Kaeng Tana National Park Explained

Kaeng Tana National Park
Alt Name:	อุทยานแห่งชาติแก่งตะนะ
Iucn Category:	II
Map:	Thailand
Location:	Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand
Coordinates:	15.2972°N 105.4736°W
Area Km2:	80
Established:	1981
Visitation Num:	31,170
Visitation Year:	2019
Governing Body:	National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department

Kaeng Tana National Park is in Khong Chiam District in Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand. It is on the Mun River. It was established on 13 July 1981 and is an IUCN Category II protected area.^{[1] [2]}

Geography

The park is 50,000 rai ~ in size.^[3] The park is highland and is watered by the Mun and Khong Rivers. The average elevation is about 200 meters. The park is characterized by plateaux and undulating hills. The highest peak, Ban Tad, stands at 543 meters.

Flora and fauna

The park is covered by deciduous forest, which has dwarf Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, and Dipterocarpus obtusifollus. There are some dry evergreen forests around Huay (stream) and Don (prominence) Tana. Main plants are Eugenia cumini, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Xylia kerril, teak, grassland, and bamboo. Wildlife includes wild pigs, barking deer, civet, macaque, gibbon, birds, and fishes.

Sights

• Don Tana (ดอนตะนะ) - An island in the middle of the Mun River 450m (1,480feet) wide and 700m (2,300feet) metres long.
• Kaeng Tana (แก่งตะนะ) - The largest rapids of the Mun River. In the middle of the rapids, there is a huge sandstone boulder splitting the river into two streams, and a concrete block built during the French colonial era to identify a channel for cruising.
• Tham Phra or Tham Phu Ma Nai (ถ้ำพระหรือถ้ำภูหมาไน) - A stone inscription and Lingam base or "Yoni" from the 7th-8th century were found. Now the original stone inscription is kept in the National Museum, Ubon Ratchathani.
• Namtok Rak Sai Nature Trail (เส้นทางศึกษาธรรมชาติน้ำตกรากไทร) - The trail lines the cliff by the Mun River, 500m (1,600feet) from the park headquarters. It runs by the cliff for 1km (01miles) through various kinds of flora, such as lichens, mosses, and ferns.
• Namtok Tat Ton (น้ำตกตาดโตน) - The waterfall is on Highway 2173, off Highway 217 5km (03miles).

See also

• List of national parks of Thailand
• List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand

External links

• Trekthailand

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kaeng Tana National Park. Department of National Parks (Thailand). 16 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024219/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=95&lg=2. 17 November 2015.
2. Book: Wikramanayake, Eric D.. Terrestrial ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a conservation assessment. October 1, 2011. 2002. Island Press. 978-1-55963-923-1.
3. 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 33.