Mu Ko Chang National Park
The National Park Mu Ko Chang ( in Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติ หมู่ เกาะ ช้าง ) is a National Marine Park in the Gulf of Thailand in the extreme east central Thailand. The park was declared on 31 December 1982 to the National Park.
Location and topography
The park lies at the edge of the Sunda plateau ( see: Sunda Trench ), it consists of a chain of more than 50 islands and islets, about 8 km south of the coast of Trat province. The park has an area of 651 km ², of which there are only 192 km ², or about 30 percent of the country.
The area is quite rainy, the average rainfall per year is 3,200 mm. It is August with 690 mm of the wettest, with no precipitation in December is the driest month. The hottest month of the year is April, be achieved in the average of almost 34 ° C, the coldest months are December and January with an average temperature of 22 ° C.
The underwater visibility is generally good, however, is the intense gem mining on the coast in some places the water is increasingly cloudy.
Flora and Fauna
Ko Chang is the only national park in which an extremely species-rich type is encountered evergreen rain forest, which is characteristic of Southeast Thailand and southern Indochina. Therefore, the Royal Forestry Department shall endeavor to establish another park in the province of Trat on the Thai- Cambodian border, which has a similar forest type. However, this forest is threatened on the Cambodian side of deforestation by Thai traders.
The waters of the parks have a wide variety of hard - and an abundance of colorful soft corals, sea fans and giant clams ( Tridacna gigas). The abundance of fish is not as great as for example in the Andaman Sea or the western Gulf of Thailand.
The fact that about four generations many islands of Thai - Chinese people have been populated, the operated extensive agriculture, only a handful of wild animals can be observed. Nevertheless, to have been spotted in Koh Chang wild bears.
In a study in 1994, it was found that two types of sea turtles, the hawksbill turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) and probably the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) occur on certain islands to lay their eggs, but there are official data (still) not available (see links).
In the park the following rare bird species to have been observed: Frühlingspapageichen ( Loriculus vernalis ), Rotkopftrogon ( Harpactes erythrocephalus ), the Malabarhornvogel ( Anthracoceros coronatus ) and the furrows Hornbill ( Aceros undulatus), the Brown -throated Sunbird ( Anthreptes malacensis ) and two types of Bulbuls ( Hair birds).
Main islands
- The main island, after which the park is named, Ko Chang ( เกาะ ช้าง ) to Phuket is the second largest island of Thailand. It is 30 km long and 8 km wide. The inhabitants subsisted by fishing or traditional cultivation of coconut and different fruits. Especially on the west coast there are long, sandy beaches, while the interior is mountainous. A mountain range with several peaks runs parallel to the coast along the island. The highest elevation is the Khao Yai with 743 m. About 70 percent of the island were still covered in 1990 with rainforest, which was largely safe from deforestation across the steep terrain. There are several rivers that are very clear by the frequent rain, and always carry water. The main rivers of the island are Khlong Son, Khlong Mayom, Khlong Khangkhao, Khlong Bang Bao, Khlong Phrao, Khlong nonsi and Khlong Chaiyachet. Due to the high mountains and the many waters there are also numerous waterfalls, such as the Than Mayom, Khlong Phlu, Khlong nonsi, Khiri Phet and Khlong Nung falls.
- Ko Chang Noi ( เกาะ ช้างน้อย ) is located on the northwest tip of the park. The island consists mostly of rock, some coral reefs are located at Laem Chang Noi (Chang Noi Cape ).
- Ko Lao Ya ( also Ko Laoya - เกาะ เหลา ยา ), accessible by boat from Laem Ngop on the mainland in about two hours, has some tourist resorts on the beautiful sandy beaches with clear water. There are also some coral reefs.
- Ko Wai ( เกาะ หวาย ), located just south of Ko Lao Ya, it can be achieved with the same ferry. The coast has no great beaches, but mainly rocky shore. The main attraction is the large coral reef not far from the shore, which is to show the most beautiful and largest coral around.
- Ko Rang (also Ko Rung, actually Ko Rang Yai, หมู่ เกาะ รัง - หมู่ เกาะ รัง ใหญ่ ) is located about 18 km south of the main island of the park. There are no hotels or bungalows, however, it is possible to camp. In caves on the island annually edible swallows' nests are collected.
- Khlum Ko ( Ko Kloom, Koh Kloom - เกาะ คลุ้ม )
Smaller islands
- Ko Ma Pring ( เกาะ มะปริง ) - at the northwestern tip of Ko Chang
- Ko Yuak ( เกาะ หยวก ) - due west before Ko Chang
- Salak Khok Ko ( เกาะ สลัก คอก ) - just east of Ko Chang
- Ko Ngam ( เกาะ งาม ) - in front of the south-eastern tip of Ko Chang
- Ko Phrao Nai - in Ao Hat Chang Bay, southern tip of Ko Chang
- Ko Mai Si Yai ( เกาะ ไม้ ซี้ ใหญ่ ) - southeast of Ko Chang
- Ko Mai Si Lek ( เกาะ ไม้ ซี้ เล็ก ) - southeast of Ko Chang
- Ko Bai Tang ( เกาะ ใบ ตัง ) - southeast of Ko Chang
Just outside the park
The following islands are not, strictly speaking more to the park:
- Ko Mak ( Ko Maak and Ko marrow or, เกาะ หมาก ) is the nearest large island south of Koh Chang. It is mainly composed of coconut tree groves. However, more and more land is being provided for resorts because of the convenient location - the north is the most beautiful part of Ko Chang, Ko Khut in the south lies the most beautiful beaches of the park. Ko Mak has a beach in the northwest and some corals.
- Ko Kham ( เกาะ ขาม ) - northwest of Ko Maak
- Ko Kra Dad (also Ko Kradad, เกาะ กระดาด ) is mostly flat and uninteresting. It is visited only because of the beaches. Coral reefs are located around the island, which is why they can be reached at low tide hardly.
- Ko Nok Nork ( เกาะ นก นอก ) - directly north of Ko Kra before Dad
- Ko Nok Nai ( เกาะ นก ใน ) - directly north of Ko Kra before Dad
- Ko Kut ( Koh Kood - เกาะ กูด )
- Ko Raet ( เกาะ แรด ) - just west front of Ko Kut