Context:
Chief Minister of Sikkim has requested the Centre to ban climbing on Mt. Khangchendzonga
Khangchendzonga:
- Location: Sikkim, India
- Significance: 3rd highest mountain in the world (8,586 meters)
- Name Origin: Derived from Tibetan words meaning “Five Treasures of Snow”
- Protected Area: Khangchendzonga National Park, established in1977
- UNESCO Status: Declared India’s 1st ‘Mixed World Heritage Site’ in 2016
- Biodiversity Hotspot: Part of the Eastern Himalaya global biodiversity hotspot
- Flora & Fauna –
- Vegetation Zones: Ranges from sub-tropical forests to alpine meadows
- Key Species: Snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan black bear, Tibetan wolf
- Unique Flora: Rhododendrons, orchids, medicinal plants
- Cultural & Religious Significance – Considered sacred by the Lepcha and Bhutia communities
- Associated with Sikkimese Buddhism
- Home to ancient monasteries and sacred sites
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
The 2004 Tsunami made people realise that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2011 Prelims]
(a) The mangrove swamps separate the human settlements from the sea by a wide zone in which people neither live nor venture out.
(b) The mangroves provide both food and medicines which people are in need of after any natural disaster.
(c) The mangrove trees are tall with dense canopies and serve as an excellent shelter during a cyclone or Tsunami.
(d) The mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive roots
Answer: (d)