Op Luang National Park

Op Luang National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติออบหลวง) is a national park in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. It is home to a scenic river canyon, waterfalls, and caves.[2]

Op Luang National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติออบหลวง
IUCN category II (national park)
Op Luang Canyon
Park location in Thailand
Location	Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Nearest city	Lamphun
Coordinates	18°13′23″N 98°28′52″E
Area	553 km^2 (210 sq mi)
Established	1991[1]
Governing body	Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Geography

Op Luang National Park is about 105 kilometres (70 mi) south of Chiang Mai in Chom Thong, Mae Chaem and Hot Districts. The park's area is 553 square kilometres (210 sq mi). It is contiguous with Doi Inthanon National Park. Like Doi Inthanon Park, Op Luang is in the Thanon Thong Chai Range.[1][2]

History

Prehistoric paintings and other artefacts have been found in Op Luang National Park. The Doi Pha Chang area has a cliff painting of an elephant. Near Op Luang Canyon there are more rock paintings, as well as ancient jewelry and tools. Carbon-dating has indicated these relics to be about 28,000 years old.[1][3]

The park was a forest park from 1966 to 1991. In 1991 Op Luang became Thailand's 68th National Park.[1]

Attractions

The park's main attraction is Op Luang Canyon, carved out by the Mae Chaem River. The canyon is steep-sided and about 300 metres (1,000 ft) long.[1]

Waterfalls include Mae Bua Kham, about 50 metres (160 ft) high; Mae Chon, about 80 metres (260 ft) wide and the year-round Mae Tia about 80 metres (260 ft) high. Thep Thanom is a hot spring in the west of the park.[1]

Tham Tong is a granite and limestone cave leading to long tunnels. Tham Tu Pu cave features stalagmites and stalactites.[1][2]

Flora and fauna

The park features forest types including mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp and evergreen. Tree species include takian, Dipterocarpus alatus, Xylia xylocarpa, teak, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Toona ciliata and Lagerstroemia speciosa as well as various bamboos, palms and ferns.[2]

Animal species include tiger, sambar deer, Asiatic black bear, civet, pangolin, macaque, Siamese hare, serow, langur, mongoose, tree monitor, northern treeshrew, barking deer and wild boar.[1][2]

Avian life includes vernal hanging parrot, scarlet minivet, white-rumped shama, spotted dove, coucal, hill myna, Siamese fireback, red junglefowl, shikra, falconet, bulbul, woodpecker, pheasant and partridge.[1][2][4]

References

1. "Ob Luang National Park". Department of National Parks (Thailand). Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
2. "National Parks in Thailand: Op Luang National Park" (PDF). Department of National Parks (Thailand). 2015. pp. 80–81. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
3. "Op Luang National Park". Michelin Travel. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
4. Elliot, Stephan; Cubitt, Gerald (2001). The national parks and other wild places of Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. pp. 94–97. ISBN 9781859748862.