Thung Salaeng Luang National Park (, ) is a national park in Phitsanulok and Phetchabun Provinces of Thailand. It encompasses substantial portions of Wang Thong and Lom Sak Districts.
Topography The park consists of limestone hills, slate and hardpan at altitudes ranging from , Khao Khae is the highest point in the park. Thung Salaeng Luang is inlaid with meadows, especially in the southern portions of the park. The park is the source of numerous streams. There are large salt licks at Pong Sai in the northwest and Pong Thung Phaya in the southwest. The Wang Thong River flows through the park.
History Thung Salaeng Luang was proposed for inclusion in the national parks system In 1959. Thung Salaeng Luang was declared the 3rd national park in 1963, covering an area of . At the request of the Thai Army were withdrawn from the national park. That is why a "new" national park area was created in 1972. Thung Salaeng Luang was "reestablished" as a national park on 27 May 1975, covering an area of 789,000 rai ≈. From the late-1960s to the early-1980s, the park's forest was used as a base for guerrillas of the Communist Party of Thailand.
Flora The park features numerous forest types, including hill evergreen, conifer, tropical evergreen, dry evergreen, mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forest. Plant species have a significant variety: Evergreen species:
Dipterocarp species:
Deciduous species:
Flowering plant species:
Carnivorous plant species include:
Orchids species include:
Fauna The number of sightings in the park are: Mammals, include:
Birds, the park has some 170 species, of which some 115 species of passerine from 37 families, represented by one species:
and some 55 species of non-passerine from 20 families, represented by one species:
Reptiles, include:
Amphibians, include:
Fishes, include:
Butterflies, include:
Places
Namtok Kaeng Song - a high waterfall. Namtok Poi - a waterfall in Khao Krayang Forest park. Namtok Kaeng Sopha - a 3-tiered waterfall of the Wang Thong River. Namtok Phai Si Thong - a recently discovered 9-tiered waterfall. Namtok Kuhlab Daeng - a waterfall Lanphwai Kaeng Wang Nam Yen - a creek with hundreds of islets. Tham Duan and Tham Dao - caves. Tham Phra Rod-Maree - a cave. Tham Phra Wang Daeng - a long cave, habitat for millions of bats. Tham Sai-Ngarm - a cave. Thung Nang Phaya - a savanna, approximately . Thung Non Son - a grassland with pinery and forest flowers. Thung Salaeng Luang - a savanna, about .
Climate
The average annual temperature is , although temperatures often reach during late spring and early summer. The average annual rainfall is .
Malaria Historically, malaria has been a health issue in the park.
Effects of human presence Communist insurgents as well as hill tribes and other intruders have destroyed some of the park's flora and fauna over the years.
Location Thung Salaeng Luang National Park in overview PARO 11 (Phitsanulok) National park 1Khao Kho2 Khwae Noi3Lam Nam Nan4Nam Nao5Namtok Chat Trakan6Phu Hin Rong Kla7Phu Soi Dao8Tat Mok9Thung Salaeng Luang10Ton Sak Yai Wildlife sanctuary 11Mae Charim12Nam Pat13Phu Khat14Phu Miang-Phu Thong15Phu Pha Daeng16Tabo-Huai Yai
See also List of national parks in Thailand DNP - Thung Salaeng Luang National Park List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand
References and notes