Barkam comes from the Tibetan "place of strong fire" and, by extension, "place of prosperity".[2]
History
On December 18, 2019, the Department of Civil Affairs of Sichuan Province approved the merger of the now-defunct town of Zhuokeji [zh] into the town of Barkam.[4]
Climate
Due to its elevation, Barkam lies in the transition between a subtropical highland climate (KöppenCwb) and humid continental climate (Köppen Dwb), with strong monsoonal influences; winters are frosty and summers warm with frequent rain. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in December and January to 16.4 °C (61.5 °F) in July, while the annual mean is 8.75 °C (47.7 °F). Nearly two-thirds of the annual precipitation of 784 mm (30.9 in) occurs from June to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 36% in June to 65% in December, the town receives 2,133 hours of bright sunshine annually. Diurnal temperature variation is large, averaging 16.0 °C (28.8 °F) annually.
Climate data for Barkam, elevation 2,664 m (8,740 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
As of the 2010 Chinese Census, before it absorbed the now-defunct town of Zhuokeji [zh], Barkam had a population of 29,535.[2] The combined population of Barkam and Zhuokeji totaled 30,547.[2] Barkam had a population of 25,337 as of the 2000 Chinese Census.[2]