Phu Wiang () is a short, relatively isolated mountain range in the
Khorat Plateau
The Khorat Plateau (; ) is a plateau in the northeastern Thai region of Isan. The plateau forms a natural region, named after the short form of Nakhon Ratchasima, a historical barrier controlling access to and from the area.
Geography
The avera ...
of
Northeastern Thailand
Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan/, ; ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli ''isāna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thailand. Isan is T ...
, today within the area of
Khon Kaen Province. It is best known as the site of the discovery of
dinosaur fossils in Thailand, and is also home to ancient human settlements. The mountain, most of which is designated as
Phu Wiang National Park
Phu Wiang National Park (PWNP) is in Khon Kaen Province, northeastern Thailand, covering the area of the Phu Wiang Mountains. It is best known for its numerous dinosaur bone paleontological sites, The park is one of the world's largest dinosaur ...
, has two arms extending in a horseshoe shape, almost encircling a wide valley which is home to what used to be the old population centre of
Phu Wiang District. In 2007, the valley area, which covers the old town as well as the paleontological digs and
Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum
Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum () is a geological museum mainly exhibiting fossils. It is under the administration of the Department of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, of the Royal Thai Government, and situated in th ...
, was split off to form
Wiang Kao District.
References
Mountain ranges of Thailand
Geography of Khon Kaen province
Paleontology in Thailand
{{Thailand-geo-stub