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About Hemis National
Park
The
Hemis National Park is located in the Ladakh division of the
Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated at a distance of around 40
km southeast of Leh, it takes its name from the world famous Buddhist
Gompa situated here. The National Park is situated at the bank of
river Indus and includes the catchments areas of Markha, Sumdah, and
Rumbak streams. The park extends from the latitude 33º38'-34º11' in
the North to longitude 77º00'-77º44' in the East.
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 loca tion
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 |
