Hemis
National Park is a high altitude protected area created
in 1981 in the eastern part of the cold desert of Ladakh
for the conservation and protection of its unique flora
and fauna. It covers an area of 600 sq. kms in the Markha
and Rumbak valleys. The terrain surrounding the park
is rocky and the thin soil cover supports a poor vegetative
growth. Dry alpine pastures are present in sheltered
locations and the grass growth is relatively rapid during
the summer season after the snow melts from the region.There
are many U-shaped valleys, carved by the glacial actions
that occurred in the past. Rivers and streams have laid
a thick deposit of sand along their banks. The general
elevation of the parks exact location is over 3,000
meters.
Wild Attractions
Dry
forests of juniper, birch and fir are found in the region.
Also present are the alpine grasslands and scrublands.
There are many rare and endangered animal species found
in the cold desert area that are also found in the hemis
national park, known to be the home of an interesting
assemblage of cold desert fauna. Amongst these are the
snow leopard, Tibetan wild or kiang, ibex, serow and
Tibetan antelope. Amongst the avi fauna population found
in the hemis national park are the snow, snow partridge
and golden oriole.
Climate
The
climatic conditions vary from sub-arctic to arctic.
Rainfall is low and the bulk of the total annual precipitation
is in the form of snow. In winter the mercury drops
to far below the freezing point and this tract receives
very heavy snowfall, which remains on the ground for
several months at a stretch. Summers are short and mild,
while there is no marked rainy season. |
