Phu Ruea National Park

Phu Ruea National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติภูเรือ) is a national park in Loei Province, Thailand. The park is centred on Phu Ruea mountain, a popular, scenic peak in the Phetchabun Mountains.

Phu Ruea National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติภูเรือ
IUCN category II (national park)
View from Phu Ruea peak
Park location in Thailand
LocationThailand
Nearest cityLoei
Coordinates17°30′53″N 101°20′41″E
Area121 km2 (47 sq mi)
Established1979
Governing bodyDepartment of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Geography

Phu Ruea National Park is 52 kilometres (32 mi) west of Loei town in Nong Bua Sub-district, Phu Ruea District and also Tha Li District.[1][2] The park's area is 121 square kilometres (47 sq mi).[3]

Phu Ruea mountain is 1,365 metres (4,478 ft) high and experiences some of Thailand's coldest temperatures. In December and January temperatures here can fall below freezing. Phu Ruea means "boat mountain", a name inspired by the shape of a cliff at the peak.[3]

Other peaks within the park include Phusun at 1,035 metres (3,396 ft) and Phuku at 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).[4]

Attractions
South side of Phu Ruea peak

The park's main attraction is the peak of Phu Ruea mountain offering views of the Mekong and Hueang rivers and into Laos.[1]

The park has numerous waterfalls, the highest of which is the Huai Phai waterfall at 30 metres (100 ft) tall. Pha Sam Thong is a large cliff.[1]

Flora and fauna

Types of forest in the park include mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp, dry evergreen and coniferous. Plant species include orchids such as Phalaenopsis pulcherrima, Rhynchostylis retusa and various Vanda and Dendrobium species as well as various rhododendron such as Rhododendron simsii and Rhododendron lyi.[1][5]:127–128

Animal species include sun bear, northern red muntjac, sambar deer, dhole, black giant squirrel and Siamese hare. Bird life in the park includes red junglefowl, Siamese fireback, yellow-vented bulbul, greater coucal, plain prinia, coppersmith barbet, Asian barred owlet as well as Brown-throated sunbird.[5]:126 The endangered big-headed turtle is present in the park.[1]

References
  1. "National Parks in Thailand: Phu Ruea National Park" (PDF). Department of National Parks (Thailand). 2015. pp. 150–151. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  2. "Phu Ruea National Park". Tourism Authority of Thailand. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. Williams, China; Beales, Mark; Bewer, Tim (February 2012). Lonely Planet Thailand (14th ed.). Lonely Planet Publications. pp. 476. ISBN 978-1-74179-714-5.
  4. "Phu Ruea National Park". Department of National Parks (Thailand). Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  5. Elliot, Stephan; Cubitt, Gerald (2001). THE NATIONAL PARKS and other Wild Places of Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. ISBN 9781859748862.
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