Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park
Encyclopedia
Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (formerly Black Mountains National Park) covers an area of 1730 square kilometres (668 sq mi) in central Bhutan
. The Park occupies most of Trongsa District
, as well as parts of Sarpang
, Tsirang
, Wangdue Phodrang, and Zhemgang Districts. Jigme Singye abuts Royal Manas National Park
to the southeast. The Park is bound to the east by the Mangde Chhu and reaches the Wong Chu (Raidāk)
basin to the west. Along the border of the Park from the north to the southeast run Bhutan's main east-west and north-south highways. It is also connected via "biological corridors" to other national parks in northern, eastern, central, and southern Bhutan.
With elevations spanning from 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) to 4925 metres (16,158.1 ft), the Park includes a wide range of biomes: broadleaf and coniferous forests, alpine pastures and lakes, and even the snow cap on the peak of Jou Dorshingla. It is the largest and most intact temperate forest reserve in the entire Himalaya. It is home to hundreds of species of birds, including the endangered black-necked crane
(Grus nigricollis). About 6,000 people reside in the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, while about 15,000 live in the immediate environs, mostly practicing agriculture and raising livestock.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. The Park occupies most of Trongsa District
Trongsa District
Trongsa District is one of the districts of Bhutan. It is the most central district of Bhutan and the geographic centre of Bhutan is located within it at Trongsa Dzong....
, as well as parts of Sarpang
Sarpang District
Sarpang District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan.-Languages:...
, Tsirang
Tsirang District
Tsirang District , is one of the 20 dzongkhags of Bhutan. The administrative center of the district is Damphu...
, Wangdue Phodrang, and Zhemgang Districts. Jigme Singye abuts Royal Manas National Park
Royal Manas National Park
Royal Manas National Park is Bhutan's oldest national park, and the Royal government considers it the "conservation showpiece of the Kingdom" and a "genetic depository" for valuable plants. It has an area of and covers eastern Sarpang District, the western half of Zhemgang District, and western...
to the southeast. The Park is bound to the east by the Mangde Chhu and reaches the Wong Chu (Raidāk)
Raidak River
The Raidak River is a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, and a trans-boundary river, flows through Bhutan, India and Bangladesh.-Bhutan:...
basin to the west. Along the border of the Park from the north to the southeast run Bhutan's main east-west and north-south highways. It is also connected via "biological corridors" to other national parks in northern, eastern, central, and southern Bhutan.
Flora and fauna
Black-necked Crane
The Black-necked Crane is a medium-sized crane that is found on the Tibetan Plateau of Asia. It is 139 cm long with a 235 cm wingspan, and it weighs 5.5 kg . It is whitish-gray, with a black head, red crown patch, black upper neck and legs, and white patch to the rear of the eye...
(Grus nigricollis). About 6,000 people reside in the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, while about 15,000 live in the immediate environs, mostly practicing agriculture and raising livestock.