Phu Kradueng

Phu Kradueng
ภูกระดึง
Western side of the mountain seen from Amphoe Nam Nao area
Highest point
Elevation	1,316 m (4,318 ft)
Listing	List of mountains in Thailand
Coordinates	16°53′23″N 101°44′43″E / 16.88972°N 101.74528°E / 16.88972; 101.74528Coordinates: 16°53′23″N 101°44′43″E / 16.88972°N 101.74528°E / 16.88972; 101.74528
Geography
Phu Kradueng Thailand
Location	Loei, Thailand
Parent range	Phetchabun Mountains
Geology
Mountain type	sandstone
Climbing
First ascent	Unknown
Easiest route	drive until the base, then hike

Phu Kradueng (Thai: ภูกระดึง), is a 1316 m high mountain in Loei Province, Thailand. It is located in Phu Kradueng District, giving its name to the district, but its western side borders with Nam Nao District of Phetchabun Province. This mountain is part of the Phetchabun Mountains, a massif forming a natural boundary between North Thailand and Isaan.

Phu Kradueng rises 9 km west of Highway 201.

The name of the mountain comes from the fact that its silhouette seen from afar has the shape of a large bell (Thai: กระดึง; Kradueng). There is also a local legend that a mysterious bell sound, believed to be the bell of Indra, can be heard in the area of the mountain.

Phu Kradueng seen from above is heart-shaped. It has a relatively flat plain on its top, sloping slightly to the north. The summit, located in the southwestern part of the plateau, is inconspicuous. The western, southern and eastern edges of the mountain have a fairly regular shape and are formed by abrupt sandstone cliffs, while the northwestern corner is deeply indented, containing a number of streams and seasonal waterfalls.

Geologically Phu Kradueng is formed by Jurassic and Cretaceous sandstone. Large parts of the mountain are covered in mixed evergreen forest. At the base of the mountain deciduous Dipterocarp forest dominates. Dry evergreen forest follow hill evergreen forests with bamboo clumps at higher altitudes. There are wide stretches of grasslands mixed with pine trees at the top.