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. The park was established on 26 July 1979.^[1]

Phu Ruea National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติภูเรือ
IUCN category II (national park)
View from Phu Ruea peak
Location	Loei Province, Thailand
Nearest city	Loei
Coordinates	17°30′53″N 101°20′41″E
Area	121 km2 (47 sq mi)
Established	26 July 1979
Visitors	169,643 (in 2019)
Governing body	Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP)

Geography

South side of Phu Ruea

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.^[2][3] The park's area is 75,525 rai ~ 121 square kilometres (47 sq mi).^[4]

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.^[5]

The peak of Phu Ruea offers views of the Mekong and Hueang Rivers and Laos.^[2] The park has numerous waterfalls, the highest of which is the Huai Phai waterfall at 30 metres (100 ft). Pha Sam Thong is a large cliff.^[2]

Other peaks within the park include Phusun at 1,035 metres (3,396 ft) and Phuku at 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).^[6]

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.^{[2][7]: 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.^[7]: 126 The endangered big-headed turtle is present in the park.^[2]

See also

• List of national parks of Thailand
• List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand

References

1. "Phu Ruea National Park" (PDF). Ratchakicha.soc.go.th. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
2. "National Parks in Thailand: Phu Ruea National Park" (PDF). Department of National Parks (Thailand). 2015. pp. 150–151. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
3. "Phu Ruea National Park". Tourism Authority of Thailand. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
4. "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022, no 16{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
5. Williams, China; Beales, Mark; Bewer, Tim (February 2012). Lonely Planet Thailand (14th ed.). Lonely Planet Publications. pp. 476. ISBN 978-1-74179-714-5.
6. "Phu Ruea National Park". Department of National Parks (Thailand). Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
7. Elliot, Stephan; Cubitt, Gerald (2001). THE NATIONAL PARKS and other Wild Places of Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85974-886-2.