Ao Phang Nga National Park

Ao Phang Nga National Park
Ao Phang Nga National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
	Ao Phang Nga National Park
Location	Phang Nga Province, Thailand
Nearest city	Phang Nga
Coordinates	8°21′0″N 98°29′0″E / 8.35000°N 98.48333°ECoordinates: 8°21′0″N 98°29′0″E / 8.35000°N 98.48333°E
Area	400 km2 (150 sq mi)
Established	29 April 1981
Visitors	999,035 (in 2019)
Governing body	Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP)
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park
Designated	14 August 2002
Reference no.	1185

Ao Phang Nga National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติอ่าวพังงา) is in Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. It includes coastal sections of Mueang Phang Nga District and Takua Thung District.^[2] Most of the park consists of an area of the Strait of Malacca studded with numerous limestone tower karst islands.^[3] The best known of these islands is Khao Phing Kan, popularly called "James Bond Island" because it was used as a location for the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun.

The dramatic appearance of the islands with their sheer sides has made the area a popular tourist attraction.^[4] The park also protects the largest area of native mangrove forest remaining in Thailand.^[2]

Rivers and mangrove forest at sunset

History[]

The park was created by royal decree and announced in the Royal Gazette under proclamation number 98, section 64, 29 April 1981.

Environment[]

The effects of mass tourism on the park prompted Fodor's Travel to place the park on their "No List" for 2018, suggesting that tourists skip the park in order to allow it to recuperate from being loved to death.^[5]

Geology[]

According to its structure and geomorphology, it is a mountain range that originated approximately between the Cretaceous and the early Tertiary period, approximately 136-36 million years ago. It is also the result of a structural feature known as fault. "Khlong Marui fault" and "Phang Nga fault." There are also sedimentary rock and metamorphic mountains interspersed in line, especially in the limestone mountains. As a result of this change in the natural environment, many holes or caves are formed.

Prehistoric evidence of human habitation was discovered in 1987 at Khao Tao in Phang Nga Bay National Park by a discovery of human burial grounds. By study fossils of shells in caves and rocks on islands in Phang Nga bay, it was found that during the Pleistocene and early Holocene epochs, about 11,000 years ago, sea levels dropped significantly during the Ice Age. The rocky mountains that are islands as seen today are mostly on the upland. Around 7,500-8,500 years ago, the sea level gradually rose to around 4.5 meters above current sea level. Around 4,000-5,000 years ago, sea levels interchangeably rose and fell. Around 2,700-3,700 years ago, sea level was relatively stable but were 1.5 and 2.5 meters higher than the present. Around 1,500 years ago, the sea level was 1.5 meters higher than the present.

Flora and Fauna[]

Within Ao Phang-nga contains one of the largest and best-preserved mangrove forests in Thailand.^[6]

The forest has important functions in the coastal ecosystem, such as a natural storm barrier and a breeding ground for marine living animals.

Common plant species in the mangrove forest are Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia alba, Avicennia officinalis, Bruguiera cylindrica, Bruguiera parviflora, and the cannonball trees Xylocarpus granatum and Xylocarpus moluccensis. Inside the islands, tropical rainforest grows with species such as Hopea ferrea, the pea plant Parkia timoriana, and Acacia catechu, the mulberry tree Artocarpus lacucha, the Clusia tree Garcinia cowa and Morinda coreia, and on more calcareous soil Colocasia gigantea, , and .

An inventory in 1991 resulted in 206 animal species, divided into 17 mammal species, 88 bird species, 18 reptile species, 3 amphibians, 24 fish species and 45 other marine animals.

The lar gibbon and serow has previously been found in the area, but now become extinct in the region.

Endangered mammal species within the national park are smooth-coated otter, leaf monkeys, and smoky leaf monkeys and the crab-eating macaque.^[6]

The brahminy kite, pacific reef heron, white-bellied sea eagle, many species of kingfishers, asian dowitcher, and edible-nest swiftlet are species of birds that could be found here.^[6]

Among reptiles and amphibians, mangroves snakes, rhacophoridae, and saltwater frogs can be found here.^[6]

References[]

^ "Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Ao Phang-nga National Park". National Park website. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
^ "Thailand: Ko Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island), Ao Phang Nga (Phangnga Bay) National Park, Phang Nga Province". Pictures from History. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
^ "Tourism Statistic". Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
^ "Fodor's No List 2018". Fodor's Travel. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d National Parks in Thailand (PDF). dnp.go.th. 2006. ISBN 9742860874. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2021-02-17.

External links[]

Ao Phang Nga National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage

This Phang Nga Province location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] "Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

[park-2] "Ao Phang-nga National Park". National Park website. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.

[3] "Thailand: Ko Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island), Ao Phang Nga (Phangnga Bay) National Park, Phang Nga Province". Pictures from History. Retrieved 24 November 2014.

[tourism-4] "Tourism Statistic". Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-08-13.

[5] "Fodor's No List 2018". Fodor's Travel. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 31 December 2017.

[ParksBook-6] National Parks in Thailand (PDF). dnp.go.th. 2006. ISBN 9742860874. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2021-02-17.

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v t National parks, forest parks and wetlands in Thailand
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Marine national parks	Ao Phang Nga Phang Nga Bay Hat Chao Mai Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi Hat Wanakon Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet Khao Sam Roi Yot Laem Son Mu Ko Ang Thong Mu Ko Chang Mu Ko Lanta Mu Ko Phetra Mu Ko Similan Mu Ko Surin Tarutao
Forest parks	Khao Kradong Phae Mueang Phi Phu Chi Fa Phu Langka Phu Phra Bat Buabok Pran Buri Sa Nang Manora
Wetlands	Bueng Boraphet Don Hoi Lot Krabi River Estuary Kraburi River Estuary Phayao Lake Phru To Daeng Kuan Ki Sian of the Thale Noi Non-hunting Area

v t ASEAN Heritage Parks
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Laos (1)	Nam Ha National Protected Area
Malaysia (3)	Gunung Mulu National Park Kinabalu National Park Taman Negara National Park
Myanmar (8)	Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Inlay Lake Wetland Sanctuary Khakaborazi National Park Lampi Island Marine National Park Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary Natmataung National Park
Philippines (9)	Mount Apo Natural Park Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park Mount Makiling Nature Reserve Mount Malindang Range Natural Park Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
Singapore (2)	Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Thailand (7)	Ao Phang Nga National Park, Surin Islands and Similan Islands Kaeng Krachan National Park Khao Yai National Park Khao Sok National Park Tarutao National Park Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong islands Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park
Vietnam (10)	Ba Bể National Park Bái Tử Long National Park Chư Mom Ray National Park Hoàng Liên National Park Kon Ka Kinh National Park U Minh Thượng National Park Bidoup Núi Bà National Park Vu Quang National Park Lò Gò-Xa Mát National Park Ngọc Linh (Kon Tum) Nature Reserve
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Centre for Biodiversity