Dong Phaya Yen

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Overview map of the mountain ranges in Isan

Dong Phaya Yen ( Thai ป่าดง พญา เย็น , lit. "Jungle of the Lord of the Cold") is a mountain range in central Thailand . The mountains of the Dong Phaya Yen represent the southeast extension of the Phetchabun Mountains and separate the valley of the Chao Phraya Current from the Khorat plateau in the northeast region of the country ( Isan ). They stretch over a length of about 230 kilometers and are continued to the south by the Sankamphaeng mountain range ( ทิว เขา สันกำแพง ) and to the east by the Dângrêk mountains .

The mountains are drained to the north by the numerous tributaries of the Mae Nam Mun ( Mun River ) and to the south by the Mae Nam Bang Pakong ( Bang Pakong River ). The height is between 100 meters and 1351 meters, the Khao Rom ( เขา ร่ม ) with 1351 meters is the highest point.

There are numerous national parks in the mountains. The most famous is the Khao Yai National Park , the first national park of Thailand . Other parks are the National Park Ta Phraya at the border to Cambodia , the National Park Thap Lan , the National Park Pang Sida , the National Park Pra Phutthachai and the game reserve Dong Yai (engl .: "Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary"). A total of 6155 km² of land is protected in national parks.

The original name of the Dong Phaya Yen was earlier Dong Phaya Fai ("Jungle of the Lord of Fire"), as most travelers who ventured into this vast forest area contracted malaria there . Since the beginning of the 20th century, however, most of the forest has been destroyed, so the Uparat ("Second King") of King Mongkut (Rama IV.) Phra Pinklao changed the name from "Dong Phaya Fai" to "Dong Phaya Yen" to make it clear that the forest can now be crossed safely.

Since July 14, 2005, the "forest complex of the Dong Phaya Yen mountain range with the Khao Yai National Park" has been on the UNESCO list of world cultural and natural heritage .

literature

  • Wolf Donner: The Five Faces of Thailand . Institute of Asian Affairs, Hamburg 1978, Paperback Edition: University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Queensland 1982, ISBN 0-7022-1665-8 .

Web links

Coordinates: 16 ° 14 '  N , 101 ° 21'  E