The Phu Phan mountains (Thai: เทือกเขาภูพาน, thueak khao phu phan) are a range of hills dividing the Khorat Plateau of the Isan region of Thailand into two basins[disambiguation needed]: the northern Sakhon Nakhon Basin, and the southern Khorat Basin.
Etymology
The name of the range is derived from the characteristic tabletop shape of its peaks, for phan is a kind of traditional tray on a pedestal.
Phu is the word for mountain in the Isan/Lao language (as opposed to khao in Central and Southern Thai and doi in Northern Thai).
Geography
The hills straddle the provinces of Nongbua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin and Mukdahan. The highest elevation of the Phu Phan range is around 630m.
The Phu Phan Royal Palace is located within the mountains, as is the Nam Oun Dam. Other local sights are Lake Nong Han near Sakon Nakhon and the Khmer style chedi ruins of Phu Phek, dating from 1050.
The area of the Phu Phan mountains also includes four national parks[1][2]:
- Phu Phan
- Phu Kao - Phu Phan Kham
- Phu Pha Lek
- Huai Huat (Phu Pha Yon)
Notes
Coordinates: 16°55′22″N 104°03′45″E / 16.92278°N 104.0625°E
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