Tarutao National Park

Tarutao National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Ko Yang
Location in Thailand
Location	Satun Province, Thailand
Nearest city	Satun
Coordinates	6°35′43″N 99°38′41″E / 6.59528°N 99.64472°E / 6.59528; 99.64472Coordinates: 6°35′43″N 99°38′41″E / 6.59528°N 99.64472°E / 6.59528; 99.64472
Area	1,490 km²
Established	19 April 1974

Tarutao National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติตะรุเตา) consists of 51 islands in the Strait of Malacca, off the coast of Satun Province of southern Thailand.^[1] The Tarutao National Park consists of two island groups: Tarutao (Thai: หมู่เกาะตะรุเตา, Thai pronunciation: [mùː kɔ̀ʔ tàʔ.rúʔ.taw] or [ta.ru.taw]) and Adang-Rawi (Thai: หมู่เกาะอาดัง-ราวี, Thai pronunciation: [mùː kɔ̀ʔ ʔaːdaŋ raːwiː]), which are scattered from 20 to 70 kilometres distance from the south-westernmost point of mainland Thailand. The park covers an area of 1,490 square kilometres (1,260 ocean, 230 island). The southernmost end of the park lies on the border with Malaysia. Tarutao became Thailand's second marine national park on 19 April 1974. The coastal Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park had been designated in 1966.

The name "tarutao" is a Thai corruption of its original Malay name, "pulau tertua", "old, mysterious, and primitive island."^[1]

Ko Tarutao was the setting for Survivor: Thailand, the 2002 season for the reality television series, Survivor. The Philippine version of the series was also set there six years later.

Main (larger) islands

There are essentially nine islands of note in the Tarutao/Adang-Rawi archipelagos:

Tarutao Archipelago (approximately 30 km off the Thai coast)

Ko Tarutao (Thai: เกาะตะรุเตา) - The largest of the islands, Ko Tarutao is 26.5 km long, and 11 km wide. The highest point is over 700 m. Forest covers over 70 percent of the island.

Klang Archipelago (approximately 38 km off the Thai coast)

Ko Klang (Thai: เกาะกลาง), Ko Khai (Thai: เกาะไข)เกาะไข, Ko Ta-Nga (Thai: เกาะตางาห์)

The Adang/Rawi group of islands (approximately 50 km west of Tarutao)

Ko Adang (Thai: เกาะอาดัง), Ko Rawi (Thai: เกาะราวี), Ko Lipe (Thai: เกาะหลีเป๊ะ), Ko Butang (also written as Tong or Dong; Thai: เกาะดง), Ko Lek (Thai: เกาะเหล็ก)
In the Adang Archipelago, the small (4 km²) island of Lipe is the most important. With water available year-round, it is the home of the largest permanent settlement, of approximately 800, and the gateway for boat transportation in and out of the Adang group.

History

The park was established in 1974. In 1982, it was listed as one of the original ASEAN Heritage Parks. It was also submitted to UNESCO for inclusion to the World Heritage in 1990, but its listing was deferred at the fifteenth session of the World Heritage Committee in 1991. UNESCO requested stronger management of the area.^[2] The rivers and swamps of Tarutao Island were the last known refuge for the saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, within Thailand. The species is now extinct in the area.

The oldest surviving eyewitness description of the island dates from December 1606 and January 1607 and is contained in the travelogue of the Dutch East India Company Admiral Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge.^[3] In the late-1930s the island was used as a penal colony for Thai political prisoners.^[4] During World War II, when support from the mainland was cut off, the guards and prisoners banded together and raided ships sailing through the waters near the island. The raids were masterminded by an American plantation owner who blamed the war for the loss of his fortune. He was assisted by two British non-commissioned officers who were on the run for murder and who ironically landed on Tarutao to sit out the war. They sank 130 ships, always killing everyone on board. After the pirates of Tarutao were eradicated by British forces at the end of the war, fishermen and farmers took up residence on the island.^[1]

Attractions

Son Bay (Ao Son) is the only bay on the west side of Tarutao National Park and is known as a place where turtles come to lay their eggs. Its longest beach is about 200 meters. There is a canal dividing the private beach from the public beach.
Luu Doo Waterfall on Son Bay is the only waterfall in Tarutao National Park. Underwater it is full of rock formations. Luu Doo Waterfall is three kilometres from Tarutao National Park.
Pantaemaraka Gulf has many pine trees and a clean white beach. Pantaemaraka Gulf is becoming a popular tourist attraction. Facilities in Pantaemaraka gulf are tents, home stay, camping, and house boating.
Crocodile Cave is 300 meters deep. Tourists going to Crocodile Cave must go by long-tail boat (15 minutes) from Pantaemaraka Gulf and on the way to Crocodile Cave they can see mangrove forest.

Additional images

References

1 2 3 "Tarutao National Park". Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
↑ "Report of the Rapporteur". Paris: UNESCO, Bureau of the World Heritage Committee. 10 Jul 1991. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
↑ Peter Borschberg (2015). Journal, Memorials and Letters of Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge. Security, Diplomacy and Commerce in 17th-Century Southeast Asia. Singapore: NUS Press. Retrieved 30 Aug 2015.
↑ Duncan Stearn (January 17–23, 2003). "A Slice of Thai History: Tarutao: island of prisoners and pirates". Pattaya Mail. Pattaya: Pattaya Mail Publishing Co. XI (3). Retrieved 23 Jun 2013. In 1937 the Thai government constructed a prison on the island of Tarutao, one of a group of islands administered by the southern province of Satun.

External links

Ko Tarutao travel guide from Wikivoyage
Ko Lipe travel guide from Wikivoyage

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tarutao National Marine Park.

Website of the national park

National parks, forest parks and wetlands in Thailand

National parks	Budo-Su-ngai Padi Chae Son Chaloem Rattanakosin Doi Inthanon Doi Khun Tan Doi Luang Doi Pha Hom Pok Doi Phu Kha Doi Phu Nang Doi Suthep-Pui Erawan Hat Khanom - Mu Ko Thale Tai Huai Nam Dang Kaeng Chet Khwae Kaeng Krachan Kaeng Krung Kaeng Tana Khao Khitchakut Khao Kho Khao Laem Khao Lak–Lam Ru Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang Khao Luang Khao Phanom Bencha Khao Phra Wihan Khao Sok Khao Yai Khlong Lan Khlong Phanom Khlong Wang Chao Khuean Srinagarindra Khun Chae Khun Khan Khun Nan Kui Buri Lam Nam Nan Lan Sang Mae Charim Mae Ping Mae Wa Mae Wong Mae Yom Mukdahan Nam Nao Nam Phong Namtok Chat Trakan Namtok Mae Surin Namtok Phlio Namtok Sam Lan Op Luang Pa Hin Ngam Pang Sida Pha Daeng Pha Taem Phu Chong–Na Yoi Phu Hin Rong Kla Phu Kao–Phu Phan Kham Phu Kradueng Phu Pha Man Phu Phan Phu Ruea Phu Sa Dok Bua Phu Sang Phu Soi Dao Phu Toei Phu Wiang Ramkhamhaeng Sai Thong Sai Yok Salawin Si Lanna Si Nan Si Phang-nga Si Satchanalai Sirinat Ta Phraya Tai Rom Yen Taksin Maharat Tat Mok Tat Ton Thale Ban Tham Pla–Namtok Pha Suea Than Sadet–Ko Pha-ngan Thap Lan Thong Pha Phum Thung Salaeng Luang Wiang Kosai

Marine national parks	Ao Phang Nga Phang Nga Bay Hat Chao Mai Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet Khao Sam Roi Yot Laem Son Mu Ko Ang Thong Mu Ko Chang Mu Ko Lanta Mu Ko Phetra Mu Ko Similan Mu Ko Surin Tarutao

Forest parks	Khao Kradong Phae Mueang Phi Phu Chi Fa Phu Langka Phu Phra Bat Buabok Pranburi Sa Nang Manora

Wetlands	Bueng Boraphet Don Hoi Lot Krabi River Estuary Kraburi River Estuary Phayao Lake Kuan Ki Sian of the Thale Noi Non-hunting Area

ASEAN Heritage Parks

Brunei	Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park

Cambodia	Preah Monivong National Park Virachey National Park

Indonesia	Gunung Leuser National Park Kerinci Seblat National Park Lorentz National Park

Laos	Nam Ha National Protected Area

Malaysia	Gunung Mulu National Park Kinabalu National Park Taman Negara National Park

Myanmar	Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Inlay Lake Wetland Sanctuary Khakaborazi National Park Lampi Island Marine National Park Mein-ma-hla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary Nat Ma Taung National Park

Philippines	Mount Apo Natural Park Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park Mount Makiling Nature Reserve Mount Malindang Range Natural Park Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Singapore	Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Thailand	Ao Phang Nga National Park Kaeng Krachan National Park Khao Yai National Park Tarutao National Marine Park

Vietnam	Ba Bể National Park Chư Mom Ray National Park Hoàng Liên National Park Kon Ka Kinh National Park U Minh Thượng National Park

Association of Southeast Asian Nations Centre for Biodiversity

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