Lantang represents the good spectrum of vegetation
Lantang National Park (LNP), the nearest Himalayan Park from capital city Kathmandu, Gazatted by Government of Nepal in 22 march 1976 ( 2032 chaitra 9) The park has an area of 1,710 sq. km and extends over parts of Rasuwa ( 4 Rural Municipalities and covers 57 % of its total area) Nuwakot ( 3 Rural Municipalities and covers 7 % of its total area), and Sindhupalchowk ( 3 Rural Municipalities and covers 36 % of its total area) Districts to the southern mountainous terrain of the Nepal-China (Tibet) border. The park lies in pinnacle being the meeting point between Indo-Malayan and Pale-arctic realms which embellished with the important ecosystems of both realms as the conservation priority.
Lantang represents the good spectrum of vegetation types along the altitude range between 1000 m and 7245 m. Landscapes produced by the complex topography and geological settings and altitude can be experienced from walking three days from the Bhotekoshi river to Langsisa. Being the nearest Himalayan Park from capital city Kathmandu, it is the third most popular trekking destination among all protected areas of Nepal.
The Park's rich vegetation is characterized by Sal (Shorea robusta) forest in the southern section of park and it is gradually taken over by hill forest (2000-2600 m) consisting of Chirpine (Pinus roxburghii), Rhododendrons and Nepalese alder (Alnus nepalensis). The temperate zone (2600-3000m) is covered mainly by oak forest fading to old growth forest of silver fir, hemlock, and larch in the lower sub–alpine zone (3000–3600m). The Nepalese larch (Larix nepalensis), the only deciduous conifer in the region, is found in the park and few places elsewhere. Throughout these zones different species of Rhododendron such as R.arboretum, R.barbatum, R. campanulatum, scrubs of R. lepidotum to name a few, form a colorful under-story. Tree species such as birch, silver fir, sorbus and twisted Rhododendron campanlatum are found near the tree line. All the 4000 m elevation, juniper and Rhododendron shrubs (R. anthopogon) slowly dissolve into the expansive alpine grassland meadows.
It is observed that Lamtang's expansive high altitude meadows are boon for numerous ungulate species such as Musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) and Himalayan thar (Hemitragus jemlahicus). Red panda (Ailurus fulgens), Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), Snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Wild dog (Cuon alpinus), Ghoral (Nemorhedus goral), Serow (Capricomissumantrensis) are icon of LNP and more than 250 species of birds are found in the park. Lamtang is only one protected area in Nepal that provides breeding ground for Dark-rumped rose finch (Carpodacus edwardsii) in summer season.
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