Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park
Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา–น้ำตกผาเสื่อ) is a national park in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. It is home to caves, waterfalls and steep mountain terrain.
Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park | |
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อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา–น้ำตกผาเสื่อ | |
IUCN category II (national park) | |
Pha Suea Waterfall | |
Park location in Thailand | |
Location | Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand |
Nearest city | Mae Hong Son |
Coordinates | 19°30′8″N 98°0′23″E |
Area | 630 km2 (240 sq mi) |
Governing body | Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation |
Geography
Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park is about 18 kilometres (10 mi) northwest of Mae Hong Son in Mueang and Pang Mapha Districts. The park's area is 630 square kilometres (240 sq mi). The highest point is Doi Lan peak at 1,918 metres (6,300 ft) in the Daen Lao Range.[1] The northern and western sides of the park border Burma's Shan and Kayah states respectively.
Attractions
The park's main attraction is Tham Pla ("fish cave"), a water-filled cave hosting hundreds of soro brook carp. The fish are revered by locals and a nearby Hindu statue is said to protect them.[2] Other caves include Tham Pha Daeng, a limestone cavern around 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) in depth.[1]
Waterfalls include the Pha Suea waterfall at 15 metres (50 ft) high and Mae Sa-nga Klang waterfall also 15 metres (50 ft) high. Mae Sa-nga Klang is above the Mae Sa-nga Dam, a hydroelectric dam 37 metres (100 ft) high and 160 metres (500 ft) long.[1]
Flora and fauna
The park features forest types including mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp, pine and evergreen.[1] Tree species include Lagerstroemia floribunda, tabaek, Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, Sindora siamensis, makha, Xylia xylocarpa, teak, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Terminalia pedicelleta, takian, Sumatran pine and Khasi pine.[3]
Animal species include goral, gaur, serow, barking deer and wild boar.[3]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park. |
- "National Parks in Thailand: Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park" (PDF). Department of National Parks (Thailand). 2015. p. 105. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- "Tham Pla National Park". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- "Tham Pla - Namtok Pha Suea National Park". Department of National Parks (Thailand). Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.