Doi Inthanon (, ) is the highest mountain in Thailand.
Today, the summit of Doi Inthanon is a popular tourist destination for both foreign and Thai tourists, with a peak of 12,000 visitors visiting the summit on New Year's Day. In addition to a range of tourist facilities on the summit, there is a weather station operated by the Royal Thai Air Force, with the Thai National Observatory also based there.
Geography
Doi Inthanon is the highest peak of the Inthanon Range () of the Thanon Thong Chai Range, a subrange of the
Shan Hills in the
Thai highlands stretching southwards from the Daen Lao Range. This range, the southwesternmost of the
Shan Highland system, separates the
Salween watershed from the
Mekong watershed. Other high peaks of the Daen Lao Range are Doi Luang Chiang Dao (), Doi Pui (), and
Doi Suthep ().
In 1954, the forests around Doi Inthanon were conserved, creating Doi Inthanon National Park, as one of the original 14 national parks of Thailand.
On the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon, near the Karen people hill tribe village, Ban Sop Had, are the Wachirathan waterfalls (), where the Wachirathan (lit. "Diamond Creek") tumbles over a granite escarpment. ()
Climate
The climate is typically tropical and fairly cool on the summit of Doi Inthanon. In the winter, the average temperature is in January and temperatures can sometimes drop below . On 21 December 2017, an all-time low temperature of was recorded at 06:30 at km 44.4.
From March to June, temperatures are pleasant, especially at higher altitudes. The rainy season runs from April to November when it sometimes rains for more than two hours daily.
Geology
Geologically the mountain is a
granite batholith in a north–south oriented mountain range. The second-highest peak of this range is Doi Hua Mot Luang at .
Environmental issues
In 2014, visitors to the mountain left behind of rubbish.
Places
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On the summit of Doi Inthanon stands a stupa that contains Inthawichayanon's ashes.
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On the main road to the summit of Doi Inthanon stand two adjacent stupa, one called Naphamethinidon (นภเมทินีดล), meaning 'by the strength of the land and air', and the other, Naphaphonphumisiri (นภพลภูมิสิริ), meaning 'being the strength of the air and the grace of the land'. These temples were built to honor the 60th birth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1987, and the 60th birth anniversary of Queen Sirikit in 1992, respectively.
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Kio Mae Pan Nature Trail
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The Inthanon Royal Project Research Station: The agricultural station was a King Bhumibol Adulyadej project to help eliminate opium cultivation. It contains a rhododendron garden, and greenhouses for growing ferns, flowering plants, and vegetables.
==Gallery==
See also
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List of mountains in Thailand
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List of Southeast Asian mountains
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List of ultras of Southeast Asia
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Doi Inthanon rock frog
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List of elevation extremes by country
External links
