Ob Luang National Park ,chiangmai vacations ,Thailand

Ob Luang National Park is an amazing attraction comprising both splendid natural charms as well as mysterious scenery. Under a bridge connecting the two sides of the narrow, steep gorge, a zigzagging river flows, framed by teak forests and mountains. During the rainy season, the flowing rapids crashing on the boulders and through the ravine are a dramatic picture of nature's strength. Subject to erosion by the strong currents of the river, the rocks and cliffs form the canyon and strangely shaped rock formations. The water has to force its way over rocks and boulders that obstruct the course making a magnificent sight.

The National Park covers a total area of 553 square kilometers of steep forested granite hills, adjoining the much higher mountains of Doi Inthanon Park to the northwest. The elevation ranges from 200 meters to 1,656 meters along the Mae Jaem River to the northeast. The national park forms the watershed of Mae Jaem River the main water tributary of the Mae Ping River. The area is full of high, steep cliffs with a narrow passage creating strong currents and powerful echoes. The mountain ranges were all formed by the same folding winds in the Cretaceous and Triassic periods yielding granite, granodiorite and mitmatile granite.

The river rushes through the dramatic Ob Luang Gorge, the National Park's central feature. In English, "ob" and "Luang" in northern Thai language means canyon and grand respectively. The narrow ravine with sheer sides and a raging torrent at the bottom is a good reason a visit. The informative exhibition of the nature trail in the national park office offers a fantastic introduction to the uses of northern Thailand's forest by humans during the stone age to the present day as well as vertigo-inducing views of the gorge.

The mountain (or Doi) of Pa Chang has soaring brownish black cliffs of mitmatile granite that resemble a sleeping elephant. Here is a view point from which can be seen beautiful Mae Bua-Come Waterfall below. The cave was the home of prehistoric people who painted their daily life style as well as the elephant in different colors on the rocks.