Namtok Phlio National Park

Namtok Phlio National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกพลิ้ว
IUCN category II (national park)
Phlio Waterfall
Location	Chanthaburi Province, Thailand
Nearest city	Chanthaburi
Coordinates	12°31′31″N 102°10′37″E / 12.52528°N 102.17694°E / 12.52528; 102.17694Coordinates: 12°31′31″N 102°10′37″E / 12.52528°N 102.17694°E / 12.52528; 102.17694
Area	135 km2 (52 sq mi)
Established	May 1975
Visitors	671,396 (in 2019)
Governing body	Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP)

Namtok Phlio National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกพลิ้ว) is a national park in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. The park is home to forested mountains, waterfalls, and many stupas and chedis from the reign of King Rama V.^[1] The mountains here are also known as Khao Sa Bap, a mountainous fragment of the western ends of the much larger Cardamom Mountains. The Sa Bap mountains are heavily eroded karst, rising to no more than 673 metres.

Geography[]

Namtok Phlio National Park is located 14 kilometres (9 mi) south of Chanthaburi town in Mueang, Laem Sing, Khlung and Makham districts. The park's area is 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi). The highest point is Map Wa Krok peak at 925 metres (3,035 ft).^[1]

History[]

During the reign of King Rama V, the Along Khon chedi was built in 1876. In 1881 a memorial stupa, housing a relic of Princess Sunanta Kumari, was commissioned by King Rama V.^[1]

On 2 May 1975, the area was declared a national park as Khao Sa Bap National Park. On 29 September 1982, the park was renamed Namtok Phlio National Park.^[1]

Attractions[]

The park's main attraction is its namesake waterfall, Phlio, whose pools are home to large numbers of soro brook carp. The King Rama V era chedi and stupa are located near Phlio waterfall. Other park waterfalls include Khlong Narai, Makok and Trok Nong.^[2]

Flora and fauna[]

Namtok Phlio is covered in tropical rain forest, including such species as Aphanamixis polystachya, Aquilaria crassna, Scaphium scaphigerum, Sandoricum koetjape, Irvingia malayana, Cotylelobium lanceolatum, Alstonia scholaris and Dalbergia oliveri.^[1]

Animal species include serow, tiger, bear, barking deer, porcupine, macaque, langur, gibbon, mouse deer, pangolin, mongoose and otter.^[1]

The park is host to abundant bird species including heron, brahminy kite, shika, crested serpent eagle, besra, imperial pigeon, red turtle dove, emerald dove, hornbill, barbet, vernal hanging parrot, shrike, woodpecker, drongo, hill myna, bulbul and white-rumped shama.^[1]

References[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Namtok Phlio National Park.