The Phi Pan Nam Range is composed of many smaller mountain chains roughly aligned in a north–south direction in its northern part and, further south, in a northeast–southwest direction. These ranges cover an extensive area and are often separated by
intermontane basins or lowlands. They end in the west with the
Khun Tan Range, in the east with the
Luang Prabang Range, and with the
Central Plain of Siam in the south. The northern tip is bound by the
Mekong River. There are
columnar basalt formations in Mon Hin Kong () in an area in the mountains near Na Phun,
Wang Chin District, Phrae Province. In
Phae Mueang Phi there are
mushroom rocks and other bizarre rock formations caused by
erosion.
Sub-ranges The Phi Pan Nam range system is often divided into two
physiographic longitudinal sections: • Western Phi Pan Nam Range (เทือกเขาผีปันน้ำตะวันตก) or Phi Pan Nam Range proper, in the northwest between the Wang and Yom Rivers. Some scholarly works designate the
Khun Tan Range as the "Western Phi Pan Nam Range" and this section therefore as the "Central Phi Pan Nam Range". • Eastern Phi Pan Nam Range (เทือกเขาผีปันน้ำตะวันออก), also known as "Phlueng Range" (ทิวเขาพลึง) in the southeast between the Yom and the
Nan Rivers.
Mountains The highest point is the high summit known as
Doi Luang. It is in the northwestern area of the range near Phayao town, but there are a number of lesser mountains with the name '
Doi Luang' throughout the range. Other noteworthy peaks are: •
Doi Phu Langka (1,641 m) •
Doi Chi (1,638 m) •
Doi Pha Mon at
Phu Chi Fa (1,628 m) •
Doi Pha Tang (1,608 m) •
Doi Cha Tong (1,603 m) •
Doi Ku (1,557 m) •
Doi Yao (1,543 m ) •
Doi Huai Nam Lao (1,544 m) •
Doi Nang (1,507 m) •
Phu Chi Fa (1,442 m) •
Doi Luang,
Mae Chai District (1,426 m) •
Doi Phu Kheng (1,403 m) •
Doi Luang, Ban Na Fai (1,396 m) •
Doi Pha Khi Nok (1,365 m) •
Doi Luang Pae Mueang(1,328 m) •
Khun Huai Han (1,303 m) •
Doi Phu Nang (1,202 m) •
Doi Nang (1,195 m) •
Doi Ian (1,178 m) •
Doi Khun Mae Loe (1,075 m) •
Doi Pha Daeng (1,023 m) •
Doi Pha Mon(1,013 m) •
Doi San Klang (938 m) •
Doi Ngaem (867 m) •
Doi Pui (843 m) •
Doi Kham, Thoeng District (823 m) •
Doi San Pan Nam (773 m) •
Mon Yao (751 m) •
Doi Yang Kham (727 m) •
Doi Pae Luang (651 m) •
Doi Huai Ha (590 m) •
Doi Lan (559 m)
Hydrography The Phi Pan Nam range of mountains is not as high as neighboring mountain systems. It is, however, significant from the
hydrographic point of view. These mountains divide the
Mekong from the
Chao Phraya watershed and important rivers of Thailand have their source in the Phi Pan Nam area. Its name in Thai "ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ" roughly means "the mountains of the spirits dividing the waters", 'spirits' (ผี
phi) here referring to ancient mountain
deities of
Thai folklore. Among the Thai rivers that originate in the Phi Pan Nam Mountains the main ones are the
Wang and
Yom River, with their tributaries such as the
Ngao, flowing towards the Chao Phraya. The
Ing and the
Lao, a tributary of the
Kok River, flow northwards and are part of the Mekong basin. A great number of smaller rivers have their sources in mountains across the range. The
Sirikit Dam is at the southeastern edge of the Phi Pan Nam mountains. ==History==