Editing Langtang

{{short description|Region in Nepal}}
{{About|the region in Nepal|other uses|Langtang (disambiguation)}}[[File:Starry night in Langtang National Park.jpg|thumb|Starry night in Langtang National Park]]
[[File:Langtang village.jpg|thumb|[[Langtang, Bagmati|Langtang village]] before it was destroyed by an avalanche caused by an earthquake in 2015]]
[[File:Gosainkunda Lake.jpg|thumb|[[Gosainkunda]] Lake]]
[[File:Kyanjin Gompa.jpg|thumb|Kyanjin Gompa]]

'''Langtang Valley''' ({{langx|ne|लाङटाङ उपत्यका}}) also known as '''Lamtang Valley''' is a Himalayan valley in the mountains of north-central [[Nepal]], known for its trekking routes and natural environment.   

== Administrative ==
The Langtang Valley lies in [[Rasuwa District|Rasuwa district]] of the [[Bagmati Province]] in Nepal. Situated about 80 kilometres north of the [[Kathmandu Valley]], the valley lies within the [[Langtang National Park]], which borders the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]] in [[Southwest China]]. Prior to the 2015 earthquake, 668 individuals were estimated to be living within the valley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Langtang Valley Assessment - Langtang Valley, May 2015 |url=https://assessments.hpc.tools/attachments/6d561839-1aaa-4cde-a9ed-bd204d405fd3/150527_reach_assessment_report_langtang_valley.pdf |access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref>  

== Ecology ==
The Langtang Valley lies within the [[Langtang National Park]]. The park contains a wide variety of climatic zones, from subtropical to alpine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flora and Fauna in Langtang national park |url=https://www.langtangnationalpark.gov.np/index.php/features/flora-and-fauna |website=Ministry of Forest and Environment, Government of Nepal}}</ref> Approximately 25% of the park is forested. Trees include the deciduous [[oak]] and [[maple]], evergreens like [[pine]], and various types of [[rhododendron]]. Animal life includes the [[Asiatic black bear|Himalayan black bear]], [[Himalayan tahr]], [[Monkey|Red monkey]], languer [[Assam macaque]], [[snow leopard]], [[yak]], [[red panda]] and more than 250 species of birds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faunal Diversity |url=https://dnpwc.gov.np/en/conservation-area-detail/76/ |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=dnpwc.gov.np}}</ref>

== Culture ==
Among themselves, the local inhabitants of the Langtang valley refer to each other as 'Langtangpa'. They generally follow [[Tibetan Buddhism]], and speak a Tibetan language that is closely related to the Tibetan spoken in [[Gyirong County|Kyirong]], southern Tibet. The Langtangpas regard the mountain [[Langtang Lirung]] as their 'yu-lha', their local country god. However, in the state census, the Langtangpas are categorised as [[Tamang people|Tamang]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lim |first=Francis Khek Gee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zu95DwAAQBAJ&dq=langtang+history&pg=PA57 |title=Imagining the Good Life: Negotiating Culture and Development in Nepal Himalaya |publisher=BRILL |year=2008 |isbn=978-90-474-4337-7 |pages=19 |language=en}}</ref> Langtang valley is believed to be the Beyul Dagam Namgo, one of the many [[Beyul|hidden valleys]] blessed by [[Padmasambhava|Guru Padmasambhava]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Langtang |url=https://www.nekhor.org/langtang |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=Nekhor |language=en-US}}</ref> 

== Economy ==
The traditional livelihoods of the Langtangpas have centered around [[agropastoralism]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McVeigh |first=Colleen |title=Himalayan Herding is Alive and Well: The Economics of Pastoralism in the Langtang Valley |date=2004 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43123727 |journal=Nomadic Peoples |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=107–124 |doi=10.3167/082279404780446023 |jstor=43123727 |issn=0822-7942|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Aryal |first1=Suman |last2=Maraseni |first2=Tek Narayan |last3=Cockfield |first3=Geoff |date=2014-07-01 |title=Sustainability of transhumance grazing systems under socio-economic threats in Langtang, Nepal |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-013-2684-7 |journal=Journal of Mountain Science |language=en |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=1023–1034 |doi=10.1007/s11629-013-2684-7 |s2cid=129575462 |issn=1993-0321|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Since the mid-1970s, tourism has grown to become an important source of livelihoods in the Langtang Valley.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lim |first=Francis Khek Ghee |date=2007 |title=Hotels as sites of power: tourism, status, and politics in Nepal Himalaya |url=https://rai.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2007.00452.x |journal=Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=721–738|doi=10.1111/j.1467-9655.2007.00452.x |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Mountain Tourism in Nepal (A Case Study of Langtang Rastriya Nikunja, Rasuwa) |url=https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/handle/123456789/3472 |publisher=Central Departmental of Rural Development |date=2011 |degree=Thesis |language=en-US |first=Rajesh |last=Acharya}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kunwar |first1=Ramesh Raj |last2=Aryal |first2=Dev Raj |last3=Karki |first3=Neeru |date=2019-04-19 |title=Dark Tourism: A Preliminary Study of Barpak and Langtang as Seismic Memorial Sites of Nepal |url=https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JTHE/article/view/23683 |journal=Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Education |language=en |volume=9 |pages=88–136 |doi=10.3126/jthe.v9i0.23683 |s2cid=149655369 |issn=2467-9550|doi-access=free }}</ref> Swiss cheese-making was introduced in Langtang in the 1950s by Werner Schulthess. Over time, Swiss cheese became a popular product of Langtang, and its production in the valley continues to this day.<ref name="cheese">{{Cite web |last=Tamang |first=Gyalbu |title=The story of Langtang cheese |url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/the-story-of-langtang-cheese/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Access ==
The nearest motorable roadhead for the Langtang Valley is [[Syaphru|Syaphrubesi]], which is also the base for most treks into the Langtang Valley. The distance of Syaphrubesi from [[Kathmandu Valley|Kathmandu]] is 113 km. But due to bad road conditions, it usually takes 6-8 hours to drive from Kathmandu to Syaphrubesi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kathmandu to Syabrubesi - Best Routes & Travel Advice |url=https://www.kimkim.com/ab/kathmandu-to-syabrubesi |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=kimkim |language=en}}</ref> Just as for the Langtang National Park, entering the Langtang Valley requires everyone except locals to have the TIMS permit and the Langtang National Park entry permit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Permits Required for a Langtang Trek |url=https://www.magicalnepal.com/travel-guide/langtang/permits-required-for-a-langtang-trek/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=www.magicalnepal.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
The Langtang Valley trek, from Syaphrubesi to Kyanjin Gompa and back, is the third most popular trek in Nepal, after the [[Annapurna Circuit]] and [[Everest base camps|Everest Base Camp]] (EBC) treks.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Several treks go through the Langtang valley and link it to nearby valleys,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best Langtang Treks - Horizon Guides |url=https://horizonguides.com/nepal/trekking/treks-in-the-langtang-region |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=horizonguides.com |language=en-US}}</ref> like the [[Helambu]] valley. In most of these treks, one can stay at local 'tea houses', which are run by locals in nearly every village in the valley, and where one gets basic lodging and food. Around 2000, with the support of the [[United Nations Development Programme]], some of these were equipped with solar panels so that hikers could shower with warm water. There are also several mountain-climbing options available in the Langtang valley, ranging from relatively easy-to-climb peaks around 5,000 m high, such as Kyanjin Ri and [[Tsergo Ri]], to technically challenging peaks, such as [[Dorje Lhakpa]] and [[Langtang Lirung]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hatch |first=Robert |date=2015-07-13 |title=Kyanjin Ri– The Highpoint of the Langtang Trek |url=https://www.himalayanwonders.com/blog/kyanjin-ri-the-highpoint-of-the-langtang-trek.html |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=HimalayanWonders.Com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== 2015 Nepal earthquake ==
The [[Langtang, Bagmati|village of Langtang]] was almost completely destroyed (1 building survived) by a massive [[avalanche]] caused by the [[April 2015 Nepal earthquake]]. The village suffered an estimated 310 deaths, including 176 Langtang residents, 80 foreigners, and 10 army personnel. More than 100 bodies were never recovered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=eberger |date=2015-09-28 |title=An Oral History of Langtang, Destroyed by the Nepal Earthquake |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/climbing/oral-history-langtang-valley-destroyed-nepal-earthquake/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Outside Online |language=en-US}}</ref> Several other villages in upper Langtang valley were also destroyed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-15 |title=Impact of Nepal Earthquake 2015 on Langthang Valley |url=https://www.icimod.org/impact-of-nepal-earthquake-2015-on-langthang-valley/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=ICIMOD |language=en-US}}</ref> The Langtangpas who survived the destruction of the earthquake were evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu, where a displaced persons camp was temporarily set up at the Yellow Gumba near Swayanmbhu.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pandey |first=Abhimanyu |date=May 11, 2015 |title=Notes from the Field: to another valley |url=https://www.himalmag.com/author/abhimanyupandey/ |journal=Himal Southasian}}</ref> Many Langtangpas returned to the valley in the following months, and a significant amount of reconstruction was completed within the first year after the earthquake.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thapa |first=Rabi |date=June 25, 2016 |title=Langtang the terrible, Langtang the beautiful |url=https://www.himalmag.com/langtang-the-terrible-langtang-the-beautiful/ |url-status= |access-date=August 3, 2022}}</ref> By early 2018, the centuries-old [[gompa]] at Kyanjin Gompa, which had also been destroyed in the earthquake, had been rebuilt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lord |first=Austin |date=April 25, 2020 |title=The courage and endurance of the Langtangpa |url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/the-courage-and-endurance-of-the-langtangpa/ |access-date=August 3, 2022}}</ref> The Swiss-cheese factory at Kyanjin Gompa village was destroyed too, but has been rebuilt and since then become operational again.<ref name=cheese/>

== Climate change ==
Since the mid-2010s, Langtangpas have noticed that most natural springs in the valley have gone dry.<ref name=cheese/> Scientists have attributed the reduction in the glacier area of the Langtang glacier directly to anthropogenic climate change since the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wijngaard |first1=René R. |last2=Steiner |first2=Jakob F. |last3=Kraaijenbrink |first3=Philip D. A. |last4=Klug |first4=Christoph |last5=Adhikari |first5=Surendra |last6=Banerjee |first6=Argha |last7=Pellicciotti |first7=Francesca |last8=van Beek |first8=Ludovicus P. H. |last9=Bierkens |first9=Marc F. P. |last10=Lutz |first10=Arthur F. |last11=Immerzeel |first11=Walter W. |date=2019 |title=Modeling the Response of the Langtang Glacier and the Hintereisferner to a Changing Climate Since the Little Ice Age |journal=Frontiers in Earth Science |volume=7 |doi=10.3389/feart.2019.00143 |issn=2296-6463|doi-access=free }}</ref> The intergovernmental organisation [[ICIMOD]] conducts periodic [[Cryospheric science|cryospheric research]] in the Langtang valley and [[Yala Glacier]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-17 |title=Reviving the Science in Langtang Valley |url=https://www.icimod.org/reviving-the-science-in-langtang-valley/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=ICIMOD |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cryosphere research expedition to Langtang Valley, Rasuwa |url=https://www.icimod.org/event/cryosphere-research-expedition-to-langtang-valley-rasuwa/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=ICIMOD |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Comprehensive community-led risk assessment and management in Langtang valley |url=https://www.icimod.org/event/comprehensive-community-led-risk-assessment-and-management-in-langtang-valley/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=ICIMOD |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Langtang Himal ==
Langtang Himal is a mountain range in the Himalayas which includes the following peaks:<ref name="Carter1985">{{cite journal |last=Carter |first=H. A. |year=1985 |title=Classification of the Himalaya |journal=American Alpine Journal |url=http://c498469.r69.cf2.rackcdn.com/1985/109_carter_himalaya_aaj1985.pdf |volume=27 |issue=59 |pages=109–141}}</ref>

{| border=0 cellspacing=5 style="margin-left:3em" class="wikitable sortable"
! align=left|Peak||elevation
|-
| [[Langtang Lirung]] || {{convert|7234|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Langtang Ri]] || {{convert|7205|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Dorje Lakpa]] || {{convert|6966|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| Loenpo Gang || {{convert|6979|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Changbu (mountain)|Changbu]] || {{convert|6781|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Yansa Tsenji]] || {{convert|6690|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| Kyunga Ri || {{convert|6601|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Ghenge Liru]] || {{convert|6581|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| Dogpache || {{convert|6562|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Langshisa Ri]] || {{convert|6427|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Ganchenpo]] || {{convert|6387|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| Morimoto || {{convert|6150|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| Tsogaka || {{convert|5846|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Yala Peak]] || {{convert|5520|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|}[[File:Cherkuri.jpg|alt=Cherkuri|thumb|Tsergo Ri view point at Langtang Trekking Region|295x295px]]
{{wide image|Goshain kunda (2).JPG|800px|Panoramic view of [[Gosainkunda]] lake}}

==See also==
*[[Langtang National Park]]
*[[April 2015 Nepal earthquake|The earthquake of April 25, 2015 in Nepal]]
*[[Path of the Mani]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|28.250|N|85.500|E|display=title|source:dewiki}}

[[Category:Bagmati Province]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Nepal]]