| Phu Phan Mountains | |
| Range | |
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Phu Phan Mountains, view from Wat Tham Kham
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| Country | Thailand |
|---|---|
| Region | Southeast Asia |
| Highest point | |
| - elevation | 630 m (2,067 ft) |
| Length | 180 km (112 mi), NW/SE |
| Width | 50 km (31 mi), NE/SW |
| Geology | Sandstone |
The Phu Phan mountains (Thai: ทิวเขาภูพาน, Thio Khao Phu Phan, IPA: [tʰiw kʰǎw pʰuː pʰaːn]) 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 silhouette of the Phu Phan Mountains appears in the provincial seal of Kalasin for they form the northern boundary of the province.[1]
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The name of the range is derived from the characteristic tabletop shape of its peaks, for phan is a kind of traditional tray on a pedestal.
Phu is the word for mountain in the Isan/Lao language (as opposed to khao in Central and Southern Thai and doi in Northern Thai).
The hills straddle the provinces of Nongbua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin and Mukdahan. The highest elevation of the Phu Phan range is around 630m. The hills are partly covered with mixed deciduous forest.[2]
The Phu Phan Royal Palace is located within the mountains, as is the Nam Un dam.[3] Other local sights are Lake Nong Han near Sakon Nakhon and the Khmer style chedi ruins of Phu Phek, dating from 1050.
The area of the Phu Phan mountains also includes four national parks:[4][5]