Trat Province
Encyclopedia
Trat is a province
(changwat) of Thailand
. It is located in the east of Thailand, and has borders with Chanthaburi Province
to the northwest, Cambodia
to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand
to the south.
Trat is most famous for gemstone
mining and trading.
of the Ayutthaya Kingdom
. Formerly known as Mueang Thung Yai, Trat has played an important role in the development of country’s stability and economy due to its strategic location. The town of Trat has later become a community of Chinese Merchants.
Trat served as a checkpoint and buffer city in 1767 and was responsible for providing provisions to King Taksin
the Great before he moved his navy from Chanthaburi to Ayutthaya
, where he expelled the Burmese
and liberated the Kingdom from Burmese rule.
In Rattanakosin era, during the Paknam crisis in 1893 the French colonist army occupied the western part of Chantaburi. In 1904 in order to get back Chantaburi Siam had to give Trat to French Indochina
. Trat became part of Thailand again on March 23, 1906 in exchange for many areas east of the Mekong
river like Battambang
, Siam Nakhon
and Sisophon.
During the Indochina War, the French Navy tried to seize Trat again. The French – Thai Battle broke out on 5 January 1941. The battle ended 17 January at Ko Chang
, when three Thai ships were sunk - the HTMS Chonburi, HTMS Songkhla and HTMS Thonburi. Later the Japanese ended the conflict by diplomacy.
forms the boundary to Cambodia in the east of the province, where Trat has borders with three Cambodian provinces: Battambang
, Pursat and Koh Kong
.
The third biggest island
of Thailand is Ko Chang,[after Phuket and Koh samui] belonging to the province. The island, together with more than 40 surrounding smaller islands, forms the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park.
Other islands of the province include: Ko Kham
, Ko Mak
, Ko Phi
.
Approximate centre: 12°24′N 102°31′E
Provincial tree is the Tropical almond (Terminalia catappa
).
The province is subdivided in 7 districts (amphoe
). These are further subdivided into 38 subdistricts (tambon
) and 254 villages (muban
).
Provinces of Thailand
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
(changwat) of Thailand
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...
. It is located in the east of Thailand, and has borders with Chanthaburi Province
Chanthaburi Province
Chanthaburi is a province of Thailand. It is located in the east of Thailand, at the border to Battambang and Pailin of Cambodia and the shore to the Gulf of Thailand...
to the northwest, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
to the south.
Trat is most famous for gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
mining and trading.
History
The history of Trat can be traced back to the reign of King Prasat ThongPrasat Thong
King Prasat Thong was the first king of Prasat Thong dynasty, the 4th dynasty of Ayutthaya kingdom. He was the Defense minister of King Songtham....
of the Ayutthaya Kingdom
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
. Formerly known as Mueang Thung Yai, Trat has played an important role in the development of country’s stability and economy due to its strategic location. The town of Trat has later become a community of Chinese Merchants.
Trat served as a checkpoint and buffer city in 1767 and was responsible for providing provisions to King Taksin
Taksin
Taksin ; was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom...
the Great before he moved his navy from Chanthaburi to Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya (city)
Ayutthaya city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. Located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. The city was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya...
, where he expelled the Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
and liberated the Kingdom from Burmese rule.
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
. Trat became part of Thailand again on March 23, 1906 in exchange for many areas east of 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 like Battambang
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
, Siam Nakhon
Siam Nakhon Province
Siam Nakhon is the name of a former Thai province. It was a changwat of Thailand, but was ceded to French Indochina in 1906. The name of Siam Nakhon was later changed to Siem Reap in Cambodian....
and Sisophon.
During the Indochina War, the French Navy tried to seize Trat again. The French – Thai Battle broke out on 5 January 1941. The battle ended 17 January at Ko Chang
Ko Chang
Ko Chang is the third largest island of Thailand , located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. The name means Elephant Island. Ko Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to...
, when three Thai ships were sunk - the HTMS Chonburi, HTMS Songkhla and HTMS Thonburi. Later the Japanese ended the conflict by diplomacy.
Geography
The Cardamom mountain rangeCardamom Mountains
The Krâvanh Mountains, literally the "Cardamom Mountains" , is a mountain range in the south west of Cambodia, jutting into southeastern Thailand.-Location and description:...
forms the boundary to Cambodia in the east of the province, where Trat has borders with three Cambodian provinces: Battambang
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
, Pursat and Koh Kong
Koh Kong Province
Koh Kong is a province of Cambodia. The name means "Kŏng Island Province". Its capital is Koh Kong.-Geography:The most south-western province of Cambodia, Koh Kong has a long undeveloped coastline and a mountainous, forested and largely inaccessible interior which embraces part of the Cardamom...
.
The third biggest island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Thailand is Ko Chang,[after Phuket and Koh samui] belonging to the province. The island, together with more than 40 surrounding smaller islands, forms the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park.
Other islands of the province include: Ko Kham
Ko Kham
Ko Kham is a small island near Ko Mak, on Trat Province, Thailand.It can be reached with a sea kayak from Ko Mak or by walking during low tide. Ko Kham has nice places to snorkel, depending on the direction of wind. Especially the south beach has a calm sea, nice sand dune, black lava rocks with...
, Ko Mak
Ko Mak
Ko Mak is a small island of Trat Province, Thailand. This island is named after the Areca nut .-Geography:Ko Mak has 27 km coastline, many long sand beaches, a few hills and it is about 16 km² in area....
, Ko Phi
Ko Phi
Ko Phi is a small unoccupied island near Ko Mak, in Trat Province, Thailand.It can be reached with a sea kayak from Ko Mak. Ko Phi has places to snorkel, depending on the direction of wind....
.
Approximate centre: 12°24′N 102°31′E
Symbols
The provincial seal shows the sea with a mountain in the background.Provincial tree is the Tropical almond (Terminalia catappa
Terminalia catappa
Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree in the Leadwood tree family, Combretaceae. The tree has been spread widely by humans and the native range is uncertain. It has long been naturalised in a broad belt extending from Africa to Northern Australia and New Guinea through Southeast Asia and...
).
Administration
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...
). These are further subdivided into 38 subdistricts (tambon
Tambon
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 254 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...
).
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