Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park Explained

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
Alt Name:อุทยานแห่งชาติเฉลิมรัตนโกสินทร์
Iucn Category:II
Map:Thailand
Relief:1
Location:Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand
Nearest City:Kanchanaburi
Coordinates:14.7969°N 99.1817°W
Area Km2:59
Established:February 1980
Visitation Num:31,536
Visitation Year:2019
Governing Body:Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

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.

Geography

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park is located north of Kanchanaburi town in Nong Prue District. With an area of 36,875 rai ~,[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 .[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. 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง . December 2020 . Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation . Thai . National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes . 1 November 2022 ., no 17 . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103123527/https://catalog.dnp.go.th/dataset/areaofnp/resource/3b372140-f2bf-4811-8819-bb8a8b1a100a . dead .
  2. Web site: Tham Than Lot National Park . Tourism Authority of Thailand . 21 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130607112827/http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/Tham-Than-Lot-National-Park--297 . 7 June 2013 . dead .
  3. Book: National Parks in Thailand . Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park . 2015 . . 170–171 . 978-6-1631-6240-3 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170215233839/http://park.dnp.go.th/file/NATIONALPARKS_Eng.pdf . 15 February 2017.
  4. Web site: Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park . Department of National Parks (Thailand) . 21 May 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130523023249/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=110&lg=2 . 23 May 2013 .
  5. News: Tigers expanding? Conservationists discover big cats in Thai park. Jeremy Hance. mongabay.com. 4 June 2015. 11 July 2015.
  6. Book: Elliot . Stephan . Cubitt . Gerald . 2001 . THE NATIONAL PARKS and other Wild Places of THAILAND . New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd . 36–38 . 9781859748862.