Phu Pha Lek

Phu Pha Lek National Park covers about 406 km² in the Phu Phan Range of northeastern Thailand, mainly in Sakon Nakhon Province with smaller parts in Udon Thani and Kalasin. It was established in 2009 and is an IUCN category II national park^[1].

Mammals include wild boar, muntjac and sambar deer. Birds recorded include greater coucal, sooty-headed bulbul, scaly-breasted munia, plain prinia and lineated barbet^[1].

The park has dipterocarp, deciduous and evergreen forests, with species such as Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, Shorea obtusa and Shorea siamensis^[1].

The park lies in the Phu Phan Range, and its highest point is Phu Ang So at 695 m. Rock formations stand on the Lan Usa Sawan plateau^[1].

Like the rest of Isan, the area has a hot dry period followed by a monsoon rainy season, when its waterfalls run strongest.

Pha Paek Waen is a site of prehistoric rock paintings^[1].

The park was established in 2009^[1].

Pha Suriyan cliff is a viewpoint, the Lan Usa Sawan plateau has rock formations, Pha Paek Waen has prehistoric rock paintings, and the waterfalls include Kao Chan, Di Mi and Kaeng Kula^[1].

The nearest large city is Udon Thani, about 80 km away; the nearest town is Sawang Daen Din, about 25 km^[1].

The park is an IUCN category II area managed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, protecting forest on the Phu Phan Range watershed^[1].