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. It was established as a national park on 23 December 2010.[1]
| Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park | |
|---|---|
| อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา–น้ำตกผาเสื่อ | |
 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) |
| Established | 23 December 2010 |
| Visitors | 89,047 (in 2019) |
| 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 394,120 rai ~ 630 square kilometres (240 sq mi).[2] The highest point is Doi Lan peak at 1,918 metres (6,300 ft) in the Daen Lao Range.[3] 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.[4] Other caves include Tham Pha Daeng, a limestone cavern around 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) in depth.[3]
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.[3]
Flora and fauna
The park features forest types including mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp, pine and evergreen.[3] Tree species include Lagerstroemia floribunda, tabaek, Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, Sindora siamensis, makha, Xylia xylocarpa, teak, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Terminalia pedicelleta, takian, Tenasserim pine, and Khasi pine.[5]
Animals in the park include goral, gaur, barking deer and wild boar.[5]
References
- "Royal Decree specifying the area as a National Park in 2009" (PDF). ratchakitcha.soc.go.th (in Thai). 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2014.
- "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022, no 116
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - "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.