Similan Islands

Similan Islands ( Thai: หมู่ เกาะ สิ มิ ลัน, Mu Ko Similan ) is a group of nine islands in the Andaman Sea off Phangnga province called in Thailand. Your name is derived from the Malay word " sembilan " (nine). The uninhabited islands, together with two other islands of the National Park Mu Ko Similan. The sea around the Similan Islands is valid for snorkeling as scuba diving is one of the most beautiful areas worldwide.

• 2.1 Flora and Fauna 2.1.1 Flora
• 2.1.2 Fauna

• 3.1 Ko Bangu
• 3.2 Ko Similan
• 3.3 Ko Payu
• 3.4 Ko Hin Pousar or Ko Hua Kalok
• 3.5 Ko Haa
• 3.6 Ko Miang
• 3.7 Ko Payan
• 3.8 Ko Payang
• 3.9 Ko Huyong

Geography

Most of the water surface is part of the Andaman Sea and thus to the eastern part of the Indian Ocean. The archipelago is located in a 24 km long, running in a north-south direction chain approximately 70 km off the coast.

Geology

The islands consist of granite, they were formed by rising lava in the Tertiary ( about 65 million years ago). Its present form they have obtained by the action of glacial glaciers and the forces of the sea. The islands have some high and steep mountains, which consist of medium- biotite - muscovite - biotite - hornblende granite and granite. The highest elevation is 244 meters. The seabed between the islands is on average 60 to 80 feet deep, the increase to the beaches is different depending on the direction: to the west of the island towards the ocean rocky, very steep and steep with boulders and caves, in the direction of the mainland in the east with flatter slopes to large coral reefs and sandbanks. Accordingly, the transition into the sea: mud loose beach coves with very fine white and clean sand alternate with a variety of rock formations.

Climate

Average fall 3560 mm of rain annually. The precipitation is offset by an evaporation rate of 1708 mm. The rainy season lasts from mid-May to October. The southwest monsoon brings strong winds and then high rainfall, with the highest average rainfall of 540 mm in September. For safety, the National Park each year is closed from 16 May to 31 October for visitors. The tourist season from December to April is dry and pleasant, in January and February there is virtually no rainfall. The high summer lasts from mid-February to mid-May. The average annual temperature is 27 ° C with an average humidity of nearly 83 %. The hottest month is March with an average of 34.4 ° C, while there is an average temperature of 24.3 ° C in the coolest month of November. The water temperature varies between 30 ° C in summer and 28 ° C in winter.

Tide

The tidal range is specified as follows

Impact of the tsunami

The Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent tsunami on 26 December 2004 were the largest such disaster in human history: An earthquake of magnitude 9 to 9.3 on the Richter scale with waves that were up to 35 meters high and had an impact up to 5000 km away. Regarding the geomorphology, shoreline and sediment transport had therefore expected to have significant effects on the Similan Islands. A field study of seven to nine weeks after the tsunami, however, showed that the waves have left on the surface of the islands far less destruction than on the mainland (for example in Khao Lak ): The coastal strip was hardly changed and only slightly sediments were washed away. One suspects the reasons in the specific mechanism of this earthquake that triggered by the huge quake area a relatively small shock pulse to the water masses. In addition, the shallow waters in the earthquake zone, and the depth of the sea shore land of the affected zones can be held responsible: The shallow depth west of the islands had already weakened the wave energy significantly. The tsunami differs significantly from the sequences of many prehistoric tsunamis during the Holocene in the region of the Atlantic Ocean. Underwater, however, many corals were broken and covered by sand, particularly the dive sites " Christmas Point " (Island 9) and "Deep Six" off the island of Seven (Island 6 forms with island 5 anchor bay east of the island 4) and around the island nine. It was the first time a high volume of an unknown fungal infection ( the soil fungus Aspergillus sp.) Detected at Anella - Fächergorgonien that only partially regenerated again. Volunteer divers helped with the cleaning, give scientists a destruction rate of between 30% and 80%. The consequences of the natural disaster are examined in long-term studies by the United Nations program. For the province of Phangnga, the study of representative 72 study sites, 29% of the coral intact, 39 % less and 32% had moderate or severe damage, the damage taken significantly lower proportions had as originally feared.

Mu Ko Similan National Park

The National Park Mu Ko Similan ( Thai: หมู่ เกาะ สิ มิ ลัน ) is a national park in the province of Phang Nga, Southern Thailand. It is named after the archipelago of nine Similan Islands that make up the National Park along with two other islands. The Marine National Park was established on 1 September 1982 as the 43rd National Park in Thailand.

Flora and Fauna

Flora

In the forests on the islands of the forest beach going inland into the tropical rainforest. Important species are Manilkara sp. (see also Breiapfelbaum ), Cordia subcordata and Tournefortia argentea.

Fauna

Much of the seabed around the islands is covered by coral reefs, which is inhabited and formed of coral and sea anemones. The survival of the complex ecosystem based on the symbiotic relationship with the algae Zooxanthelle that converts sunlight into nutrients. For this, however, certain environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, light and wave activity must be right. There are stony corals, gorgonian fan, soft corals, lobsters, crabs, squid, sponges, sea cucumbers and giant clams. Among the many luxurious coral reef fish include the butterfly fish, clown fish, angelfish, grunts and tilefish, even yellow lip sea snakes are found.

Topography of the islands

The islands of the chain are numbered from south to north, but also carry their own with Ko beginning dede ( for island in Thai ), Thai name. Your description in detail from north to south:

Ko Bangu

Ko Bangu (pronounced Ko Ba - Ngu, Thai: เกาะ บา งู ), or " Island of Nine " ( Ko Kao, เกาะ เก้า ) is a popular diving object; on the north- western end of the northern Similan island there are the so-called " Christmas Point " ( คริสต์ มั ส พ อย ต์ ), a rock formation surrounded by soft corals and sea fans, between which pelagic fish are to be found. The water depth is between 20 and 35 meters, the highest point is 90 meters. The maximum extent from east to west is 1.3 km, from north to south 900 meters.

Ko Similan

Ko Similan ( Thai: เกาะ สิ มิ ลัน ) is the eponymous island. It is also called " Island of eight " ( Ko Paed, เกาะ แปด ) and is equipped with five square kilometers, the largest of the nine islands with the highest elevation and several bays. The sand is white and the snorkeling very possible. The rock formation " the sail " ( หิน เรือ ใบ ) is a landmark of Similan Islands and can be climbed. From the rock offers a lovely panoramic view of the bay Ao Kueak ( อ่าว เกือก ). The average depth of the sea is about 25 meters, the maximum extension of 4.5 km in north-south and 1.6 km in the east-west direction. The National Park Service offers on this island accommodation. To the west of the island, the "Fantasy Rocks " or " Fantasea Reef" are one of the most popular dive sites for scuba divers in six to 40 feet Depth: underground rock, complete with soft corals, crinoids and gorgonian fans covered and populated by fish: guitar fish, coral groupers, grunts, snappers, blue triggerfish and lionfish in the reef walls, mackerel and trevally in the sea in front.

Ko Payu

Ko Payu ( Thai: เกาะ ปา ยู ), also called " island six " ( Ko Hok, เกาะ หก ), has on the eastern side of one of the most popular because most species-rich dive sites. There are both stone and soft corals, sea fans and many types of floating fish in shoals. The island has no beach, its highest elevation is 116 meters, it is 700 m wide and 1.3 km long.

Ko Hin Pousar or Ko Hua Kalok

Ko Hin Pousar ( Thai: เกาะ หิน ปู ซาร์ ), also called " island seven " ( เกาะ เจ็ด ), another name " Ko Hua Kalok " ( lit. Skull Island, incorrectly written Huwagralok in Thai: เกาะ หัว กะโหลก ) is an approximately 400 m wide and 300 m long elephant head -shaped granite rock. Below this cliff divers find six to 36 meters deep caves and rock holes and other unique underwater rock formations and creatures such as blue spotted rays and flags tail Partnergrundeln, blennies and thread worm.

Ko Haa

Ko Haa ( Thai: เกาะ ห้า ) is approximately 200 by 200 meters in size and has to have a huge underwater rock that is covered with soft corals. In the immediate vicinity of conger eels can be observed, which stuck her head out of the sandy ocean floor about 32 meters deep.

Ko Miang

The Miang Island ( Thai: เกาะ เมียง ) is "Island Four " (Koh Sii, เกาะ สี่ ) and seat of the National Park Service with a small information center to the islands in the bay of Haad Yai ( หาดใหญ่ ). Your sandy beach is located in the center of the island before the administrative and accommodation buildings. In addition to on tents there is a fresh water source, a restaurant with an attached small shop and boat rental service. A trail leads through the tropical rainforest with information boards about the flora and fauna. The path also opens up the 128 meter high summit, leads to the second bay of Haad Lek ( หาด เล็ก ) on the east side of the island. Here numerous boats moored overnight. The island is about two miles long and 1.2 km wide.

Ko Payan

Ko Payan (also: Ko Pa - Yan, Thai: เกาะ ปา หยัน ) or " three island " ( Ko Saam, เกาะ สาม ) is approximately 400 m wide, 300 m long and has to have no special features. To the east lie the "Shark Ridge Rocks " rock peaks that harbor several species of sharks, including the whitetip reef shark, the leopard shark and silvertip sharks.

Ko Payang

Ko Payang (also: Ko Pa Yang, Thai: เกาะ ปา ยัง ), or " two island " ( Ko song, เกาะ สอง ) is a wedge-shaped island, which is almost two kilometers long, ten feet high and 500 feet wide. She has to have no special features and no diving spots.

Ko Huyong

The Huyong Island ( Thai: เกาะ หู ยง ) number one ( Ko Nueng, เกาะ หนึ่ง ), is closest to the island of Phuket and has the longest white sand beach of the island group. This section is closed for tourists but because it is a place for oviposition of protected green turtle. Thai Marines take care of in a separate station to the eggs. The nests are dug up and guarded in protected terrain until the young turtles are large enough to be discharged into the sea. The seabed of the 102 m high, 1.8 km long and 700 m wide island is here ten to 15 feet deep, it grow soft, hard and fan corals. The shallow depth allows the sun's rays penetrate to the bottom of what has a rich submarines life result.

Diving tourism

The water quality and visibility, which extends to a depth of 30 meters, as well as flora and fauna of the islands attract many divers. The best time to visit are the months between November and April. In the months of May to October, the park is closed - on the one hand for safety reasons due to the high waves, on the other hand, to allow regeneration of the national park.

The tsunami in 2004, according to a survey also left its mark: Was there in December 2004 or 65 dive operators, were only 42 remained fully operational in April 2005. The following season, the remaining 35 organizers had by the lack of tourists decreased by an average of 40.5 to 63.6 5% on dive days, compared to an average season notice. The dive boats involved in the impact of the tsunami on rescues, care, and repair of facilities.

The border between nature conservation in the National Park and intensive diving tourism is quite narrow, with diving in the coral reef can both contribute to the destruction how to preserve. The examined in a study of impact on the setting of divers was very different: the perception of the effects of diving changed after the dive that prevailed educative influence: the negative impact of the armature and the rubbish on the corals were almost 30 % of the divers perceived. The possible positive consequences of diving were judged less by day trippers. Did the diver damage, they were more willing to participate in projects to Rifferhaltung. The need for and benefits of educating tourists could be confirmed. In their leaflets, the National Park Authority is to inform visitors about the vulnerability of coral and its inhabitants for external influences, which already studies were made, who examined the willingness of tourists to participate financially in the protection of nature and the management of the National Park.

The currents around the Similans are considerable. Single and multi- day tours are offered, night dives are popular. There are ten proven deep dive sites. Boats usually start from the nearest port Thap Lamu, but also of the about 100 km southeast to Phuket Island. You can reach the islands in about 1 ½ to about 3 ½ hours. In addition to private tour providers there is also a regular bus forming ferry boat to the mainland and smaller boats for transport between the islands. In the popular bays of the islands also anchor overnight several boats.

Most divers to stay right on the ships (Liveaboard with filling the air tanks). On the islands, four and eight, the National Park Service provides showers, toilets and accommodation from stone bungalow with air conditioning up to the tent. Outside these accommodations camping is prohibited for conservation reasons.