Semien Mountains National Park
Encyclopedia
Simien Mountains National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia
. Located in the Semien (North) Gondar Zone
of the Amhara Region
, its territory covers the Simien Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia.
It is home to a number of extremely rare species
, including the Ethiopian wolf
, Gelada Baboon, and the Walia Ibex
, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. The Caracal
also occurs within the Simien Mountains. More than 50 species of birds inhabit the park, including the impressive Bearded Vulture, or Lammergeier, with its 10-foot (3m) wingspan.
The park is crossed by an unpaved road which runs from Debarq
, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east through a number of villages to the Buahit Pass, where the road turns south to end at Mekane Berhan
10 kilometers beyond the park boundary.
, who wrote about his experiences in From the Roof of Africa (1971, ISBN 0 340 14755 5).
It was one of the first sites to be made a World Heritage Site
by UNESCO
(1978). However, due to serious population declines of some of its characteristic native species, in 1996 it was also added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Located in the Semien (North) Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
of the Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
, its territory covers the Simien Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia.
It is home to a number of extremely rare species
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
, including the Ethiopian wolf
Ethiopian Wolf
The Ethiopian wolf , also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Abyssinian fox, red jackal, Simien fox, or Simien jackal is a canid native to Africa...
, Gelada Baboon, and the Walia Ibex
Walia Ibex
The walia ibex is a species of ibex that is endangered. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Alpine Ibex...
, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. The Caracal
Caracal
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
also occurs within the Simien Mountains. More than 50 species of birds inhabit the park, including the impressive Bearded Vulture, or Lammergeier, with its 10-foot (3m) wingspan.
The park is crossed by an unpaved road which runs from Debarq
Debarq
Debarq is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located 90 kilometers north of Gondar on the paved highway between Gondar and Axum and in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, it has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2850 meters above sea level.Debarq is the closest town to the Semien...
, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east through a number of villages to the Buahit Pass, where the road turns south to end at Mekane Berhan
Mekane Berhan
Mekane Berhan is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, Mekane Berhan has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of approximately 2900 meters above sea level...
10 kilometers beyond the park boundary.
History
The park was established in 1969, having been set up by Clive NicolC. W. Nicol
Clive Williams Nicol, MBE is a Welsh writer and actor and a long-time resident and citizen of Japan.-Biography:C.W. Nicol was born in Neath, Wales, and from a young age expressed an interest in wildlife and the environment....
, who wrote about his experiences in From the Roof of Africa (1971, ISBN 0 340 14755 5).
It was one of the first sites to be made a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
(1978). However, due to serious population declines of some of its characteristic native species, in 1996 it was also added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.
External links
- UNESCO World Heritage profile of Simien National Park
- United Nations Environment Programme: World Conservation Monitoring Centre: Simien Mountains National Park
- The National Parks of Ethiopia: Simien Mountain Adventure - Part I (Addis Tribune)/
- The National Parks of Ethiopia: Simien Mountain Adventure - Part II (Addis Tribune)
- The National Parks of Ethiopia: Simien Mountain Adventure - Part III (Addis Tribune)