vân Tùng Vân Tùng is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Trung Hòa Trung Hòa Trung Hòa is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cốc Đán Cốc Đán Cốc Đán is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Thương Ân Thương Ân Thương Ân is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Bằng Vân Bằng Vân Bằng Vân is a commune and village in Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... |
| Pác Nặm District | District (huyện) | 26,476 | 474 | Ba Bể Ba Be Ba Bể is a district of Bac Kan province in the northeast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 47,910. The district covers an area of 678 km²... Bằng Thành Bằng Thành Bằng Thành is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nhạn Môn Nhạn Môn Nhạn Môn is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Công Bằng Công Bằng Công Bằng is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Giáo Hiệu Giáo Hiệu Giáo Hiệu is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Bộc Bố Bộc Bố Bộc Bố is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Xuân La Xuân La Xuân La is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cổ Linh Cổ Linh Cổ Linh is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , An Thắng An Thắng An Thắng is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Cao Tân Cao Tân Cao Tân is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... , Nghiên Loan Nghiên Loan Nghiên Loan is an urban ward of Pác Nặm District, Bắc Kạn Province, in Vietnam.... |
Economy
Bắc Kạn's economy is centred on mining, forest products, agriculture and some degree of tourism offered by its mountains, lakes and the national park. Some statistics related to the economy of the province are the following.In 2008, there were only 10 farms as against the national number of 120,699 farms.
The province's agricultural output produce in 2008, at constant 1994 prices, was worth 406.3 billion dongs against the national value of 156,681.9 billion dongs.
The province produced 151,800 tonnes of cereals as against the national production of 43.68 million tonnes, in 2008.
The per capita production of cereals in the district was 491.4 kg as against the national figure of 501.8 kg, in 2007.
In 2007, the industrial output of the province was a meagre 376.5 billion dongs against the national output of 1.47 million billion dongs.
Water resources development
The limited water resources development in the province is managed by the communes through better water management practices (government supported initiatives) such as water users associations both for domestic water use and agricultural operations. The irrigation systems developed, though often of temporary nature, in many communes. The participatory management practices adopted since the 1990s has resulted in a greater realization by the farmers that they can play a positive role in the development of irrigation systems in their region for their own benefit. This system has ensured more efficient water delivery to the fields and is reported to have increased the cropping area by 15% and yield levels by 20%. This has resulted in improved economic and living conditions for the farmers.Attractions
The province also generates a certain amount of tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, with the mountains, rivers, and lakes of Bắc Kạn being considered quite scenic. Ba Bể Lake (part of Ba Bể National Park) is a particularly popular destination.
Ba Bể lake
The lake and its environs have rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Among the flora recorded are 417 species of trees, several species of orchids and species of medicinal plants; 179 species of phytoplankton
Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of the plankton community. The name comes from the Greek words φυτόν , meaning "plant", and πλαγκτός , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Most phytoplankton are too small to be individually seen with the unaided eye...
belonging to Chorophyta, Cyanophyta, Bacillariophyta, Euglenophyta, Pyrrophyta and Chrysophyta
Chrysophyta
Chrysophyta is a term used to refer to certain heterokonts.It can be used to refer to:* golden algae* golden algae and diatoms together....
have also been observed in the lake. The faunal species recorded are of terrestrial, aquatic and flying varieties. These are 319 species of animals, out which 42 species are recorded in Vietnam’s Red Book with 3 endemic animal species; the endemic species are the gibbon
Gibbon
Gibbons are apes in the family Hylobatidae . The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates , Hoolock , Nomascus , and Symphalangus . The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is a gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related...
(snub nose), Bamboo-Thread and Red Algae
Red algae
The red algae are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae, and also one of the largest, with about 5,000–6,000 species of mostly multicellular, marine algae, including many notable seaweeds...
. 106 species of fish recorded in the lake consist of 61 genera, 17 families and 5 orders.
The three lakes, also called the Slam Pe in the local Tay
Tay people
The Tày people speak a language of the Central Tai language group, and live in northern Vietnam. They are sometimes also called Thô, T'o, Tai Tho, Ngan, Phen, Thu Lao, or Pa Di....
ethnic language, that form the Ba Be lake are called the Pe Leng, Pe Lu, and Pe Lam; all linked as one waterbody. The lake’s central part is contracted while its outer two parts are wider. The lake’s hilly catchment drains 3 rivers into the lake, namely, the Ta Han, the Nam Cuong and the Cho Leng rivers from south and west and is drained by the Nang River flowing to the north. The lake water is very clear with blue colour, and it is a flowing lake with a velocity maintained by controls at 0.5 metres (1.6 ft)/s. The Lake also acts as a flood absorption reservoir during the high flow stages of the Nang river when reverse flow occurs from the river into the lake, preventing flooding in the Nang, Gam and Lo river deltas. The Nang river flows southwards, eventually joining the Lo river in southern Tuyen Quang province, before debouching in the Red River west of Hanoi.
Ba Be National Park
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and lowland evergreen forests. The South-West valley of Phiabyior Range of the park has mountain peaks with an elevation range of 517–1,525 m.
The reserve forest has two main types of forest vegetation namely the limestone and lowland evergreen forests. The limestone forest, the larger of the two types in the reserve has steep limestone slopes with shallow soil cover. The forest species recorded are mostly Burretiodendron hsienmu
Burretiodendron hsienmu
Burretiodendron hsienmu is a species of flowering plant in the Tiliaceae family.It is found in Vietnam and China.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Sun, W. 1998. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
and Streblus tonkinensis. The other type is the lowland evergreen forest shallow slopes with a thicker mantle of soils. It has a rich ground flora with a higher diversity of tree species.
Civet
The family Viverridae is made up of around 30 species of medium-sized mammal, including all of the genets, the binturong, most of the civets, and the two African linsangs....
Hemigalus owstoni (globally vulnerable), Francois's Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus francoisi and Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus avunculus (the globally critically endangered). The other species include Chinese 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...
(Manis pentadactyla), Slow Loris
Slow loris
Slow lorises are a group of five species of strepsirrhine primates which make up the genus Nycticebus. Found in South and Southeast Asia, they range from Northeast India in the west to the Philippines in the east, and from the Yunnan province in China in the north to the island of Java in the south...
(Nycticebus coucang), Rhesus Macaque
Rhesus Macaque
The Rhesus macaque , also called the Rhesus monkey, is one of the best-known species of Old World monkeys. It is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and its tolerance of a broad range of habitats...
, Stump-tailed Macaque
Stump-tailed Macaque
The stump-tailed macaque , also called the bear macaque, is a species of macaque found in Southern Asia. In India, it is found in south of the Brahmaputra river, in northeastern part of the country.Its range in India extends from Assam and Meghalaya to eastern Aruanchal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur,...
, Francois' Langur
Francois' Langur
Francois' langur or Francois' leaf monkey is a species of lutung and the type species of its species group. Francois' langur belongs to the Colobinae subfamily, Cercopithecidae family, in the Primates order...
, Asiatic Black Bear
Asiatic Black Bear
The Asian black bear , also known as the moon bear or white-chested bear is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, which occurs through much of southern Asia, Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far east and Honshū and Shikoku islands of Japan...
, European Otter
European Otter
The European Otter , also known as the Eurasian otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter and Old World otter, is a European and Asian member of the Lutrinae or otter subfamily, and is typical of freshwater otters....
, Asian Golden Cat, Mainland Serow
Mainland Serow
The Mainland Serow is a species of goat antelope native to China and Southeast Asia. The name "mainland serow" was formerly referring to Capricornis sumatraensis, which used to be the scientific name for all serows in the mainland and Sumatra when they were all considered to be the same species...
, Red Giant Flying Squirrel
Red Giant Flying Squirrel
- Distribution :The Red Giant Flying Squirrel is a species of flying squirrel, which ranges from the eastern regions of Afghanistan, into northern India and Pakistan through to Java, and Taiwan, and also Sri Lanka. It can also be found in parts of Borneo. This species was recorded in Peninsular...
, Particolored Flying Squirrel
Particolored Flying Squirrel
The Particolored Flying Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Hylopetes alboniger), Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel
Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel
The hairy-footed flying squirrel is a flying squirrel found in the mountains of the eastern Himalaya, Southeast Asia, and southern China till the island of Taiwan. It lives at altitudes between 1500 and 2400 m above sea level....
as well as 27 bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
species.
About 330 species of butterfly have been recorded, of which 22 are said to be new.
Facilities at the park include an information centre, guest houses, a lake management station, and an ecological research station opened in 2004. The park has 13 villages inhabited by five ethnic groups comprising more than 3,000 people of which the Tay people are the oldest group (over 2,000 years) and form the majority. The other ethnic groups are Dao, Mong, Nung and Kinh in the descending order of their population.
Other attractions in the park
Puong Cave is a large cave in the north of the Ba Be park through which the Nang River flows. The main cave is up to50 metres (164 ft) high and about 300 metres (984.3 ft) long, in limestone formation. The cave is inhabited by a large population of bats which belong to 18 species, out of which three species are identified for plant pollination and scattering seeds.The "Fairy Pond" is an isolated rock basin filled with clear water that seeps through the surrounding limestone rock. However, the water level in this pond is the same as the Ba Be Lake.
The Dau Dang Waterfall is formed by the Nang River. It consist of a sequence of rapids which stretch over a length of almost one kilometre as the river flows into the Tuyen Quang Province
Tuyên Quang Province
Tuyên Quang is a province of Vietnam, located in the northeastern part of the country to the northwest of Hanoi, at the centre of Lo River valley, a tributary of the Red River. The delta formation in the province is called the Tonkin Delta. Its capital is Tuyên Quang Township...
.
Widow Island is a small, cone-shaped islet near the centre of the southern part of the lake. According to local legend, the islet was once the home of an old widow who was spared from a flood through divine intervention.
Other well known caves include Puông Cave, Nả Poỏng, Ba Cửa Cave, Sơn Dương Cave and Kim Hỷ Nature Reserve.