Simien Mountains National Park

Simien Mountains National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Simien Mountains
Map showing the location of Simien Mountains National Park
Location Ethiopia
Nearest city Debarq and Mekane Berhan
Coordinates 13°11′N 38°4′E / 13.183°N 38.067°E / 13.183; 38.067Coordinates: 13°11′N 38°4′E / 13.183°N 38.067°E / 13.183; 38.067
Area 220 km²
Established 1969
Official name Simien National Park
Type Natural
Criteria vii, x
Designated 1978 (2nd session)
Reference no. 9
State Party  Ethiopia
Region Africa
Endangered 1996–present

Simien Mountains National Park is one of the national parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Semien (North) Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, its territory covers the Simien Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia. It is home to a number of endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the walia ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. The gelada baboon and the caracal, a cat, also occur within the Simien Mountains. More than 50 species of birds inhabit the park, including the impressive bearded vulture, or lammergeier, with its 10-foot (3m) wingspan.[1]

The park is crossed by an unpaved road which runs from Debarq, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east through a number of villages to the Buahit Pass (4,200 m), where the road turns south to end at Mekane Berhan, 10 kilometers beyond the park boundary.[2]

History

The park was established in 1969, having been set up by Clive Nicol, who wrote about his experiences in From the Roof of Africa (1971, ISBN 0 340 14755 5).

It was one of the first sites to be made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (1978). However, due to serious population declines of some of its characteristic native species, in 1996 it was also added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.

See also

References

  1. ↑ WordTravels Ethiopia Travel Guide, Retrieved on June 22, 2008
  2. ↑ Philip Briggs, Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 5th edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2009), p. 240

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Simien National Park.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simien Mountains National Park.
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