Category Social Sciences

Mount Fuji remains as a symbol of Japan. Renowned around the world for its beauty, Mt. Fuji is the tallest of Japan’s mountains. This magnificent mountain is located in Japan’s Fuji Hakone-Izu National Park.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park consists of Mount-Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands. Quite a long list indeed! The Park holds a variety of landscapes and geological formations ranging from hot springs to volcanic islands. One can find coastlines, mountainous areas, swamps, plateaus, hot springs, lakes, and more than 1000 volcanic islands in the Park. No wonder, it is the most visited national park in Japan.

Speaking of vegetation, the forests of the Park range from broad-leaf deciduous forests to coniferous forests. It is home to the famous Japanese to beach trees. The Izu Islands are a stopping point for many migratory birds.

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There is an underground river in Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Philippines. Unlike other rivers of the world, this river emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. St. Paul’s Underground River Cave is more than 24 kilometres long. It has an 8.2-kilometre-long underground section too.

The site contains a full mountain-to-the-sea ecosystem. In fact, it holds one of the most important forests in Asia. There is a range of forests formations in the Park representing eight of the thirteen forest types found in tropical Asia.

The mountains in the Park have a thick cover of rainforest. The vegetation changes near the limestone karst. Most of the threatened and restricted range birds of the Palawan Endemic Bird Area have been found here. These birds including the Palawan pheasant peacock and Philippine cockatoo can be found mostly near the lowlands.

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Seoraksan National Park is known for its floral diversity. With the mountain changing its colour according to each season, Seoraksan Mountain offers a picturesque landscape any time of the year.

There are about 1,013 species of plants. Pine trees such as the Siberian pine occupy the southern slopes while the northern slopes of the mountain range are characterized by oaks and other deciduous trees. Dwarf pines, hawthorns, and Manchurian firs can also be seen here in abundance.

Many species of animals have been identified and classified so far. This includes the Siberian flying squirrel, kestrel, Chinese minnow, and spotted barbell. The Park also hosts some of the endangered species like the Tristram’s woodpecker, Korean goral, and Korean musk deer.

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Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal. The Park is famous for the protection of one horned rhinoceros, royal Bengal tiger and gharial crocodile. Chitwan also harbours the world’s largest terrestrial mammal- the wild elephant, and also the world’s smallest terrestrial mammal- the pygmy shrew.

Almost 70 per cent of the Park is constituted by sal forests, moist deciduous vegetation found in terai regions. Grasslands and riverine forests can also be found here. 68 species of mammals, 544 species of birds and 126 species of fish have been recorded in the Park.

22 globally threatened species including the critically endangered Bengal florcian can be found here, as well as the red-headed vulture.

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Jigme Dorji National Park in Bhutan is unique in many ways. It is one of the oldest and largest protected areas in the Himalayas. All the three climate zones in Bhutan meet here. It is the only place in Bhutan where the national animal, flower, bird and tree-takin, blue poppy, raven, and cypress-exist together. Also, it is the only national park where the snow leopard meets the Bengal tiger. Some of the most dangerous glaciers in Bhutan can also be found here.

Jigme Dorji National Park is endowed with a high number of endangered plants and animals. It is a treasure trove of medicinal plants, natural hot springs and medicinal waters. It is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the Eastern Himalayas. It is home to the takin, snow leopard, clouded leopard, Bengal tiger, bharal or Himalayan blue sheep, black musk deer, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Ussuri dhole, and spotted linsang. The Indian leopard, serow, sambar, barking deer, goral, marmot, pika and more than 300 species of birds too can be found here.

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Komodo National Park in Indonesia protects both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The Park is famous for protecting the unique Komodo dragon, an endemic lizard.

Komodo National Park is made up of three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar. It includes one of the richest marine environments in the world composed of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays.

Over the past 60 years, the population of Indonesia has increased by a shocking 800 per cent. The population outburst has had an impact on the forest cover and the marine ecosystem. The Timor deer population in the Park is being poached. In addition to this, destructive fishing practices such as the use of dynamite, and cyanide severely threaten the Park’s marine resources by destroying both the coral reefs, and the fish population.

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