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UPSC Prelims 2019 · Environment · Nature’s Machinery
Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?
- (a) Manas National Park
- (b) Namdapha National Park
- (c) Neora Valley National Park
- (d) Valley of Flowers National Park
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) Valley of Flowers National Park
Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand) lies at about 3,200–6,700 m — entirely temperate-alpine meadow.
The idea
The word that decides it is “completely”. A park lies wholly in the alpine zone only if even its lowest point is above the tree line region. The Valley of Flowers begins above 3,000 m. The other three start in warm foothills.
Manas: Assam foothills → tropical → Namdapha: starts at about 200 m → tropical at the base → Neora Valley: starts in subtropical forest → Valley of Flowers: starts above 3,000 m → alpine throughout
Why the others are wrong
(a) Manas is in the Assam foothills — tropical grassland and forest.
(b) Namdapha rises from about 200 m to 4,500 m, so it spans tropical to alpine — not “completely” alpine.
(c) Neora Valley (Kalimpong district) is mostly subtropical to temperate.
The trap
Namdapha HAS alpine zones, so it tempts. “Completely” rules it out.
Also know
The Valley of Flowers is in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, on the Pushpawati river. It is under snow for much of the year and blooms from June to September with plants such as the brahma kamal and the blue poppy. Together with Nanda Devi National Park it is a World Heritage Site.
🔒 Valley of Flowers = alpine meadow, part of the Nanda Devi WHS. Namdapha = tropical to alpine.
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