Asir National Park

Asir National Park is a national park in Saudi Arabia's Asir region. It was established in 1981.

Asir National Park
'Asir National Park
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)[1]
Jabal Sawda in Asir National Park
Nearest cityAbha
Area6,490.7 km2 (2,506.1 sq mi)
Max. elevation3200
Min. elevation0
Established1981

Geography

Asir National Park covers an area of 6490.7 km2.[1] It extends from Red Sea coast to the mountains, and includes both marine and terrestrial areas.

The park includes a portion of the Tihamah coastal plain, foothills underlain by granite and gneiss, the Asir escarpment dissected by deep wadis (canyons), and mountain peaks up to 3200 meters elevation.[2]

Climate

The climate varies with the altitudinal range of the park. The coastal portion of the ecoregion receives less than 100 mm of precipitation annually, and has a mean annual temperature of about 29° C. Rainfall occurs mostly in two periods, the late winter-early spring and summer. The higher-altitude portions of the park receive less than 250 mm of annual rainfall, and have a mean annual temperature of about 19° C.[2]

Flora

The park is home to several distinct plant communities. There are mangroves along the coast. The coastal plain is covered in sparse desert vegetation. The western foothills are home to Acacia woodlands and thorn scrub, including Acacia etbaica, Acacia asak, Acacia hamulosa, Acacia mellifera, Acacia johnwoodii, Acacia tortilis, Acacia seyal, and Acacia oerfota.[2]

Above 1600 meters elevation, the Acacia woodlands transition to woodlands of Juniperus procera. The junipers form stands with Acacia origena, olive (Olea europaea) Nuxia oppositifolia, Maesa lanceolata, and Teclea nobilis at successively lower elevations on western slopes.[2]

References
  1. "Asir National Park". Protected Planet. Accessed 1 February 2021.
  2. Fisher M. et al. (1998) Diversity and Conservation. In: Ghazanfar S.A., Fisher M. (eds) Vegetation of the Arabian Peninsula. Geobotany, vol 25. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi-org.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3637-4_12
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