Kaeng Krachan National Park Travel

Kaeng Krachan is located on the eastern slope of the Tenasserim Mountain Range at the border of Burma (Myanmar). It occupies the western half of Phetchaburi Province (Amphur Kaeng Krachan and Amphur Nong Ya Plong) and a portion of northern Prachuab Khiri Khan Province (Amphur Hua Hin). The National Park was designated on June 12, 1981; its original borders encompassed 1.5 million rai. On April 20, 1983, Thalerng Thamrongnawasawad, Peramnent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, presided over the offical opening ceremony. On December 27, 1984, the park area was extended, as proposed by the Hua Hin Environmental Conservation Group, to cover the boundary between Phetchaburi and Prachuab Khirikhan Provinces, bringing the total area to over 1.8 million rai.

The area, about 45 squares kilometers, consists of both ground and water in reservoir. The vastly forest upper the Kang Kra Jan Dam is on complicated mountain ranges which the highest peak is 1,200 meters above sea level and approximately high 500 meter above sea level. Most of the mountains are Granite Mountain, few are Limestone Mountains, and many are full of fluoride. And also most of the area is covered by rain forest so that is the source of Phet Buri River and Pran Buri River.

The park is compossed of two major watersheds. About half of the area drains to the Phetchaburi River, which flows to Kaeng Krachan dam at the eastern edge of the park and then down through farmland to the provincial capital of Phetchaburi. The southern haft of the park drains to the Pranburi River, which flows south to the Pranburi dam and then on to the town of Pranburi in Prachuab Khiri Khan Province. Because of abundant rainfall and undisturbed forest cover in these watersheds, the streams, waterfall and rivers of Keang Krachan flow year round.

The park is composed of two major watersheds and a large evergreen forest. About half of the area drains to Phetchaburi River, which flows to Kaeng Krachan dam and the southern half of the park drains to the Pranburi River. Humidity remains high throughout the year, with heavy rain during the rainy season and cool weather for much of the year. The steep forested areas of the park are even more humid than the young forest and cleared lands in the lower elevations.

Due to the high humidity of evergreen forest there are many economical valuable trees such as Afzelia, Hopea sp., Dipterocarpus sp., Lagerstroemia sp., Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Aquilaria and many mores. Wild life is elephant, gaur, banteng, barking deer, gibbon, wild pig and birds.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

Doi Suthep-Pui used to be known as Doi Oi Chang. Its new name comes from the name of a hermit, Prarusiwasuthep who lived at Doi Suthep-Pui was a protected forest. In 1973, The Royal Forest Department decided that Doi Suthep and 13 other forest areas in the country should eventually be national parks. The Royal Forest Department sent Mr.Panya Boonsomboon to survey the area.

After that, the national park committed decided that only forest in good condition should be included in Doi Suthep-Pui National park and areas occupied by villagers should be excluded. In 1981, 100,662.50 rai in Chiang Mai were officialy gazetted as Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Making it the country’s 24th. The following year, an additional 62,500 rai were annexed to the park, bringing the total to 163,162.50 rai (262.50) square Kilometers).

Topography
Doi Suthep, Doi Buakha and Doi Pui are the three main peaks in the park. The highest peak, Doi Pui, rises to 1,685 meters above mean sea levels.

Climate
Because of the high altitude, the weather on the upper slopes of the mountains is cool and pleasant all year even in hot season, average temperature is about 20-23 c. In the cool season, the air is cold and clear. Temperature can drop as low as 6 c in February, August and September are the wettest months with rain falling daily.

Flora and Fauna
There are two basic types of forest on the mountain: Deciduous forest below about 1,000 m elevation and evergreen forest above. The deciduous is further divided into two kinds, deciduous dipterocarp-oak Forest in the driest areas and mixed evergreen deciduous forest along streams and gullies. Common species are trees of the families Dipterocarpaceae, Fagaceae and Magnoliaceae.
Wildlife in the park includes common muntjac, wild boar, macaque and other small mammals. More than 300 species of birds can be seen here, including red junglefowl, pheasants, eagles, parrots, bulbuls and minivets. Rare species of amphibian, the crocodile salamander that can be found in only four localities in Thailand, one in Doi Suthep.