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Ko Tapu


Ko Tapu
Information sur la photo
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
Genre: Landscapes
Média: Couleur
Date de prise de vue: 2014-09-20
Catégories: Seascape
Appareil photographique: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII
Exposition: f/7.1, 1/320 secondes
More Photo Info: [view]
Versions: version originale
Date de soumission: 2014-10-04 21:22
Vue: 2558
Points: 18
[Ligne directrice - Note] Note du photographe
Ko Tapu is a limestone rock about 20 metres (66 ft) tall with the diameter increasing from about 4 metres (13 ft) near the water level to about 8 metres (26 ft) at the top. It lies about 40 metres (130 ft) to the west from the northern part of Khao Phing Kan.

A local legend explains the formation of Ko Tapu island as follows. Once upon a time, there lived a fisherman who used to bring home many fish every time he went to the sea. However, one day he could not catch any fish despite many tedious attempts and only picked up a nail with his net. He kept throwing the nail back into the sea and catching it again. Furious, he took his sword and cut the nail in half with all his strength. Upon impact, one half of the nail jumped up and speared into the sea, forming Ko Tapu.

A scientific version of the Ko Tapu formation says that in the Permian period, the area was a barrier reef. Then, upon tectonic movements, it ruptured, and its parts were dispersed over the area and flooded by the rising ocean. Wind, waves, water currents and tides gradually eroded the islands thus formed, sometimes producing peculiar shapes, such as Ko Tapu. Tide-related erosion is visible at the bottom of the rock.

Most of the island is covered with deciduous limestone shrubland and evergreen trees. Some plants, such as Pandanus, cycads, euphorbs and prickly pear cactus grow on nearly soil-free cliffs, such as those of Ko Tapu, penetrating their roots into the numerous cracks and surviving on rainwater.

Shallow water depth, warm and stable temperature and rich nutrient supply from mangrove forests and several rivers running into the Phang Nga Bay result in abundant plankton and other marine life. The bay around the island host 26 species of reptiles, 24 species of fish, 14 species of shrimp, 15 species of crabs and 16 species of manta rays, sharks and game fish. Most fishes are typical of coral reefs, such as butterflyfish. Other common inhabitants are blue crab, swimming crab, mudskipper, humpback shrimp, mud lobster, pomfret, sole, anchovy, scad, rock cod, rainbow cuttlefish, soft cuttlefish, musk crab, mackerel, moray eel, puffer fish, rabbitfish, groupers, black sea cucumber, brain coral, staghorn coral and flowerlike soft coral. Amphibians include Fejervarya raja, cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) and the Common tree frog. Aquatic plants are represented by red algae, Halimeda, seagrass and plant plankton. There are more than 100 species of birds in the area such as the Striated Heron, Pacific Reef Heron, Little Egret and others.

Ko Tapu can be literally translated as "nail" or "spike" island, reflecting its shape. With "Ko" (Thai: เกาะ) meaning "island" and "Khao" (Thai: เขา) meaning "hill", the terms Ko, Khao, and Ko Khao are frequently interchanged in the naming of the islands. After appearing in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun, Khao Phing Kan and sometimes Ko Tapu became widely referred to as James Bond Island, especially in tourist guides, and their original names are rarely used by locals.
Hotelcalifornia, Silvio2006, anel, ramthakur, periko trouve(nt) cette note utile
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello James - Nice to go through your precise and useful NOTE on the origin of "Ko Tapu". Erosion is well visible...Nice sight. Thanks for sharing. Regards - Srikumar

Ciao James, nice see you again on TN after a long time, great view Sunday, ciao Silvio

Hello James,
Very interesting karst formation and informative accompanying note. Also very good composition and exposure management. A pleasure to view. Well done.
Neels

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3043 W: 3 N: 8701] (40526)
  • [2014-10-05 1:45]

Hello James,
Very nice to see you again on TN after such a long time!
Interesting rock-formation and a very interesting note, as we are used from you.
My son was in the same area this summer.
Hope we will se more from you again.
Kind regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5082 W: 166 N: 13007] (48430)
  • [2014-10-05 5:13]

Hello James,
Great to see you back on Treknature!
Beautiful photo of this rock formation in an attractive composition. Excellent DOF.
Regards,
Peter

Welcome back, James!
What a pleasant surprise! You been away too long and it kind of feels incredible that you decided to return here with a picture.
The picture, of course, is marvellous.
Amazing place, this, in Thailand.
Stay on and bring back some life into this sinking vessel, James.
Ram

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5787 W: 89 N: 14900] (62445)
  • [2014-10-05 14:00]

Hi James,very interesting note about this typical natural architechture of the thai sea,the pic is a bit small,but the detail truly perfect,it's nice to see something of different on TN,i like it! Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2627 W: 278 N: 4864] (19611)
  • [2014-10-06 17:53]

Hello James,
What a unique land feature you have presented to us. I like the way you composed it and the beautiful natural coloration throughout the entire frame.
Even though it is only a fable, I like the story of how the fisherman helped form Ko Tapu island.
Ron

Good picture with solid note
Rgds
Harris

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