Hukawng Valley
TheHukawng Valley(Burmese:ဟူးကောင်းချိုင့်ဝှမ်း;also speltHukaung Valley) is an isolated valley inMyanmar,roughly 5,586 square miles (14,468 km2) in area. It is located inTanaing Townshipin theMyitkyina DistrictofKachin Statein the northernmost part of the country. It has theHukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.[1][2]
Rivers[edit]
The rivers draining into the Hukawng Valley, the Tanai Kha, the Tabye, the Tawan, and the Turong, form the headwaters of theChindwin River.
Protected area[edit]
Ringed by steepmountain rangesto the north, east and west, the valley is known as a habitat oftigers,but encroachment by man has greatly decreased their numbers, to perhaps as few as 100 animals. In 2004, the government established the world's largest tiger preserve in the Hukawng Valley, theHukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary,with an area of approximately 6,500 km2(2,500 sq mi); later, the Sanctuary was extended to 21,800 km2,making it the largest protected area in mainland Southeast Asia. The government's establishment of the preserve was accomplished in cooperation with theKachin Independent Army,a formerly-rebel group that inhabits the region.
The extremely rareleaf muntjac,also known as thephet-gyi,dwarf deer or leaf deer, also lives in the Hukawng.
Industries[edit]
Major industry includesamberandgoldmining;most gold mines are now depleted, but the toxic chemicals from former gold extraction have not been cleared, and are seeping into the groundwater.
Discoveries[edit]
The valley is well known forBurmese amber,a type ofamberdating back to theCretaceousperiod, around 99 million years ago.
History[edit]
DuringWorld War II,theLedo Roadwas built by theUS Armyacross the Hukawng Valley, largely by African-American engineer battalions and Chinese laborers, in order to supply the armies of theRepublic of China,who were then allied with theWestern Alliesin the war against theEmpire of Japan.
26°26′18″N96°33′32″E/ 26.43833°N 96.55889°E
See also[edit]
- Ledo Road(Stillwell Road)
- Lake of No Return
- Pangsau Pass
References[edit]
- ^World Database on Protected Areas (2019)."Hugaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary".Protected Planet.
- ^World Database on Protected Areas (2019)."Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (extension)".Protected Planet.
External links[edit]
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