An explosion of new protected areas in the late 20th and early 21st centuries put the older generation of national parks to shame when it comes to size. Here’s a look at the largest parks on each continent.
Located in the heart of Sanjiangyuan National Park in Angsai township, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Northwest China s Qinghai Province, 31-year-old Tibetan herders Ciding and Dajie, along with 34-year-old Kunchochopeng, have recently been in high spirits. Not only did they successfully dig up a large quantity of cordyceps, but they also had the opportunity to participate in a film that captivated audiences both domestically and internationally, a film featuring no movie stars.
The documentary Snow Leopards and Friends recently premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival, with premiere movie tickets selling out within just 50 seconds. Interestingly, more than 70 percent of the footage in the film was captured by these three Tibetan herders-turned-photographers.
The Sanjiangyuan area, known as China s "water tower," contains the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers.China began the pilot operation of Sanjiangyuan National Park in 2016, and in October 2021, the park received its official designation. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve.