Ratchaprapa Dam is located in Khao Sok national park in Surat Thani province in the Southern part of Thailand, a short one hour drive from Surat Thani airport. It was built in 1982 under the supervision of Khao Sok National Park and Provincial Electricity Authority to provide hydroelectricity to Surat Thani city.
The damming of the Khlong Saeng River by the massive 94m Ratchaprapha Dam formed a gigantic 165 square kilometer lake surrounded by huge mountain ranges consist mainly of limestone which leads to the notable Karst geography of the surrounding mountains and hills.
Ratchaprapa Dam is an extremely large body of water covering an area of 165 square kilometers. The lake has numerous islands, inlets and bays lined by twisted root systems in addition to varying depths to 30m’s. Some 60 million years’ worth of water erosion on limestone mountains results in the unforgettable vistas that this park offers. In the distant hills one can see more rainforest but the sheer survival instincts of the foliage growing from water level up is amazing to behold. It has been subject to a high degree of protection by the Thai government.
Khao Sok National Park and Ratchaprapa Dam are possibly the most beautiful and unspoilt fishing locations in Thailand affording the angler some of the most beautiful scenery and abundance of wildlife to be found in South East Asia. Ratchaprapa Dam is bordered by some of the most impressive scenery with several lime stone caves bordering its banks.
Floating fishing lodges are present a several parts of the lake allowing the angler a base from which to mount their daily fishing expeditions and presents possibly the best opportunity for anglers wishing to capture specimen sized Giant Snakehead (Toman Fish) and numerous other native species in the Royal kingdom of Thailand. In these hills and crags live gibbons, barking deer, kingfishers, egrets, flying foxes, wild monkeys and a host of other wild and exotic creatures. The waters teem with catfish, greater brook carp, hampala barb, giant snakehead and featherback.
If you have never been here before yet the place looked familiar and then I realised that many people have remarked on Ratchaprapa Dam resemblance to Han Long Bay in Vietnam and Guelin in China.
Civilisation
This splendid sense of isolation, of detachment, of adventure even, is dispelled when we moor our boat outside a floating restaurant with a selection of simple bungalows built on giant bamboo floaters. Soon, we’re in the water, splashing and striking out into the deep and even though I’ve never actually swum in several million gallons of mineral water (who has?) this is what it must be like – it’s that clean.
We are served lunch – a giant gourami that was probably swimming in the lake not an hour before. Still, it’s delicious and more than enough for the five of us. On the 40-minute boat ride back to the dam and the jeep we run through several squalls and it’s downright cold for a while until someone comes up with the brilliant idea of wearing a lifejacket back-to-front as wind protection.
This tour is an outstanding, unforgettable and a thought-provoking experience.
Some Facts about Khao Sok National Park:
It is home to one of the largest flowers in the world, Rafflesia Kerrii, a parasite which attracts insects through its appearance and odour similar to that of rotting meat. Raffleasia flowers from December to April and can grow up to 100cm in diameter and weigh up to 10kg.
There are over 100 islands in the Chiao Lan Reservoir
Parts of the park have still not yet been accurately charted
The water in the reservoir is eminently diveable but is too deep in parts to retain visibility
Ratchaprapa Dam is located in Khao Sok national park in Surat Thani province in the Southern part of Thailand, a short one hour drive from Surat Thani airport. It was built in 1982 under the supervision of Khao Sok National Park and Provincial Electricity Authority to provide hydroelectricity to Surat Thani city.
The damming of the Khlong Saeng River by the massive 94m Ratchaprapha Dam formed a gigantic 165 square kilometer lake surrounded by huge mountain ranges consist mainly of limestone which leads to the notable Karst geography of the surrounding mountains and hills.
Ratchaprapa Dam is an extremely large body of water covering an area of 165 square kilometers. The lake has numerous islands, inlets and bays lined by twisted root systems in addition to varying depths to 30m’s. Some 60 million years’ worth of water erosion on limestone mountains results in the unforgettable vistas that this park offers. In the distant hills one can see more rainforest but the sheer survival instincts of the foliage growing from water level up is amazing to behold. It has been subject to a high degree of protection by the Thai government.
Khao Sok National Park and Ratchaprapa Dam are possibly the most beautiful and unspoilt fishing locations in Thailand affording the angler some of the most beautiful scenery and abundance of wildlife to be found in South East Asia. Ratchaprapa Dam is bordered by some of the most impressive scenery with several lime stone caves bordering its banks.
Floating fishing lodges are present a several parts of the lake allowing the angler a base from which to mount their daily fishing expeditions and presents possibly the best opportunity for anglers wishing to capture specimen sized Giant Snakehead (Toman Fish) and numerous other native species in the Royal kingdom of Thailand. In these hills and crags live gibbons, barking deer, kingfishers, egrets, flying foxes, wild monkeys and a host of other wild and exotic creatures. The waters teem with catfish, greater brook carp, hampala barb, giant snakehead and featherback.
If you have never been here before yet the place looked familiar and then I realised that many people have remarked on Ratchaprapa Dam resemblance to Han Long Bay in Vietnam and Guelin in China.
Civilisation
This splendid sense of isolation, of detachment, of adventure even, is dispelled when we moor our boat outside a floating restaurant with a selection of simple bungalows built on giant bamboo floaters. Soon, we’re in the water, splashing and striking out into the deep and even though I’ve never actually swum in several million gallons of mineral water (who has?) this is what it must be like – it’s that clean.
We are served lunch – a giant gourami that was probably swimming in the lake not an hour before. Still, it’s delicious and more than enough for the five of us. On the 40-minute boat ride back to the dam and the jeep we run through several squalls and it’s downright cold for a while until someone comes up with the brilliant idea of wearing a lifejacket back-to-front as wind protection.
This tour is an outstanding, unforgettable and a thought-provoking experience.
Some Facts about Khao Sok National Park:
It is home to one of the largest flowers in the world, Rafflesia Kerrii, a parasite which attracts insects through its appearance and odour similar to that of rotting meat. Raffleasia flowers from December to April and can grow up to 100cm in diameter and weigh up to 10kg.
There are over 100 islands in the Chiao Lan Reservoir
Parts of the park have still not yet been accurately charted
The water in the reservoir is eminently diveable but is too deep in parts to retain visibility
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