Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park ; อุทยานแห่งชาติ เขา สก
	Rachabrapha reservoir
Location:	Surat Thani , Thailand
Next city:	Takua Pa
Surface:	739 km²
Founding:	December 22, 1980
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The Khao Sok National Park (in Thai : อุทยานแห่งชาติ เขา สก ) is located in the Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand , 72 km northeast of Khao Lak on the south west coast, 41 km east of Takua Pa, 109 km west of Surat Thani . A well signposted 1.5 km spur road to the national park turns off the main thoroughfare.

If Krabi Bay corresponds geologically to Halong Bay near Hanoi ( Vietnam ), the Khao Sok National Park has its counterpart in the " dry Halong Bay ". The individually standing, densely overgrown limestone ridges and rocks with their bare steep walls are the former, selectively raised seabed 60–140 million years ago.

history

The Khao Sok National Park was launched on December 22, 1980, initially with a size of 645 km². In the same year the borders were shifted in order to flood part of the park after the construction of the Rajjaprabha dam (locally also called Chiao-Lan dam ). The resulting Chiao-Lan-See is at 162 km² around twice the size of the Chiemsee . Today it is part of the park. The Khlong Saeng Game Reserve joins the park to the north.

In 2001 the national park was expanded to 739 km². It offers an information center that presents an overview of the flora, fauna and geology of the national park in Thai and English with many, partly faded photos. This national park is located at altitudes of 300 to 600 meters and the highest point is Khao Mok at 960 meters.

Flora and fauna

While the northern part of Thailand has a monsoon forest with pronounced dry periods, there is an evergreen rainforest in the south , which - due to the decreasing deforestation - has a good chance of survival. It impresses with a good secondary forest with approaches to the primary forest , in which tree species of the wingnut family ( Dipterocarpaceae ) predominate, the so-called Dipterocarpus forest. Among the plant species, the up to 80 cm tall Rafflesia kerrii Meijer, which was only discovered in the local rainforest at the end of the 1990s, deserves special mention.

Already in front of the park there are a number of colorful dragonflies and colorful butterflies, from miniature specimens to magnificent swallowtails that are the size of a small bat. In addition to the attractions of the black and yellow hornbill , there are species from the genera kingfishers , macaques , tigers , leopards and wild boar as well as the endangered sun bear ( Helarctos malayanus ).

Although the main path is heavily trodden, some specimens of passing wild Asian elephants and broken signs make it difficult to find attractions such as waterfalls and viewpoints.

Attractions

Numerous waterfalls, such as the Bang Hua Raet waterfall (Thai: น้ำตก บาง หัว แรด ) or the Bang Liab-Nam waterfall (Thai: น้ำตก บาง เลียบ น้ำ ), as well as some stalactite caves can be visited.

Lum Khlong Sok Rapids ( ล่องแก่ง น้ำตก บาง หัว แรด - ลำคลอง ศก ) - There are rapids near Bang Hua Raet Waterfall that can be ridden by rubber dinghies.

Khang Khao Cave (Thai: ถ้ำ ค้างคาว ) - Thousands of bats live here. You can also see numerous stalagmites and stalactites .

Nam Talu Cave (Thai: ถ้ำ น้ำ ทะลุ ) - The cave is located near the Rachabrapha Dam, it can only be reached by boat. A 500 meter long river leads past bizarre stone formations and stalactites.

literature

Vasa Sutthipibul (et al., Ed.): National parks in Thailand . National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 2006, ISBN 974-286087-4

Web links

Description of the Khao Sok National Park by the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in English, last accessed on October 15, 2013)