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The Mae Fah Luang Arboretum at Doi Chang Moob

Situated on the peak of Nang Nawn Range, the Chang Moob area is 1,500 meters above sea level. It has a cool climate year-round which makes it suitable for opium cultivation. It was once the largest opium growing area and a major drug trafficking route in the region. Because of this, forest land was completely destroyed. When she saw the denuded hills, the Princess Mother decided to restore the forest to its former fertility. The Doi Tung Development Project decided to turn the area into an arboretum where native flora and rare species were gathered alongside rhododendrons from different countries. Sorrel Himalayan Cherry (Prunus cerasoides D. Don) and such native orchids as lady's slipper (the subfamily of Cypripedioidea), are grown in the natural environment amidst a forest of pine trees. The arboretum has paths that wind down the mountain slopes, leading to rest areas and panoramic views overlooking the distant topography of Thailand's neighboring countries on the other side of the Mekong River.