Bueng Kan Province
Encyclopedia
Bueng Kan is the 76th province (Changwat) of Thailand
, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011) which entered into force on and from March 23, 2011. The province, consisting of the districts (Amphoe
) partitioned off Nong Khai Province
, is situated in the northeastern region of the country, called "Isan
" . It is named after its central district, Mueang Bueng Kan
.
, Sakon Nakhon
, Udon Thani
and Nong Khai Province
. To the north and east it borders Laos
, with the Mekong
river forming the natural boundary.
In Bung Khla district is the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
, protecting a forest-covered hill area close to the Mekong river.
from Nong Khai Province
, proposed a province of Bueng Kan to be established by disjoining Amphoe Bueng Kan, Amphoe Seka, Amphoe So Phisai, Amphoe Bung Khla, Amphoe Bueng Khong Long, Amphoe Pak Khat, Amphoe Phon Charoen and Amphoe Si Wilai of Nong Khai Province to be considated as a new province. The new province, if created, would be 4,305-square-kilometre wide, with the population density about 390,000 inhabitants. At that time, the Ministry of Interior
replied that creating a new province would load a heavy burden to the state budget and was contrary to the resolution of the Council of Ministers.
The proposal of creating Bueng Kan Province has been deserted for about 20 years, until 2010 when the Ministry of Interior renewed the project and made a proposal to the Council of Minister for having a "Bill Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE ... (...)" considered. In a popular poll at the same time, 98.83 % of the inhabitants of Nong Khai province supported the proposal. On August 3, 2010, the Council of Ministers resolved to present the bill to the National Assembly
, citing the main reasons that: the proposal met with the criteria as to the number of districts and population and as to special characters of the proposed province, and that Nong Khai Province lies along the Mekong, making it difficult to maintain adequate security along the extensive border.
On February 7, 2011, the National Assembly approved the bill. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
presented it to Bhumibol Adulyadej
for his signature. Bhumibol Adulyadej signed the bill on March 11, 2011, enacting it as the "Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011)" . The Act was published in the Government Gazette on March 22, 2011 and came into force from the next day onwards.
) and 599 villages (muban
).
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011) which entered into force on and from March 23, 2011. The province, consisting of the districts (Amphoe
Amphoe
An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
) partitioned off Nong Khai Province
Nong Khai Province
Nong Khai is the northernmost of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani and Loei...
, is situated in the northeastern region of the country, called "Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
" . It is named after its central district, Mueang Bueng Kan
Amphoe Bueng Kan
Mueang Bueng Kan is a capital district of Bueng Kan province, northeastern Thailand.-History:The district was originally named Chaiburi and was a part of Nakhon Phanom Province...
.
Geography
The Province is located in the northeastern corner of Thailand. It borders from the south clockwise Nakhon PhanomNakhon Phanom Province
Nakhon Phanom is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Mukdahan, Sakon Nakhon and Bueng Kan. To the north-east it borders Khammouan of Laos.-Geography:...
, Sakon Nakhon
Sakon Nakhon Province
Sakon Nakhon is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Kalasin and Udon Thani...
, Udon Thani
Udon Thani Province
Udon Thani is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu and Loei.- Geography :...
and Nong Khai Province
Nong Khai Province
Nong Khai is the northernmost of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani and Loei...
. To the north and east it borders Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, with the Mekong
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
river forming the natural boundary.
In Bung Khla district is the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary
Phu Wua is a wildlife sanctuary in northeastern Thailand, located in Bueng Kan Province. It covers an area of 186.5 km² of the districts Seka and Bung Khla....
, protecting a forest-covered hill area close to the Mekong river.
History
In 1994, Sumet Phromphanhao, member of the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives of Thailand
The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand is the lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Thai Government. The system of government of Thailand is that of a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy. The system of the Thai...
from Nong Khai Province
Nong Khai Province
Nong Khai is the northernmost of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani and Loei...
, proposed a province of Bueng Kan to be established by disjoining Amphoe Bueng Kan, Amphoe Seka, Amphoe So Phisai, Amphoe Bung Khla, Amphoe Bueng Khong Long, Amphoe Pak Khat, Amphoe Phon Charoen and Amphoe Si Wilai of Nong Khai Province to be considated as a new province. The new province, if created, would be 4,305-square-kilometre wide, with the population density about 390,000 inhabitants. At that time, the Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Interior (Thailand)
The Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Thailand is an important Cabinet-level department in the Government of Thailand. The Ministry is given wide ranging responsibilities over many aspects...
replied that creating a new province would load a heavy burden to the state budget and was contrary to the resolution of the Council of Ministers.
The proposal of creating Bueng Kan Province has been deserted for about 20 years, until 2010 when the Ministry of Interior renewed the project and made a proposal to the Council of Minister for having a "Bill Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE ... (...)" considered. In a popular poll at the same time, 98.83 % of the inhabitants of Nong Khai province supported the proposal. On August 3, 2010, the Council of Ministers resolved to present the bill to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Thailand
The National Assembly of Thailand or the Parliament of Thailand is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. The National Assembly of Thailand is a bicameral body, consisting of two chambers: the upper house, , and the lower house,...
, citing the main reasons that: the proposal met with the criteria as to the number of districts and population and as to special characters of the proposed province, and that Nong Khai Province lies along the Mekong, making it difficult to maintain adequate security along the extensive border.
On February 7, 2011, the National Assembly approved the bill. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
presented it to Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
for his signature. Bhumibol Adulyadej signed the bill on March 11, 2011, enacting it as the "Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011)" . The Act was published in the Government Gazette on March 22, 2011 and came into force from the next day onwards.
Climate
Administrative divisions
The province is subdivided into 8 districts (Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 54 subdistricts (tambonTambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
) and 599 villages (muban
Muban
Muban is the lowest administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as village, they are the subdivision of tambon. As of 2008, there are 74944 administrative villages in Thailand. As of the 1990 census, the average village consisted of 144 households or 746 persons.A muban does not...
).
- Mueang Bueng Kan
- Pak KhatAmphoe Pak KhatPak Khat is a district in the eastern part of Bueng Kan Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Bueng Kan and So Phisai of Bueng Kan Province, and Rattanawapi of Nong Khai Province...
- So PhisaiAmphoe So PhisaiSo Phisai is a district of Bueng Kan Province, northeastern Thailand.-History:The minor district So Phisai was established on March 1 1972, when the three tambon So, Si Chomphu and Nong Phan Tha were split off from Phon Phisai district...
- Phon CharoenAmphoe Phon CharoenPhon Charoen is a district of Bueng Kan Province, northeastern Thailand.-History:The minor district Phon Charoen was established on November 16 1976 by splitting two tambon from Bueng Kan district...
- SekaAmphoe SekaSeka is a district in the eastern part of Bueng Kan Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Phon Charoen, Si Wilai, Mueang Bueng Kan, Bung Khla, Bueng Khong Long of Bueng Kan Province, Na Thom of Nakhon Phanom Province, Akat Amnuai, Kham Ta Kla and Ban Muang of Sakon...
- Bueng Khong LongAmphoe Bueng Khong LongBueng Khong Long is a district of Bueng Kan Province, northeastern Thailand.-History:The minor district was split off from Seka district on January 7, 1986. It was upgraded to a full district on November 4, 1993.-Geography:...
- Si WilaiAmphoe Si WilaiSi Wilai is a district in the eastern part of Bueng Kan Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Mueang Bueng Kan, Seka and Phon Charoen.-History:...
- Bung KhlaAmphoe Bung KhlaBung Khla is a district of Bueng Kan Province, northeastern Thailand.-History:The minor district was split off from Bueng Kan district on April 1 1991. It was upgraded to a full district on December 5 1996.-Geography:...
Tourist attractions
- Wat Phu Tok, a temple on Phu Tok 18°08′15"N 103°52′45"E, a rocky sandstoneSandstoneSandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
outcrop which is now the symbol of the province. - Bung Khong Long, an emblematic lake located south of the town which is a breeding ground for aquatic birds.
- Phu Wua Wildlife SanctuaryPhu Wua Wildlife SanctuaryPhu Wua is a wildlife sanctuary in northeastern Thailand, located in Bueng Kan Province. It covers an area of 186.5 km² of the districts Seka and Bung Khla....
, a protected natural area with forests and waterfalls. - Nam Tok Tat Kinari, a waterfall with pools of clear water