U Minh Thượng National Park

U Minh Thượng National Park
U Minh Thượng National Park
Map showing the location of U Minh Thượng National Park
Map showing the location of U Minh Thượng National Park
Location in Vietnam
Locationmiền Nam Việt Nam
Nearest cityRạch Giá[clarification needed]
Coordinates9°35′00″N 105°5′0″E / 9.58333°N 105.08333°E / 9.58333; 105.08333
Area80.53 km2 (30 square miles)
Established14 January 2002
Governing bodyUBND of Kiên Giang Province
Official nameU Minh Thuong National Park
Designated30 April 2015
Reference no.2228[1]

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.[2]

Establishment

It was established according to decision number 11/2002/QĐ-TTg, dated 14 January 2002, signed by then[clarification needed] 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[clarification needed]

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.[3] It boasts of over 243 plant species.[2] The park has a rich and varied mammalian population, totaling an impressive 32 species, including hairy-nosed otters. 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.[4] There are also a total of 39 amphibian species and 34 species of fish in the park. Both the saltwater crocodile and the Siamese crocodile were once found here, but a 2002 study concluded that both species were extinct in the park.[5]

First Indochina War and Vietnam War

During the First Indochina War the U Minh Forest was a Viet Minh stronghold. In 1952, 500 French paratroopers dropped into the U Ming forest to attack Viet Minh and were never heard from again.[6] During the Vietnam War it was a Vietcong base area.[7] 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.[8] American politician John Kerry commanded a Swift boat in the area during the Vietnam War, known as the American War in Vietnam.

References (listed below)

  1. ^ "U Minh Thuong National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b "U Minh Thuong National Park". vietnamdiscovery.com. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ^ "U Minh Thuong Tour". ExploringMekong. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  4. ^ Lan, N. "U Minh Thuong National Park - the highest bird species richness among any sites visited". Vietnam Beauty. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  5. ^ Stuart L., Bryan; Hayes, Benjamin; Huu Manh, Bui; G. Platt, Steven (2002). "Status of crocodiles in the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve, southern Vietnam". Pacific Conservation Biology. 8 (1): 62. doi:10.1071/PC020062.
  6. ^ Pringle, James (13 March 2004). "MEANWHILE : Closing the circle on Vietnam". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  7. ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 528. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  8. ^ David Eberhart (July 18, 2000). "Top Marine Endorses Medal of Honor for Army Hero". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2015.