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Location: Arusha Region Map
Area: 325 km²
Lake Manyara National Park
Description of Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is located in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. Lake Manyara National Park covers a total area of 325 km². Lake Manyara National Park protects an area of a shallow in the Manyara region of Tanzania. Its name is derived from the native Maasai word "emanyara" that stands fo a euphorbia species of plants that is commonly found in the area.
Since 1957, the park has been a protected area; before that, the park served as a wildlife sanctuary. In 1960, a national park was created, and in 1981, the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program included the park in the global network of biosphere reserves.
The park is located 125 km west of the city of Arusha. During
high water, Manyara Lake occupies 200 of the 330 km² park area, in
the normal state the lake occupies about a third of the park. 5.5
km² of land, which were added in the south in 1974, also belongs to
the land part of the park. The height of the park above sea level
ranges from 960 to 1478 meters. The small area of the park did not
prevent him from becoming one of the most diverse parks in the
country. Natural landscapes include a rift valley lake, an open
coast, dense forests and steep mountain slopes.
The park is a
narrow strip between the alkaline Lake Manyara in the east and the
Gregory Rift in the west. The park has the main slopes and peaks of
the rift, as well as part of the plateau. The mountain landscape is
dissected by river valleys, some of which flow year-round and form
the basis of the drainage system of the region. In the north are
porous volcanic rocks that provide the basis for spring floods. The
southern part of the park is characterized by solid crystalline
rocks. In places where the rift is close to the lake, there are hot
springs. An average of 650 mm of precipitation falls annually. The
rainy season is divided into two parts: from November to December
and from February to April. Average annual temperature - 22 ° С