Queen Elizabeth National Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Queen Elizabeth National Park | |
---|---|
IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
|
|
Location | Uganda |
Area | 2,000 square miles (5,000 km²) |
Established | 1954 |
The Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is Uganda's most-visited game reserve. It lies in the west of the nation and occupies 2,000 square miles (5,000 km²) from Lake George to Lake Edward around the Kazinga Channel connecting them.
The park is named after Queen Elizabeth II and was established in 1954.
The park is known for its wildlife, although many animals were killed in the Uganda-Tanzania War. Many species have recovered, including hippopotamuses, elephants, leopards, lions and chimpanzees; it is now home to 95 species of mammal and over 500 species of birds.
The park is also famous for its volcanic features, comprising volcanic cones and deep craters, many with crater lakes such as Lake Katwe, from which salt is extracted.
The national park includes the Maramagambo Forest and borders the Kigezi and Kyambura Game Reserves, Kibale National Park, and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kasese lies on the north western edge of the park.