Doi Inthanon National Park

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Doi Inthanon National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติ ดอย อิน ท นนท์
Wachirathan waterfall
Wachirathan waterfall
Doi Inthanon National Park (Thailand)
Paris plan pointer b jms.svg
Coordinates: 18 ° 30 ′ 0 ″  N , 98 ° 36 ′ 0 ″  E
Location: Chiang Mai , Thailand
Next city: Takua Pa
Surface: 482.4 km²
Founding: 2nd October 1972
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The Doi Inthanon National Park ( Thai : อุทยานแห่งชาติ ดอย อิน ท นนท์ ) is a National Park in the province of Chiang Mai in the northern region of Thailand . The highest point in Thailand, Doi Inthanon, is located in the park at an altitude of 2565 meters .

history

The national park was designated as one of the first 14 national parks in the country in 1954. In 1972 and 1974 its area was expanded so that today 482.4 km² belong to the park.

Location and topography

Doi Inthanon National Park is located in several districts ( Amphoe ) of Chiang Mai Province: Chom Thong , Mae Chaem , Mae Wang and Doi Lo . It covers an area of ​​around 482 km².

Doi Inthanon National Park is located in the middle of a mountainous landscape, the highest peak of which is Doi Inthanon with its 2565 meters, which is also the highest elevation in Thailand. Another mountain is Doi Hua Mod Luang with 2330 meters.

Many rivers have their source here, including the Maenam Mae Nam Ping , which flows as Mae Nam Chao Phraya at Nakhon Sawan to the Gulf of Thailand . More rivers are

  • Mae sound
  • Mae Pakong
  • Mae Pon
  • Mae Hoi
  • Mae Ya
  • Mae Chaem
  • Mae Khan

climate

Due to the altitude, it is rather cooler here than in the other parts of the country, but therefore no less humid. In the winter months the temperature can drop below freezing and even in summer, when it is very hot in Chiang Mai and the surrounding areas, it can be chilly in the mountains.

It is often called the "Roof of Thailand".

colonization

Around 4500 people live within the borders of Doi Inthanon's, most of them from the Karen, Hmong and Tai's tribes. Around 8,000 more people live in 14 village communities within five kilometers of the park. The residents of the park and those in the immediate vicinity of the park use it to collect and hunt plants, firewood and building materials. The central government also presents this as a problem for the park, as, according to it, the locals contribute a large part to the deforestation.

Flora and fauna

flora

Dry variant of the monsoon forest in the forest area of ​​the national park

Due to its special location, the forest area of ​​the Doi Inthanon National Park has an unusual vegetation for Thailand. Although there are also moist rainforests here , oaks and other species that are more native to cool regions can also be seen. Pines create a kind of mixed forest and peat moss can also be found at higher altitudes . Many other plant species complement the high forest, e.g. B. Orchids and rhododendrons grow lush. There are also ferns that can be found in the higher regions. Doi Inthanon has the highest cloud forest in Thailand.

Here is an extract of the native plant species:

fauna

The animal world has been severely decimated by poaching and heavy deforestation and still consists of the ubiquitous snakes as well as tigers , deer , gibbons , Asian goats , wild boars , hares and wild fowls . The main attraction, however, are the various bird species, the number of which is greater than at any other place in Thailand, for example the Bändersiva or the green-tailed nectar bird .

Worth seeing

There are some waterfalls worth seeing , like the Mae Ya, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of Thailand.

Mae Ya waterfall

The Mae Ya waterfall (Thai: น้ำตก แม่ ยะ ) is located in the south of the national park and pours out from a height of 260 meters. It comes from the Mae Ya Gorge (Thai: ห้วย แม่ กลาง ) and shows several different types of waterfalls.

Siriphum waterfall

The Siriphum waterfall ( น้ำตก สิริ ภูมิ ) was formerly Lao Li ( น้ำตก เลา ลี ), for a head of a nearby village the hill tribes . Chakthong Thongyai, a former Minister of Agriculture, had the waterfall renamed. In memory of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit , it is now called Siribhum Waterfall. It is located at km 31 on the Chom Thong-Doi Inthanon road.

Vachirathan waterfall

Located in the eastern part of the National Park waterfall ( น้ำตก วชิร ธาร ) is also fact-Khong-Yong Waterfall ( น้ำตก ตาด ฆ้อง โยง called). It falls from a height of 70 meters from the Mae Klang Gorge ( ห้วย แม่ กลาง ). It is located at km 22 of the Chom Thong to Doi Inthanon road. Several stalactite caves are accessible near the waterfall .

Borichinda cave

The Borichinda Cave ( ถ้ำ บ ริ จินดา ) is an interesting limestone cave in the middle of a mixed forest with a huge chamber at the entrance. Another large cave in this system is open at the top and allows sunlight to enter. There are very beautiful stalactites . You get to the cave after about an hour's hike from the main road.

See also

literature

  • Vasa Sutthipibul et al. (Ed.): National parks in Thailand. National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 2006, ISBN 974-286-087-4 .
  • S. Pienstaporn, V. Phattanagosai: The best of National Parks of Thailand. National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Eastern Printing, Bangkok 2004, ISBN 974-92203-2-3 .
  • K. Chayamarit, Ch. Puff: Plants of Doi Inthanon National Park. National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 2007, ISBN 978-974-286-180-3 .
  • H. Betz, P. Srisanga, P. Suksathan: Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. 2014. (Selected Plants of Doi Inthanon) .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ J. Beltrán (Ed.): Indigenous and Traditional Peoples and Protected Areas: Principles, Guidelines and Case Studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK and WWF International, Gland, Switzerland 2000, ISBN 2-8317-0547-9 , pp. 97 ff. (PDF; 2.3 MB)
  2. ↑ S. Pienstaporn, V. Phattanagosai: The best of national parks of Thailand. 2004.
  3. ↑ K. Chayamarit, Ch. Puff: Plants of Doi Inthanon National Park. 2007.

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