'Eua National Park
ʻEua National Park is a national park on the island of 'Eua in Tonga. It is the country's only national forest park and covers an area of 4.51 km2 (2 sq mi).[1][2] The park is located on the east coast of the island and covers a 800 metres (2,625 ft) band of tropical rainforest and is bordered on the west by sheer cliffs to the ocean, which have numerous caves and chasms.[3] It received National Park Status in 1992.[1] The area is protected by IUCN.[4]
| ʻEua National Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
.jpg.webp) ʻEua National Park | |
| Location | ʻEua Island, Tonga |
| Coordinates | 21°24′06″S 174°54′27″W |
| Area | 4.51 km2 (2 sq mi) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (Forestry Division) |
Biodiversity
Endemic flora
- Aglaia heterotricha
- Arytera bifoliata
- Discocalyx listeri
- Dysoxylum tongense
- Guioa lentiscifolia
- Phyllanthus amicorum
- Pittosporum yunckeri
- Podocarpus pallidus, a rare and endangered conifer (approximately 1,000 trees) found in this location.
- Polyalthia amicorum
- Robiquetia tongensis
- Syzygium crosbyi
- Xylosma smithiana
Endemic fauna
- Lepidodactylus euaensis (Eua forest gecko), a rare and endangered gecko.
- Prosopeia tabuensis (red shining-parrot or red-breasted Koki), a species of parrot.
- Aerodrarnus spodiopygius (White rumped swiftlet)
- Phaethon lepturus (White-tailed tropicbird)
Attractions
- Lokupo observation deck, located above a cliff and provides a view of the Lokupo Beach.
- Big Ovava Tree (minimum of 800 years old)
- Hafu pool
- 'Ana 'Ahu (Smoking Cave), a 70 metres (230 ft) vertical sinkhole with a waterfall cascading into it - the mist rising up from the sinkhole gives it its name.
- 'Ana Kuma (Rats Cave), a 10 metres (33 ft) deep cave
- Funga Te'emoa - the island's highest peak at 312 metres (1,024 ft)
Further reading
- Bellingham, P. J.; Fitzgerald, Gerard (1996). Draft Management Plan for 'Eua National Park : Kingdom of Tonga. Landcare Research New Zealand, New Zealand. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Drake, Donald R.; Motley, Timothy J.; Whistler, W. Arthur; Imada, Clyde T. (1996). "New Zealand Journal of Botany". Rain forest vegetation of 'Eua Island, Kingdom of Tonga. 34: 65–77.
See also
- National parks of Tonga
- List of National Parks
References
- "'Eua National Park in Tonga". protectedplanet.net. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- "'Eua National Park Reserve". The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- "Tonga Parks & Marine Reserves". Jasons.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- Paine, James R., ed. (1991). IUCN Directory of Protected Areas in Oceania. International Union for Conservation of Nature. pp. 260–261. ISBN 9782831700694.
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