Jiuzhaigou Valley Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1997, in China. This biosphere reserve lies on the southern slopes of the Minshan Mountains, within the transition area between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai–Tibet plateau. The altitude ranges from about 2,000 to 4,700 metres above sea level. The natural landscape includes snow-capped peaks, numerous waterfalls, forests, mountain streams and lakes. Lakes, waterfalls and travertine (calcareous-sinter) terrace-and-cascade karst landforms of Jiuzhaigou are rare worldwide. The population is primarily Tibetan, with Han and Qiang communities also present. Tourism is the principal industry.