CHANTHABURI PROVINCE

'Chanthaburi' () is a province (''changwat'') 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. The neighboring provinces are Trat in the east and Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao and Sa Kaeo.

Contents

History

Geography

Symbols

Administrative divisions

External links

History

After the Paknam crisis in 1893 the French colonist troops occupied Chanthaburi, returning it in 1905 when Thailand gave up ownership of the western part of Cambodia. A significant minority of Chanthaburi citizens are native Vietnamese, who came there in three waves - first in the 19th century during an anti-Catholic persecution in Cochin China, a second wave came in the 1920s to 1940s fleeing from French Indochina, and a third one after the communist victory in Vietnam in 1975. Thus the town of Chanthaburi is the seat of a Bishop of Chanthaburi since 1944.

Geography

While the southern part of the province is located at the shore to the Gulf of Thailand and thus is mostly coastal alluvial plains, the hinterlands of the province are quite mountainous. The Chanthaburi mountain range in the north has the highest elevation of the province, the 1556 m high Soi Dao Nua Peak. The main river of the province is the Chanthaburi River.
Together with the neighboring province Trat, Chanthaburi is the center of gemstone mining, especially rubies and sapphires. Tropical fruits are also among the main products of the province.

Symbols

Provincial seal

The provincial seal shows the moon surrounded by an aura. Inside the moon disc is a rabbit, as in Thai tradition the dark areas on the moon (maria) form a rabbit shape. The seal symbolizes the peace and tranquility of the province. By the way, name ''Chanthaburi'' means ''city of moon''.The flag of the province also shows the seal in the middle - a white rabbit on the yellow moon disc, on a blue disc. The background of the flag is red, with the name of province in yellow written below the seal.The provincial tree is Diospyros decandra, provincial flower is an orchid.

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided in 9 districts (''Amphoe'') and one minor district (''King Amphoe''). These are further subdivided into 76 communes (''tambon'') and 690 villages (''muban'').

''Amphoe''		''King Amphoe''
#Mueang Chanthaburi#Khlung#Tha Mai#Pong Nam Ron#Makham	Laem Sing Soi Dao Kaeng Hang Maeo Na Yai Am	Khao Khitchakut

External links

★ Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand

★ Chanthaburi provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp