Thale Ban National Park
Encyclopedia
Thale Ban National Park is a forested area south of the Banthat Mountains
in Southern Thailand
, at the south of Satun Province
directly at the boundary to Malaysia. The park was established on 27 October 1980. It covers an area of 196 square kilometres (76 sq mi) of Khuan Don
and Mueang Satun
district.
The nearest town to the park is Satun
, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south heading towards Malaysia.
formed the lake in the valley, probably due to a landslide which created a natural dam. Submerged trees found within the lake seem to confirm this story. The limestone
hills contain several cave
s. Tham Ton Din is a river cave near park HQ. The highest elevation within the park is Chin Mountain with an elevation of 756 metres (2,480 ft) above sea level.
species, including the rare Pardofelis marmorata, Tapirus indicus and Capricornis sumatraensis, 282 bird species, most notable many hornbill
species, 40 reptile
and 20 amphibian
species were counted.
Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range
The Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range is a mountain range on the Malay peninsula in southern Thailand, running in a north-south direction. This mountain chain is also sometimes named Banthat mountain range , a name which is however also used to refer to the Chanthaburi mountain...
in Southern Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, at the south of Satun Province
Satun Province
Satun is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla...
directly at the boundary to Malaysia. The park was established on 27 October 1980. It covers an area of 196 square kilometres (76 sq mi) of Khuan Don
Amphoe Khuan Don
-History:The old name of Khuan Don was Duson , which is derived from its original Malay name, Dusun .Khuan Don was a minor district before it was merged to be a part of Mueang Satun. On February 1 1977 the government separated Tambon Khuan Don and Khuan Sato to re-establish a minor district...
and Mueang Satun
Amphoe Mueang Satun
Mueang Satun is the capital district of Satun Province, southern Thailand.-History:Due to many problems in Syburi state, King Rama III ordered the division of Syburi into 4 separate mueang - Kubang Pasu, Syburi, Perlis and Satun in 1833...
district.
The nearest town to the park is Satun
Satun
Satun is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Satun Province. It covers the whole tambon Phiman of Mueang Satun district. As of 2005 it has a population of 21,498....
, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south heading towards Malaysia.
Geography
The park is located around a valley which formed the historic link between Thailand and Malaysia. According to local lore, 300 years ago an earthquakeEarthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
formed the lake in the valley, probably due to a landslide which created a natural dam. Submerged trees found within the lake seem to confirm this story. The limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
hills contain several cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s. Tham Ton Din is a river cave near park HQ. The highest elevation within the park is Chin Mountain with an elevation of 756 metres (2,480 ft) above sea level.
Fauna
The park is known to contain 64 mammalMammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
species, including the rare Pardofelis marmorata, Tapirus indicus and Capricornis sumatraensis, 282 bird species, most notable many hornbill
Hornbill
Hornbills are a family of bird found in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia. They are characterized by a long, down-curved bill which is frequently brightly-colored and sometimes has a casque on the upper mandible. Both the common English and the scientific name of the family...
species, 40 reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
and 20 amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
species were counted.