The Phi Pan Nam Range, also Pee Pan Nam, ( th, ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ) is a long system of mountain ranges in the eastern half of the

Thai highlands The Thai highlands or Hills of northern Thailand is a mountainous natural region in the north of Thailand. Its mountain ranges are part of the system of hills extending through Laos, Burma, and China and linking to the Himalayas, of which they ma ...

. It is mostly in

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 bo ...

, although a small section in the northeast is within

Sainyabuli Sainyabuli, ( lo, ໄຊຍະບູລີ; alternatively spelled ''Xaignabouli'', ''Xayaburi'', or ''Xayaboury'') is the capital of Sainyabuli Province, Laos. It lies on Route 4 which along with Route 13 connects it to Luang Prabang, roughl ...

and Bokeo Provinces,

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...

. In Thailand the range extends mainly across

Chiang Rai Chiang Rai ( th, เชียงราย, ; nod, , เจียงฮาย, ) is the northernmost major city in Thailand, with a population of about 200,000 people. It is located in Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province. Chiang Rai ...

Phayao Phayao () is a city (''thesaban mueang'') in northern Thailand, capital of Phayao Province. For administrative purposes the city is divided into 15 sub-districts (''tambons''), which are further subdivided into 172 administrative villages. The t ...

Lampang Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang ( th, นครลำปาง, ) to differentiate from Lampang province, is the third largest city in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang province and the Mueang Lampang district. Traditional names for La ...

Phrae Phrae (; ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in northern Thailand, capital of Phrae Province. The town occupies ''tambon'' Nai Wiang of Mueang Phrae District. It has an area of nine kilometres2 and a population of 17,971 (2005). Phrae is 555 km no ...

Nan Nan or NAN may refer to: Places China * Nan County, Yiyang, Hunan, China * Nan Commandery, historical commandery in Hubei, China Thailand * Nan Province ** Nan, Thailand, the administrative capital of Nan Province * Nan River People Given name ...

Uttaradit The original name of Mueang district, Uttaradit, was Bang Pho. This district was under the control of Phi Chai District. Later, it was established as Uttaradit Province and Bang Pho District became the capital district. It was changed to Mueang ...

and Sukhothai Provinces, reaching

Tak Province Tak ( th, ตาก, , Burmese: တာ့ခ် pronounced ak is one of Thailand's seventy-seven provinces (''changwat'') and lies in lower northern Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, ...

at its southwestern end. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

of the area is relatively low. Only two sizable towns,

and

, are within the area of the mountain system and both have fewer than 20,000 inhabitants each. Larger towns, like

and

, are near the limits of the Phi Pan Nam Range, in the north and in the south respectively. Phahonyothin Road, part of the AH2 Highway system, crosses the Phi Pan Nam Range area from north to south, between Tak and Chiang Rai. There are two

railway tunnel Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a prep ...

s of the

Northern Line The Northern line is a London Underground line that runs from North London to South London. It is printed in black on the Tube map. The Northern line is unique on the Underground network in having two different routes through central London, two ...

across the Phi Pan Nam mountains. Both are on the south side of the range: the 130.2 m Huai Mae Lan Tunnel in Phrae Province and the 362.4 m Khao Phlueng Tunnel in Uttaradit and Phrae Provinces. In the mountains north of

Thoeng Thoeng ( th, เทิง; ) is a district (''amphoe'') in the eastern part of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. Geography Neighboring districts are (from the southwest clockwise) Pa Daet, Mueang Chiang Rai, Wiang Chai, Phaya Mengrai, ...

, at the northeast end of the range,

Hmong people The Hmong people ( RPA: ''Hmoob'', Nyiakeng Puachue: , Pahawh Hmong: , ) are a sub-ethnic group of the Miao people who originated from Central China. The modern Hmongs presently reside mainly in Southwest China (Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chon ...

live in small villages such as Ban Saen Than Sai and Ban Phaya Phripak, the latter on top of a mountain pass.

Geography

The Phi Pan Nam Range is composed of many smaller mountain chains roughly aligned in a north–south direction in its northern part and, further south, in a northeast–southwest direction. These ranges cover an extensive area and are often separated by

intermontane Intermontane is a physiographic adjective formed from the prefix " inter-" (''signifying among, between, amid, during, within, mutual, reciprocal'') and the adjective "montane" (inhabiting, or growing in mountainous regions, especially cool, moi ...

basins or lowlands. They end in the west with the

Khun Tan Range The Khun Tan Range ( th, ทิวเขาขุนตาน or, erroneously, ทิวเขาขุนตาล) is a mountain range that occupies a central position in Northern Thailand. Most of the range is located in Chiang Mai, west ...

, in the east with the

Luang Prabang Range The Luang Prabang Range ( th, ทิวเขาหลวงพระบาง, ), named after Luang Prabang, is a mountain range straddling northwestern Laos and Northern Thailand. Most of the range is located in Sainyabuli Province (Laos), as ...

, and with the

Central Plain of Siam Central Thailand (Central plain) or more specifically Siam (also known as Suvarnabhumi and Dvaravati) is one of the regions of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from northeast Thailand (Isan) by ...

in the south. The northern tip is bound by the

Mekong River The Mekong or Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth longest river and the third longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annuall ...

. There are

columnar basalt Basalt (; ) is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon. More than 90% of a ...

formations in Mon Hin Kong ( th, ม่อนหินกอง) in an area in the mountains near Na Phun,

Wang Chin District Wang Chin ( th, อำเภอวังชิ้น, ) is a district ('' amphoe'') in the southern part of Phrae province, northern Thailand. History Originally the area of the district was part of Mueang Lampang district. In 1930 it was reass ...

, Phrae Province. In

Phae Mueang Phi Phae Mueang Phi ( th, แพะเมืองผี, ) is a place with original rock formations in the Phi Pan Nam Range, Thailand. It is about eight kilometres northeast of Phrae town in Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province. Named after the ...

there are

mushroom rocks A mushroom rock, also called rock pedestal, or a pedestal rock, is a naturally occurring rock whose shape, as its name implies, resembles a mushroom. The rocks are deformed in a number of different ways: by erosion and weathering, glacial action ...

and other bizarre rock formations caused by

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is distin ...

Sub-ranges

The Phi Pan Nam range system is often divided in two

physiographic Physical geography (also known as physiography) is one of the three main branches of geography. Physical geography is the branch of natural science which deals with the processes and patterns in the natural environment such as the atmosphere, ...

longitudinal sections: * Western Phi Pan Nam Range (เทือกเขาผีปันน้ำตะวันตก) or Phi Pan Nam Range proper, in the northwest between the Wang and Yom Rivers. Some scholarly works designate the

as the "Western Phi Pan Nam Range" and this section therefore as the "Central Phi Pan Nam Range". * Eastern Phi Pan Nam Range (เทือกเขาผีปันน้ำตะวันออก), also known as "Phlueng Range" (ทิวเขาพลึง) in the southeast between the Yom and the

Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The provinces ...

Mountains

The highest point is the high summit known as Doi Luang. It is in the northwestern area of the range near Phayao town, but there are a number of lesser mountains with the name ' Doi Luang' throughout the range. Other noteworthy peaks are: * Doi Phu Langka (1,641 m) * Doi Chi (1,638 m) * Doi Pha Mon at Phu Chi Fa (1,628 m) * Doi Pha Tang (1,608 m) * Doi Cha Tong (1,603 m) * Doi Ku (1,557 m) * Doi Yao (1,543 m ) * Doi Huai Nam Lao (1,544 m) * Doi Nang (1,507 m) * Phu Chi Fa (1,442 m) * Doi Luang,

Mae Chai District Mae Chai ( th, แม่ใจ, ) is a district ('' amphoe'') of Phayao province in northern Thailand. History The District Mae Chai was abolished on 23 December 1917 and was incorporated into Mueang Phan district. It was recreated as a minor d ...

(1,426 m) * Doi Phu Kheng (1,403 m) * Doi Luang, Ban Na Fai (1,396 m) * Doi Pha Khi Nok (1,365 m) * Doi Luang Pae Mueang(1,328 m) * Khun Huai Han (1,303 m) * Doi Phu Nang (1,202 m) * Doi Nang (1,195 m) * Doi Ian (1,178 m) * Doi Khun Mae Loe (1,075 m) * Doi Pha Daeng (1,023 m) * Doi Pha Mon(1,013 m) * Doi San Klang (938 m) * Doi Ngaem (867 m) *

Doi Pui Doi Pui ( th, ดอยปุย), is a mountain ("doi") west of Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is in elevation and is one of the twin peaks of a granite mountain. The other peak is known as Doi Suthep and is slightly lower at , where the archaeologi ...

(843 m) * Doi Kham, Thoeng District (823 m) * Doi San Pan Nam (773 m) * Mon Yao (751 m) * Doi Yang Kham (727 m) * Doi Pae Luang (651 m) * Doi Huai Ha (590 m) * Doi Lan (559 m)

Hydrography

The Phi Pan Nam range of mountains is not as high as neighboring mountain systems. It is, however, significant from the hydrographic point of view. These mountains divide the

Mekong The Mekong or Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's List of rivers by length, twelfth longest river and List of longest rivers of Asia, the third longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , ...

from the

Chao Phraya The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. E ...

watershed and important rivers of Thailand have their source in the Phi Pan Nam area. Its name in Thai "ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ" roughly means "the mountains of the spirits dividing the waters", 'spirits' (ผี ''phi'') here referring to ancient mountain

deities A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...

Thai folklore Thai folklore is a diverse set of mythology and traditional beliefs held by the Thai people. Most Thai folklore has a regional background for it originated in rural Thailand. With the passing of time, and through the influence of the media, large ...

. Among the Thai rivers that originate in the Phi Pan Nam Mountains the main ones are the

Wang Wang may refer to: Names * Wang (surname) (王), a common Chinese surname * Wāng (汪), a less common Chinese surname * Titles in Chinese nobility * A title in Korean nobility * A title in Mongolian nobility Places * Wang River in Thailand ...

and

Yom River The Yom River ( th, แม่น้ำยม, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is the main tributary of the Nan River (which itself is a tributary of the Chao Phraya River). The Yom River has its source in the Phi Pan Nam Range in Pong District, Ph ...

, with their tributaries such as the Ngao, flowing towards the Chao Phraya. The

Ing Ing, ING or ing may refer to: Art and media * '' ...ing'', a 2003 Korean film * i.n.g, a Taiwanese girl group * The Ing, a race of dark creatures in the 2004 video game '' Metroid Prime 2: Echoes'' * "Ing", the first song on The Roches' 1992 ...

and the Lao, a tributary of the

Kok River The Kok River ( th, น้ำแม่กก, , ) is a tributary river of the Mekong that flows in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces in northern Thailand. Source The river originates in the Daen Lao Range, Shan State, Myanmar. It flows east ...

, flow northwards and are part of the Mekong basin. A great number of smaller rivers have their sources in mountains across the range. The

Sirikit Dam Queen Sirikit ( th, สิริกิติ์; ; ); born ''Mom Rajawongse'' Sirikit Kitiyakara ( th, สิริกิติ์ กิติยากร; ; 12 August 1932) is the queen mother of Thailand. She was Queen of Thailand as the wif ...

is at the southeastern edge of the Phi Pan Nam mountains.

History

There were formerly large

teak Teak (''Tectona grandis'') is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. ''Tectona grandis'' has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicl ...

forests in some areas of the range. However, at the beginning of the 20th century concessions were given to

logging Logging is the process of cutting, processing, and moving trees to a location for transport. It may include skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks or skeleton cars. Logging is the beginning of a supply chain ...

companies and the forest cover dwindled dramatically especially in lowland areas between ranges.

Deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated d ...

also has affected areas that were cleared for local agriculture. Often

wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...

s are deliberately set off by local farmers, as well as by speculators who hire people to set forests on fire in order to claim land title deeds for the areas that have become "

degraded forest A secondary forest (or second-growth forest) is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a timber harvest or clearing for agriculture, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident. ...

". Owing to the relative isolation of the area there was Communist insurgency in the mountainous forests of the Phi Pan Nam Range during the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

. A memorial was erected on 1,118 m high Doi Phaya Phipak (ดอยพญาพิภักดิ์) to commemorate the victims of the battles between troops of the

Royal Thai Armed Forces The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) ( th, กองทัพไทย; ) are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Thailand. The nominal head of the Thai Armed Forces (จอมทัพไทย; ) is the King of Thailand. The armed forces are ...

and the insurgents of the

Communist Party of Thailand The Communist Party of Thailand ( Abrv: CPT; th, พรรคคอมมิวนิสต์แห่งประเทศไทย, ) was a communist party in Thailand active from 1942 until the 1990s. Initially known as the Communist Party ...

between the 1950s and the 1970s. There is now a historical site and a forest park at Doi Phaya Phipak, also known as Phaya Phipak. A controversial

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...

was planned in the central area of the range on the

in Kaeng Suea Ten in 1991 but this project was later abandoned in the face of popular opposition. The debate about the dam, however, resumed in 2011. Two smaller dams on the Yom River may be built instead of the Kaeng Suea Ten mega-dam.

Ecology

Thailand 2006 09 panorama doi pu chee fa range

Generally the forested areas of the Phi Pan Nam are known for their

and bamboo forest. The mountain ranges are covered with tropical dry broadleaf forests, including sections of moist evergreen forest,

mixed deciduous forest Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF), also known as tropical moist forest, is a subtropical and tropical forest habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Description TSMF is generally found in large, discon ...

dry deciduous forest The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest is a habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature and is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Though these forests occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive ...

, as well as hill evergreen forest at higher altitudes. There is great

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

in these mountains and their few unspoilt valleys, with a wide range of animal and plant species.Mae Yom on Northern Thailand National Parks
/ref> The whole area of the range is part of the

Central Indochina dry forests The Central Indochina dry forests are a large tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests ecoregion in Southeast Asia. Location and description The ecoregion consists of an area of plateau and low river basin in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and ...

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 of l ...

. There are a number of

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

s in the Phi Pan Nam mountains, mostly encompassing mountainous terrain. These are patchily distributed across the range, and the largest national parks are in its central part, roughly around

town. Protected sectors are typically surrounded by agricultural zones, often near roads and villages and thus with vast surfaces under the influence of the

edge effect In ecology, edge effects are changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two or more habitats. Areas with small habitat fragments exhibit especially pronounced edge effects that may extend throughout the range. As ...

. Besides the

national park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...

s and wildlife reserves, there are the

Huai Tak The Huai River (), Postal Map Romanization, formerly romanization of Chinese, romanized as the Hwai, is a major river in China. It is located about midway between the Yellow River and Yangtze, the two longest rivers and largest drainage basins ...

Teak Teak (''Tectona grandis'') is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. ''Tectona grandis'' has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicl ...

Biosphere Reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...

in Lampang Province and the Phu Langka Forest Park, located in Chiang Kham District and

Pong District Pong ( th, ปง, ) is a district (''amphoe'') of Phayao province in northern Thailand. Geography Neighboring districts are (from the east clockwise) Song Khwae, Tha Wang Pha, Mueang Nan of Nan province, Chiang Muan, Dok Khamtai, Chun an ...

of Phrae Province. The main attractions of the forest park are Doi Hua Ling, Doi Phu Lang Ka and Doi Phu Nom; the latter is a breast-shaped hill rising in an area of

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

Flora

Formerly there were large extensions of teak (''

Tectona grandis Teak (''Tectona grandis'') is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. ''Tectona grandis'' has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicl ...

'') forests in the range, including the highly appreciated golden teak variety. These forests are now much reduced. Forest fires are common during the dry season. Some of the other species of trees found in the forests of the mountains are: ''

Afzelia xylocarpa ''Afzelia xylocarpa'' is a tree from Southeast Asia. It grows in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma in deciduous forests. It can reach 30 metres tall with a trunk up to 2 metres in diameter in a mature specimen. Uses The seeds are har ...

'', '' Ailanthus triphysa'', ''

Anisoptera costata ''Anisoptera costata'' is an endangered species of plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The name ''costata'' is derived from Latin (''costatus'' = ribbed) and describes the prominent venation of the leaf blade. A huge emergent tree up to 65 m h ...

'', ''

Artocarpus lacucha ''Artocarpus lacucha'', also known as monkey jack or monkey fruit, is a tropical evergreen tree species of the family Moraceae. It is distributed throughout the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The tree is valued for its wood; its fruit ...

'', ''

Berrya ammonilla ''Berrya'' is a genus of evergreen trees with fibrous bark from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region. The plants are valuable for their timber. The flowers are showy, with large tight clusters of green flowers. Cultivation Trees from ''Berrya' ...

'', '' Betula alnoides'', ''

Cinnamomum iners ''Cinnamomum iners'' is a tree species in the family Lauraceae described by Reinwardt and Blume. No subspecies are listed in the Catalogue of Life. It occurs naturally in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, ...

'', ''

Dalbergia oliveri ''Dalbergia oliveri'' is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae which grows in tree form to 15 – 30 meters in height (up to 100 ft.). The fruit is a green pod containing one to two seeds which turn brown to black when ripe. It is thre ...

'', ''

Dillenia pentagyna A small tree with tortuous twigs, ''Dillenia pentagyna'' is a member of the family Dilleniaceae, and is found from Sulawesi to South-Central China to India and Sri Lanka. Material from the tree has some minor uses. Description A tree some 6-15m ...

'', ''

Dipterocarpus obtusifolius ''Dipterocarpus obtusifolius'' is a common species of tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae found throughout Southeast Asia, including Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.DY PHON Pauline, 2000, ''Plants Used In Cambodia'' ...

'', ''

Dipterocarpus alatus ''Dipterocarpus alatus'' ( th, ยางนา, , ; Khmer: ''chhë tiël ba:y, chhë tiël tük, chhë tiël thom''DY PHON Pauline, 2000, Plants Used In Cambodia, self-published, printed by Imprimerie Olympic, Phnom Penh or ឈើទាល (''ch ...

'', ''

Dipterocarpus turbinatus ''Dipterocarpus turbinatus'' ( Khmer ;DY PHON Pauline, 2000, Plants Used In Cambodia, self-published, printed by Imprimerie Olympic, Phnom Penh India ''gurjan'', ''gurjun'', ''gurgina''; Tagalog ; Chinese ; available at Efloras.org Malay lan ...

'', ''

Duabanga grandiflora From its peculiar habit, ''Duabanga grandiflora'' (syn. ''D. sonneratioides'') is a singular feature in its native forests. The trunk is erect, 40–80 feet high, undivided but sometimes forking from the base. The lower limbs spread drooping fro ...

'', ''

Garcinia indica ''Garcinia indica'', a plant in the mangosteen family (Clusiaceae), commonly known as ''kokum'', is a fruit-bearing tree that has culinary, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses. It primarily grows in the Western Ghats, especially the Goa and Konka ...

'', ''

Hopea odorata ''Hopea odorata'', or ta-khian ( th, ตะเคียน), is a species of plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is a large tree reaching up to 45 m ...

'', '' Irvingia malayana'', ''

Lagerstroemia loudonii ''Lagerstroemia loudonii'' ( th, เสลา; ) is a species of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from ...

'', ''

Lagerstroemia calyculata ''Lagerstroemia calyculata'' known as the "Guava Crape Myrtle" (Vietnamese name : ''Bằng Lăng Ổi'', ''Bằng Lăng Cườm''; th, ตะแบก ''tabaek''; Cambodian name: Srolao "ដើមស្រឡៅ"); the name is derived from its v ...

'', '' Lagerstroemia tomentosa'', ''

Lithocarpus densiflorus ''Notholithocarpus densiflorus'', commonly known as the tanoak or tanbark-oak, is a broadleaf tree in the family Fagaceae, and the type species of the genus ''Notholithocarpus''. It is native to the far western United States, particularly Oregon ...

'', '' Mangifera caloneura'', ''

Michelia champaca ''Magnolia champaca'', known in English as champak (), is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae.

'', '' Michelia floribunda'', ''

Pterocarpus macrocarpus ''Pterocarpus macrocarpus'', or Burma padauk, is a tree native to the seasonal tropical forests of southeastern Asia: in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It has been naturalized in India and the Caribbean. Description ''Pterocarp ...

'', ''

Schleichera oleosa ''Schleichera'' is a monotypic genus of plants in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. There is only one species, ''Schleichera oleosa'', a tree that occurs in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Species ''Schleichera oleosa'', kusum tr ...

'', ''

Terminalia bellirica ''Terminalia bellirica'', known as baheda, bahera, behada, beleric or bastard myrobalan (Arabic: beliledj بليلج, borrowed from Middle Persian Balilag), Persian بلیله (Balileh), Sanskrit: Bibhitaka बिभीतक, Aksha is a large ...

'', ''

Toona ciliata ''Toona ciliata'' is a forest tree in the mahogany family which grows throughout southern Asia from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea and Australia. Names It is commonly known as the red cedar (a name shared by other trees), toon or toona (also ...

'', ''

Vitex pinnata ''Vitex pinnata'' is a tree of the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the ...

'' and ''

Xylia xylocarpa ''Xylia xylocarpa'' is a species of tree in the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae. Description and properties This perennial tree is very conspicuous in the flowering season owing to its bright yellow flow ...

''. File:Khloongkhleeng.jpg, ''

Melastoma malabathricum ''Melastoma malabathricum'', known also as Malabar melastome, Indian rhododendron, Singapore rhododendron, planter's rhododendron and senduduk, is a flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae. This plant is native to Indomalaya, Japan and Aust ...

'', th, โคลงเคลงขี้นก ''Khlong Khe Long Khi Nok'', a flower seasonally carpeting wide areas of grassland on the higher slopes of the range. File:Sirikitdam 07.JPG, The Phi Pan Nam mountains near the

. The haze caused by wildfires is prevalent during the dry season File:Tham Pha Thai National Park1780.JPG, Sign put up by the Thai government by Route 1 near Tham Pha Thai National Park warning against deliberately setting off forest fires in the mountains

Fauna

The

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

animal species sheltered by some of the fragmented, although relatively undisturbed Phi Pan Nam forests are the

fishing cat The fishing cat (''Prionailurus viverrinus'') is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia. Since 2016, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Fishing cat populations are threatened by destruction of wetlands and have declin ...

sun bear The sun bear (''Helarctos malayanus'') is a species in the family Ursidae (the only species in the genus ''Helarctos'') occurring in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is the smallest bear, standing nearly at the shoulder and weighing ...

Asiatic black bear The Asian black bear (''Ursus thibetanus''), also known as the Asiatic black bear, moon bear and white-chested bear, is a medium-sized bear species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an or ...

Chinese pangolin The Chinese pangolin (''Manis pentadactyla'') is a pangolin native to the northern Indian subcontinent, northern parts of Southeast Asia and southern China. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2014, as the w ...

Indochinese tiger The Indochinese tiger is a population of the '' Panthera tigris tigris'' subspecies that is native to Southeast Asia. This population occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. In 2011, the population was thought to comprise 342 individuals, includin ...

, sambar deer,

gaur The gaur (''Bos gaurus''; ), also known as the Indian bison, is a bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global population was estimated at a maximum of 21,000 m ...

Bengal slow loris The Bengal slow loris (''Nycticebus bengalensis'') or northern slow loris is a strepsirrhine primate and a species of slow loris native to the Indian subcontinent and Indochina. Its geographic range is larger than that of any other slow loris s ...

Sunda pangolin The Sunda pangolin (''Manis javanica''), also known as the Malayan or Javan pangolin, is a species of pangolin. It is found throughout Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the islands of ...

, as well as the

Asiatic softshell turtle The Asiatic softshell turtle or black-rayed softshell turtle (''Amyda cartilaginea'') is a species of softshell turtle in the Trionychidae family. Despite its name, it is not the only softshell turtle in Asia (most trionychines are Asian). T ...

and the

big-headed turtle The big-headed turtle (''Platysternon megacephalum'') is a species of turtle in the family Platysternidae from Southeast Asia and southern China. Background Previously considered a distinct family placed on occasion in " Kinosternoidea", it w ...

. There are also

Asian elephant The Asian elephant (''Elephas maximus''), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living species of the genus ''Elephas'' and is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west, Nepal in the no ...

s in their natural habitat in a few protected areas, such as in the Si Satchanalai National Park. Formerly there were also in the Wiang Ko Sai National Park but there have been no sightings in recent years. The green peafowl, now rare in the wilderness and threatened by

habitat destruction Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

throughout

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...

, breeds in the central mountains of the range from January to March. Among the other animals, the

Indian muntjac The Indian muntjac or the common muntjac (''Muntiacus muntjak''), also called the southern red muntjac and barking deer, is a deer species native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. In popular local l ...

Burmese hare The Burmese hare (''Lepus peguensis'') is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Subspecies Three subspecies are recognised; ''L. p. peguensis'', ''L. p. siamensis'' and ''L. p ...

Indian hare The Indian hare (''Lepus nigricollis''), also known as the black-naped hare, is a common species of hare native to the Indian subcontinent, and Java. Introductions It has been introduced to Madagascar, Comoro Islands, Andaman Islands, Irian Jay ...

Indochinese flying squirrel The Indochinese flying squirrel (''Hylopetes phayrei''), also known as Phayre's flying squirrel, is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việ ...

black giant squirrel The black giant squirrel or Malayan giant squirrel (''Ratufa bicolor'') is a large tree squirrel in the genus '' Ratufa'' native to the Indomalayan zootope. It is found in forests from northern Bangladesh, northeast India, eastern Nepal, Bhutan, ...

Java mouse-deer The Java mouse-deer (''Tragulus javanicus'') is a species of even-toed ungulate in the family Tragulidae. When it reaches maturity it is about the size of a rabbit, making it the smallest living ungulate. It is found in forests in Java and perhap ...

jungle cat The jungle cat (''Felis chaus''), also called reed cat, swamp cat and jungle lynx, is a medium-sized cat native to the Middle East, the Caucasus, South and Southeast Asia and southern China. It inhabits foremost wetlands like swamps, littora ...

mainland serow The mainland serow (''Capricornis sumatraensis'') is a serow species native to the Himalayas, Southeast Asia and China. The mainland serow is related closely to the red serow, Himalayan serow, Sumatran serow, and the Chinese serow (''C. milneed ...

masked palm civet The masked palm civet (''Paguma larvata''), also called the gem-faced civet, is a palm civet species native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008 as it occurs in many p ...

Asian palm civet The Asian palm civet (''Paradoxurus hermaphroditus''), also called common palm civet, toddy cat and musang, is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia. Since 2008, it is IUCN Red Listed as Least Concern as it accommodates to a broad rang ...

Malayan civet The Malayan civet (''Viverra tangalunga''), also known as the Malay civet and Oriental civet, is a viverrid native to the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, the Riau Archipelago, and the Philippines. It is listed as "Le ...

bamboo rat The bamboo rats are four species of rodents of the subfamily Rhizomyinae. They are the sole living representatives of the tribe Rhizomyini. All are found in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. The species are: *The Chinese bamboo rat, '' ...

and

northern treeshrew The northern treeshrew (''Tupaia belangeri'') is a treeshrew species native to Southeast Asia. In 1841, the German zoologist Johann Andreas Wagner first used the specific name ''Cladobates belangeri'' for treeshrews that had been collected in Pe ...

, as well as the

Bengal monitor The Bengal monitor (''Varanus bengalensis''), also called the common Indian monitor, is a monitor lizard distributed widely in the Indian Subcontinent, as well as parts of Southeast Asia and West Asia. This large lizard is mainly a terrestrial a ...

deserve mention. A variety of birds are found in the range such as the blue-winged siva,

white-rumped shama The white-rumped shama (''Copsychus malabaricus'') is a small passerine bird of the family Muscicapidae. Native to densely vegetated habitats in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, its popularity as a cage-bird and songster has led to it ...

scaly-breasted munia The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (''Lonchura punctulata''), known in the pet trade as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch, is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia. A species of the genus ''Lonchura'', it was formally desc ...

black bulbul The black bulbul (''Hypsipetes leucocephalus''), also known as the Himalayan black bulbul or Asian black bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found primarily in the Himalayas, its range stretching from India eastwar ...

, blue-throated barbet,

pin-striped tit-babbler The pin-striped tit-babbler (''Mixornis gularis''), also known as the yellow-breasted babbler, is a species of bird in the Old World babbler family Timaliidae that is found in South Asia, South and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy and systematics The pi ...

blue-bearded bee-eater The blue-bearded bee-eater (''Nyctyornis athertoni'') is a species of bee-eater found in much of the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. This bee-eater is found in forest clearings. It is found mainly in the Malayan region but exten ...

, crested kingfisher, sooty-headed bulbul,

coppersmith barbet The coppersmith barbet (''Psilopogon haemacephalus''), also called crimson-breasted barbet and coppersmith, is an Asian barbet with crimson forehead and throat, known for its metronomic call that sounds similar to a coppersmith striking metal wi ...

great hornbill The great hornbill (''Buceros bicornis''), also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It occurs in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It ...

, chestnut-headed bee-eater and the

red-billed blue magpie The red-billed blue magpie (''Urocissa erythroryncha'') is a species of bird in the crow family, Corvidae. It is about the same size as the Eurasian magpie, but has a much longer tail, one of the longest of any corvid. It is long and weighs . T ...

. File:Pavo muticus - Hai Hong Karni.jpg, The

green peafowl. Its preferred habitat is dry deciduous forest close to water and away from human disturbance. File:Ratufa bicolor.jpg, The

Black giant squirrel The black giant squirrel or Malayan giant squirrel (''Ratufa bicolor'') is a large tree squirrel in the genus '' Ratufa'' native to the Indomalayan zootope. It is found in forests from northern Bangladesh, northeast India, eastern Nepal, Bhutan, ...

''(Ratufa bicolor)'', th, พญากระรอกดำ.

Protected areas

* Doi Chong National Park *

Doi Luang National Park Doi Luang National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติดอยหลวง) is one of the biggest national parks in Northern Thailand Northern Thailand, or more specifically Lanna, is geographically characterised by several m ...

* Doi Pha Khlong National Park *

Doi Phu Nang National Park Doi Phu Nang National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติดอยภูนาง) is a national park in Dok Khamtai, Pong and Chiang Muan Districts, Phayao Province, Thailand. Description The national park, with an area of ...

Khun Sathan National Park Khum may refer to: *Khun (, long vowel, middle tone) is the colloquial Thai name for the Golden Shower Tree. *Khun (courtesy title) (, short vowel, middle tone) is a common Thai honorific *Khun (noble title) (, short vowel, rising tone) is a former ...

Lam Nam Kok National Park Lam or LAM may refer to: Organizations * Laguna Art Museum, California, US * Lam Eng Rubber, a Malaysian manufacturer * Lam Research, American semiconductor equipment company * LAM Mozambique Airlines, flag carrier airline of Mozambique * Librar ...

Lam Nam Nan National Park Lam Nam Nan National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติลำน้ำน่าน, ) is a national park in Thailand's Phrae and Uttaradit provinces. The national park covers an area of and was established in 1998, it is home ...

* Mae Phuem National Park *

Mae Yom National Park Mae Yom National Park is a national park in Phrae Province, Thailand. The Yom River flows through the park. The land is mountainous and fertile, and there are naturally grown teak trees. Flora The park is in the mountains of the Phi Pan Nam Ra ...

* Nanthaburi National Park * Phu Sang National Park *

Si Nan National Park Si Nan National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติศรีน่าน) is a List of national parks of Thailand, national park in Thailand, Thailand's Nan Province. This mountainous park is home to steep cliffs and a long sectio ...

* Si Satchanalai National Park * Tham Pha Thai National Park * Tham Sakoen National Park * Wiang Ko Sai National Park * Doi Pha Chang Wildlife SanctuaryDoi Pha Chang Wildlife Sanctuary
/ref> *

Lam Nam Nan Phang Kha Wildlife Sanctuary Lam or LAM may refer to: Organizations * Laguna Art Museum, California, US * Lam Eng Rubber, a Malaysian manufacturer * Lam Research, American semiconductor equipment company * LAM Mozambique Airlines, flag carrier airline of Mozambique * Librar ...

Nam Pat Wildlife Sanctuary Nam Pat Wildlife Sanctuary ( th, เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าน้ำปาด; ) is a Wildlife sanctuary (Thailand), wildlife sanctuary in Ban Khok District, Ban Khok, Fak Tha District, Fak Tha and Nam Pat D ...

* Wiang Lo Wildlife Sanctuary

Ranges and features of the system

File:Phayao lake sunset.JPG, The Phi Pan Nam Range rising behind

Phayao Lake Kwan Phayao ( th, กว๊านพะเยา, , ) is a lake in Phayao Province, northern Thailand. ''Kwan'', a word from the northern Thai language, means 'lake' or 'large swamp'. The shape of the lake is a nearly-half-circle-moon shape. Pha ...

File:Laplae 19.JPG, The range at its southern end in Laplae District File:Ghost Canyon, Phae Muang Phi, Northern Thailand.jpg,

("Ghost Canyon") near

File:ภูชี้ฟ้า 501.jpg, Cliff in the Phu Chi Fa area, Chiang Rai Province, at the northern end of the range near the Lao border File:Panorama Mae Tha valley Lampang Province.jpg,

Mae Tha District, Lampang Mae Tha (, ) is a district ('' amphoe'') of Lampang province, northern Thailand. Geography Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise): Sop Prap, Ko Kha, Mueang Lampang, Mae Mo of Lampang Province, Long and Wang Chin of Phrae provi ...

, in the western fringes of the range File:Chiang Saen town Mekhong.jpg, The northeastern tip of the range, in Chiang Saen District and Chiang Khong District, is bound by the

river File:Panorama over Phi Pan Nam Range January 2014.jpg, "Autumn" colors during the cool, dry season in Na Muen District, Nan Province File:2014 Panorama Phi Pan Nam Range east.jpg, The eastern flank of the range, in Nan Province File:2014 Road 1148 Nan Phayao.jpg,

Karst Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...

formations from Rte 1148, Song Khwae District, Nan Province

References

External links

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120319222227/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/drive/blogger/2008/north-region-trip-4-pay-respects-to-phra-thats-year-of-birth-old-lana-temple-and-conquer-phu-lanka-phu-ka-phrae-nan-phayao/ North Region Trip 4 Pay respects to Phra That’s year of birth - Old Lana Temple, and conquer Phu Lanka-Phu Ka Phrae – Nan- Phayao]
Attractions in Phayao
{{Mountain ranges of Thailand Mountain ranges of Laos Mountain ranges of Thailand Geography of Bokeo province Geography of Sainyabuli province Geography of Phayao province Geography of Chiang Rai province Geography of Lampang province Geography of Nan province Geography of Phrae province Geography of Uttaradit province Geography of Sukhothai province Geography of Tak province Wildfire ecology

Geography

Sub-ranges

Mountains

Hydrography

History

Ecology

Flora

Fauna

Protected areas

Ranges and features of the system

See also

Further reading

References

External links