Khao Sok, National park in Surat Thani Province, Thailand
Khao Sok is a national park in Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand, covering forested mountains, limestone cliffs, and the Ratchaprapha Reservoir. Trails wind through dense tropical rainforest where streams flow over moss-covered rocks and tall trees filter the light.
The national park was established in December 1980 to protect the remaining rainforests of the region from further logging. The Ratchaprapha Reservoir formed in the late 1980s when a dam was built for power generation, flooding parts of the forest area.
Villages around the park grow rubber and fruit while some residents work as guides, leading visitors through jungle paths and explaining plant uses. Floating raft houses on the lake serve as overnight stops for travelers exploring the reservoir by kayak or boat.
The entrance area has information boards, restrooms, and a desk where visitors can pick up trail maps or book boat tours. Most walking paths start near the lodges and range from one to several hours, depending on the chosen route.
Scientists discovered Scolopendra cataracta here, the first known amphibious centipede that hunts both on land and underwater. The species lives along stream banks and has been recorded at only a few sites worldwide.
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