Thung Salaeng Luang National Park

Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location within Thailand
Location	Phitsanulok and Phetchabun Provinces, Thailand
Coordinates
Area	1262 km2
Established	1972
Visitors	105,930 (in 2007)

File:Thung Salaeng Luang National Park.jpg

Sunrise at Thung Salaeng Luang

File:Thailand 336 poi waterfall.jpg

Poi Waterfall

Thung Salaeng Luang National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติทุ่งแสลงหลวง) is a national park located in the Phitsanulok and Phetchabun Provinces of Thailand. It encompasses substantial portions of Amphoe Wang Thong and Amphoe Lom Sak.

Topography

The park consists of limestone hills, slate and hardpan at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1,028 meters. Thung Salaeng Luang is inlaid with meadows, especially in the southern portions of the park. The park is also the source of numerous streams. There are large salt licks at Pong Sai in the north-west and Pong Thung Phaya in the south-west. the Wang Thong River flows through the park.

Forest

The park's forest is primarily classified as deciduous, with lowland scrub and tropical broadleaved evergreen covering smaller areas.

Climate

The average annual temperature is 25°C, although temperatures often reach 30°C during late spring and early summer. The average annual rainfall is 1.7 meters.

History

Thung Salaeng Luang was proposed for inclusion in the national parks system In 1959. Thung Salaeng Luang was declared a national park in 1972. From the late 1960s to the early 1980s, the park's forest was used as a major base for guerrillas of the Communist Party of Thailand.

Thung Salaeng

Thung Salaeng is a meadow area of the park.

Thung Nang Phaya

Thung Nang Phaya is a meadow area of the park known for its stunning combination of meadow and pine trees.

Thung Non Son

Thung Non Son is a meadow area near the center of the park situated on a plateau. In the fall, Thung Non Son is resplendent with large clusters of flowers.

Kaeng Sopha Waterfall

Main article: Namtok Kaeng Sopha

Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is home to the Kaeng Song Waterfall, (or Namtok Kaeng Sopha) which is a three-tiered waterfall of the Wang Thong River. Shaped like a stairway, Kaeng Sopha is the largest waterfall in Phitsanulok, and it has been dubbed the Niagara Falls of Thailand. The torrents are very strong in the rainy season. The vapor rising in the area creates a vast rain-like curtain. Kaeng Sopha is the subject of a June, 2007 postage stamp in Thailand in the Thailand Waterfall series.

Animal species

Phitsanulok Wildlife
Endangered
Tiger Phayom Hopea ferrea Dalbergia oliveri
Vulnerable
Asiatic black bear Hopea odorata Sumatran pine
Near threatened
Siamese fireback Oriental darter
National Parks
Kaeng Chet Khwae Namtok Chat Trakan Phu Hin Rong Kla Thung Salaeng Luang

Among the species of animal in the park are:

• Elephant
• Yellow-throated marten
• Masked palm civet
• Heron
• Eagle
• Partridge
• Pheasant
• Pigeon
• Owl
• Swift
• Hornbill
• Barbet
• Woodpecker
• Bulbul
• Babbler
• Warbler
• Flycatcher
• Flowerpecker

Plant species

Many of the wild meadow flowers bloom in November.

Malaria

Historically, malaria was a health issue in the park.

Caves

The park has several caves including Wang Daeng and Dao Duan.

Rapids

Kaeng Wang Nam Yen Rapids are located within the park.

Effects of human presence

Communist insurgents as well as hilltribe people and other intruders have destroyed some of the park's flora and fauna over the years.

Facilities

There are seven bungalows at the park's headquarters and five bungalows at Nong Mae Na office. There are also four campsites at the park. There are no concessions sold in the park.

External links

• Thung Salaeng Luang National Park