Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติเฉลิมรัตนโกสินทร์
IUCN category II (national park)
Map showing the location of Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park

Park location in Thailand

Location Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand
Nearest city Kanchanaburi
Coordinates 14°47′49″N 99°10′54″E / 14.79694°N 99.18167°E / 14.79694; 99.18167Coordinates: 14°47′49″N 99°10′54″E / 14.79694°N 99.18167°E / 14.79694; 99.18167
Area 59 km2 (23 sq mi)
Established February 1980
Governing body Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติเฉลิมรัตนโกสินทร์), also known as Tham Than Lot National Park, is a national park in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The park, featuring mountains, caves and waterfalls, is part of the Western Forest Complex protected area.

Geography

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park is located 97 kilometres (60 mi) north of Kanchanaburi town in Nong Prue District. With an area of 59 square kilometres (23 sq mi), it is the smallest park in Kanchanaburi Province.[1][2]

The highest peak of the park's mountains is Kam Pang with a height of 1,260 metres (4,130 ft).[1]

History

Artefacts and human remains, thought to be from invading Burmese soldiers at end of the Ayutthaya Kingdom period, have been discovered in the park.[1]

On 12 February 1980, Chaloem Rattanakosin was designated Thailand's 17th national park.[1][2]

Attractions

The park's main attractions are its cave systems. 300 metres (980 ft) long Tham Than Lot Noi features many large stalactites and stalagmites. Tham Than Lot Yai also features stalactites and stalagmites in addition to being a site where ancient skeletal remains and weapons have been found.[1]

Chaloem Rattanakosin also features some waterfalls. Than Thong is a waterfall of 15 levels. Than Ngoen is a smaller waterfall of seven levels.[2]

Flora and fauna

The park's forests are dry evergreen, deciduous and bamboo forest.[1]

Animal species include tiger,[3] leopard, banteng, gaur and gibbon. Bird life includes oriental pied hornbill, francolin, Tickell's blue flycatcher and coppersmith barbet. A notable inhabitant of the park is a rare barking tree frog, whose croak resembles a dog's bark.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park". Department of National Parks (Thailand). Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Tham Than Lot National Park". Tourism Authority of Thailand. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. Jeremy Hance (4 June 2015). "Tigers expanding? Conservationists discover big cats in Thai park". mongabay.com. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
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