Kaeng Tana Rapid

Kaeng Tana National Park is positioned in Khong Chiam District of Ubon Ratchathani Province. Basically the park is located on the Mun River in the northeastern part of Thailand. This IUCN Category II protected area was set up on 13 July, 1981. The park comprises of 80 square kilometer area. There are two routes to reach to the park. One route goes through Highway No.2222. If one goes through that track, s/he can enjoy the wonderful scenario of an island in the river. The other route goes through the National Park Office alongside Highway No.217. This wonderful park is the home to rising and falling hills and plateau. The highest mountain Khao Banthat is 543 m high. The mountain sides are decorated with grassland covering and deciduous dipterocarp forest. The headquarters of the park are located by the side of Tana Rapids on the Mun River. The natural features of the park include Kaeng Tana, the largest rapids of the Mun River; Lan Pha Phueng, a sandstone terrace; Don Tana, an island in the middle of the river; Tham Phra or Tham Phu Ma Nai, a cave; Namtok Tat Ton, a waterfall as well as Namtok Rak Sai Nature Trail. The park houses number of underwater caves where fishes of different species live. There is a large rock in the middle of Khong River which looks like an island. The climatic condition of the park area is not so hot like other parts of the country. Basically it is a monsoonal area. Both the summer and winter are not scorching or hitting at all. But it rains heavily during rainy season. So visitors would like to visit the park in a connecting period of rainy and cool season. The weather remains quite pleasant at that time. The park is rich in Flora and Fauna. The park is enclosed by deciduous forest which includes Shorea siamensis, Dipterocarpus obtusifollus and dwarf Shorea obtusa. There are some dry evergreen forests around Don prominence Tana and Huay Stream. The iety of plants includes Xylia kerril, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, teak, Eugenia cumini, grassland, and bamboo. Whereas the wildlife comprises of barking deer, wild pig, macaque, gibbon, civet, birds and fishes.