Rwenzori Mountains National Park

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Rwenzori Mountains National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Rwenzori mountains FP.jpg
The Rwenzori mountains
Map showing the location of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Map showing the location of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Location of Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Location Kasese District, Uganda
Nearest city Kasese
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Area 998 square kilometres (385 sq mi)
Governing body Ugandan Wildlife Authority
Type Natural
Criteria vii, x
Designated 1994 (18th session)
Reference no. 684
State Party Uganda
Region Africa
Endangered 1999–2004
Official name Rwenzori Mountains Ramsar Site
Designated May 13, 2009 [1]

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a Ugandan national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Rwenzori Mountains. Almost 1,000 km2 (386 sq mi) in size, the park has Africa's third highest mountain peak and many waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers. The park is known for its beautiful plant life.

History

Rwenzori Mountains National Park was established in 1991. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 because of its outstanding natural beauty.[2][3] Rebel militias occupied the Rwenzori Mountains from 1997 to June 2001.[2] The park was inscribed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger between 1999 and 2004 because of insecurity and a lack of resources in the park.[4][5]

Geography

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in southwestern Uganda on the east side of the western (Albertine) African rift valley. It lies along Uganda's border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and borders the DRC's Virunga National Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for 50 km (31 mi).[2] It is situated in the Bundibugyo, Kabarole, and Kasese districts,[2] 25 km (16 mi) from the small town of Kasese.[3] It is 996 km2 (246,117 acres) in size,[6] 70% of which exceeds an altitude of 2,500 m (8,202 ft).[7] The park is 120 km (75 mi) long and 48 km (30 mi) wide.[3]

The park comprises most of the centre and eastern half of the Rwenzori Mountains, a mountain range rising above dry plains located just above the equator. The Rwenzori Mountains are higher than the Alps and are ice-capped. Mount Stanley is located in the park. Margherita Peak, one of Mount Stanley's twin summits, is Africa's third highest peak with a height of 5,109 m (16,762 ft). Africa's fourth and fifth highest peaks (Mount Speke and Mount Baker) are also located in the park.[2] The park has glaciers, snowfields, waterfalls, and lakes and is one of Africa's most beautiful mountain areas.[2][6]

Biodiversity

The park has many species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift system, and there are several endangered species in the park.[2] It has a high diversity of plants and trees.[8] The park is noted for its botany, which has been described as some of the most beautiful in the world.[9] There are five distinct vegetation zones in the park, which change according to changes in altitude.[2] The park has 89 species of birds, 15 species of butterfly, and four primate species.[7] The park's wildlife varies with elevation, and its species include the forest elephant, chimpanzee, hyrax, black-and-white colobus, L'Hoest's monkeys, duiker, and Ruwenzori turaco.[9]

People

File:Ruwenzori Mountains Woman SG.jpg
Ruwenzori Mountains woman

Local people are often seen carrying big loads on the mountain paths.

Conservation and tourism

The park is owned by the Ugandan government through Uganda National Parks. It is protected, although extraction may be sanctioned by a board of trustees.[2] Kasese, 437 km (260 mi) west of Uganda's capital Kampala, is the gateway to the park. The town has hotels and lodges, while the park has camping, a good trail network and huts for hikers.[9] The park has excellent trekking and climbing opportunities with spectacular views and unusual scenery. The most popular trek is a seven day circuit of the park.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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