Khao Sok Information: The Limestone Karsts & Chiew Larn Lake

The Scan - International

Travel agency in Thailand

Khao Sok – Chieo Lan Lake & mountain history

Danish version

A ancient coral reef created unique shapes

The gate way to a land of mist and mountains

Khao Sok National Park, A true rainforest of origin - 2½ hours drive from Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang, Phang Nga, Khao Lak, Nature lovers paradise, wildlife, jungle, Art's river view lodge, Chiew Larn Lake, Rajjabrapa Dam, jungle raft, a dream land of mist and mountains

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Welcome

Bring the family together and discover an adventurous Khao Sok stay.

Imagine that you’re onboard a time machine that’s will take you 130 million years back in the earths evolution. Here you’ll begin a journey, among one of this planets most unique limestone formations. Back then, these mountains were part of an ancient sea, where corals formed mile thick lime sediment on the sea floor. 50 million years of increasing pressure transformed the soft lime into hard rock.

At the same time the earth’s continental plates started to shift towards each other, hence rising whole mountain chains from what used to be sea floor.

The new-formed mountains began to crack, allowing melting water from the end of the ice ages, to erode the rock. The softer parts were washed away forming huge crevices and caves.

This process is still going on with every drop of rainwater, releasing microscopically pieces of limestone onto the ever-growing stalagmites and stalactites. These in turn form the most amazing sculpture like structures.

In 1982 the opening of Rajjaprabha Dam took place – closing off the Pasaeng river and creating a 165 square kilometer lake, inside the National Park Boundaries. The waters from Chiew Larn Lake now generates electricity to the Surat Thani region and provides a steady flow of water to the farmlands in the dry season.

Today there’re more than a hundred beautiful islands on the Chiew Lan Lake. The lake is surrounded by Khao Sok National Park and together they are forming a wildlife sanctuary, which is one of the most exciting original rainforest habitats in all of Thailand. Here still roam big mammals, like elephants, tapirs as well as leopards, bears and wild boars. Tigers have not been observed for the last decades. It’s also home to numerous species of monkeys and gibbon apes. Here they still haven’t felt the heavy pressure from man. The 738 km 2 area reaches an altitude of almost 1000m above sea level and it’s common to see several species of hornbill, kingfishers and paradise birds.