Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Viet Nam Photo gallery

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Heritage site in Viet Nam, has been extended following IUCN’s advice.

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Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003 as a geological site, it now also includes protection for biodiversity and ecosystems.

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With an original surface area of 85,754 ha, Phong Nha-Ke Bang has now been extended to 123,326 ha.

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Located in the Annamite Mountains in Viet Nam, the parks shares its west boundary with the Hin Namno Nature Reserve in Laos.

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Most of the park is covered by forests, including 84% of primary forests - the highest percentage in any Vietnamese protected area.

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Its 100 kilometres of caves and underground rivers make it one of the most outstanding limestone karst ecosystems in the world.

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This karst formation has evolved since some 400 million years ago, being the oldest major karst area in Asia.

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New cave species continue to be discovered during scientific studies, including fish, lizards, scorpions, snakes and turtles.

The site is home to many plant and animal species, including 154 mammals, 117 reptiles, 58 amphibians, 314 birds and 170 fish.

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Some of these species are threatened such as the Hatinh Langur, the Clouded Leopard and the critically endangered Saola.

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Resident of the nearby Dong village.

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www.iucn.org/worldheritage