Hin Thoep Rock Formation

Famue Daeng Cave

Tham Phra Waterfall

Wang Duean Ha Waterfall

Pha Sai/ Lot Cave

Pha Manao

Pha Ngoi

Pha Oot

Lan Muchalin

Huai Sing Reservoir

           The terrain consists of steep continuous mountain ranges, namely Phu Nang Hong, Phu Tham Phra, Phu Lang Se, Phu Hin Thoep, Phu Mak Yang, Phu Pong, Phu Mano, and Yod Phu Chom Si is the highest peak, which is approximately at 420 meters above mean sea level. The conditions are rocky mountains,with wide and long rock slabs overlaying on one another forming various shapes, steep cliffs. The soils are sandy. It is the source of many rivers such as Ta Luek Creek, Sing Creek, Sabai Creek, Rua Creek, Bon Creek, Chang Chon Creek, Khai Creek and Male Creek etc. Geology: Phu Pha Thoep National Park is a beautiful national park and outstanding in terms of geomorphology. Most of the soils are sandy. The soil series found in the area of Phu Pha Thoep National Park include the Satuk soil series, and the Warin soil series. The general condition features Rocky Mountains interspersed with sparse forest and towering karst. The stone courtyard and the stone clusters overlaying on top of each other in different ways are beautiful scenery.

            Soil characteristics: The area of the Phu Pha Thoep National Park consists of 2 types of soils. First, Red Yellow Podzolic soil is formed by light-colored igneous rocks or by old alluvial deposits on the terraced plains, or in the foothills, the lower soil are red or yellow, clearly display an accumulation of clay particles, has a weak acidic reaction, a relatively low saturation value and has good drainage but relatively low fertility. Another type of soil is grain podzolic soil, very old soil, was severely eroded by water, formed by old alluvial deposits or by sandstone, coarse-grained, and low-organic, high and too highly drainage, there are minerals that are still decaying, low soil palatability, acidic reactions and low nutrients.

             The land of Phu Pha Thoep National Park mostly contains sandstone mountains and belongs to Khorat Group, the Sao Khua Formation, the Phra Wihan Formation, and the Phu Phan Formation. This group of rocks originated in the Mesozoic Era, aged 120-95 million years, formed by continental sediments and are widely spread in the northeastern part of Thailand, commonly known as the Khorat Plateau (the Khorat Plateau), including the Phu Pha Thoep National Park. Each formation has the following distinctive features:

             - The Sao Khua Formation generally features siltstone and sandstone, but mostly sandstone. Sandstone is often grayish red or reddish brown mixed with specks of greenish gray. Some layers can be grayish-green or light green. Some layers of sandstone are dull gray, similar to the colors of salt and pepper mixed together. The rest can usually be reddish-brown or yellowish-brown, purple, brown, grayish-purple, grayish purple, and reddish-brown, bright red, fine to medium-sized, loamy, can hold together well, some layers contain mica and gravel, and there are oblique layers. In general, with occasional gravel layers.

             - The Phra Wihan Formation is a durable group of sandstone mixed with silk stone. It also includes thick layered silt, round pebbles, and stones mixed with gravels, both durable and non-degradable to decay. It was formed during the Jurassic period. 

             - The Phu Phan Formation is formed in the Lower Cretaceous. It is resistant to corrosion and decay naturally. Therefore, these rocks are often found in form of solid rock formations or on the peaks of the Northeastern region or on the stones in the Mekong River.

              Water resources: The main watershed in Phu Pha Thoep National Park is the Mun Basin. Phu Pha Thoep National Park consists of watershed class 3 which is accounting for 46.15 percent of the area of the national park, followed by watershed class 2 accounting for 41.98 percent, watershed class 1 accounting for 6.12 percent and watershed class 4 accounting for 5.7 percent. The canals within Phu Pha Thoep National Park are Li Khi Creek, Ta Lueak Creek, Sing Creek, Sai Phai Creek, Ruea Creek, Chang Chon Creek, Krai Creek, and Male Creek which receive headwater from Phu Chom Si and Phu Tham Phra, before flowing into the Mekong River. Other important surface water sources that are close to Phu Pha Thoep National Park are Huai Sing Reservoir, Huai Chang Chon Reservoir, and Huai Ruea Reservoir.

           The National Park's climate is divided into 3 seasons: the rainy season from June-November, winter from December-January, and summer from February-May.

             The forest conditions consists of deciduous dipterocarp forest covering approximately 60 percent of the area. The predominant plants in this forest are dipterocarps such as Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, Hairy Keruing , Shorea roxburghii, Irvingia malayana, etc. 30% of the area is mixed deciduous forest. The predominant plants in this forest are Xylia xylocarpa, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, Burma Padauk, Afzelia xylocarpa, and Lagerstroemia calyculata , etc. 10% of the area is dry evergreen forest, withthe predominant trees including Dialium cochinchinense Pierre., Hopea ferrea Laness, Wrightia religiosa., Pink Mempat, Cratoxylum formosum. and Mitrephora tomentosa ., etc.

          Most of the wildlife seen are small animals such as Wild Boars, Rabbits, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Barking Deer, Asian palm civet, Spotted Foxes, Monkeys, Wild Fowl, and a variety of birds.