Champasak province

Coordinates: 14°52′57″N 105°50′33″E / 14.8825°N 105.8425°E / 14.8825; 105.8425
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Champasak Province
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Champasak province
ແຂວງ ຈຳປາສັກ
UTC+7 (ICT)
ISO 3166 codeLA-CH
HDI (2017)Increase 0.604[1]
medium · 6th

Champasak (or Champassak, Champasack

Lao: ຈຳປາສັກ [t͡ɕàm pàː sák]) is a province in southwestern Laos, near the borders with Thailand and Cambodia. It is one of the three principalities that succeeded the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. As of the 2015 census, it had a population of 694,023. The capital is Pakse, but the province takes its name from Champasak, the former capital of the Kingdom of Champasak
.

Champasak is bordered by

Mekong River forms part of the border with neighboring Thailand and contains Si Phan Don
('Four Thousand Islands') in the south of the province, on the border with Cambodia.

Champasak has played a central role in the history of

Wat Phou, Wat Luang, and Wat Tham Fai. Freshwater dolphins and the province's many waterfalls are tourist attractions.[2]

History

From the 1st to 9th centuries CE, Champasak province was part of the

Chenla Kingdoms. Between the 10th and 13th centuries it was part of the Khmer Empire. In 1354, the area came under the control of King Fa Ngum and the Lan Xang Empire.[3][2] The Angkor empire went into decline between the 15th and 17th centuries when it was annexed by Lan Xang. In 1707, Champasak became one of three kingdoms arising from a dissolved Lan Xang Empire. The kingdom had only three kings, Soi Sisamut (1713–37), nephew of Suriya Vangas, Sainya Kuman (1737–91) and lastly Fai Na (1791–1811). In 1829 Siam annexed Champassak following the Chao Anouvong Rebellion. Pakse, the capital of the province, was established by the French in 1905 as an administrative outpost at the confluence of Xe Don (Don River) and the Mekong.[3]

Geography

Champasak province covers an area of 15,415 km2 (5,952 sq mi).

Sirindhorn District's Chong Mek border crossing, to Vang Tao on the Lao side, from where the highway leads east towards the provincial capital, Pakse. The capital is on Laos' most important highway, Route 13, and the French legacy can be seen in the city's architecture.[2][5]

Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) is on a stretch of the Mekong north of the border with Cambodia. Of these islands,

Don Khong is the largest and has a number of small villages, temples, and caves. A French-built bridge on the abandoned railway line provides the link with two smaller islands, Don Det and Don Khon.[2]

There are many waterfalls in the province such as the Tad Somphamit (or Liphi) Waterfall, at Don Khon to the west of Ban Khon village. Below the falls in the calmer waters of the Mekong the fresh water dolphins can be seen. The Khone Phapheng Falls to the east of Don Khon, also on the Mekong, cascade along a broad mouth of rock slopes in a curvilinear pattern. The 120 m (390 ft) Tad Fane Waterfall (or Dong Hua Sao) in the Bolaven Plateau is the country's highest waterfall. It is created by the Champi and Prakkoot streams which originate at about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.[2] The plateau is east of Pakse.[6]

  • Si Phan Don
    Si Phan Don
  • Liphi Waterfall
    Liphi Waterfall
  • Khone Phapheng Falls
    Khone Phapheng Falls

Protected areas

Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area is in the eastern area.[7] The Center for Protection and Conservation of freshwater dolphins is on the Cambodian border. These freshwater dolphins are known locally as pakha in Lao, and are found only on this particular stretch of the Mekong River. Hire boats are available to see these endangered dolphins, either from Ban Khon or Ban Veunkham (at the southern end of the islands).[2]

The Mekong Channel from Phou Xiang Thong to Siphandon

The 36,650 ha (90,600 acres) Phou Xiang Thong IBA is also in the Phou Xiengthong NBCA. This IBA spans two provinces, Champasak and Salavan. The IBA is at an elevation of 40–500 m (130–1,640 ft). The topography consists of low hills, lowlands, rivers, and seasonal streams. Habitat is characterized by

dipterocarp forest, and open rocky savanna. Notable avifauna include the grey-faced tit-babbler, green peafowl, red-collared woodpecker, and Siamese fireback.[9]

Administrative divisions

The province is made up of the following districts:[2][10]

Map Code Name Lao script
16-01
Pakse District
ເມືອງປາກເຊ
16-02
Sanasomboun District
ເມືອງຊະນະສົມບູນ
16-03
Batiengchaleunsouk District
ເມືອງບາຈຽງຈະເລີນສຸກ
16-04
Paksong District
ເມືອງປາກຊ່ອງ
16-05
Pathouphone District
ເມືອງປະທຸມພອນ
16-06
Phonthong District
ເມືອງໂພນທອງ
16-07
Champassack District
ເມືອງຈຳປາສັກ
16-08
Soukhoumma District
ເມືອງສຸຂຸມາ
16-09
Mounlapamok District
ເມືອງມູນລະປະໂມກ
16-10
Khong District
ເມືອງໂຂງ

Demographics

The population of the province, from the 2015 census, is 694,023.

Suay, Tahang and Tahoy ethnic groups, as well as ethnic Vietnamese.[5]

Economy

The economic output of the province consists primarily of agricultural products—especially production of coffee, tea, and rattan. It is one of the most important coffee producing areas of Laos along with Salavan and Sekong provinces.[12] Pakse is the main trade and travel link with Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.[2] Following the building of the Lao Nippon bridge across the Mekong at Pakse in 2002, trade with Thailand has multiplied several fold. The bridge lies at the junction of roads to the Bolaven Plateau in the east, Thailand in the west, and Si Phan Don to the south. Consequently, the market place at the Talat Sao Heung, near the bridge, has become one of the largest in Laos. Improved infrastructure has also led to an increase in tourism since the 1990s.[13] The weaving centres of Ban Saphai and Don Kho are 18 km (11 mi) from Pakse.[14] The Jhai Coffee Farmers Cooperative, headquartered at the provincial capital, operates on the Bolaven Plateau.[15] The Bolaven Plateau is also notable for its rubber, tobacco, peaches, pineapple, and rice production.[6]

  • Pakse market
    Pakse market
  • The Lao Nippon bridge
    The Lao Nippon bridge
  • Coffee drying on the Bolaven Plateau
    Coffee drying on the Bolaven Plateau
  • Lao family on a 'Chinese water buffalo' in Champasak province
    Lao family on a 'Chinese water buffalo' in Champasak province

Landmarks

Champasak has some 20 wats (temples). The

Buddha foot imprint shrine in Wat Pha Bhat and Wat Tham Fai; religious festivals are held within a large open area.[14]

Tormor Rocky Channel is the 15th National Heritage Site in Laos; it is about 11 km (6.8 mi) southeast of Wat Phou Champasak on the left bank of the Mekong. The pathway to the building is lined with columns of sandstone. It is in a ruined state. There is a large chamber with doors in the front and rear and windows on two sides. Inscriptions imply the site is closely related to Wat Phou Champasak.[2] An archeological site is at Pu Asa on a mountain top.[5] Kiat Ngong village is noted for its medicinal plants and forest products.[5]

The

Don Det – Don Khon narrow gauge railway on Don Det and Don Khon Islands.[2]

The region is also home to the Champasack University.

  • View from near the top of Wat Phou
    View from near the top of Wat Phou
  • A lintel showing Krishna killing Kaliya, on the south wall of the Wat Phou sanctuary
    A lintel showing
    Wat Phou
    sanctuary
  • Wat Luang in Pakse
    Wat Luang in Pakse
  • Wat Tham Fai in Pakse
    Wat Tham Fai in Pakse

Culture

During the third lunar month (February), celebrations at Angkor precede Champasack's traditional Wat Phou Festival at the site of ruins. The festival is noted for elephant racing, cockfighting, and cultural performances of traditional Lao music and dance.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.[not specific enough to verify]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Destination: Champasack Province Destination". Laos Tourism Organization. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b Burke & Vaisutis 2007, p. 255.
  4. ^ "Champasack Province". Lao Tourism. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d The Lao National Tourism Administration. "Champassak Province". Ecotourism Laos. GMS Sustainable Tourism Development Project in Lao PDR. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b Mansfield & Koh 2008, p. 10.
  7. ^ Maps (Map). Google Maps.
  8. ^ "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mekong Channel from Phou Xiang Thong to Siphandon". BirdLife International. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Phou Xiang Thong". BirdLife International. 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Provinces of Laos". Statoids.com. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  11. ^ "Results of Population and Housing Census 2015" (PDF). Lao Statistics Bureau. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  12. . Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Pakse; Information & Statistics". Travel-Tourist-Information-Guide.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2014-12-08.
  14. ^ a b c d Burke & Vaisutis 2007, p. 255-56.
  15. ^ Bush, Elliot & Ray 2010, p. 12.

Bibliography

External links

  • Champasak travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Pakse travel guide from Wikivoyage