Mae Wa National Park

Mae Wa National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วะ
IUCN category II (national park)
Park location in Thailand
Location	Thailand
Nearest city	Tak
Coordinates
Area	587 km2 (230 sq mi)
Established	17 November 2000 (2000-November-17)
Governing body	Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Mae Wa National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วะ) is a national park in Thailand's Lampang and Tak provinces. This mountainous park features scenic mountain viewpoints, waterfalls and caves.

Geography

Mae Wa National Park is located about 60 kilometres (40 mi) north of Tak in the Thoen and Mae Phrik districts of Lampang Province and the Sam Ngao and Ban Tak districts of Tak Province. The park's area is 587 square kilometres (230 sq mi). The northern section of the park consists of high mountains while the central and southern sections consist of a high mountain plain.

Attractions

The park namesake Mae Wa waterfall is a 12-level waterfall originating from Doi Prae Luang mountain and whose waters eventually join the Wang River.

The park features numerous cave systems including Tham Phra Chedi, notable for hosting a pagoda-shaped stalagmite, and Tham Nampha Pha Ngam, a large cave also featuring stalagmites and stalactites.

Flora and fauna

The park features numerous forest types, including deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp, evergreen and coniferous forest. Tree species include Burmese ebony, Lagerstroemia calyculata, Dalbergia oliveri, Afzelia xylocarpa, Takian, Anisoptera costata, Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, Dipterocarpus obtusifolius, Sumtran pine and Khasi pine.

Gaur

Animal species include tiger, gaur, Asiatic black bear, sambar deer, barking deer, wild boar, Siamese Hare and palm civet.

File:Glaucidium cuculoides - Mae Wong.jpg

Asian Barred Owlet

Bird life includes Asian barred owlet and coucal.