This comprises some 40 islands about 20 kilometres or two hours by boat northwest of Ko Samui. The park covers 250 square kilometres, of which approximately one fifth is land mass. The most attractive islands include Ko Wua Ta Lap, Ko Mae Ko, Ko Prayat, Ko Sam Sao, Ko Nai Put and Ko Wua Te. Most islands comprise limestone masses reaching heights of up to 400 metres, and fringed by beaches and rain forest.
An emerald saltwater lake known as Tha-le Nai (Inland Sea) on Ko Mae Ko is the parks major scenic attraction, and entails a mildly strenuous climb. The resultant views are well worth the effort. Another popular venue is Ko Sam Sao where an extensive span of coral reef and a huge rock arch offer scenic fascination.
The park office is on Ko Wua Ta Lap where bungalow-style accommodation is available. Visitors wishing to stay overnight should make advance bookings and specify whether meal services are required, either through the Ang Thong Marine National Park office, 145/1 Talatlang Road, Surat Thani. Tel: 0 7728 6025 or 0 7742 0225.
from : http://www.tourismthailand.org
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park :
General Information 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 on 12th November 1980.
Geography :
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.
Climate:
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park has been influenced by monsoon that causes big waves and heavy rain, approximately 2,000 mm. of rain all the year round, and the temperature is approximately 23 oC. The appropriate time for visiting the islands is between February and April, although the temperature is quite hot but the sea is calm suitable for sailing. During monsoon (November and December) in the Gulf of Thailand always have big waves and windy. Traveling to Ang Thong National Park, Surat Thani Province is not safe. Thus, National Park office announced for temporary closing during 1 November - 23 December every year.
ECOLOGY :
The sea around Mo Koh Ang Thong is about 10 m. in deep. Since the archipelago is located near the mainland, it receives sedimentai contamination from the Tapee River. Sunlight cannot thoroughly penetrate the waters,which is a limiting factor in the control of photosynthetic life such as, carals and other underwater plants.However,many other marine creatures are adapted to this environment, and they still live forage, shelter and breed here.On land , the park supports several type of forest and wildlife such as,
Dry Evergreen forest covers the lage island of Koh Wua-talap, Koh Paluai, and Koh Saamsao. An important plant in the park, Ang Thong Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Paphiopedilum x Ang Thong), is an endemic species found only in Mu Koh Ang Thong.
Beach Forest, spares forest growing along the beaches and foothills near the shore. There is little of this type left.
Limestone Mountain Forest. Consists of flora found in limestone crevices with little or no soil. They dry tolerant, and slow - growing species such as Dracaena loureira, Malayan Spurge Tree Euphorbia antiquarum, a Morinda tinctoria
Of Mangrove Forest there is very little, some can be seen on the muddy beach in the inner sea and some in the bays the east of Ko Paluai. They have all been planted.
Mu Koh Angthong National Marine Park is located 35 kilome- tres to the west of Koh Samui and covers 42 islands in a total area of 102km2 of which only 18km2 is land.
Established on the 12th of November 1980 the name ‘Ang Thong’ means ‘bowl of gold’, while ‘Mu Koh’ simply means group of islands. The park has also been registered at the Ramsar Convention since 2002, which is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands.
Tour companies like Highsea Tour have been taking tourists to see this amazing national park for over twenty years and kindly in- vited Somui Community Magazine along for the day to experience a real sea adventure.
Shortly after 8am, everyone arrived at the departure point in minibuses and taxis from their respective hotels. After handing in ou tickets, we all filed carefully acros the rickety old cast iron roller bridge which had been slid over the gap between pavement and boat. A hot cu of tea or coffee, sandwich and sam fruit were waiting for us on boarc as people settled themselves for th ride to Angthong.
It’d been raining a little a we left the hotel, but moods quid ly lifted when five minutes out sea the clouds starting clearing reveal a bright blue tropical sky Some people settled themselve down in the large cabin for a littl nap whilst others hung around th boats edge waiting for a glimpse some marine life. We were quickly rewarded when we spotted what seemed to be a flying fish aboat 20 metres from our boat, jumpin in and out of the water as he mac his way across the sea
It was nearly 10am when hundreds of islands that had previously dotted the horizon were standing tall before us, as we slowly made our way to the main and largest island. There was an eerie silence as we drew closer and closer to the beach and many people pulled out their cameras to take close ups of these looming giants before us.
The guide explained via loudspeaker that we would be staying here for two hours and could either go kayaking, snorkel- ling, trek to the viewpoint or simply chill on the beach. The anchor was dropped and we were piled into a team of longtail boats and were taken to shore. Koh Hua Dta Lap, or Sleeping Cow Island, is the main island in the park, where you can also find the park office.
Arriving on the island a group of us decided to challenge ourselves and trek to the viewpoint. The guide had said we should al- low around an hour and a half to get there and back, but we were confident that he was giving us a conservative estimate and we’d be able to do it a lot quicker than that. Ve were, after all, still fit and young.
Up the shore and to the left we Found a wooden sign post pointing upwards which read ‘Trek up Pha JunJaras Nature Trail’ and off we went. The guide had laughed at me and my flip flops when I’d told him I was going to trek to the
The sea around Mo Koh Ang Thong is about 10 m. in deep. Since the archipelago is located near the mainland, it receives sedimentai contamination from the Tapee River. Sunlight cannot thoroughly penetrate the waters,which is a limiting factor in the control of photosynthetic life such as, carals and other underwater plants.However,many other marine creatures are adapted to this environment, and they still live forage, shelter and breed here.On land , the park supports several type of forest and wildlife such as,
