Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park

Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park
	Than Sadet Beach
Location:	Surat Thani , Thailand
Next city:	Sai Yok Noi
Surface:	65.93 km²
Address:	Ban Madueawan, Ko Pha Ngan, Amphoe Ko Pha Ngan, Surat Thani, Thailand
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The Than Sadet-Ko Pha-ngan National Park ( Thai : อุทยานแห่งชาติ ธาร เสด็จ - เกาะพะงัน ) is a national park in the south of Thailand in the Surat Thani Province . The park is mainly located in the northeast of Pha-ngan Island , which is east of the Isthmus of Kra in the Gulf of Thailand .

history

The park was first established on December 31, 1983 with an area of 39.12 km². According to an appraisal by the Thai “ Royal Forest Department ” (for example: Royal Forest Ministry ), the park was expanded to its present size on February 10, 1999. However, it still needs final official confirmation from the government.

topography

The national park has a total size of 65.93 km². On the island of Pha-ngan it consists of several mountainous forest areas, such as the Than Sadet Waterfall Forest ( ป่า น้ำตก ธาร เสด็จ ), the Khao Lad Kaeo Forest ( ป่า เขา ลาด แก้ว ), the Khao Tha Luang -Forest ( เขา ตา หลวง ) and others. The highest point is the Khao Ra (Thai: เขา หรา ) with 727 m.

In addition to part of Ko Pha-ngan, the park also consists of several small to tiny islands, such as Ko Tae Nok ( เกาะ แตน อก ), Ko Tae Nai ( เกาะ แต ใน ), Ko Ma ( เกาะ ม้า ), Ko Tung Ku ( เกาะ ตุ้ง กู ), Ko Tung Ka ( เกาะ ตุ้ง กา ) and the Wao and Hin Bai Archipelago ( หมู่ เกาะ ว่า ว และ หิน ใบ ). These islands are up to 30 km north of Ko Pha-ngan.

climate

The climate is tropical - monsoonal , rain falls all year round. The mean temperature is 28 ° C, May is the hottest month with an average of 33 ° C, the coolest months are December and January with a mean temperature of 24 ° C. The annual precipitation is 1848 mm. The driest month is February with 38 mm, most rain falls in November with an average rainfall of 428 mm.

Attractions

Viewpoints

Dom Sila lookout point ( จุด ชม ทิวทัศน์ โดม ศิลา ) - at an altitude of around 300 m there is a breathtaking view of the forest of the national park.
Khao Rar Viewpoint ( จุด ชม ทิวทัศน์ ยอด เขา หรา ) - located on Khao Ra, the highest mountain in the park.

water falls

Nature trail at the Phaeng waterfall ( ทาง เดิน ศึกษา ธรรมชาติ น้ำตก แพง - โดม ศิลา )
Than Praphat Waterfall ( น้ำตก ธาร ประพาส ) - so named by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during a visit in 1898
Than Prawet Waterfall ( น้ำตก ธาร ประเวศ ) - was also visited by the king in 1898
Than Sadet Waterfall ( น้ำตก ธาร เสด็จ ) - the largest waterfall on the island is about 25 minutes from the park administration. It is so attractive that King Chulalongkorn visited it a total of 14 times, but Kings Vajiravudh (Rama VI.) And Prajadhipok (Rama VII.) As well as the current King Bhumibol Adulyadej have also been here once. Inscriptions carved into the rock and a royal pavilion commemorate these visits.

Than Sadet Beach

Ao Than Sadet (Thai: อ่าว ธาร เสด็จ ) is a 150 m long, fine sandy beach, which is 8 km north of Had Rin Beach on the east bank of Pha-ngan Island. It got its name because there the river Than Sadet (Thai: ธาร เสด็จ - "royal river") flows into the sea. The beach is bordered on both sides by high hills and inland by jungle.

It can only be reached via partly unpaved slopes through the jungle, the journey time from the island's capital Tongsala is around 50 minutes. When the sea is calm, there is a daily ferry boat connection from Had Rin Beach. There are some simple overnight accommodations.

literature

Vasa Sutthipibul (et al., Ed.): National parks in Thailand . National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 2006, ISBN 974-286-087-4

Web links

Than Sadet - Ko Pha-ngan National Park by the Thai Department of National Parks - Description in English [last accessed on October 15, 2013]