Khao Laem Ya – Mu Ko Samet National Park
Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet (Thai: เขาแหลมหญ้า-หมู่เกาะเสม็ด) is a Thai marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand off the coastline of the Thai province of Rayong, approximately 180 km southeast of Bangkok. In 1981, the Royal Forest Department of the Thai Government declared the archipelago of Ko Samet, along with nine other small islands, the headland of Khao Laem Ya, and the 11 kilometre Mae Rampeung Beach to be a national park, and thus these areas are under the jurisdiction of the national parks department. In August, 2013 more than 500 national park officials were deployed to destroy three resorts—Muk Samet, Unseen, and Ploy Samet—which had been built illegally in the Khao Leam Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park.
Geography
The park covers an area of 131 square kilometres of land and sea in Klaeng district (Thai: แกลง), Rayong Province. The major and minor landmarks of the park are:
- Khao Plet (Plet Hill and valley)
- Khao Laem Ya (Leam Ya Hill and valley)
- Mae Ram Phung Beach and mountain
and the islands of:
- Ko Samet
- Ko Kudi (Monk's Chamber Island)
- Ko Kruai (Cone Island)
- Ko Makham (Tamarind Island, also called Ko Kham)
- Ko Plai Tin (Foot's Tip Island)
- Ko Chan (Moon Island)
- Ko Talu (Hole Island)
- Ko Klet Chalam (Shark Scale Island)
- Ko Thai Khang Kao (Bat's Bottom Island)
External links
Coordinates: 12°35′27″N 101°25′01″E / 12.59083°N 101.41694°E