|
Viet Nam's Phong Nha-Ke
Bang national park has been recognised as a world natural heritage site
by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) at its 27th general assembly session being held in Paris from
June 30-July 5.
At the session, delegates from over 160 member countries of UNESCO World
Heritage Convention agreed to include Phong Nha-Ke Bang park and 30
others worldwide to the list of world heritage sites.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang park is now the fifth UNESCO recognised site in Viet
Nam after Ha Long Bay, the imperial city of Hue, the ancient quarter of
Hoi An and the My Son historical site.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, located to the north of the majestic
Truong Son range in central Quang Binh province, is one of the world's
two largest limestone regions.
The over 200,000 ha of parkland includes beautiful limestone formations,
grottoes and caves, and boasts lush forestland covering 95 percent of
the park area.
The area is considered a paradise for researchers and explorers of
grottoes and caves, and Vietnamese and British scientists have so far
surveyed 20 with a total length of 70km. Of them, 17 are in the Phong
Nha area and three in the Ke Bang area.
The Phong Nha cave itself which lends its name to the whole system is
probably the most beautiful of all, containing many fascinating rock
formations, enchanting visitors with evocative names such as Lion, Fairy
Caves, Royal Court and Buddha.
Besides the grotto and cave systems, Phong Nha has the longest
underground rivers, the largest caverns and passageways, the widest and
prettiest sand banks, and the most astonishing rock formations in the
world.
According to initial statistics, the primitive tropical forest in Phong
Nha-Ke Bang houses 140 families, 427 branches, and 751 species of
high-rated plants, of which 36 species are endangered and listed in the
Viet Nam Red Book. The
 forest
is also home to 32 sets, 98 families, 256 races and 381 species of four
land backboned animals. Sixty-six animal species are listed in the Viet
Nam Red Book and 23 other species in the World Red Book. In general,
Phong Nha-Ke Bang's animals are more diverse than in other natural
reserves and national parks.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang also boasts dozens of mountain peaks of over 1,000
metres still unexplored by men and seen as ideal sites for activities
like climbing and exploration. Worthy of note are Peak Co Rilata with
the height of 1,128 m and Peak Co Preu, 1,213 m. Lying between these
peaks are valleys which promise tourists exciting eco-tours.
In addition to the diversity in the ecosystem, Phong Nha-Ke Bang is home
to archeological and historical relics, such as an ancient hieroglyphic
script of the Cham ethnic minority, King Ham Nghi's base built for the
resistance war against French colonialists in the late 19th century, and
the Xuan Son ferry station, Ho Chi Minh Trail and Road 20 used during
the US resistance war.
Central Quang Binh province has poured heavy investment into upgrading
|
