{{Short description|Lake in central Thailand}} '''Bueng Chawak''' ({{langx|th|บึงฉวาก}}, {{IPA|th|bɯ̄ŋ t͡ɕʰā.wàːk|pron}}) or full name '''Bueng Chawak Chaloem Phra Kiat''' ({{lang|th|บึงฉวากเฉลิมพระเกียรติ}}, {{IPA|th|bɯ̄ŋ t͡ɕʰā.wàːk t͡ɕʰā.lɤ̌ːm pʰráʔ kìa̯t|}}) is a natural freshwater lake in [[central Thailand]]. It has an area of 2,700 [[rai (unit)|rai]]s (1,067 acres), covering the area of the sub-districts Pak Nam, Doem Bang and Hua Khao of [[Doem Bang Nang Buat District]], [[Suphan Buri Province]] all the way to the sub-district of Ban Chian, [[Hankha District]], [[Chai Nat Province]]. The lake is approximately {{convert|64|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} north of [[Suphan Buri]] City.<ref name=lak/>
==History== [[File:Fish apolloshark.jpg|thumb|Apollo shark at Bueng Chawak Aquarium]] The lake was declared a non-hunting area in 1983. In 1996, on the occasion of the 50-year reign of King [[Rama IX]], the government developed this area as a tourist attraction in honour of the King's golden jubilee. A public aquarium, as well as a zoo and bird park, have opened.
In 1998, the government registered Bueng Chawak as an [[Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance|important wetland under the Ramsar Convention]].
The surrounding lake is beautiful and shady. A large flock of migrating [[lesser whistling duck]]s and other waterfowl fly in during the cool season from November to March, and depart again in April. On the shores of the lake, bungalow-style accommodation is available to tourists.<ref name=lak>{{cite web|url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/bueng-chawak|title=Bueng Chawak|work=TAT}}</ref>
==Sights== *Bueng Chawak Chaloem Phrakiet Aquarium – Consists of two sections, one showing freshwater fish species and the other showing marine fish species. The highlight is the longest and largest shark tunnel in Southeast Asia. *Bueng Chawak Zoo – Houses tigers, lions, [[white tiger]]s, leopards, [[clouded leopard]]s, camels, [[chital|axis deer]], bears, [[domestic rabbit|rabbit]]s, [[guinea pig]]s, [[Indian peafowl]] and various species of [[pheasant]]. *Aviary – Occupies an area of 5 rais (1.9 acres), {{convert|25|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} high, with more than 40 rare bird species, is a highlight. *Crocodile Pond – Part of the aquarium, it is a breeding ground for two crocodile species native to Thailand, [[Siamese crocodile]]s and [[estuarine crocodile]]s. There are also products made from crocodile skin for sale as souvenirs, such as leather bags and belts, as well as local [[OTOP]] handicrafts. *Bueng Chawak Folk Vegetable Park for Subsistence – A [[botanical garden]] on an area of 26 rais (10 acres), on an island in the middle of the lake. There are learning points for shade plants, folk vegetables and herbs to treat symptoms. It is also home to a collection of more than 500 types of folk vegetables such as [[snake gourd]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.talontiew.com/bueng-chawak-chaloem-phrakiet/|title=บึงฉวาก สวนสัตว์ สถานแสดงพันธุ์สัตว์น้ำ อุทยานพืชผักพื้นบ้านเพื่อการยังชีพ|trans-title=Bueng Chawak Zoo Aquarium Folk Vegetable Park for Subsistence|language=thai|work=Talon Tiew}}</ref>
In addition to the entrance to the lake, there are also stalls selling dried freshwater fish caught by the villagers. Most of them are fish species from the central river basin such as [[Tha Chin]] and [[Chao Phraya]], many of which are rare in Bangkok such as freshwater sole, [[Cynoglossus|river tonguefish]] and [[bagrid catfish]].<ref>{{cite book|pages=104|language=thai|last=Vidthayanon|first=Chavalit|title=ปลาน้ำจืดไทย|trans-title=Freshwater fish of Thailand|year=2001|publisher=Nanmeebooks|location=Bangkok|isbn=974-472-655-5}}</ref>
==See more== *[[List of protected areas of Thailand]] *[[List of Ramsar wetlands of Thailand]]
==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website|1=https://ww1.suphanburi.go.th/travel/detail/54}} [[category:Lakes of Thailand]] [[Category:Geography of Suphan Buri province]] [[Category:Geography of Chai Nat province]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Chai Nat province]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Suphan Buri province]] [[category:Non-hunting areas of Thailand]] [[category:Aquaria in Thailand]] [[category:Zoos in Thailand]] [[category:Botanical gardens in Thailand]] {{coord|14.9177015|N|100.0594309|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}