Tham Mae Usu

   If you are looking for history couple with natural wonders and ethnic diversity, then Tak Province in the northern part of Thailand is the place to visit. The province is known for its mountains and lush green forests. It covers an area of 16,406 square kilometers and is around 426 kilometers north of Bangkok. The province borders Myanmar and is considered to be a gateway not just to Myanmar but also to major Thai cities like Lampang and Chiang Mai.One natural wonder that you must visit when you go to Tak Province is Tham Mae Usu. This cave is famous for its magnificent and beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Tham Mae Usu is located on Mae Soy-Mae Sariang Highway, at about kilometer 95-96. From the highway, you will have to walk 2 kilometers to get to the cave. Make sure that you do not try to visit the cave during the rainy season as you will not be able to reach it. In order to enter the cave, it is necessary to the Mae Usu stream that flows right in front of the cave.The entrance of the Tham Mae Usu is 20 meters wide and 5 meters high. On one side of the cave is sink hole. You have to follow a large stream to reach a wooden ladder that takes you to a fossil chamber located within the cave. This same route then takes you right back to the entrance and this is what makes the cave so unique. Once inside the cave, you will see ventilation holes on the roof through which the rays of the sunlight enter in the afternoon lighting up the cave. The water in the cave is quite warm with temperature reaching up to 30 degrees Celsius. It is believed that this heating of water occurs due to geothermal activity within the depths of the Earth.