Lorentz becomes national park

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The government has declared the mountainous Lorentz nature preserve in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, a national park, Antara reported Saturday.

The news agency said the area, which covers the protected forests from Mt. Trikora to Arafura Beach, became the Lorentz National Park through a ministerial decree dated March 19, 1997. The park covers 2.5 million hectare.

Two other nature preserves that were earlier converted into national parks are Merauke's Wasur National Park and Cenderawasih Bay Sea Park. (swe)