Namdapha National Park – Geography, Climate, Rivers, Species

Namdapha National Park is a national park located in the Eastern Himalayan sub-region in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalayas biodiversity hotspot and is recognized as one of the richest areas in biodiversity in India. It is the third largest national park in India in terms of area and is home to several rare and endangered species.

Geography:

Namdapha National Park is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The park lies in the Eastern Himalayan sub-region and covers an area of approximately 1,985 km2. It is bordered by the Dapha and Noa Dihing rivers on the north and south respectively. The terrain of the park is extremely rugged and diverse, ranging from lush tropical rainforest to snow-clad mountains. The park is divided into three distinct vegetation zones: the sub-tropical zone, the temperate zone and the alpine zone.

Climate:

The climate of Namdapha National Park is typically tropical and subtropical, with warm and humid summers and cold winters. The mean annual temperature ranges from 10-27°C, with the minimum temperature dropping to 0°C during the winter months. The park receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon months, ranging from 2000-6000 mm annually.

Rivers:

The park is drained by several rivers and streams, including the Noa Dihing, Diyun, Kamlang, Dapha, and Namdapha rivers.

Species:

Namdapha National Park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including several rare and endangered species. The park is home to several mammalian species, such as tigers, clouded leopards, snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, Indian wild dogs, Asiatic black bears, red pandas, and several species of deer. The park also supports a variety of bird species, including the endangered white-bellied heron and the rare white-winged wood duck.