| Mae
Surin Waterfalls |
|
| Mae Hong
Son, Thailand |
| Earth's Natural Wonders in
Asia |
| |
| Given national
park status in 1981, this natural
wonder, which straddles Mueang
and Khun Yuam districts, encompasses
a wildlife and botanical reserve,
a huge waterfall and a spectacular
terraced mountain.Namtok Mae Surin,
its main attraction, is 37 kilometers
from Khun Yuam district. It is
a huge waterfall cascading over
eighty meters down below. |
|
Nam Tok Mae Surin (Mae
Surin waterfall): A single jet of
water leaping off a cliff face and
plunging gracefully onto the rocks
100 meters below, Mae Surin waterfall
is one of the tallest and most beautiful
single tier waterfalls in Thailand.
The fall can be viewed from the hills
across the valley, or you can hike
down the hills for a closer look.
On the way to the waterfall, there
are Karen and Hmong hill tribe villages
as well as the famous Toong Buat Tong,
or fields of wild sun flowers, which
bloom for two weeks only in the month
of November.
Topography
Located in Mae Hong Son province,
Mae Surin national park covers 397
square kilometers of rugged terrain.
It was established in 1981 as the
37th national park of Thailand. The
park contains some of the main peaks
of Thanon Tongchai range with elevation
varying between 300 and 1,700 meters
above sea level. These highland gives
birth to numerous streams and small
rivers which are important tributaries
of the Pai river, the main river of
this region.
The three seasons of
northern Thailand offer varied conditions
within Mae Surin national park throughout
the year. With the mountain tops and
river valleys often wreathed in mist,
the cold season (November to February)
offers beautiful scenery, lush vegetation,
and comfortable temperatures for hiking
and camping. The temperature during
the hot season (late February to May)
can be somewhat oppressive in the
lowlands of Mae Hong Son with a mean
high temperature of 39ºC in the
month of April. Rainy season is normally
from June to October. This brings
the forest into vibrant life and fills
the rivers and their waterfalls to
full capacity. While nature is at
this time in its grandest state, hiking
along the mountains will be quite
difficult. Careful planning must be
done for safety. White water rafting
on Pai river is a popular activity
during the rainy season.
Drastic variations in
topography and soil types in this
region have created numerous habitat
types ranging from sparsely vegetated
stands of broadleaf deciduous to lush
stands of tropical evergreen forest.
Flora of interest are: increasingly
rare stands of teak, stands of temperate
pine, and a number of orchid and wildflower
species. Probable animal species present
in the park include Malay sun bear,
golden cat, common wild pig, barking
deer, and serow[2]
How to get there
Follow Highway 108 to Kun Yuam District,
a distance of about 60 kilometres.
From there, continue down the gravel
road for about 30 kilometres to the
park entrance.
Where to visit
The most popular attraction in Mae
Surin Waterfall is the single-level
waterfall which cascades down 100
metres from an overhanging cliff.
At 1,752 metres, Doi Pui Peak is ideal
for a walk in the fresh mountain air,
while some 12 kilometres away, the
picturesque grassy basin surrounding
Mae Surin has become a popular spot
for camping. The gravel road leading
to this area is accessible only in
the dry season. [3]
