Mae Wong National Park
| Mae Wong National Park | |
|---|---|
| อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วงก์ | |
  Location within Thailand | |
| Location | Thailand |
| Nearest city | Nakhon Sawan |
| 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 dam project at Mae Wong River, although scientists have warned that it will make the tiger at risk. The dam will destroy around 1,760 hectares (17.6 square-kilometer) of about 900 square-kilometer national park of low-lying forest, the best habitat for wildlife, including the tiger. The new access roads could also make possibility of illegal activity.[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]
On 23 September 2013 Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said that construction of the dam will go ahead and will be completed despite opposition from conservation groups and local people.[4]
References
External links
- National Park Division
Mae Wong National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage
