Phu Wiang National Park

Phu Wiang National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติภูเวียง
IUCN category II (national park)
PWNP Dinosaur Site 3
Location within Thailand
Location	Thailand
Nearest city	Khon Kaen
Coordinates	16°40′42″N102°21′13″E / 16.67833°N 102.35361°E / 16.67833; 102.35361
Area	325 km2 (125 sq mi)
Established	1965
Visitors	6,150(in 2019)
Governing body	Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Phu Wiang National Park (PWNP) is in Khon Kaen Province, northeastern Thailand, covering the area of the Phu Wiang Mountains. ^[1] It is best known for its numerous dinosaur bone paleontological sites, ^[2] The park is one of the world's largest dinosaur graveyards. ^[3] In 1996, the remains of Siamotyrannus isanensis , a new family of carnivorous thunder lizards, were unearthed in the park.

The Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum in the park displays many of the park's finds. The park, measuring 203,125 rai ~ 325 square kilometres (125 sq mi) in size, is approximately 85 kilometres (53 mi) ^[4] northwest of Khon Kaen. The area is characterized by a central plain and the low hills of the western Phu Phan Mountains. ^[3]

Topography

The general topography of the area is a mountain range, shaped as a hollow circle. In the center is a basin. It consists of mountains with moderate slopes to steep slopes. The outermost mountain range has a maximum peak of 844 meters above sea level. The highest peak of the mountain southwest of the area is 470 meters above sea level. The north of the inner mountain area is a source of dinosaur fossils. The lowest level of the foothills is 210 meters above sea level.

Phu Wiang National Park is located on the Khorat plateau. This is caused by the accumulation of sediments on the land that is more than 4,000 meters thick. The sedimentary layer is almost completely red is called the red sediment, or the Khorat stone, consisting of stone units, Khao Phra Wihan, stone pillars, Phu Phan stone and Khok gravel. The rocks were covered with sludge and quaternary clay. In the present day, there is also a survey of the uranium line in the area as well. Phu Wiang National Park is the upstream source of Huai Sai Khao, which flows into Nam Phong Huai Bang, leaving Huai Nam Lai, which will flow into Chern Huai Ruea, Huai Khum Poon, Huai Nam Bon, and Huai Maew, which will flow into Huai Bong, both Nam Phong, Hua Yong. And Chern River flows into Ubol Ratana Dam.

Fauna

Bird species include Black-crested bulbul, Lineated barbet, National bird of Thailand Siamese fireback, Eurasian jay, Common flameback, Green-billed malkoha, Rufescent prinia and Shikra. ^{[5] : 122–125}

There are no large animals but there are small ones include Slow loris, Masked palm civet, Lesser mouse deer, barking deer, Himalayan porcupine, Fishing cat, Large Indian civet and Small Indian civet. ^{[5] : 124–125}

See also

• List of national parks of Thailand
• List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand

References

1. "Phu Wiang National Park". Department of National Parks (DNP). Archived from the original on 2010-01-23. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
2. Spooner, Andrew; Borrowman, Hana; Baldwin, William (February 1, 2007). Footprint Thailand. Footprint Travel Guides. pp. 704–. ISBN   978-1-904777-94-6 . Retrieved October 1, 2011.
3. Eliot, Joshua; Bickersteth, Jane (March 13, 2003). Thailand handbook. Footprint Travel Guides. pp. 330–. ISBN   978-1-903471-54-8 . Retrieved October 1, 2011.
4. "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022, no 71
5. Elliot, Stephan; Cubitt, Gerald (2001). THE NATIONAL PARKS and other Wild Places of Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. ISBN   9781859748862.