Area 511 km² | Nearest city Mae Hong Son | |
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Location Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand Governing body Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation | ||
Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา–น้ำตกผาเสื่อ) is a national park in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. It is home to caves, waterfalls and steep mountain terrain.
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GeographyEdit
Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park is about 18 kilometres (10 mi) northwest of Mae Hong Son in Mueang and Pang Mapha Districts. The park's area is 511 square kilometres (200 sq mi). The highest point is Doi Lan peak at 1,918 metres (6,300 ft) in the Daen Lao Range. The northern and western sides of the park border Burma's Shan and Kayah states respectively.
AttractionsEdit
The park's main attraction is Tham Pla ("fish cave"), a water-filled cave hosting hundreds of soro brook carp. The fish are revered by locals and a nearby Hindu statue is said to protect them.
Other caves include Phra-bath Koo featuring stalactites and stalagmites, and Tham Pha Daeng, a limestone cavern around 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) in depth.
Waterfalls include the Pha Suea waterfall at 15 metres (50 ft) high and Mae Sa-nga Klang waterfall also 15 metres (50 ft) high. Mae Sa-nga Klang is above the Mae Sa-nga Dam, a hydroelectric dam 37 metres (100 ft) high and 160 metres (500 ft) long.
Flora and faunaEdit
The park features forest types including mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp, pine and evergreen. Tree species include Lagerstroemia floribunda, tabaek, Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, Sindora siamensis, makha, Xylia xylocarpa, teak, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Terminalia pedicelleta, takian, Sumatran pine and Khasi pine.
Animal species include gaur, serow, barking deer, palm civet and wild boar. Avian life includes hawk, prinia and bulbul.