Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park

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

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติเฉลิมรัตนโกสินทร์
Than Lot Noi Cave
Map showing the location of Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
Map showing the location of Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
Park location in Thailand
LocationKanchanaburi Province, Thailand
Nearest cityKanchanaburi
Coordinates14°47′49″N 99°10′54″E
Area59 km2 (23 sq mi)
EstablishedFebruary 1980
Visitors31,536 (in 2019)
Governing bodyDepartment of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Geography

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park is located 97 kilometres (60 mi) north of Kanchanaburi town in Nong Prue District. With an area of 36,875 rai ~ 59 square kilometres (23 sq mi),[1] it is the smallest park in Kanchanaburi Province.[2]

The highest peak of the park's mountains is Khao Kamphaeng with a height of 1,260 m (4,130 ft).[3]

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.[4]

On 12 February 1980, Chaloem Rattanakosin was designated Thailand's 17th national park.[4][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.[4]

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 consist of dry evergreen, dipterocarp, deciduous and bamboo forest. Tree species include Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Afzelia xylocarpa, Hopea odorata and Dipterocarpus alatus.[3]

Animal species include tiger,[5] 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.[4][6]

See also

References
  1. "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022, no 17{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  2. "Tham Than Lot National Park". Tourism Authority of Thailand. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. "Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park". National Parks in Thailand (PDF). Department of National Parks (Thailand). 2015. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-6-1631-6240-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2017.
  4. "Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park". Department of National Parks (Thailand). Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  5. Jeremy Hance (4 June 2015). "Tigers expanding? Conservationists discover big cats in Thai park". mongabay.com. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  6. Elliot, Stephan; Cubitt, Gerald (2001). THE NATIONAL PARKS and other Wild Places of THAILAND. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. pp. 36–38. ISBN 9781859748862.
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