Rara National Park

Rara National Park is a Nepalese protected area located in high mountains about 370 kilometers northwest of the capital city, Kathmandu. Established in 1976, Rara National Park is Nepal's smallest national park, with an area of only about 106 square kilometers. The main feature of Rara National Park is an alpine freshwater lake, Rara Lake (Mahendra Tal), located on a plateau at an elevation of 2990 meters. Though the park itself is the country’s smallest protected area, Rara Lake is the largest lake in Nepal, at 10.8 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of 167 meters.Rara National Park is rich in flora and fauna, and is a rare example of diverse natural beauty in the Himalayan region. The vegetation is generally sub-alpine and high-temperate, and is dependent on the altitude. Under 3200 meters, the vegetation consists of mainly Blue Pine (Pinus excelsa), Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboretum), West Himalayan Spruce (Picea smithina), Black Juniper (Juniperus wallichiana), and Himalayan Cypress (Cupressus torulosa).