Phu Phan Mountains

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Phu Phan Mountains seen from Phu Phek.
Phu Phan Mountains seen from Phu Phek.

The Phu Phan mountains (Thai เทือกเขาภูพาน) are a range of hills dividing the Khorat Plateau of the Isan region of Thailand into two basins: the northern Sakhon Nakhon Basin, and the southern Khorat Basin.

The hills straddle the provinces of Nongbua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin and Mukdahan.

The name of the range is derived from the characteristic tabletop shape of its peaks (phu being the word for mountain in the Isan/Lao language, as opposed to khao in Central and Southern Thai and doi in Northern Thai; phan meaning a kind of pedestal or tray). The highest elevation is around 630m.

The Phu Phan Royal Palace is located in the mountains, as is the Nam Oun Dam. Also three national parks are located in the mountains - Phu Phan, Phu Kao - Phu Phan Kham and Phu Pha Lek.

Other sights are Lake Nong Han nearby Sakon Nakhon and the Khmer style chedi ruins of Phu Phek dating from 1050.

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