Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
केदारनाथ वन्य जीव अभ्यारण | |
|---|---|
  Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary Location in Uttarakhand, India | |
| Coordinates: 30°36′00″N 79°12′00″E / 30.60000°N 79.20000°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Uttarakhand |
| District | Chamoli Garhwal & Rudraprayag |
| Established | 1972 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 975 km2 (376 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,160 m (3,810 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi , Garhwali |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Nearest city | Srinagar, Uttarakhand |
| IUCN category | IV |
| Precipitation | 3,093 mm (121.8 in) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 25 °C (77 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | −10 °C (14 °F) |
Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary, also called the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, is a wildlife sanctuary declared under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and located in Uttarakhand, India. Its alternate name comes from its primary purpose of protecting the endangered Himalayan musk deer.[1] Consisting of an area of 975 km2 (376 sq mi), it is the largest protected area in the western Himalayas.It is famous for alpine musk deer, Himalayan Thar, Himalayan Griffon, Himalayan Black bear, Snow Leopard and other flora park and fauna. It is internationally important for the diversity of its flora and fauna (particularly of ungulate species).[2][3]
Located in the Himalayan Highlands with an elevation ranging from 1,160 metres (3,810 ft) (near Phata) to the Chaukhamba peak at 7,068 m (23,189 ft), it was a notified reserve forest between 1916 and 1920. It was changed to a sanctuary on 21 January 1972, and has been designated a "Habitat/Species Management Area" by the IUCN.[1][2]
The sanctuary straddles a geographically diverse landscape and transitional environment.[4][5] IUCN has reported that "From 44.4% to 48.8% of the sanctuary is forested, 7.7% comprises alpine meadows and scrub, 42.1% is rocky or under permanent snow and 1.5% represents formerly forested areas that have been degraded."[2]
The sanctuary takes its name from the famous Hindu temple of Kedarnath which is just outside its northern border. The entire 14 km (9 mi) route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath temple (3,584 m or 11,759 ft) passes through the sanctuary in uttrakhand
- ^ a b Roma Bradnock (2004). Foot Print, India. Footprint Travel Guides. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-904777-00-7.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ a b c "Kedarnath Sanctuary". UNEP & WCMC. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ^ "Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal)" (PDF). Kedarnath Temple trek. pp. 27 of 43.
- ^ "Uttaranchal SoE November 2004" (PDF). state of the environment. Uttranchal Environment and Pollution Control Board. pp. 15–16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Rudraprayag". Retrieved 18 July 2009.