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 m ...

. 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 b ...

, 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 s ...

. 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,

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 L ...

, Phrae, Nan,

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 RosenberPopu ...

of the area is relatively low. Only two sizable towns, Phayao and Phrae, 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 Phahonyothin Road ( th, ถนนพหลโยธิน, , ) or Highway 1 is a main road in Bangkok and one of the four primary highways in Thailand, which include Mittraphap Road (Highway 2), Sukhumvit Road (Highway 3), and Phet Kasem Road (H ...

, part of the

AH2 Asian Highway 2 (AH2) is a road in the Asian Highway Network running from Denpasar, Indonesia to Merak and Singapore to Khosravi, Iran. The route is connected to M10 of the Arab Mashreq International Road Network. The route is as follows: I ...

Highway system, crosses the Phi Pan Nam Range area from north to south, between Tak and Chiang Rai. There are two railway tunnels 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, t ...

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, 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, Cho ...

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, wes ...

, 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), a ...

, 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 annual ...

. There are columnar basalt formations in Mon Hin Kong ( th, ม่อนหินกอง) in an area in the mountains near Na Phun, Wang Chin District, 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 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 d ...

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 Rivers.

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 Phu Chi Fa ( th, ภูชี้ฟ้า, ), also ''Phu Chee Fah'', is a mountain area and national forest park in Thailand. It is located at the northeastern end of the Phi Pan Nam Range, 12 km to the southwest of Doi Pha Tang at the eastern ...

(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) *

(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 di ...

(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 Doi Ian ( th, ดอยเอียน) is a mountain in Thailand, part of the Phi Pan Nam Range, at the southeastern end of Chiang Rai Province limit near the point where the limit of this province meets with the northern end of Phayao Provi ...

(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 archaeologic ...

(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 twelfth longest river and the third longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annual ...

from the Chao Phraya

watershed Watershed is a hydrological term, which has been adopted in other fields in a more or less figurative sense. It may refer to: Hydrology * Drainage divide, the line that separates neighbouring drainage basins * Drainage basin, called a "watershe ...

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 greater ...

of Thai folklore. 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 Thaila ...

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, ...

, with their tributaries such as the Ngao, flowing towards the Chao Phraya. The Ing and the Lao, a tributary of the Kok River, 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 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 ( pan ...

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 cha ...

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 ...

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 combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identi ...

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 t ...

. 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 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 was planned in the central area of the range on the

Kaeng Suea Ten Kaeng Suea Ten Dam ( th, เขื่อนแก่งเสือเต้น, , ) was a dam proposed for a site in the Phi Pan Nam Range, in Song District, Phrae Province, Thailand. It is near Mae Yom National Park, in a rural area of the Th ...

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, dry deciduous forest, 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'') ...

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

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 ...

. 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 Phayao 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. ...

. Besides the

national park A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual ...

s and wildlife reserves, there are the Huai Tak

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 ( pan ...

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 ...

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

Flora

Formerly there were large extensions of teak ('' Tectona grandis'') 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 ...

'', ''

Ailanthus triphysa ''Ailanthus triphysa'' (also ''Ailanthus malabarica'') is a medium to tall evergreen rainforest tree in Asia and Australia. The wood may be used for matchwood and plywood. The tree is known as ''halmaddi'' in India, where its resin, also called ' ...

'', '' Anisoptera costata'', ''

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 fru ...

'', '' Berrya ammonilla'', ''

Betula alnoides ''Betula alnoides'' (; th, กำลังเสือโคร่ง, , literally: "tiger power") is a species of birch that can be found in natural condition of such countries as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal ...

'', '' Cinnamomum iners'', '' Dalbergia oliveri'', '' Dillenia pentagyna'', ''

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 langu ...

'', ''

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'', '' Irvingia malayana'', '' Lagerstroemia loudonii'', '' Lagerstroemia calyculata'', '' 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'', '' Michelia floribunda'', '' Pterocarpus macrocarpus'', ''

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 ...

'', '' Terminalia bellirica'', ''

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 (al ...

'', '' Vitex pinnata'' and '' Xylia xylocarpa''. 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 Sirikit Dam. 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 in ...

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 native to Asia that is largely adapted to an arboreal lifestyle. It lives in the Himalayas, sout ...

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 ...

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 The sambar (''Rusa unicolor'') is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List since 2008. Populations have declined substantially due to severe hunting, local ins ...

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, Sunda pangolin, as well as the Asiatic softshell turtle 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", i ...

. 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 t ...

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 The green peafowl or Indonesian peafowl (''Pavo muticus'') is a peafowl species native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2009 because the global population has been declining ...

, 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 south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...

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

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, Việt ...

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 perha ...

, jungle cat, mainland serow, masked palm civet,

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, 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 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 descr ...

, black bulbul, blue-throated barbet, pin-striped tit-babbler, blue-bearded bee-eater, crested kingfisher,

sooty-headed bulbul The sooty-headed bulbul (''Pycnonotus aurigaster'') is a species of songbird in the Bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-eastern Asia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Description A medium-size ...

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 wit ...

, great hornbill, chestnut-headed bee-eater and the red-billed blue magpie. File:Pavo muticus - Hai Hong Karni.jpg, The

. 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 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 5 ...

* Khun Sathan National Park * Lam Nam Kok National Park * Lam Nam Nan National Park * Mae Phuem National Park * Mae Yom National Park * Nanthaburi National Park * Phu Sang National Park * Si Nan National Park * 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 * Nam Pat Wildlife Sanctuary * 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 Phrae File:ภูชี้ฟ้า 501.jpg, Cliff in the

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 provin ...

, 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 (rock), dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathe ...

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