Op Luang National Park

18°13′23″N 98°28′52″E / 18.22306°N 98.48111°E / 18.22306; 98.48111Area553 km² (214 sq mi)Established1991 (1991)^[1]Visitors42,708 (in 2019)Governing bodyDepartment of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Op Luang National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติออบหลวง) is a national park in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. It is home to a scenic river canyon, waterfalls, and caves.^[2]

Geography

Op Luang National Park is about 105 kilometres (70 mi) south of Chiang Mai in Chom Thong, Mae Chaem and Hot Districts. The park's area is 345,625 rai ~ 553 square kilometres (214 sq mi).^[3] It is contiguous with Doi Inthanon National Park. Like Doi Inthanon Park, Op Luang is in the Thanon Thong Chai Range.^[1]^[2]

History

Prehistoric paintings and other artefacts have been found in Op Luang National Park. The Doi Pha Chang area has a cliff painting of an elephant. Near Op Luang Canyon there are more rock paintings, as well as ancient jewelry and tools. Carbon-dating has indicated these relics to be about 28,000 years old.^[1]^[4]

The park was a forest park from 1966 to 1991. In 1991 Op Luang became Thailand's 68th National Park.^[1]

Attractions

The park's main attraction is Op Luang Canyon, carved out by the Mae Chaem River. The canyon is steep-sided and about 300 metres (1,000 ft) long.^[1]

Waterfalls include Mae Bua Kham, about 50 metres (160 ft) high; Mae Chon, about 80 metres (260 ft) wide and the year-round Mae Tia about 80 metres (260 ft) high. Thep Thanom is a hot spring in the west of the park.^[1]

Tham Tong is a granite and limestone cave leading to long tunnels. Tham Tu Pu cave features stalagmites and stalactites.^[1]^[2]

Flora and fauna

The park features forest types including mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp and evergreen. Tree species include Hopea odorata, Dipterocarpus alatus, Xylia xylocarpa, teak, Afzelia xylocarpa, Toona ciliata, Diospyros mollis, Terminalia alata and Lagerstroemia as well as various bamboos, palms and ferns.^[2]

Animal species include tiger, sambar deer, Asiatic black bear, common palm civet, large-spotted civet, Sunda pangolin, Phayre's leaf monkey, Siamese hare, Southwest China serow (now mainland serow), tree monitor, northern treeshrew, northern red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis) and wild boar.^[1]^[2]

Avian life includes vernal hanging parrot, scarlet minivet, white-rumped shama, spotted dove, greater coucal, hill myna, Siamese fireback, red junglefowl, shikra, falconet, red-whiskered bulbul, woodpecker, pheasant and partridge.^[1]^[2]^[5]

Location

Op Luang National Park in overview PARO 16 (Chiang Mai)

	National park
1	Doi Inthanon
2	Doi Pha Hom Pok
3	Doi Suthep–Pui
4	Doi Wiang Pha
5	Huai Nam Dang
6	Khun Khan
7	Mae Ping
8	Mae Takhrai
9	Mae Tho
10	Mae Wang
11	Namtok Bua Tong– Namphu Chet Si
12	Op Khan
13	Op Luang
14	Pha Daeng
15	Si Lanna

	Wildlife sanctuary
16	Chiang Dao
17	Mae Lao–Mae Sae
18	Omkoi
19	Samoeng

	Non-hunting area
20	Doi Suthep
21	Mae Lao–Mae Sae
22	Nanthaburi
23	Pa Ban Hong

	Forest park
24	Doi Wiang Kaeo

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Op Luang National Park.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Ob Luang National Park". Department of National Parks (Thailand). Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "National Parks in Thailand: Op Luang National Park" (PDF). Department of National Parks (Thailand). 2015. pp. 80–82. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
^ "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022, no 68{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^ "Op Luang National Park". Michelin Travel. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
^ Elliot, Stephan; Cubitt, Gerald (2001). The national parks and other wild places of Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. pp. 94–97. ISBN 9781859748862.