Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
home to 252 species of birds, 22 kinds of mammals, 82 types of
insects, 5 varieties of fish, and 6 species of amphibians.
Annapurna Region—Mount Annapurna
Annapurna, the “Goddess of the Harvests,” rises to an elevation
of 26,545 feet (8,091meters). Lying in the central part of the
country, the Annapurna region is another very popular trekﾭ
king route known as the “classic trek.” This region provides a
superb panorama of the Himalayas, including the Annapurna
and Dhaulagiri ranges. Furthermore, the region offers a vast
variety of landscapes and diverse ecological zones. Along the
classic trek, one encounters such features as the subtropical
Pokhara Valley, extensively terraced hillsides, alpine forest,
and even a semidesert near the Tibetan border. The east-west
trending ranges are situated just to the north of Pokhara.
They include Annapurna, Annapurna II (26,000 feet; 7,925
meters), Annapurna III (24,787 feet; 7,555 meters), and others.
Above all, Machhapuchhre (22,943 feet; 6,993 meters) gives
an astonishing and unsurpassed panorama to all visitors. The
shining peak of Machhapuchhre has never been climbed, out
of respect for the belief that it is a holy and sacred place to the
local people.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), estabﾭ
lished in 1986, is the first and largest conservation project in
Nepal. It encompasses the entire Annapurna range, an area of
2,946 square miles (7,629 square kilometers). The ACAP also
has involved local people in the conservation and management
of the protected area. The region is recognized as a natural
paradise and is rich in biodiversity. As a result, it is the primary
destination of more than 60 percent of all foreign hikers visitﾭ
ing Nepal. The ACAP collects fees from visitors and uses the
funds for biodiversity conservation and environmental protecﾭ
tion. The project is home to more than 1,200 plant species, 100
mammals, 478 types of birds, 39 reptiles, 22 amphibians, and
many types of butterflies.
