Ao Phang Nga National Park
Ao Phang Nga National Park | |
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Ao Phang Nga National Park | |
Map of Thailand | |
Location | Phang Nga Province, Thailand |
Nearest city | Phang Nga |
Coordinates | 8°21′0″N 98°29′0″E / 8.35000°N 98.48333°E |
Area | 400 km2 (150 sq mi) |
Established | 29 Apr 1981 |
Visitors | 175,562[1] (in 2011) |
Governing body | National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department |
Official name | Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park |
Designated | 14 August 2002 |
Reference no. | 1185[2] |
Ao Phang Nga National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติอ่าวพังงา) is in Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. It includes coastal sections of Mueang Phang Nga District and Takua Thung District.[3] Most of the park consists of an area of the Strait of Malacca studded with numerous limestone tower karst islands.[4] The best known of these islands is Khao Phing Kan, popularly called "James Bond Island" because it was used as a location for the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun.
The dramatic appearance of the islands with their sheer sides has made the area a popular tourist attraction.[1] The park also protects the largest area of native mangrove forest remaining in Thailand.[3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Sunset_from_above_Phang-nga.jpg/220px-Sunset_from_above_Phang-nga.jpg)
History
The park was created by royal decree and announced in the Royal Gazette under proclamation number 98, section 64, 29 April 1981.
Environment
The effects of mass tourism on the park prompted Fodor's Travel to place the park on their "No List" for 2018, suggesting that tourists skip the park in order to allow it to recuperate from being loved to death.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Tourism Statistic". Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- ^ "Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Ao Phang-nga National Park". National Park website. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Thailand: Ko Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island), Ao Phang Nga (Phangnga Bay) National Park, Phang Nga Province". Pictures from History. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Fodor's No List 2018". Fodor's Travel. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Ao Phang Nga National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage
- IUCN Category II
- National parks of Thailand
- Protected areas established in 1981
- Geography of Phang Nga Province
- Tourist attractions in Phang Nga Province
- 1981 establishments in Thailand
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations heritage parks
- Marine protected areas of Thailand
- Southern Thailand geography stubs