Mu Ko Phetra National Park

Mu Ko Phetra ( Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติ หมู่ เกาะ เภตรา ) is a Marine National Park at the junction of the Strait of Malacca in the Andaman Sea in Southern Thailand.

Geography and terns

The Mu -Ko - Phetra National Park consists largely intact shorelines, open sea and about 30 islands both in the northern part of the province of Satun and in the southern part of the province of Trang. It was opened on 31 December 1984 as the 49th National Park and the 14th Marine National Park of Thailand.

The largest part of the park (about 94.74 percent of the total of 494.38 km ²) are open water. The two largest islands in the park are Koh Phetra ( เกาะ เภตรา ), from which the park moved to its name, and Koh Khao Yai ( เกาะ เขา ใหญ่ ). On many islands of the park lay the endangered sea turtles from their eggs. In many places, is still a coral reef exist. Some islands have only small beaches, but rugged limestone formations.

In the caves of the limestone cliffs broods a Tern species whose nests are famous among gourmets. They are harvested by articulating men having to wade through adventurous scaffolding on the cave ceiling along. As the swallows' nests can achieve a very high price on the market, the islands are protected by armed guards.

Islands of Trang Province

  • Ko Lao Liang - actually two separate islands 300 m apart: Ko Lao Liang Nuea ( เกาะ เหลา เห ลี ยง เหนือ, Ko Lao Liang Nong also เกาะ เหลา เห ลี ยง น้อง ) the slightly smaller " northern " island and Ko Lao Liang Tai ( เกาะ เหลา เห ลี ยง ใต้, Ko Lao Liang also Phi เกาะ เหลา เห ลี ยง พี่ ) the slightly larger " southern " island. Both have only very small beaches and some caves where swallow nests are harvested. Around the island boasts shallow reefs for snorkeling.

Islands of Satun Province

  • Ko Phetra ( เกาะ เภตรา ) - an island with oddly shaped limestone rocks, in which many guarded nests of terns are. The waters around the island are popular diving spots.
  • Koh Lidi ( เกาะ ลิ ดี ) - quite a large island with a beach. Here is an office of the National Park Ranger, camping is possible.
  • Koh Khao Yai ( เกาะ เขา ใหญ่ ) - the largest island with a castle-like limestone rock formations. Part of the island is the Ao Kam Poo ( อ่าว ก้ามปู ), an approximately 700 m wide cove with a waterfall and a river. Here, the sea turtles come to lay their eggs.
  • Koh bulon ( เกาะ บุ โหลน ) - a very beautiful island with crystal clear waters and a coral reef, very popular with ( Thai ) tourists.

Beaches in Satun

  • Rawai Beach ( หาด รา ไว ) - not to be confused with the beach of the same name on the island of Phuket. It is about 3.5 km long and is located on the mainland. He is very popular as a campsite at Thai tourists.
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