Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park Explained

Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park
Alt Name:	อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา–น้ำตกผาเสื่อ
Iucn Category:	II
Map:	Thailand
Location:	Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand
Nearest City:	Mae Hong Son
Coordinates:	19.5022°N 98.0064°W
Area Km2:	630
Established:	23 December 2010
Visitation Num:	89,047
Visitation Year:	2019
Governing Body:	Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา–น้ำตกผาเสื่อ) is a national park in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. It is home to caves, waterfalls and steep mountain terrain. It was established as a national park on 23 December 2010.^[1]

Geography

Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea National Park is about 18km (11miles) northwest of Mae Hong Son in Mueang and Pang Mapha Districts. The park's area is 394,120 rai ~ .^[2] The highest point is Doi Lan peak at 1918m (6,293feet) in the Daen Lao Range. The northern and western sides of the park border Burma's Shan and Kayah states respectively.

Attractions

The park's main attraction is Tham Pla ("fish cave"), a water-filled cave hosting hundreds of soro brook carp. The fish are revered by locals and a nearby Hindu statue is said to protect them. Other caves include Tham Pha Daeng, a limestone cavern around 1km (01miles) in depth.

Waterfalls include the Pha Suea waterfall at 15m (49feet) high and Mae Sa-nga Klang waterfall also 15m (49feet) high. Mae Sa-nga Klang is above the Mae Sa-nga Dam, a hydroelectric dam 37m (121feet) high and 160m (530feet) long.

Flora and fauna

The park features forest types including mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp, pine and evergreen. Tree species include Lagerstroemia floribunda, tabaek, Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, Sindora siamensis, makha, Xylia xylocarpa, teak, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Terminalia pedicelleta, takian, Tenasserim pine, and Khasi pine.

Animals in the park include goral, gaur, barking deer and wild boar.

Location

Salawin National Park in overview PARO 16 (Mae Sariang branch)

	National park
1	Mae Ngao
2	Mae Sariang
3	Namtok Mae Surin
4	Salawin
5	Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea

	Wildlife sanctuary
6	Doi Wiang La
7	Lum Nam Pai
8	Mae Yuam Fang Khwa
9	Salawin
10	San Pan Daen

	Non-hunting area
11	Lum Nam Pai Fang Sai

	Forest park
12	Kaeo Komon
13	Mai sak Yai
14	Namtok Huai Mae Saed
15	Namtok Klo Kho
16	Namtok Mae Sawan Noi
17	Namtok Mae Yuam Luang
18	Namtok Mai Sang Nam
19	Pha Hin Tang
20	Tham Tara Lod
21	Thung Bua Tong

	Arboretum
22	Doi Mak Hin Hom
23	Huai Chom Phu
24	Mae Surin
25	Pong Khae

Notes and References

Web site: Royal Decree specifying the area as a National Park in 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20141105095751/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2552/A/096/10.PDF. dead. November 5, 2014. 2009. ratchakitcha.soc.go.th. th.
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 116.