 |
General Description
- The islands are 55 km off the coast, 100 km north from Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea, and just 18 km from the marine border of Burma. The national park covers an area of 135 km² of which 76% is sea.
- MSrNP consists of large five islands:
- Surin Nua Island which is the location of the office of National Park
- Surin Tai Island includes a high mountain, fertile tropical rainforest, and waterfall on the north of the island. Surin Nua and Surin Tai Islands are separated by shallow water of 200 m called Ao Chong Khad. It is walkable between two islands during low tide.
- Ree Island is connected to Myanmar, surrounded by rock except on the east that is connected by a small sand beach which provides egg laying to marine turtles.
- Kai (Tor Rin La) Island is the southernmost island and egg-laying habitat for marine turtles.
- Klang (Pa Chum Ba) Island is the habitat of lobster.
- Topography of Surin Island is suitable for wave protection in both seasons due to the layout of the islands in grouping and large bay and provides the suitable environment for the development of coral reefs. It has clear water and optimum temperature, which lead to the development of coral reefs. Coral reefs can be found along the entire shoreline except at the south west of Ko Surin Tai where the shore is rocky and encrusting corals can be found. The total area of coral reef is 7.17 sq.km.
- Vegetation found on the islands are tropical rain forest (dry-evergreen forest), beach forest and mangrove swamp forest. Southern Surin Island has high mountains covered with dense evergreen forest and has a waterfall in the north. At least 28 species of mammals have been recorded on the islands. The most diverse group is bat (18 species) including a new species of hipposideridae bat. In addition, 105 species of bird have been recorded in this area. Those with important conservation status are such as pale-capped pigeon, beach thick-knee, great crested tern, nicobar pigeon, rufous-chested flycatcher, green imperial pigeon, orange-breasted pigeon, white-bellied sea-eagle, and wreathed hornbill.
|
