Phuket mountain range

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The Phuket mountain range (Thai เทือกเขาภูเก็ต) is the mountain chain on the Malay Peninsula extending from the Kra Isthmus in the north till the Phuket island. It is continued to the north by the Tenasserim chain, the southern extension is the Nakhon Si Thammarat range, which is located about 100 km to the east.

The highest elevation is Khao Lang Kha Tuk with an elevation of 1395 m. As the hills raise directly from the western coast there are no notable rivers west of the ridge. To the east the largest rivers are the Phum Duang River and the Lang Suan River. The largest lake within the mountains is the Chiao Lan (Ratchaprapha dam) with 165 km², an artificial lake within the Khao Sok national park. The mountains mostly consist of limestone, which leads to the notable karst geography of steep hills. The hills west of the ridge contain several tin mines, which are however mostly exhausted already.

[edit] Protection

Most of the mountains are protected in various national parks and other protected areas. These are (from the south) Sri Phang-nga NP, Tonpariwat Wildlife Sanctuary, Khlong Phanom NP, Khao Sok NP, Khlong Yan Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaeng Krung NP, Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary and Namtok Ngao NP (formerly named Khlong Prao NP).