Doi Inthanon national park, located some 60 kilometers from Chiang Mai contains Thailand’s highest peak, the 2,565 meter high Doi Inthanon.
It is a place of great natural beauty, with mountain streams, a number of large waterfalls, several vegetation and forest types due to the differences in altitude and many animal species, especially birds.The lower parts of the park are limestone rocks that contain a number of caves, the higher part is granite. The park is an important source of rainwater for Central Thailand and feeds a number of rivers like the Ping river, the Mae Klang and the Mae Pakong river. Since the mid 1960’s the Bhumibol Dam in the Ping river generates hydroelectric power.
Doi Inthanon Mountain
Doi Inthanon mountain was named after the last ruler of Chiang Mai, King Inthawichayon. This King who died near the end of the 19th century was concerned with conservation of the forests of Northern Thailand, recognizing the importance of the forests as a source of rain water.
The park is home to a unique flora and fauna, due to its different altitudes. Near the top of the mountain, the much colder climate is very different from the rest of Thailand and supports a different ecosystem.
Due to the presence of hill tribes people who use the area for agricultural purposes and settlement, some parts of Doi Inthanon have been deforested.
Doi Inthanon