Caves of Northern ThailandMore caves have been reported in the eight northern provinces of Thailand - Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan and Phrae - than in any other region. The most extensively surveyed area is Pang Ma Pha district in Mae Hong Son province where 176 caves have been recorded. As a result of expeditions by the French many new endemic troglobitic species have been discovered. Accounts by early European travellers such as Carl Bock have also provided useful information. Nevertheless many caves remain to be unexplored. Thus the 100 caves selected for this book are only a small percentage of the 2,000 or so caves in Northern Thailand. They include many of the most spectacular wild caves, the famous temple caves and archaeological sites. The book covers all aspects of caves including their geology, environment, archaeology, temples and folklore as well as giving tips on their safe exploration and photography. 900 colour illustrations |
Common terms and phrases
animals archaeological artifacts bamboo Ban Rai Ban Rai Overhang bats Buddha burial calcite calcium carbonate cave entrance caves in Northern caves in Thailand Chedi Chester Gorman cliff crystals Dean Smart deposited Dilokvanit 2000 STD Doi Chiang Dao doline entrance chamber example excavation flash floor flowstone fossils guano Highland Archaeology Project Holocene Homo erectus Huai Bon human Kaew karst Khao km south Lampang leads limestone log coffins Luang Mae Hong Mae Hong Son Mae Sai monks Muang National Park natural Northern Thailand outflow Pang Kham Pang Ma Pha Pha Thai Phra phreatic Phum pottery prehistoric rimstone river rock paintings sections sediment solution species speleothems Spirit Cave stalactites stalagmites steep stone tools stream passage surface temple caves Tham Chiang Dao Tham Lod Tham Long Tham Mae Lana Tham Pha Daeng Tham Tab Tao tourist troglobitic underground vadose visitors walls