U Minh Thượng National Park

U Minh Thượng National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Map showing the location of U Minh Thượng National Park

Location in Vietnam

Location miền Nam Việt Nam
Nearest city Rạch Giá
Coordinates 9°35′00″N 105°5′0″E / 9.58333°N 105.08333°E / 9.58333; 105.08333Coordinates: 9°35′00″N 105°5′0″E / 9.58333°N 105.08333°E / 9.58333; 105.08333
Area 80.53 km2 (30 square miles)
Established 14 January 2002
Governing body UBND of Kiên Giang Province

U Minh Thượng National Park or National Park of Upper U Minh (Vietnamese language: Vườn quốc gia U Minh Thượng) is a national park in the province of Kiên Giang, Vietnam.[1]

Establishment

It was established according to decision number 11/2002/QĐ-TTg, dated 14 January 2002, signed by then Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng. This decision turned the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve into U Minh Thuong National Park.

Area and location

The park covers approximately 80.53 km2 (30 square miles) with the nearest city being Rạch Giá

Flora and Fauna

U Minh Thuong National Park is widely considered the richest region of the Mekong delta in terms of plant and animal biodiversity.[2] It boasts of over 243 plant species.[1] The park has a rich and varied mammalian population, totaling an impressive 32 species, including hairy-nosed otters and fishing cats. U Minh Thuong National Park is a haven for rare and endangered birds. A total of 187 species of birds has been recorded here, including the oriental darter, spot-billed pelican, black-headed ibis, glossy ibis, greater spotted eagle and Asian golden weaver.[3] There are also a total of 39 amphibian species and 34 species of fish in the park.

First Indochina War and Vietnam War

During the First Indochina War the U Minh Forest was a Viet Minh stronghold. During the Vietnam War it was a Vietcong base area.[4] Officers Humbert Roque Versace and James N. Rowe of the United States Army were captured by the Vietcong during a battle in the U Minh Forest in October 1963. Versace was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by American Military and Rowe escaped five years later.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "U Minh Thuong National Park". iGrandtour Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "U Minh Thuong Tour". ExploringMekong. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Lan, Nguyen. "U Minh Thuong National Park - the highest bird species richness among any sites visited". Vietnam Beauty. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–528. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  5. ↑ David Eberhart (July 18, 2000). "Top Marine Endorses Medal of Honor for Army Hero". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 7 January 2015.


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