Kaeng Krachan National Park
Encyclopedia
Kaeng Krachan is the largest national park of Thailand
, located at the northern end of the Malay Peninsula
. Due to its location near the tourist town of Hua Hin
it is a popular park.
, Kaeng Krachan
and Tha Yang
of Phetchaburi Province
, and of Hua Hin of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
. It consists mainly of rain forests within the eastern slope of the Tenasserim Mountain Range. The highest elevation is at 1200m, the mean elevation of the area is at Two main rivers originate within the park, the Pranburi River
and the Phetchaburi River
.
The Phetchaburi is blocked by the Kaeng Krachan dam at the eastern border of the park. The dam creates a lake covering an area of 46.5 km². The dam was built in 1966.
The park has been included in the list of ASEAN heritage parks. In 2005 it was also submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a future world heritage site
.
57 species of mammals and more than 400 bird species had been counted in the park.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, located at the northern end of the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
. Due to its location near the tourist town of Hua Hin
Hua Hin
Hua Hin is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.Hua Hin is closely associated with the...
it is a popular park.
Geography
The park covers parts of the districts Nong Ya PlongAmphoe Nong Ya Plong
Nong Ya Plong is the district in the northwestern part of Phetchaburi Province, central Thailand.-History:Nong Ya Plong was established as a minor district on July 16 1972, when the three tambon Nong Ya Plong, Yang Nam Klat Nuea and Yang Nam Klat Tai were split off from Khao Yoi district...
, Kaeng Krachan
Amphoe Kaeng Krachan
Kaeng Krachan is a district of Phetchaburi Province, central Thailand.-History:The district was created as a minor district on January 1 1988 by splitting off the three tambon Kaeng Krachan, Song Phi Nong and Wang Chan from Tha Yang district...
and Tha Yang
Amphoe Tha Yang
Tha Yang is a district in the southern part of Phetchaburi Province, central Thailand.- Etymology :In 1910 the western part of the district was mountainous area, covered by dense forest. The main trees are Makha , Takhian and Yang...
of Phetchaburi Province
Phetchaburi Province
Phetchaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Prachuap Khiri Khan...
, and of Hua Hin of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
Prachuap Khiri Khan is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phetchaburi in the north and Chumphon in the south. To the west it borders Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar....
. It consists mainly of rain forests within the eastern slope of the Tenasserim Mountain Range. The highest elevation is at 1200m, the mean elevation of the area is at Two main rivers originate within the park, the Pranburi River
Pranburi River
The Pran Buri River is a river in the Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand, on the Kra Isthmus of the Malay Peninsula. The Pran Buri river originates in southern part of the Kaeng Krachan National Park, and after 130 km mouths into the Gulf of Thailand. The only town at the river course is...
and the Phetchaburi River
Phetchaburi River
The Phetchaburi River is a river in western Thailand. It originates in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Kaeng Krachan district and flows through Tha Yang, Ban Lat, Mueang Phetchaburi and mouths into the Bay of Bangkok in Ban Laem district. It is 210 km long, most of which is within the...
.
The Phetchaburi is blocked by the Kaeng Krachan dam at the eastern border of the park. The dam creates a lake covering an area of 46.5 km². The dam was built in 1966.
History
The park was created on June 12 1981 as the 28th national park of Thailand. Originally covering an area of 2,478 km², it was enlarged on December 27, 1984 to include the boundary area between Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces.The park has been included in the list of ASEAN heritage parks. In 2005 it was also submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a future world heritage site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Fauna and Flora
The forests contain a very diverse collection of tree species, both continental trees like oaks, chestnuts, and maples, but also trees found on the Malay Peninsula like palms.57 species of mammals and more than 400 bird species had been counted in the park.