Daen Lao Range

Daen Lao Range
ทิวเขาแดนลาว / Loi La
Doi Nang Non, the "Mountain of the Sleeping Lady"
Highest point
Peak	Loi Pangnao
Elevation	2,563 m (8,409 ft)
Coordinates	28°18′N 100°20′E / 28.300°N 100.333°E / 28.300; 100.333Coordinates: 28°18′N 100°20′E / 28.300°N 100.333°E / 28.300; 100.333
Dimensions
Length	355 km (221 mi) NE/SW
Width	50 km (31 mi) NW/SE
Geography
Location of the Daen Lao Range
Countries	Burma and Thailand
Parent range	Shan Hills
Geology
Type of rock	granite and limestone

The Daen Lao Range (Thai: ทิวเขาแดนลาว,pronounced [tʰīw kʰǎw dɛ̄ːn lāːw]; Burmese: Loi La) is a mountain range of the Shan Hills in eastern Burma and northern Thailand. Most of the range is in Shan State, with its northern limit close to the border with China, and runs southwards across the Thai border, at the northern end of Thailand.

Geologically in the Daen Lao Range, as in the other southern subranges of the Shan Hills, layers of alluvium are superimposed on hard rock.

The range extends east of the Salween until almost reaching the Golden Triangle area, separating the Salween watershed from the Mekong watershed. At its southern end the Thanon Thong Chai Range (เทือกเขาถนนธงชัย) subrange stretches further southwards into Thailand between the Sai River in the east and the Pai River in the west; the latter separating the Daen Lao from the Thanon Thong Chai Range. Some geographers include the Thanon Thong Chai Range subrange as part of the Daen Lao Range. The Khun Tan Range also extends southwards from the Daen Lao Range, parallel to the Thanon Thong Chai mountains, but it differs geologically and structurally from the latter.

The name "Lao" in the range name is a Thai Yuan word possibly not related to the country of Laos. The western end of the range is not clearly defined. Elevations range between 400–2,500 m. The highest point is 2,563 m Loi Pangnao in Burma, with a prominence of 1,596 m, one of the ultra prominent peaks of Southeast Asia. On the Thai side the highest point is 2,285 m Doi Pha Hom Pok. Doi Chiang Dao (2,175 m), Doi Puk Phakka (1,794 m), Doi Nang Non, a karstic formation in Chiang Rai Province, Doi Tung, Doi Ang Khang and Doi Wao, where Wat Doi Wao is located, as well as the mountains surrounding the village of Santikhiri (Doi Mae Salong) are also part of this range.