Namtok Chat Trakan National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาดิน้ำตกชาติตระการ, ) is a national park located in Chat Trakan and Nakhon Thai Districts of Phitsanulok Province of

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, established in 1987. It encompasses Lam Kwae Noi, Daeng and Chat Trakan forests a substantial portion of Chat Trakan District.

Topography

Most of the park is mountains covered with dipterocarp forest. The source of several rivers is within the park, including the

Khwae Noi River The River Kwai (), more correctly Khwae Noi ( th, แควน้อย, , 'small tributary') or Khwae Sai Yok (, ), is a river in western Thailand. It rises to the east of the Salween in the north-south spine of the Bilauktaung range near, bu ...

and its tributary the Phak River. The area of the park is part of the

Luang Prabang montane rain forests The Luang Prabang montane rain forests ecoregion (WWF ID: IM0121) covers elevations over 800 meters in the Luang Prabang mountains that straddle the border between northern Thailand and north-central Laos, and the highlands that stretch eastward ...

ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas o ...

, Phu Khai Hoi is the highest peak in the park with .

Chat Trakan Waterfall

The Chat Trakan Waterfall, a.k.a. Pak Rong Waterfall, is located within the park. The sandy beach near the falls is suitable for swimming. Some of the cliffs near the falls are inscribed with yet unexplained rock carvings. The stream from the waterfall joins the Phak River.

History

A survey called "Khao Ya Puk Forest Park" was set up, in March 1982 the name changed to "Namtok Chat Trakan Forest Park". First they surveyed areas of approximately for a national park. Later half of the surveyed areas should be designated as a national park. Namtok Chat Trakan, with an area of 339,375 rai ~ , was proposed for inclusion in the national parks system in 1985. Namtok Chat Trakan was declared the 55th national park on 2 November 1987. Since 2002 this national park has been managed by

Protected Areas Regional Office 11 (Phitsanulok) Since the beginning one hundred years ago, forest management in Thailand has undergone many changes, in form of reclassifications, name changes and management changes. All this has resulted in a division of 16 regions with 5 branches in 2002. Five r ...

Climate

Summer is between March and May, with temperatures around . Rainy season is between June and October. Winter from November till February is very cold at night.

Flora

Plants in the park are:

Fauna

In the park are the following mammals: Birds,the park has some 60 species, of which 44 species of

passerine A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...

from 19 families, represented by one species: Black-Crested Bulbul

and some 16 species of non-passerine from 9 families, represented by one species:

Places

* Namtok Chat Trakan - 7 tiers waterfall (total distance . * Namtok Na Chan - a 7 tiers waterfall. * Namtok Pha Khu Kham - a high waterfall. * Tham Pha Kradan Lek - a cave with pre-historic carvings. * Khao Chang Luang - a sandstone mountain.

Location

Gallery

Image:Chat Trakan Waterfall 03.jpg Image:Chat Trakan Waterfall 02.jpg Image:Chat Trakan Waterfall 01.jpg

References

National parks of Thailand Luang Prabang Range Tourist attractions in Phitsanulok province Protected areas established in 1987 1987 establishments in Thailand {{Phitsanulok-geo-stub