Hin Namno National Park
Hin Namno National Park (or Hin Nam No) is in Boualapha District, Khammouane Province, Laos. The park borders Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park of Vietnam to the east and Nakai-Nam Theun National Park of Laos to the north. Hin Namno National Park was created by prime ministerial decree in January 2020. It is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
| Hin Namno National Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
Location of the national park in Laos | |
| Location | Khammouane Province |
| Coordinates | 17.394000°N 105.886906°E |
| Area | 941.21 km2 (363.40 sq mi) |
| Designation | National Park |
| Designated | January 2020 |
| Governing body | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
Hin Namno's distinctive feature is its karst formations. If this park and Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng to be combined into one contiguous park, it would be one of the largest protected karst regions in the world.
As Hin Namno lies between the Khammuan limestone belt and the Annamite Range, there are many caves and limestone escarpments including the Xe Bang Fai River Cave. It is believed to be one of the largest river caves in the world, with passages some 120 meters tall and 200 meters wide, and a subterranean channel seven kilometres long.
In early-2021, Hin Namno was nominated for inclusion on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. The IUCN Green List is a global standard for protected area management performance. It is seen as a precursor to a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination.