Kaeng Krachan National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kaeng Krachan National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Location | Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces, Thailand |
| Nearest city | Phetchaburi |
| Area | 2,914.70 km2 |
| Established | 12 Jun 1981 |
Kaeng Krachan National Park is the largest national park of Thailand. It is on the border with Burma, sharing a common border with the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve. It is a popular park owing to its closeness to the tourist town of Hua Hin.
Geography
It consists mainly of rain forest on the eastern slope of the Tenasserim Mountain Range. The highest elevation in the park is 1,513 meters. The second highest mountain peak is Kao Panern Toong with an elevation of 1,207 m. Two main rivers originate within the park area, the Pranburi River and the Phetchaburi River. The Phetchaburi is impounded by the Kaeng Krachan Dam at the eastern border of the park. The dam creates a lake covering an area of 46.5 km2. The dam was built in 1966.
History
The park was declared a reserve in 1964 and on 12 June 1981 it became the 28th national park of Thailand. Originally covering an area of 2,478 km2 (1.5 million rai; 240,000 ha), it was enlarged in December 1984.
The park has been included in the list of ASEAN Heritage Parks. Since 2011, Thailand has proposed that UNESCO designate Kaeng Krachan Natural Park a world heritage site. Despite national park status, there are private plantations within the confines of Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Flora and fauna
The forests contain a great biodiversity of tropical vegetation, including tropical and subtropical broad leaf tree species and palms. Ninety-one species of mammals and 461 bird species have been counted in the park. The killing of wild elephants is a big problem at the park, with authorities unable to control poachers.
Images for kids
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Kaeng Krachan Reservoir
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Martes flavigula, yellow-throated marten
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Trachypithecus obscurus, dusky leaf monkey
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Arachnothera magna, streaked spiderhunter
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Pycnonotus flavescens, flavescent bulbul
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Kaeng Krachan para niños
