Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park () is a national park in Phang Nga Province, Thailand. The park is named for its two separate sections: Khao Lampi named for the park section containing Lampi mountain range and Hat Thai Mueang, the beach section of the park.
Geography Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park is located in Thai Mueang district, north of Phuket city and about west of Phang Nga town. The park lies just off Route 4 (Phetkasem Road). The park's total area is 44,950 rai ~ and its highest peak is Yot Khao Kanim mountain, in the northern part of the eastern section at .
History Previously known as Lampi Waterfall and Lampi Forest Park, Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang became Thailand's 52nd national park on 14 April 1986.
Attractions The park is best known for its large waterfalls located in the mountainous eastern section. The largest of these is Ton Phrai Waterfall, high and best seen during the rainy season. The park's namesake waterfall, Lampi, is of similar height but lesser volume and falls in numerous tiers.
The Hat Thai Mueang section consists of a pristine white sand Andaman Sea beach backed by a mangrove forest. A distinguishing feature of the beach (and a prime reason for its protected status) is that it is a sea turtle nesting area. Between November and February sea turtles come to this stretch of beach to lay eggs. In March, a local festival marks when many of the newly hatched baby turtles make their way to the sea.
Flora and fauna The park's eastern section is covered in tropical rainforest, including such tree species as Dipterocarpus, Anisoptera costata, Hopea odorata and bullet wood. Bamboo and rattan are found at lower levels.
In the park's beach section, mangrove forests are found along brackish canals which feed from higher ground into the sea. The mangroves play a protective ecological role in numerous respects including filtration of water from higher ground and providing a sea life nursery. Additionally, the wave energy of the 2004 tsunami was dissipated somewhat by the mangroves in this area.
Further back from the seafront, beach forest is found including such species as Casuarina equisetifolia, Terminalia catappa, Derris indica and Barringtonia. Swamp forest is also present in this area and is one of the few areas on the Andaman sea coast featuring such an ecosystem.
Mammals in the park include Sumatran serow, Malayan tapir, lar gibbon and Malayan sun bear. Turtle species include leatherback, green and hawksbill. Pythons and Malayan pit vipers are also present.
Leatherback sea turtles swim seasonally to lay eggs on Thai Mueang Beach in the park. Thailand was once a sanctuary for leatherback turtles. Monitoring between 2003–2013 at Thai Mueang Beach found turtles laid 2,678 eggs there and 1,574, or 58.7 percent survived. The species is disappearing. Irresponsible trawler fishing is one of the factors to blame. Property development on the beach has kept the turtles away. Another factor is the traditional belief that consuming turtle eggs boost one's sexual prowess. There have been reports of villagers selling leatherback eggs for up to 150 baht each.
Freshwater fish include rare species such as non-local Nile tilapia, saltwater eel and Hemibagrus wyckii species of catfish. Less rare species such as Nieuhof's walking catfish and blue panchax are also found here.
Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang is home to at least 188 bird species, including black-thighed falconet, oriental honey-buzzard, red junglefowl and thick-billed pigeon.
Location Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park in overview PARO 5 (Nakhon Si Thammarat) National park 1 Ao Phang Nga 2 Hat Chao Mai 3 Hat Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai 4 Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi 5 Khao Lak-Lam Ru 6 Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang 7 Khao Luang 8 Khao Nan 9 Khao Phanom Bencha10 Mu Ko Lanta11 Mu Ko Phetra12 Mu Ko Similan13 Mu Ko Surin14 Namtok Si Khit15 Namtok Yong16 Si Phang Nga17 Sirinat18 Tarutao19 Thale Ban20 Than Bok Khorani Wildlife sanctuary21 Kathun22 Khao Pra–Bang Khram23 Khlong Phraya24 Namtok Song Phraek Non-hunting area25 Bo Lo26 Khao Nam Phrai27 Khao Phra Thaeo28 Khao Pra–Bang Khram29 Khlong Lam Chan30 Laem Talumpuk31 Ko Libong32 Nong Plak Phraya–Khao Raya Bangsa33 Thung Thale Forest park34 Bo Namrong Kantang35 Namtok Phan36 Namtok Raman37 Namtok Thara Sawan38 Sa Nang Manora
See also List of national parks of Thailand DNP - Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand
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