Bale Mountains National Park inscribed on UNESCO world natural heritage list
Addis Ababa, September 18, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains National Park is inscribed as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world natural heritage list, the Ministry of Tourism announced.
This news came a day after the registration of Gedeo cultural landscape as one of UNESCO’s world heritage properties on September 17, 2023 at the 45th extended session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The registration of Gedeo cultural landscape became the 100th inscription in Africa and the 10th in Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, Bale Mountains National Park is registered as the world natural heritage Pproperty at the ongoing 45th extended session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In this regard, Bale Mountains National Park is registered as the second largest natural heritage site in Ethiopia and the 11th largest natural heritage site in the world.
Moreover, the latest addition of the Bale Mountains National Parks into the UNESCO world heritages list means Ethiopia now has the highest number of UNESCO-inscribed world heritage properties list in Africa, leapfrogging South Africa that has 10 UNESCO-registered world heritages.
Located 400km southeast of Addis Ababa, Bale Mountains National Park contains a spectacularly diverse landscape. The high altitude, afro-montane Sanetti Plateau rises to over 4,000m and includes the highest peak in the southern Ethiopia highlands. This undulating plateau is marked by numerous glacial lakes and swamps and surrounded by higher volcanic ridges and peaks. The southern slopes are covered by the lush and largely unexplored Harenna Forest.