Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
| Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary | |
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| Sahyadri Tiger Reserve | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
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Catchment area of the Shivsagar Reservoir
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| Location | Satara, Maharashtra India |
| Nearest city | Kolhapur and Pune |
| Coordinates | 17°32′56″N 73°45′11″E / 17.54889°N 73.75306°ECoordinates: 17°32′56″N 73°45′11″E / 17.54889°N 73.75306°E |
| Area | 423.55 square kilometres (163.53 sq mi) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Governing body | Maharashtra State Forest Department |
| Official name | Natural Properties - Western Ghats (India) |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | ix, x |
| Designated | 2012 (36th session) |
| Reference no. | 1342 |
| State Party | India |
| Region | Indian subcontinent |
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and natural World Heritage Site
located in Satara district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The sanctuary is nested in the Western Ghats, covering an area of around 423.55 km2 (163.53 sq mi) and elevations ranging from 600 to 1,100 m (2,000 to 3,600 ft), It was notified in 1985 as a wildlife sanctuary situated in Maharashtra.
It forms the northern portion of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, with Chandoli National Park forming the southern part of the reserve.
The Vasota Fort lies deep in the forests and is located at an elevation of 1,120 m (3,670 ft) above sea level. The legend states that the fort was constructed by Malwa king Raja Bhoja in 1170.
The rivers Koyna, Kandati, and Solashi meander through the sanctuary. It also forms the catchment area for the Koyna River, and the Shivsagar reservoir formed by the Koyna Dam. To the south of the park lies the Chandoli National Park. The sanctuary includes eastern and western catchments of the Koyana dam.
The sanctuary is well protected by the large extent of Shivsagar reservoir and steep slopes of the Western Ghats on both the sides. This protected area is connected by a forested wildlife corridor to Chandoli National Park and Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary in the south.
The average altitude is 897 m (2,943 ft). The mean annual rainfall is 5,500 mm (220 in).
The sanctuary has dense forests with three major sections, Vasota, Maharkhor and Indavli Met, and is endowed with natural protective boundaries, with Shivsagar Lake on one side, and the slopes of the Western Ghats on both sides. These geographic barriers have enabled the emergence of a wide variety of flora and fauna and high biodiversity in the sanctuary.
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