View source for Phetchabun Mountains

{{Short description|Mountain range in northern Thailand}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name=Phetchabun Mountains
| photo=Thailand 467 phu hin ronkl np.jpg
| photo_caption=View over the Phu Hin Rong Kla area
| country= Thailand
| subdivision1_type= Provinces
| subdivision1= {{hlist|[[Phetchabun Province]]|[[Phitsanulok Province]]|[[Loei Province]]|[[Chaiyaphum Province]]}}
| parent= [[Luang Prabang Range|Luang Prabang Mountains]] (western section)
| borders_on= {{hlist|[[Luang Prabang Range]]|[[Dong Phaya Yen Range]]}}
| geology= {{hlist|[[Sandstone]]|[[granite]]}}
| orogeny=
| length_km= 190
| length_orientation= N/S
| width_km= 110 
| width_orientation=E/W
| highest=[[Phu Thap Boek]]<ref>[[Google Earth]]</ref>
| elevation_m=1794
| range_coordinates= {{coord|16|26|N|101|9.1|E|type:mountain_region:TH|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates= 
| map_image=Isaanmountains.svg
| map_caption=Physical map of [[Isan]]
}}
The '''Phetchabun Mountains''' ({{langx|th|ทิวเขาเพชรบูรณ์}}, {{RTGS|''Thio Khao Phetchabun''}}, {{IPA|th|tʰīw kʰǎw pʰét.tɕʰā.būːn|pron}}) are a [[mountain massif]] in [[Phetchabun Province|Phetchabun]], [[Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok]], [[Loei Province|Loei]] and [[Chaiyaphum Province]]s, [[Thailand]]. It consists of two parallel mountain chains, with the valley of the [[Pa Sak River]] in the middle.

The strange rock formations of Phu Hin Rong Kla and fields where the [[Curcuma alismatifolia|Siam tulip]] flower (''Curcuma alismatifolia''), known as ''dok krachiao'' (ดอกกระเจียว) in [[Thai language|Thai]], grows wild are some of the characteristics of the Phetchabun Mountains.

==Geography==
The mountain system as a whole is named after the city of [[Phetchabun]] which lies within the mountainous area. To the south and southeast lie the [[Dong 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 the [[Luang Prabang Range]]. The eastern range separates the broad [[Chao Phraya]] river basin of [[central Thailand]] from the [[Khorat Plateau]] of [[Isan]]. The northward-flowing [[Loei River]], a tributary of the [[Mekong]], has its sources in the eastern range.

The southern limit of the Phetchabun massif is not clearly defined, roughly beginning south of the [[16th 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 the '''Phang Hoei Range''' in some geographical works,<ref>''Britannica'' Khorat Plateau</ref> a name that encompasses the whole northern section of the Dong Phaya Yen mountain system, for [[Khao Phang Hoei]] is a 1,008 m high summit west of [[Chaiyaphum]] 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 high [[Phu Thap Boek]].<ref>[http://www.oceansmile.com/N/Phetchabun/Tabberk.htm Phu Thap Buek - Cabbage farms]</ref> Other important peaks are [[Khao Nam Ko Yai]], [[Phu Kradueng]], [[Phu Luang]], [[Phu Ruea]], and [[Phu Lom Lo]].

[[Geology|Geologically]], the mountains consist of [[limestone]], interfused with [[slate]] and [[sandstone]]. A few [[igneous rock]]s are also found: [[granite]], [[basalt]] and [[Porphyry (geology)|porphyry]].

==History==
Historically the long mountainous system of the Phetchabun-[[Dong Phaya Yen Mountains|Dong Phaya Yen]]-[[Sankamphaeng Range|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 high [[Khao Kho]] (เขาค้อ) and Phu Hin Rong Kla became an occasional battleground.<ref>[http://www.sjonhauser.nl/phu-hin-rong-kla.html Phu Hin Rong Kla, bizarre rock formations and montane forest]</ref> At that time insurgents of the [[Communist Party of Thailand]] established their base in hidden mountain locations and fought skirmishes against the [[Thai Army]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neverseenthailand.com/ThailandAttractions/khao-kor-travel-guide.php |title=Khao Ko |access-date=2009-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601095718/http://www.neverseenthailand.com/ThailandAttractions/khao-kor-travel-guide.php |archive-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{wide image|2013 Phetchabun mountains.jpg|750px|Panoramic view of the Phetchabun Mountains in the [[Khao Kho District]] area}}

==Protected areas==
Several protected areas, including [[National parks (Thailand)|national parks]], forest parks and wildlife reserves are located in these mountains. In 2005 these were accepted by the [[UNESCO]] as a possible future addition to the [[World Heritage]] list.
Besides these protected areas, some forest parks are also located within the area of the range:
*[[Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park]]
*[[Namtok Chat Trakan National Park]],<ref>[http://www.protectedplanet.net/sites/Namtok_Chat_Trakan_National_Park Namtok Chat Trakan National Park]</ref>
*[[Nam Nao National Park]]
*[[Phu Ruea National Park]]
*[[Phu Kradueng National Park]]
*[[Suan Hin Pha Ngam Park]]<ref>[http://www.guide-thailand.com/locate/671-SuanHinPhaNgamorthecityofKunmingit..html Suan Hin Pha Ngam - Khunming] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310183851/http://www.guide-thailand.com/locate/671-SuanHinPhaNgamorthecityofKunmingit..html |date=2013-03-10 }}</ref>
*[[Phu Pha Man National Park]]
*[[Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary]]
*[[Thung Salaeng Luang National Park]]
*[[Tat Mok National Park]], located at the boundary of the Phetchabun mountain range with the [[Dong Phaya Yen Mountains]].

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=150>
File:Khek River in Wang Thong.jpg|The [[Khek River]] in [[Wang Thong District]]
File:Border of Phetchabun.jpg|The heights of the range between Phetchabun and Phitsanulok
File:Kho Mountain.jpg|[[Khao Kho]] Mountain
File:Beautiful Khao Kho.JPG|Temple in [[Khao Kho District]]
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090216221928/http://thaiforestbooking.com/nationalpark-eng.htm Thailand's National Parks - Royal Forest Department]
*{{WWF ecoregion|id=im0121|name=Luang Prabang montane rain forests}}
*[http://www.oceansmile.com/N/Phetchabun/Tabberk.htm Phu Tabberk - Cabbage farms]

{{Mountain ranges of Thailand}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Phetchabun Mountains| ]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Thailand]]
[[Category:Geography of Loei province]]
[[Category:Geography of Phitsanulok province]]
[[Category:Geography of Phetchabun province]]
[[Category:Geography of Chaiyaphum province]]
[[Category:Isan]]