Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is an archipelago in the gulf of Thailand consisting of 42 separate islands, the principle islands being;Phaluai, Wua Ta Lap, Mae Ko, Sam Sao, Hin Dap, Nai Phut and Phai luak. All the islands occur in Ang Thong district, of Amphur Samui, Surat Thani province. The park covers a total area of 102 sq.km of which about only 18 sq.km is land. The National park does not encompass the entire island chain, its jurisdiction covers about 82% of the total area. The park was established in November 1980. Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park consists of 42 islands. Its main islands are, for examples, Phaluai Island, Wua Chio Island, Wua Talap Island, Mae Ko Island, Samsao Island, Phai Luak Island, Kha Island, Hindap Island, Phi Island, Wua Kantang Island, Mae Yat Island, Wua Te Island, Naiphut Island, Changsom Island, Hanuman Island, Thaiphlao Island, Huaklong Island, and Kho Ban Island.Most of the islands consists of limestone mountains about 10-400 meters above sea level. Because the limestone can change its structure easily by both chemical condition and weather, so that makes the islands have many, strange-looking caves and cliffs, and some islands are looked like ancient Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Prasart Hin Pimai. Wua Talap Island Wua Talap Island situates in Kha Bay. The National Park Headquarters locates here. In front of the office is the white and clean beach appropriate for playing water and recreation. When going to the viewpoint at the top of the mountain, about 500 meters, traveler can see all of Ang Thong islands with strange-looking shape lay in-line on the sea. There is also Bua Bok Cave situated one kilometer from the office. It has beautiful stalagmite and stalactite, and is unique in its geology condition. Thale Nai Thale Nai or Lake in the Mountain situates in Mae Ko Island. It is a large natural pond surrounded by complicated limestone mountain. The area has under-water hole connected to the outer sea. There has been assumed that the limestone layer under the lake was sink so that cause the lake, this incident had been occurred simultaneously with the islands, or it might have been occurred by the change of chemical condition so did the caves. Samsao Island Samsao Island situates oposite Mae Ko Island. There have beautiful coral, natural stone bridge curve out into the sea, and white and clean beaches appropriate for camping and swimming to enjoy coral. Thaiphlao Island and Wua Kantang Island There are beautiful coral reef and white sand beaches in Thaiphlao Island and Wua Kantang Island. Nature Trails There are trekking trail about 500 meters called 'View Point Trekking Trail' located in Kha Bay in Wua Talap Island, and two boating trails called 'Studying Nature by Boat'. The first boating trail is about 600 meters surrounding Phi Island, and the second is about 2,200 meters between the beach of Kha Bay and the Nathap Beach. More over, there are three snorkeling route call 'Studying Nature Under Water'; about 200 meters long near Thaiphlao Island, about 150 meters long near Samsao Island, and about 150 meters long in Kha Bay in Wua Talap Island. |
