Mae Wong National Park
| Mae Wong National Park | |
|---|---|
| อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วงก์ | |
|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
  Location within Thailand | |
| Location | Thailand |
| Nearest city | Nakhon Sawan |
| Coordinates | 16°02′23″N 99°14′04″E / 16.03972°N 99.23444°ECoordinates: 16°02′23″N 99°14′04″E / 16.03972°N 99.23444°E |
| Area | 894 km² |
| Established | 1987 |
Mae Wong National Park (Thai อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วงก์) is a national park in Thailand.
Description
Mae Wong National Park is situated in the Dawna Range.
This park lies in Mae Wong and Mae Poen districts of Nakhon Sawan Province and Pang Sila Thong district of Kamphaeng Phet Province, the West of Thailand.
The park is very rugged and hilly along the Dawna Mountain Range, especially on the north and west. With the highest peak, Khao Mo Ko Chu at 1,964 m. above sea level it is one of highest mountain ranges in Thailand. Three main rivers of which the Mae Wong River is the biggest drain the park. The famous places in the park are Mae Krasa, Mae Rewa, Mae Ki Waterfalls, Mokochu Peak and Chong Yen.
History
Formerly, Mae Wong National Park was the centre of hill tribes for example Hmong, Yao, Muzer(Lahu) and Karen. The park was declared a national park on September14th, 1987 as the 55th park of Thailand.
Mae Wong Dam
On April 10, 2012 Thailand's Cabinet approved the THB 13 billion Mae Wong Dam project in response to water shortages in the dry season and heavy floods in the wet season. Opponents of the project state that it will eliminate around 1,760 hectares (17.6 square-kilometers) of low-lying forest, and reduce the habitat for animals in the national park which covers 900 square-kilometers.[1] In July 2012 a case was filed at Central Administrative Court, against Yingluck Shinawatra, the cabinet, the director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, and the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.[2] On 22 September 2013 Bangkok Post said that in Bangkok "Thousands of supporters turned out on Sunday to welcome the environmental campaigner Sasin Chalermlap, who arrived in Bangkok after a 388-kilometre walk to protest plans to build a dam in Mae Wong National Park".[3] Days later the Thai government announced that they will study a new alternative to the dam.[4] During a November 2013 hearing, locals reportedly supported the projects benefits and asked the government to pursue it.[5] On 23 September 2013 Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadistated that construction of the dam will push forward.[6]
References
- ↑ "Last tiger sanctuary in SE Asia at risk". May 4, 2012.
- ↑ PM, others sued over Mae Wong Dam
- ↑ Big reception for Mae Wong marchers
- ↑ "Government ditches Mae Wong dam plan". Bangkok Post. 26 September 2013.
- ↑ "Hearing backs Mae Wong dam". Bangkok Post. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ↑ Plodprasop defiant on Mae Wong dam
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mae Wong National Park. |
- National Park Division
Mae Wong National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage