Surat Thani province
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Surat Thani
สุราษฎร์ธานี | ||
---|---|---|
Postal code 84xxx | ||
Calling code | 077 | |
ISO 3166 code | TH-84 | |
Website | www |
Surat Thani (Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี, pronounced [sù.râːt tʰāː.nīː]), often shortened to Surat, is the largest of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. It lies on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani means 'city of good people', a title given to the city by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI); Surat Thani is therefore the sole province in Southern Thailand for which the native name is in the Central Thai language.
Geography
Surat Thani Province, located in Thailand, is bordered by the provinces of
The geographic landscape of Surat Thani is diverse. The central region of the province is dominated by the coastal plain of the
Several islands in the
The province is also defined by its main waterways, the Tapi River and the
National parks
There are a total of eight national parks, six of which are in
- Khao Sok National Park, 739 km2 (285 sq mi)[6]: 22
- Kaeng Krung National Park, 541 km2 (209 sq mi)[6]: 69
- Tai Rom Yen National Park, 425 km2 (164 sq mi)[6]: 73
- Khlong Phanom National Park, 410 km2 (160 sq mi)[6]: 102
- Hat Khanom–Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, 312 km2 (120 sq mi)[7]: 16
- Namtok Si Khit National Park, 145 km2 (56 sq mi)[6]: 95
- Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, 102 km2 (39 sq mi)[6]: 21
- Than Sadet–Ko Pha-ngan National Park, 43 km2 (17 sq mi)[6]: 132
Wildlife sanctuaries
There are two wildlife sanctuaries, along with five other wildlife sanctuaries, make up
- Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, 1,155 km2 (446 sq mi)[8]: 12
- Khlong Yan Wildlife Sanctuary, 488 km2 (188 sq mi)[8]: 13
History
The region of Surat Thani has a long history of human habitation, dating back to prehistoric times. It was initially inhabited by indigenous
Following the decline of the Srivijaya kingdom, the region was partitioned into the cities (
In 1915, significant administrative changes occurred. The court of the
The administrative headquarters of Surat Thani Province were originally housed in a building located in Tha Kham, within the
During the Japanese invasion of Thailand on 8 December 1941, the administrative building in Surat Thani was destroyed amidst the conflict that engulfed the city. The building was eventually reconstructed in 1954. However, on 19 March 1982, the building was targeted in a bombing by communist insurgents, resulting in its destruction and the tragic loss of five lives.
Following this incident, a new provincial administration building was constructed at a different location, south of the city center. The site of the former provincial hall has since been repurposed and now hosts the city pillar shrine (Lak Mueang). This third and current administrative building continues to serve as the provincial government's headquarters.
Symbols
The provincial seal of Surat Thani prominently features the pagoda of Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya, a historic structure believed to have been constructed approximately 1,200 years ago.[9] The design of the provincial flag incorporates the image of this pagoda, set against a background divided horizontally with orange on the top half and yellow on the bottom.
Surat Thani's provincial flower is the bua phut (
The slogan of the province is "เมืองร้อยเกาะ เงาะอร่อย หอยใหญ่ ไข่แดง แหล่งธรรมะ" (Mueang roi ko, ngo aroi, hoi yai, khai daeng, laeng thamma), which translates to "city of 100 islands, delicious rambutan, big shells, red eggs, the center of Buddhism". This slogan reflects several unique aspects of the province: its numerous islands, the local specialty of tasty rambutan fruits, the abundance of large shellfish, notably oysters, and the cultural significance of salted duck eggs known locally as "red eggs". The reference to the "center of Buddhism" highlights important religious sites within the province, including Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya and Suan Mokkhaphalaram.
Administrative divisions
Provincial government
The province is divided into 19 districts ().
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Local government
As of 26 November 2019 there are:
No. | City | Thai
|
Population | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Surat Thani | เทศบาลนครสุราษฎร์ธานี | 127,550 | Provincial capital, main bus station |
2. | Ko Samui | เทศบาลนครเกาะสมุย | 52,510 | Tourism |
3. | Tha Kham | เทศบาลเมืองท่าข้าม | 20,363 | Main railway station, airport |
4. | Na San | เทศบาลเมืองนาสาร | 19,851 | |
5. | Talat Chaiya |
เทศบาลตำบลตลาดไชยา | 12,955 | Historic town |
6. | Don Sak |
เทศบาลตำบลดอนสัก | 11,357 | Main port |
7. | Ko Pha Ngan |
เทศบาลตำบลเกาะพะงัน | 3,357 | Tourism |
For national elections, the province is divided into two constituencies, each eligible to elect three members of parliament.
Economy
According to the 2008 census, Surat Thani Province recorded a Gross Provincial Product (GPP) of 132,637.3 million baht (approximately US$4,019.31 million).[citation needed] The GPP per capita was reported to be 134,427 baht (around US$4,073.54). This marked an increase from the 2007 census, where the GPP was 122,398 million baht (US$3,599.94 million) and the GPP per capita was 125,651 baht (US$3,695.62). These figures indicate a GPP growth rate of 8.37 percent and a per capita growth rate of 6.98 percent.
Agriculture plays a significant role in Surat Thani's economy. The province is noted for its production of
Surat Thani Province is renowned for its unique local products, notably the hand-woven silk cloth originating from the coastal village of Phum Riang in the
Tourism plays a pivotal role in the economy of Surat Thani. In 2018, the province generated a significant revenue of 64 billion baht from tourism activities. This figure represented 63 percent of the total tourism income for Surat Thani, with a substantial portion attributable to its island destinations. These include popular tourist spots such as
Human achievement index 2017
Health | Education | Employment | Income |
28 | 50 | 59 | 15 |
Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
73 | 37 | 30 | 70 |
Province Surat Thani, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.5476 is "low", occupies place 65 in the ranking. |
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[3]
Rank | Classification |
1 - 15 | "high" |
16 - 30 | "somewhat high" |
31 - 45 | "average" |
45 - 60 | "somewhat low" |
61 - 77 | "low" |
Map with provinces and HAI 2017 rankings |
National parks
- Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is a marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand.[12] It covers 42 islands and a total area of 102 km2, of which about 50 km2 are land and the rest is water. The park was established on 12 November 1980.[13] The northern tip of Ko Phaluai is also part of the marine park. There is a ranger station, bungalows, a shop, and a restaurant at Ao Phi Beach on Ko Wua Talap.
- Amazon rain forest.
Gallery
-
Ang Thong National Parkfrom Ko Wua Ta Lap Island
-
Khlong Phanom National Park
-
Primary tropical rainforest around Cheow Lan Lake
-
The shore of Cheow Lan Lake
-
Limestone rock formations on Cheow Lan Lake
-
Khao Sok National Park
-
Khao Sok National Park
-
Khao Sok National Park
-
Khao Sok National Park
-
Cheow Lan Lake
-
Cheow Lan Lake
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Hin Ta Hin Yai, Ko Samui
-
Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai, Ko Pha-Ngan
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Khao Sok tropical rainforest
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Cheow Lan Lake
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Karst formations, Cheow Lan Lake
-
Trees rising out of Cheow Lan Lake
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City pillar shrine, Surat Thani
-
Beach at Ko Mae Ko
See also
References
- ISBN 978-974-680-368-7. Retrieved 17 January 2016, Data has been supplied by Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at Wayback Machine.]
{{cite report}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link)[dead link - ^ a b "รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2561" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2018]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior (in Thai). 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ ]
- ISSN 1686-0799. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- ^ "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b c d e f g "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ (เตรียมการ) 22 แห่ง" [Information of 22 National Parks Areas (Preparation)]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ a b "ตาราง 5 พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า พ.ศ. 2562" [Table 5 Wildlife Sanctuary Areas in 2019] (PDF). Department of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Plant Conservation (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya Ratcha Worawihan, Surat Thani province". Thailand Tourism Directory. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
67 Surat Thani: 1 PAO, 2 City mun., 3 Town mun., 35 Subdistrict mun., 97 SAO.
- ^ "18km Samui bridge urged". Bangkok Post. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "MU KO ANG THONG NATIONAL PARK". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park". Department of National Parks (DNP). Archived from the original on 11 November 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
External links
- Surat Thani travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
- Official website (in Thai)
- Surat Thani provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp