Nakhon Si Thammarat Range Explained

Nakhon Si Thammarat Range
Other Name:Banthat Range
Country:Thailand
Parent:Tenasserim Hills
Geology:Limestone, granite
Period:Permian, Triassic
Length Km:230
Length Orientation:N/S
Width Km:45
Width Orientation:E/W
Highest:Khao Luang
Elevation M:1835
Range Coordinates:8.4221°N 99.7311°W
Coordinates:8.5°N 133°W

The Nakhon Si Thammarat Range (Thai: ทิวเขานครศรีธรรมราช,, in Thai pronounced as /tʰīw kʰǎw ná(ʔ).kʰɔ̄ːn sǐː tʰām.mā.râːt/) is a mountain range on the Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand, running in a north–south direction. This mountain chain is also sometimes named Banthat Range (ทิวเขาบรรทัด), a name which is however also used to refer to the Chanthaburi mountain range.

Location

The main range of the peninsula begins along the east coast at about 10° 05′ north latitude on Ko Tao. It continues through Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Samui to the east coast mainland, east of Bandon Bay, and parallels the coast all the way into Malayan territory.[1]

Description

The mountains are named after the town Nakhon Si Thammarat, located east of the range. The highest elevation is the 1835 m high Khao Luang.This mountain range is a part of the Tenasserim Hills system.[2] It begins to the east of the Phuket Range, which runs in the same direction about 60 km further west. Between the ranges there are isolated peaks, the highest of which is 1,350 m high Khao Phanom Bencha. To the south it is continued by the Sankalakhiri Range.

Several smaller rivers originate in the mountain range, the Tapi River is the largest by far. Another relatively large river is the Trang River.

The range is in the Tenasserim-South Thailand semi-evergreen rain forests ecoregion.

Protected areas

Several national parks are located in the mountain range.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peninsular Thailand. Travel News, Destinations, Vacations. 12 Mar 2015.
  2. Avijit Gupta, The Physical Geography of Southeast Asia, Oxford University Press, 2005.