The Phu Phan mountains (Thai : ทิวเขาภูพาน, RTGS: Thio Khao Phu Phan, pronounced [tʰīwkʰǎwpʰūːpʰāːn] ; Northeastern Thai : ทิวเขาภูพานThio Khao Phu Phan, pronounced [tʰîwkʰǎwpʰûːpʰâːn] ) 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. [1]
The silhouette of the Phu Phan Mountains appears in the provincial seal of Kalasin since they form the northern boundary of the province. [2]
The Phu Phan mountains are among the places in Thailand more severely affected by the Illegal logging of Phayung (Siamese Rosewood) trees. Although officially a protected tree, the cutting and trading of the endangered rosewood trees has been going unabated in Thailand's mountainous forested zones, even in the protected areas. In Thailand and in China this wood is highly valued in the furniture industry. [3] [4]
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 Phu Phan Mountains rise above the plateau and are not prominent. They straddle most of the provinces of northern and eastern Isan, including Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, and Mukdahan Province.
The highest elevation of the Phu Phan Range is the 641 m high summit known as Phu Lang Ka. It is in Nakhon Phanom Province. [5] Other important peaks are 624 m high Phu Mai Hia in Mukdahan Province [6] and the 563 m high summit known as Phu Langka Nuea in Nakhon Phanom Province.
The hills are mostly deforested, although patches covered with mixed deciduous forest remain in zones spread across the range. [7]
Phu Phan Royal Palace is in the area, as is the Nam Un dam. [8] 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 includes national parks and other protected areas: [9] [10]
Kalasin is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat), located in upper northeastern Thailand, also called Isan. The province was established by the Act Establishing Changwat Kalasin, BE 2490 (1947), and it came into existence on 1 October 1947. Neighboring provinces are Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Khon Kaen, and Udon Thani.
Sakon Nakhon is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat). It lies in upper northeastern Thailand and is also called Isan. Neighboring provinces are Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Kalasin, and Udon Thani. Its capital is Sakon Nakhon.
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Dong Phaya Yen or Dong Phya Yen is a mountain range in Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Lopburi, Saraburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces, Thailand.
Phu Phan is a district (amphoe) of Sakon Nakhon province, northeast Thailand.
Tao Ngoi is a district (amphoe) of Sakon Nakhon province, northeast Thailand.
Dong Luang is a district (amphoe) of Mukdahan province, northeastern Thailand.
The Sankamphaeng Range, also Sankambeng Range or Sungumpang Range is one of the mountain ranges separating eastern Thailand from the northeast or Isan. It is in Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces, Thailand.
Phra That Phu Pek (Thai:พระธาตุภูเพ็ก) is an ancient temple in Sakon Nakhon Province, in the Isan region of Thailand. This ancient Khmer ruin was built from sandstone, standing on a laterite base. This is a Buddhist temple ruin of Khmer origin in the form of a chedi, it was built in the 16th-17th Buddhist century. The ruin is special as it houses a solar calendar, a cube-shaped rock, in its stupa. The ancients used it for indicating the position of the sun, important for religious rites and agricultural seasons.
The Nakhon Si Thammarat Range is a mountain range on the Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand, running in a north–south direction. This mountain chain is also sometimes named Banthat Range (ทิวเขาบรรทัด), a name which is however also used to refer to the Chanthaburi mountain range.
The Luang Prabang Range, named after Luang Prabang, is a mountain range straddling northwestern Laos and Northern Thailand. Most of the range is located in Sainyabuli Province (Laos), as well as Nan and Uttaradit Provinces (Thailand), with small parts in Phitsanulok and Loei Provinces. Several rivers such as the Nan, Pua and Wa rivers, have their sources in this range. Phu Fa waterfall, the biggest and the tallest waterfall in Nan Province, is also located in these mountains. This range is part of the Luang Prabang montane rain forests ecoregion.
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The Phu Langka Forest Park, or Phu Lang Ka Forest Park, is a protected area of the Phi Pan Nam Range located in Chiang Kham District and Pong District, Phayao Province, Thailand. The park was established on May 8, 2002, and covers an area of 12.48 km2 (4.82 sq mi).
The Phuket Range is a subrange of the Tenasserim Hills in the Kra Isthmus, Thailand.
Phu Phan National Park is a national park in Sakon Nakhon and Kalasin provinces, Thailand. This isolated park covers a wide jungle area in the Phu Phan Mountains of Isan.
Phu Pha Yon National Park is a national park in northeastern Thailand (Isan). Formerly known as Huai Huad National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติห้วยหวด). The national park covers the area of Mueang Sakon Nakhon, Khok Si Suphan and Tao Ngoi districts of Sakon Nakhon province, Na Kae district of Nakhon Phanom province and Dong Luang, Khamcha-i districts of Mukdahan province.
Ban Kok Kok is a muban (village) in Kok Tum Sub-district, Dong Luang District, Mukdahan Province, Isan region.