Deosai National Park: Difference between revisions
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m →Travel routes to the region: Corrected that there are no people within the park. The Gujjar-Bakwarwal travel to the national park each year and utilize this as summer pastures. They have usufurct grazing rights on the park as they ahve been coming since before the park was established. This has been an area of on-going conservation effort, and contentious issue, in the park and also in other areas of Pakistan, as their numbers (i.e. same family that was there pre-1992) has been expanding. |
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==Travel routes to the region== |
==Travel routes to the region== |
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Deosai is accessible from [[Skardu District]] in the north, [[Galtari]] [[Kharmang District]] in the south-east and the [[Astore District]] in the west. Deosai is located approximately 30 km from [[Skardu]] city and it is the shortest route to visit Deosai. Most foreigners visit Deosai via [[Skardu]]. It takes one hour to reach Deosai top via Sadpara Skardu. Another route is from Astore valley via Chilim. It is also accessible from Shila valley. The people of Galtari travel via Deosai |
Deosai is accessible from [[Skardu District]] in the north, [[Galtari]] [[Kharmang District]] in the south-east and the [[Astore District]] in the west. Deosai is located approximately 30 km from [[Skardu]] city and it is the shortest route to visit Deosai. Most foreigners visit Deosai via [[Skardu]]. It takes one hour to reach Deosai top via Sadpara Skardu. Another route is from Astore valley via Chilim. It is also accessible from Shila valley. The people of Galtari travel via Deosai. While it is a National Park, the Gujjar-Bakwarwal travel large distances to utilize the Deosai National Park as grazing lands<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://earthjournalism.net/stories/nomadic-life-a-constant-struggle-against-nature-authorities|title=Nomadic life: A struggle against climate change and authorities|last=Rafiq|first=Arshed|website=Earth Journalism Network|language=en|access-date=2019-06-07}}</ref>. There is another route called Burgi la via Tsoq Kachura valley Skardu.<ref name="Deosai1">{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/208818/deosai-anything-but-plain/|title=Deosai: Anything but plain|date=17 July 2011|publisher=Karim Shah Nizari|newspaper=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref name="Deosai2">{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1178524|title=Deosai Plains: Welcome to surreal Pakistan|newspaper=DAWN|date=27 April 2015|publisher=Syed Mehdi Bukhari}}</ref><ref name="Deosai3">{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1250740|title=My search for the elusive 'giant' of Deosai|newspaper=DAWN|date=9 April 2016|publisher=Osman Ehtisham Anwar}}</ref> |
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==Geology and soil== |
==Geology and soil== |
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Revision as of 23:17, 7 June 2019
| Deosai National Park | |
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| (Template:Lang-ur; Template:Lang-bft) | |
 The Deosai Plains are the world's second highest alpine plains | |
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| Location | Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 34°58′N 75°24′E / 34.967°N 75.400°E |
| Area | 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi) |
| Website | dnp |
The Deosai National Park (Template:Lang-ur) is a high-altitude alpine plain and national park in northern Pakistan. It is located within Skardu District in Gilgit Baltistan.[1] Deosai Plains are situated at an average elevation of 4,114 metres (13,497 ft) above sea level.[2]
Etymology
'Deosai' (Template:Lang-ur) means 'the land of Giants' in Urdu. Balti people call this place 'Ghbiarsa' (Template:Lang-bft) referring to 'Summer's Place' because it is only accessible in summer.
Geography
The Deosai National Park is located between Kharmang, Astore and Skardu in Gilgit Baltistan. It has an average elevation of 4,114 metres (13,497 ft) above sea level,[3] making the Deosai Plains second[4][circular reference] highest plateau in the world after Changtang Tibetan Plateau. The park protects an area of 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi). It is well known for its rich flora and fauna of the Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe eco region. In spring, it is covered by sweeps of wildflowers and a wide variety of butterflies.
Travel routes to the region
Deosai is accessible from Skardu District in the north, Galtari Kharmang District in the south-east and the Astore District in the west. Deosai is located approximately 30 km from Skardu city and it is the shortest route to visit Deosai. Most foreigners visit Deosai via Skardu. It takes one hour to reach Deosai top via Sadpara Skardu. Another route is from Astore valley via Chilim. It is also accessible from Shila valley. The people of Galtari travel via Deosai. While it is a National Park, the Gujjar-Bakwarwal travel large distances to utilize the Deosai National Park as grazing lands[5]. There is another route called Burgi la via Tsoq Kachura valley Skardu.[6][7][8]
Geology and soil
The soils of this area are severely eroded, of a coarser nature and mixed with gravel and stones of various material and sizes. In flat areas between mountains, soil is deep with marshy vegetation.
Fauna and Flora
.JPG)
The Deosai National Park was established in 1993 to protect the survival of the Himalayan brown bear and its habitat. Having long been a prize kill for poachers and hunters, the bear now has a hope for survival in Deosai where its number has increased from only 19 in 1993 to 40 in 2005. During the last decade, a few but effective measures have been taken by the Government of Pakistan for the survival of brown bear in the region. In 1993, Himalayan Wildlife Project was founded with a substantial financial support from international environmental concerns. But the brown bear is still under threat. The Deosai Plains are also home to the Himalayan ibex, red fox, golden marmot (locally called Phia), gray wolf, the Ladakh urial, snow leopard and over 124 resident and migratory birds. Birds in the park include the golden eagle, lammergeier, griffon vulture, laggar falcon, peregrine falcon, Eurasian kestrel, Eurasian sparrowhawk and snowcock.
The following species are found in Deosai:
Artemisia maritima, Polygonum affine, Thalictrum alpinum, Bromus oxyodon, Saxifraga flagellaris, Androsace mucronifolia, Aster flaccidus, Barbarea vulgaris, Artemisia maritima, Agropyron longearistatum, Nepeta connate, Carex cruenta, Ranaculyus laetus, Arenaria neelgerrensis, Astrogalus leucophylla, Polygonum amplexinade, Echinop nivetus, Seria chrysanthenoides, Artemisia maritima, Dracocephalum nutsus, Anapalas contorta, Chrysopogon echinulatus and Dianthus crinitus. There were also observed some medicinal plants which are locally famous i.e. Thymu linearis (Reetumburuk), Saussures lappa (kuth), Ephedra intimedia (Say), Viola canescens (Skora-mindoq), Dracocephalum muristanicum (Shamdun) and Artemisia maritima (Bursay) etc. are used as traditional drug therapies.
Cultural references
Herodotus
Research by the French ethnologist Michel Peissel makes a claim that the story of 'Gold-digging ants' reported by the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC, was founded on the golden Himalayan Marmot of the Deosai plateau and the habit of local tribes such as Minaro to collect the gold dust excavated from their burrows.[9]
In film
- The documentary film series Land of the Tiger in episode 5 - the "Mountains of the Gods" features the plants and animals of Deosai.
- Karakoram Heliski 2013 by Walkabout Films
- Documentary movie "DEOSAI - The Last Sanctuary" by Walkabout Films
Pakistani singer Ali Zafar is also working on a film which is based in Deosai.[10][11][12]
Gallery
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Access to the park generally requires the use of 4x4 vehicles -
The park's Kala Pani river -
Tourist information map -
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Wildflowers -
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Some of Deosai's wildflowers bloom in August -
Deosai National Park -
Deosai National Park -
Sheosar Lake
.jpg)
See also
References
- ^ Deosai, National Park. "Deosai National Park 2nd Highest Plateau in the World". www.skardu.pk. Skardu.in. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ Öztürk, Münir; Hakeem, Khalid Rehman; Faridah-Hanum, I.; Efe, Recep (2015-05-05). Climate Change Impacts on High-Altitude Ecosystems. Springer. p. 456. ISBN 9783319128597.
- ^ Öztürk, Münir; Hakeem, Khalid Rehman; Faridah-Hanum, I.; Efe, Recep (2015-05-05). Climate Change Impacts on High-Altitude Ecosystems. Springer. ISBN 9783319128597.
- ^ "Plateau".
- ^ Rafiq, Arshed. "Nomadic life: A struggle against climate change and authorities". Earth Journalism Network. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- ^ "Deosai: Anything but plain". The Express Tribune. Karim Shah Nizari. 17 July 2011.
- ^ "Deosai Plains: Welcome to surreal Pakistan". DAWN. Syed Mehdi Bukhari. 27 April 2015.
- ^ "My search for the elusive 'giant' of Deosai". DAWN. Osman Ehtisham Anwar. 9 April 2016.
- ^ Peissel, Michel. "The Ants' Gold: The Discovery of the Greek El Dorado in the Himalayas". Collins, 1984. ISBN 978-0-00-272514-9.
- ^ "Just in: Ali Zafar dishes on Deosai, his first film production!". DAWN. 18 May 2015.
- ^ "Ali Zafar's dream to culminate on the heights of Deosai". The Express Tribune. 18 May 2015.
- ^ "Ali Zafar is fighting to get fit for role in upcoming film 'Deosai'". The Express Tribune. 10 June 2015.
External links
- Official website of Government of Gilgit Baltistan about Deosai National Park
- Deosai National Park
- National Parks of Gilgit-Baltistan
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