Topography of Phitsanulok province
Topographical features within the Phitsanulok Province of Thailand include the Phetchabun Mountains, the Nan River and several of its tributaries, waterfalls, swamps, forests, grasslands, caves, a reservoir and an extensive network of canals. Populated areas of the province are largely cleared of natural vegetation and adapted for farming. The land in the province is in the Greater Nan Basin, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The province includes land within both of the greater Nan basin's sub-basins, i.e., the Nan Basin and Yom Basin.[1] The provincial capital of Phitsanulok is sometimes called Song Kwae, the "city of two rivers", an ancient name dating to a time centuries ago when the Nan and Khwae Noi Rivers met near the city. These two rivers of the Phitsanulok Province are still of major significance to the residents of the region.
Mountains
editThe Phetchabun Mountains run through the province, and provide the source of several of the rivers and streams flowing through the region.
Caves
editThere are a substantial number of caves located within the province.[2]
Forest
editMost of Phitsanulok's forested areas are in the east of the province within Phitsanulok's national parks. The total forest area is 3,949 km2 (1,525 sq mi) or 37.3 percent of provincial area.[3]
Grasslands
editThere are several natural meadows or thung preserved in the province's Thung Salaeng Luang National Park.[4]
Agricultural land
editThe majority of inhabited lands in Phitsanulok (i.e., outside the national parks) have been largely cleared of their natural vegetation and adapted for agricultural use, primarily rice farming. As a result, several of the indigenous species of plant life in the region have become endangered.
Major rivers
editThe principal rivers that flow through the province belong to the Nan River System. The following tree indicates the positions of the province's rivers in the Nan tributary tree:
Streams
editMinor rivers and streams that flow through Phitsanulok Province include the Fia, Kaem, Kap, Pak, Kleung, Bang Kaeo, Grung Grak, Ban Mung, and Tarai Yoi.
Waterfalls
editAt least nine waterfalls or namtok lie within the borders of the province:
Rapids
editMost rapids in the province are on the Wang Thong River. Kaeng Wang Nam Yen Rapids lie within Thung Salaeng Luang National Park.
Canals
editThe farming industry of Phitsanulok is supported by an extensive network of irrigation canals called khlong, which connect the farms to the Nan River and its tributaries.
Lakes
editSwamps
editThere are a number of swamps or bueng in Phitsanulok province. The most significant of these swamps are:
- Bueng Thakreng (Thai: บึงตะเคร็ง)
- Bueng Laman (Thai: บึงละมาน)
- Bueng Kee Raeng (Thai: บึงขี้แร้ง)
- Bueng Rachanok
References
edit- ^ Basins in Thailand Archived June 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Caves of Phitsanulok Province Archived November 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019
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: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ National parks in northern Thailand
- ^ a b c d Namtok Chat Trakan National Park Archived 2008-01-11 at the Wayback Machine