Ba Bể National Park, National park in Bắc Kạn, Vietnam
Ba Bể National Park is a protected area in the northeast mountains that contains a large freshwater lake with three connected basins named Pe Leng, Pe Lu, and Pe Lam, ringed by limestone mountains. Dense forests descend to the water's edge and blanket the entire landscape between the peaks.
The park was established in 1992 to protect Vietnam's largest natural freshwater lake along with the surrounding limestone and highland forests. Creating this protected area helped preserve this unique habitat from overuse and degradation.
The Tay people who live near the lake gave it the name Ba Bể, which means Three Lakes in their language. This name reflects how they understood the geography of the three separate basins that form this natural body of water.
The park's visitor center offers guided tours through the area, including boat trips on the lake and walks through the forests. The best time to visit is during drier months when trails are more accessible and visibility is clearer.
The lake's water surface changes size with the seasons, while its deepest points exceed 35 meters. These depth variations and seasonal shifts create different habitats for the diverse wildlife that lives in and around the park.
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