| Phetchabun Mountains | |
|---|---|
 View over the Phu Hin Rong Kla area | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Phu Thap Boek[1] |
| Elevation | 1,794 m (5,886 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 190 km (120 mi) N/S |
| Width | 110 km (68 mi) E/W |
| Geography | |
 Physical map ofIsan | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Provinces | |
| Range coordinates | 16°26′N101°9.1′E / 16.433°N 101.1517°E /16.433; 101.1517 |
| Parent range | Luang Prabang Mountains (western section) |
| Borders on | |
| Geology | |
| Rock types | |
ThePhetchabun mountains (Thai:ทิวเขาเพชรบูรณ์,RTGS: Thio Khao Phetchabun,pronounced[tʰīwkʰǎwpʰét.t͡ɕʰā.būːn]) are amountain massif inPhetchabun,Phitsanulok,Loei andChaiyaphum Provinces,Thailand. It consists of two parallel mountain chains, with the valley of thePa Sak River in the middle.
The strange rock formations of Phu Hin Rong Kla and fields where theSiam tulip flower (Curcuma alismatifolia), known asdok krachiao (ดอกกระเจียว) inThai, grows wild are some of the characteristics of the Phetchabun Mountains.
The mountain system as a whole is named after the city ofPhetchabun which lies within the mountainous area. To the south and southeast lie theDong Phaya Yen Mountains. Both sections of the Phetchabun massif are parallel and of a similar length, extending in a roughly north-south direction. The western range is a prolongation of the southern end of theLuang Prabang Range. The eastern range separates the broadChao Phraya river basin ofcentral Thailand from theKhorat Plateau ofIsan. The northward-flowingLoei River, a tributary of theMekong, has its sources in the eastern range.
The southern limit of the Phetchabun massif is not clearly defined, roughly beginning south of the16th parallel north where both ranges become a group of scattered mountains of lesser height, rarely surpassing 800 m, extending southwards. The eastern mountain chain is mentioned as thePhang Hoei Range in some geographical works,[2] a name that encompasses the whole northern section of the Dong Phaya Yen mountain system, forKhao Phang Hoei is a 1,008 m high summit west ofChaiyaphum town, beyond the southern end of the Phetchabun Range proper in the northern Dong Phaya Yen.
The highest elevation of the Phetchabun mountains is 1,794 m highPhu Thap Boek.[3] Other important peaks areKhao Nam Ko Yai,Phu Kradueng,Phu Luang,Phu Ruea, andPhu Lom Lo.
Geologically, the mountains consist oflimestone, interfused withslate andsandstone. A fewigneous rocks are also found:granite,basalt andporphyry.
Historically the long mountainous system of the Phetchabun-Dong Phaya Yen-Sankamphaeng formed a barrier between Isan and the Central Plain. Until recently few roads crossed the system.
During the period between 1968-1982 the area around 1,143 m highKhao Kho (เขาค้อ) and Phu Hin Rong Kla became an occasional battleground.[4] At that time insurgents of theCommunist Party of Thailand established their base in hidden mountain locations and fought skirmishes against theThai Army.[5]
Several protected areas, includingnational parks, forest parks and wildlife reserves are located in these mountains. In 2005 these were accepted by theUNESCO as a possible future addition to theWorld Heritage list.Besides these protected areas, some forest parks are also located within the area of the range:
Media related toPhetchabun Mountains at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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