Tham Pha Kong - NA0020
19.181098,101.044171
Location
In Doi Phuka National Park about 75km northeast of Nan. Take the H1256 east from Pua town following the signs to Doi Phuka National park. About 6 km before the park headquarters turn south on a steep track down to Ban Pha Rai. A well-developed trail leads from the back of the school to the cave entrance close to the bottom of the valley. The map in NATIONAL PARK OFFICE (2006) appears to have reversed the locations for Tham Pha Kao and Tham Pha Kong.
Description
There is a medium sized waterfall at the small cave entrance, which is 30 m up the other side of the valley. A series of small seasonally active chambers leads to a permanent spring and a shallow stream which disappears down a hole 20 m further on. Good examples of cave breccia can be seen in several places. The inner parts of the cave become progressively narrower and were not explored due to high CO2 levels. The cave is said to emit a booming sound like a bell ("kong") which is probably caused by pressure differences between the various chambers. The National Park close the cave during the rainy season from 1 May to 30 September.
Fauna
Trinemurodes bedosae Mendes, 2002 (Arthropoda, Insecta, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae) û type locality (Mendes 2002)
Documents
Bibliography 25/08/2020- +CUMMINGS, JOE (1999) "Thailand" 8th edition, Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd, Hawthorn, Victoria ISBN 0-86442-636-4 1032pp +DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 +Ellis, Martin (2015d) "Caves of Doi Phuka National Park" privately published, April 2015, 81pp +GOODDEN, CHRISTIAN (1999) "Around Lan-na" Jungle Books (Halesworth), England ISBN 0-9527383-1-7 434pp +MENDES, LUIS F. (2002) "New species and new data on Protrinemuridae and Nicoletiidae (Zygentoma) from Eastern Asia and Pacific Islands" Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. (n.s.) Vol. 38 No. 4 pp399-433 +NATIONAL PARK OFFICE (2006) "National Parks in Thailand" National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 280pp +SIDISUNTHORN, PINDAR; GARDNER, SIMON; SMART, DEAN (2006) "Caves of Northern Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.1 | Tham Nam Ook Ru [NA0054] | 91 | 2 |
| 10.6 | Tham Yok Wiman [NA0146] | 234 | 26 |
| 11.0 | Tham Sua Dao [NA0144] | 126 | 17 |
| 12.0 | Cave NA0052 | 150 | 8 |
| 12.5 | Tham Nan [NA0051] | 340 | 37 |
| 12.5 | Tham Lom [NA0050] | 184 | 13 |
| 12.5 | Tham Fak Thong [NA0077] | 482 | 22 |
| 13.9 | Tham Pha Kao - NA0053 | 256 | 28 |
| 16.2 | Tham Phra Charon - NA0016 |