U Minh Thượng National Park
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U Minh Thượng National Park | |
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![]() U Minh Thượng National Park | |
![]() ![]() Location in Vietnam | |
Location | miền Nam Việt Nam |
Nearest city | Rạch Giá[clarification needed] |
Coordinates | 9°35′00″N 105°5′0″E / 9.58333°N 105.08333°ECoordinates: 9°35′00″N 105°5′0″E / 9.58333°N 105.08333°E |
Area | 80.53 km2 (30 square miles) |
Established | 14 January 2002 |
Governing body | of Kiên Giang Province |
Official name | U Minh Thuong National Park |
Designated | 30 April 2015 |
Reference no. | 2228[1] |
U Minh Thượng National Park or National Park of Upper U Minh (Vietnamese language: Vườn quốc gia U Minh Thượng) is a national park in the province of Kiên Giang, Vietnam.[2]
Establishment[]
It was established according to decision number 11/2002/QĐ-TTg, dated 14 January 2002, signed by then[clarification needed] Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng. This decision turned the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve into U Minh Thuong National Park.
Area and location[]
The park covers approximately 80.53 km2 (30 square miles) with the nearest city being Rạch Giá[clarification needed]
Flora and fauna[]
U Minh Thuong National Park is widely considered the richest region of the Mekong delta in terms of plant and animal biodiversity.[3] It boasts of over 243 plant species.[2] The park has a rich and varied mammalian population, totaling an impressive 32 species, including hairy-nosed otters and fishing cats. U Minh Thuong National Park is a haven for rare and endangered birds. A total of 187 species of birds has been recorded here, including the oriental darter, spot-billed pelican, black-headed ibis, glossy ibis, greater spotted eagle and Asian golden weaver.[4] There are also a total of 39 amphibian species and 34 species of fish in the park. Both the saltwater crocodile and the Siamese crocodile were once found here, but a 2002 study concluded that both species were extinct in the park.[5]
Hairy-nosed otter
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
Oriental darter
A male Asian golden weaver
First Indochina War and Vietnam War[]
During the First Indochina War the U Minh Forest was a Viet Minh stronghold. In 1952, 500 French paratroopers dropped into the U Ming forest to attack Viet Minh and were never heard from again.[6] During the Vietnam War it was a Vietcong base area.[7] Officers Humbert Roque Versace and James N. Rowe of the United States Army were captured by the Vietcong during a battle in the U Minh Forest in October 1963. Versace was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by American Military and Rowe escaped five years later.[8] American politician John Kerry commanded a Swift boat in the area during the Vietnam War, known as the American War in Vietnam.
References[]
- ^ "U Minh Thuong National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "U Minh Thuong National Park". iGrandtour Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ "U Minh Thuong Tour". ExploringMekong. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ^ Lan, Nguyen. "U Minh Thuong National Park - the highest bird species richness among any sites visited". Vietnam Beauty. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ L. Stuart, Bryan; Hayes, Benjamin; Huu Manh, Bui; G. Platt, Steven (2002). "Status of crocodiles in the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve, southern Vietnam". Pacific Conservation Biology. 8 (1): 62. doi:10.1071/PC020062.
- ^ Pringle, James. "MEANWHILE : Closing the circle on Vietnam". Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–528. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ David Eberhart (July 18, 2000). "Top Marine Endorses Medal of Honor for Army Hero". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
External links[]
- Factsheet on U Minh Thuong National Park
- YouTube: Footage ARVN Rangers of the South Vietnamese Army patrolling in the U Minh Forest (1970)
- IUCN Category II
- Geography of Kiên Giang Province
- National parks of Vietnam
- Protected areas established in 2002
- 2002 establishments in Vietnam
- Vietnam War sites
- ASEAN heritage parks