The coastal tower karst of Phang Nga Bay

Abstract

Steep limestone hills and karst towers rise from broad alluvial plains, from mangrove swamps or from the sea near Phangnga in the southern Thailand. Although the broad form of the landscape is of subaerial origin it is probable that marine erosion at times of formerly higher relative sea levels has significant1y contributed to the development of the steepest tower slopes and has resulted in the modification of some caves. Notches and cave entrances that are common in the limestone towers at up to 10 -15m above present sea level are probably of last interglacial or Hologcne ,age. Cave entrances, benches and overhangs much higher on some of the towers are probably, remnants of marine features and suggest diastrophic movement has occurred during the Quaternary.