Khao Laem National Park is a park of about 1,500 squaere kilometer (580 sq mi) in Western Thailand, located near Myanmar in the northern area of the Tenasserim Hills, Kanchanaburi Province. It is a part of the Western Forest Complex, a system of protected wilderness in the Dawna-Tenasserim Hills area of western Thailand. The park hosted the second season of New Zealand version of Survivor, Survivor NZ: Thailand.
Geography The area of the park is 935,584 rai ~ with steeply limestone mountain run on north–south axis. The park, which is adjacent to the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, Lam Khlong Ngu National Park and Thong Pha Phum National Park, located about 340 km northwest of Bangkok, surrounds the Khao Laem Reservoir wih a water surface of 388 square kilometres (150 sq mi), or 26% of the park. It is bisected by Road 323.
The limestone mountains of the Tenasserim Range rise from 100 to 1,800 meters high with Khao Khiao-Khao Yai as the highest summit at 1,767 meters (5,800 ft). Many streams flowing into Khwae Noi River and Vajiralongkorn Reservoir.
History The establishment of the national park was declared the 67th national park in the Royal Gazette on 8 November 1991 and came into effect 5 December the same year. This park area was further modified in the years 2002 and 2009.
Climate The area is in a tropical climate, influenced by monsoons, southeasterly winds and the Andaman Sea breezes. The region's annual weather patterns are divided into three main seasonal periods: Rainy season (mid-May to October): the heaviest rainfall in July and August. Cold season (November to February): the lowest average temperature is . Summer (March to mid-May): the maximun average temperature is , in April.
Flora The vegetation in the east and west of the park is mixed deciduous forest:
Fauna Mammals
There have been sightings in the park of ten species of mammals:
Birds The park has some 249 species of birds from 67 families. Passerine 145 species of passerine from 37 families, represented by one species:
Non-passerine
107 species of non-passerine from 30 families, represented by one species:
Reptiles There have been sightings in the park of eight species of reptiles:
Amphibians There have been sightings in the park of ten species of amphibians:
Fishes There have been sightings in the park of thirteen species of fish:
Attractions * Namtok Kra Teng Jeng a waterfall with 23 levels over 2 km.* Namtok Kroeng Kra Wai a 5 meter high waterfall.* Namtok Pha Tak a 5 tiered waterfall.
Location Khao Laem National Park in overview PARO 3 (Ban Pong) National park 1 Thai Prachan 2 Chaloem Rattanakosin 3 Erawan 4 Khao Laem 5 Khuean Srinagarindra 6 Lam Khlong Ngu 7 Phu Toei 8 Sai Yok 9 Thong Pha Phum Wildlife sanctuary 10 Mae Nam Phachi 11 Salak Phra 12 Thung Yai Naresuan West Forest park 22 Phra Thaen Dong Rang 23 Phu Muang 24 Tham Khao Noi Non-hunting area 13 Bueng Kroengkawia–Nong Nam Sap 14 Bueng Chawak 15 Khao Pratap Chang 16 Phantai Norasing 17 Somdet Phra Srinagarindra 18 Tham Khang Khao–Khao Chong Phran 19 Tham Lawa–Tham Daowadueng 20 Wat Rat Sattha Kayaram 21 Wat Tham Rakhang–Khao Phra Non
See also IUCN protected area categories Map of Khao Laem National Park Western Forest Complex List of national parks of Thailand DNP - Khao Laem National Park PARO 3 (Ban Pong)
References