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General Description
- Established as a national park in 1982, Similan Islands are an archipelago of 11 islands in the Andaman Sea, 70 km off the coast in Phang Nga province. The park covers an area of 140 km², of which 26 km² is an island. The national park consists of numerous islands: Bon, Kaow or Ba Ngu, Pad or Similan (the largest island of Mu Ko Similan), Hin Pu Sar, Jet or Pa Yu, Ha-Hok, Si or Miang, Sam or Pa Yan, Song or Pa Yang, Nung or Hu Yong and Ta Chai Islands. It also includes steep granite mountains, beaches, and rock formation of many shapes. The shoreline of each island is of inconsistent curves since they are situated in the outer part of the sea and are worn away directly by waves.
- Part of the water lies in the Andaman Sea and eastern side of the Indian Ocean while the shoulder of the continent borders the western shoreline of Phang-nga province and Union of Myanmar, paralleling the Nicobar Islands of India. With a rich marine life consisting of hard and soft coral reefs, crystal clear waters and white beaches, Similan Islands are considered to be one of the best diving sites in the world. The main characteristics of the islands are the rock formations which consist of huge boulders, shallow waters and dense tropical forests.
- The Similan and Surin Islands are the most ecologically diverse coral reefs in Thailand, and an enormous diversity of marine fishes resulting from the mixing of the influences of two oceans. This area supports more than 700 species of marine fishes, 140 species of marine crustaceans and 160 species of hard corals. Marine macrofauna, including giant manta rays, several types of whales and dolphins as well as whale sharks frequent the waters between the islands. These islands are also an important nesting area for sea turtles. The islands support both dipterocarp rainforest and beach scrub. More than 90 species of birds, including many rare species are found here as well as 16 species of bats. Many of the species found here are affiliated with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the west, rather than the mainland to the east.
- Vegetation types that could be found in Mu Ko Similan are dry-evergreen forest, beach forest and plant communities on granite rock outcrops. These terrestrial habitats give refuge to at least 35 species of mammals, 22 species of reptiles and 73 species of birds. Mammals found include a typical island mammal such as island flying fox with the largest known colony, island rat, and the same new species of hipposideridae bat as found on Surin Islands. Birds with important conservation status include great-billed heron, pale-capped pigeon, common tern, great crested tern, Mugimaki flycatcher
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