
At a recent ceremony officials from Crater Lake National Park signed a "sister park" agreement with Wuyishan National Scenic Area/NPS
Crater Lake National Park saw its most visitors in a quarter-century last year, but that mark might not last long thanks to a partnership that spans the Pacific Ocean. In a nod to increasing tourism from the world’s most-populous country, representatives from Crater Lake traveled to China last week to establish a “sister park” relationship with Wuyishan National Scenic Area.
As part of the agreement, “both areas will work together to share our knowledge, skills and expertise to help protect, preserve and make available for our peoples these places where magnificent scenery, diverse resources and rich history transcend international borders,” Crater Lake Superintendent Craig Ackerman said in a release.
Wuyishan National Scenic Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southeast China’s Fujian province. UNESCO notes that dramatic gorges formed by the Nine-Bend River are of “exceptional scenic quality,” while numerous temples and monasteries situated along the river, many now in ruins, provided the setting for the development and spread of neo-Confucianism.
“The economic and cultural advantages of this relationship are immeasurable,” said Carolyn Hill, Executive Director of Crater Lake National Park Trust. “We have an opportunity to build a bridge that allows scientists, students, visitors and nations to learn and share together.”
As of the third-quarter in 2015, Oregon had at least 107,000 Chinese visitors, a 25 percent increase over the same time period in 2014. Overall, Crater Lake had 614,712 visits in 2015, its highest count in the last 25 years and a 14.7 percent increase from 2014. Wuyishan National Scenic Area receives 10.5 million visitors a year.
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