Wangchuck Centennial National Park
27°48′43″N 90°39′28″E / 27.81194°N 90.65778°E
| Wangchuck Centennial National Park | |
|---|---|
Location of Wangchuck Centennial National Park in pink | |
| Location | Bumthang, Gasa, Lhuntse, Trongsa, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan |
| Nearest city | Jakar |
| Area | 4,914 km2 (1,897 sq mi) |
| Min. elevation | 2500 |
| Authorized | 10-06-2008 |
| Named for | House of Wangchuck |
| Governing body | Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan |
| Website | Wangchuck Centennial National Park |
Wangchuck Centennial National Park in northern Bhutan is the kingdom's largest national park, spanning 4,914 square kilometres (1,897 sq mi) over five districts, occupying significant portions of northern Bumthang, Lhuntse, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts. It borders Tibet to the north and is bound by tributaries of the Wong Chhu (Raidāk) basin to the west. Wangchuck Centennial directly abuts Jigme Dorji National Park, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, and Phrumsengla National Park in northern Bhutan, and is further connected to Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in central Bhutan via biological corridors. Thus, most of northern Bhutan is part of these protected areas.
Wangchuck Centennial was established on December 12, 2008 in honor of the Wangchuck dynasty, founded in 1907. It contains headwaters of four major river systems: Punatsang Chhu/Sankosh River, Mangde Chhu, Chamkhar Chhu, and Kuri Chhu. Wangchuck Centennial also contains the various middle-Himalayan ecological biomes, ranging from blue pine forests to alpine meadows, at altitudes from 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) to 5,100 metres (16,700 ft).