El Kala National Park
| El Kala National Park | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
 | |
  | |
| Location | El Tarf Province, Algeria |
| Nearest city | El Kala |
| Coordinates | 36°49′N 8°25′E / 36.817°N 8.417°ECoordinates: 36°49′N 8°25′E / 36.817°N 8.417°E |
| Area | 800 km² |
| Established | 1993 |
The national park of El Ka la (Arabic: محمية القالة الوطنية) is one of the national parks of Algeria, in the extreme north-east of the country. It is home to several lakes (including Lake Tonga, whose name is unrelated to Tonga) and a unique ecosystem in the Mediterranean basin, it was created in 1983 and recognized as a biosphere reserve by the UNESCO in 1990.
The park is threatened by the creation of a highway in Algeria,[1] which would threaten the rare animals and plants of the park. It has been proposed that the highway should avoid this region and go further south.
El Kala National Park and Biosphere Reserve is home to 40 species of mammals, 25 bird of prey species, 64 freshwater bird species and 9 marine bird species.[2] The Barbary stag is prevalent in the park.
The park averages 30,000 visitors per year.[3]
References
- ↑ France 24 (14 June 2008). "A highway threatens El Kala National Park". Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ World Guide. "Algeria National Parks and Reserves". Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ UNESCO. "El Kala". Retrieved 2 July 2011.
External links
- Park data on UNEP-WPMC
- (French) A petition for the preservation of the park
- (French) A website about the park, including a map