Khun Phawo National Park

Khun Phawo National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติขุนพะวอ
IUCN category II (national park)
Park location in Thailand
Location	Tak Province, Thailand
Nearest city	Tak
Coordinates	17°2′18.676″N 98°37′39.799″E / 17.03852111°N 98.62772194°E / 17.03852111; 98.62772194
Area	397 km2 (153 sq mi)
Established	2009
Visitors	10,307 (in 2019)
Governing body	Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Khun Phawo National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติขุนพะวอ) is a national park in the Mae Ramat District, Tak Province, Thailand.^[1]

The national park, with an area of 247,957 rai ~ 397 square kilometres (153 sq mi)^[2] consists of mountains of 350–905 metres elevation. The park is the source of many streams, including Huai Mae La-mao, Huai Mae Charao, Huai Phrawo, Huai Mae Kasa, Huai Mae Kit Luang, Huai Pha-so, Huai Sa-muen Luang, Huai Samae, and Huai Mae Ra-mat, which flow into the agricultural areas of Mae Sot District and Mae Ramat District in Tak Province.^[3]

The park was originally called "Mae Kasa National Park" and was later changed into "Khun Phra Wo National Park" in honour of Phra Wo, a Karen soldier in the Thonburi period. He was appointed as the head of La Mao customs house to defend his nation's independence till his death on the battlefield which was in the area of Khun Phra Wo National Park.^[1]

It is cool and breezy throughout the year at an average temperature of 21 °C. The average highest temperature is 20 °C. The lowest temperature is 8 °C. The average rainfall is 1,676 mm per year.^[3]

There are various kinds of forests within the area of the national park, including mixed forests, virgin forests, and dense forests. Major plants include Indian mahogany, teaks, Dipterocarpus tuberculatus (pluang), Lithocarpus cantleyanus (kor), Lagerstroemia (tabaek), Terminalia chebula, Afzelia xylocarpa, ebony, Millettia pendula (ka-jaw), Terminalia arjuna (rokfa), and Xylia xylocarpa (redwood plants).

Wild animals found in the park include Muntiacus Muntjak, wild boars, bears, langur, flying squirrel, gibbons, cobra, king cobra, rabbits, squirrels, tree shrews, red junglefowls, and Asiatic golden cats.

• Namtok Khun Phawo (น้ำตกขุนพะวอ) A large waterfall around 100 m high and an origin of Huai Mae Charao (Mae Charao Creek).
• Huai Mae Lamao (ห้วยแม่ละเมา) This large creek is in an unspoiled forest, offering whitewater rafting on rubber dinghies.
• Nature Trail (เส้นทางเดินศึกษาธรรมชาติ) The walking path goes up and down the fairly steep hills, and passes along the river upstream and a small waterfall. During the period of change from the rainy to cool season, colourful wild flowers can be seen. The greenery is dotted with strikingly red Krathue (Boesenbergia prainiana) and yellow Mexican sunflowers.
• Namtok Pha Thewa (น้ำตกผาเทวะ) It is on the nature trail and the most remarkable waterfall of the park. With a height of 150 m, the powerful flow falls against boulders and the pool below. In the woods, there is a pagoda containing cremated bones of a heartbroken woman who hung herself.
• Tham Mae Usu (ถ้ำแม่อุสุ) This cave is around 12 km from the Tha Song Yang District Office to the north. To the west, there is a gigantic hollow rock. In the afternoon, rays of sunlight illuminate the cave.
• Namtok Thung Nang Khruan (น้ำตกทุ่งนางครวญ) A medium-size waterfall with small layers of flowing water amid a shady forest. It receives water from a canal beside rice fields.

Khun Phawo National Park in overview PARO 14 (Tak)
National park 1 Doi Soi Malai 2 Khun Phawo 3 Lan Sang 4 Mae Moei 5 Namtok Pha Charoen 6 Ramkhamhaeng 7 Si Satchanalai 8 Taksin Maharat   Wildlife sanctuary   9 Mae Tuen 10 Tham Chao Ram 11 Thung Yai Naresuan East 12 Umphang      Non-hunting area 13 Tham Chao Ram   Forest park 14 Namtok Pa La Tha 15 Phra Tat Huai Luek 16 Tham Lom–Tham Wang 17 Tham Ta Kho Bi

• List of national parks of Thailand
• List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand