Khao Phing Kan

After the film's release, Khao Phing Kan experienced a significant surge in tourism, transforming it into a renowned tourist destination.

In response to these concerns, and to preserve the natural environment, the island was incorporated into the Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park, established in 1981.

[5] Since 1998, in an effort to protect the fragile limestone formations of the nearby islet Ko Ta Pu, regulations prohibit tourist boats from approaching too closely.

This measure is intended to prevent erosion that could jeopardize the structural integrity of the limestone formations and ultimately lead to the potential collapse of the island.

The beach between the twin islands serves as the arrival point for tourist boats from the mainland and includes various souvenir shops selling items such as coral, shells, and plastic-encased natural specimens like butterflies, scorpions, and spiders.

[14] In contrast, the geological explanation for the formation of Ko Ta Pu suggests that the area was part of a barrier reef during the Permian period.

Over time, natural elements such as wind, waves, currents, and tides have eroded these limestone formations, creating distinctive shapes, including Ko Ta Pu.

Ko Ta Pu gained prominence in popular culture through its depiction in the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun, where it was described as a 'mushroom-shaped rock' housing solar panels by Francisco Scaramanga.

Some plants, such as Pandanus, cycads, and euphorbs grow on nearly soil-free cliffs, such as those of Ko Ta Pu, penetrating their roots into the numerous cracks and surviving on rainwater.

[13] Shallow water depth, warm, stable temperature, and rich nutrient supply from mangrove forests and several rivers running into Phang Nga Bay result in abundant plankton and other marine life.

Ko Ta Pu
Khao Phing Kan and Ko Ta Pu