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Phuket
is located in the southwest and is also the largest
island in Thailand.It's the only one island that has
a status to be a province. It is about. 867 km south
from Bangkok. It is surrounded by water contain with
much marine lives and the town, Phuket, is known as
the Sino-Portuguese architecture buildings. The populations
about 2.5 hundred thousands people.The main business
is tourism as it is surrounded by many beautiful beaches;i.e.
Patong Beach,Kata and Karon Beaches.The total area is
about 570 square metres.
Phuket ,is well-known as the Pearl of the
south Andaman Sea ,has quite long history for over 500
years , which is very wealthy of its beautiful places
and tourists attraction. It is a very attractive island
for sightseeing, with lovely seashores and forested
hillsides .In each year the Pearl of Andaman brings
much income to the country. Phuket remains the wealthiest
province in Thailand and ranks the second in popularity
places only to Pattaya.
History
Dating
back to A.D. 1025 indicate that the island's name derives
from the Tamil Manikram, or crystal mountain.For the
most of the history,Phuket was known as Junk Ceylon,.
The name is thought to have its roots in Patolemy's
Geography written by the Alexandrian geographer in the
Third Century A.D .He mentioned that in making a trip
from Souwannapum to the Malay Peninsula it was neccesary
to pass the cape of Jang Si Lang.
Phuket was the gateway on the route between India and
China where seafarers stopped to shelter.
The island appears to have been part of the Shivite
empire (called in Thai the Tam Porn Ling) that established
itself on the Malay Peninsula during the first Millenium
age. Then when Muang Takua-Talang, it was part of the
Srivichai and Siri Tahm empire governed in the eleventh
in a constellation of twelve cities, Phuket is an emblem,
by which it was known to others in those largely pre-literature
times.
During the Sukhothai period, Phuket was associated with
Takua Pa in what is now Phang-nga Province, another
area with vast tin reserves. The Dutch established a
trading post during the Ayuthaya period in the 16th
century.Then,the island was divided as northern and
central regions then when was governed by the Thais,
and the southern and western were given over to the
tin trade, a concession in the hands of foreigners.
When Ayuttaya was sacked in 1767 there was a short interregnum
in Thailand, ended by King Taksin who drove out the
Burmese and re-unified the country. However, the enemy
was anxious to return to the offensive. They outfitted
a fleet to raid the southern provinces, and carry off
the populations to slavery in Burma.
This led Phuket has the most memorable historic event.
A passing sea captain, Francis Light, sent word that
the Burmese were en route to attack. Forces in Phuket
were assembled led by the two heroines, Khunying Jan,
wife of Phuket's recently deceased governer, and her
sister Mook, After a month's siege the Burmese were
forced to depart on 13 March, 1785. Kunying Jan and
her sister were credited with the successful defense.
In recognition King Rama I bestowed upon Kunying Jan
the honorific Thao Thep Kasatri, a title of nobility
usually reserved for royalty, by which she is known
today. Her sister became Thao Sri Sunthon.
During the Nineteenth Century, Chinese immigrants arrived
to work for the tin mines that the ethnic character
of the island's interior became predominantly Chinese,
while the coastal settlements remained populated chiefly
by Muslim fishermen. In 1933, with the change in government
from absolute monarchy to a parliamentary system, the
island was established as a province by itself.
Boundaries
Phuket
is situated in the south of Thailand, on the Andaman
sea coast,it is a part of the Indian Ocean.It lies between
7'45" and 8'15" north latitude, and from 98'15"
to 98'40" west longitude on the map. Phuket,Thailand's
largest island is surrounded by 32 smaller islands that
formed part of the same administration, with a total
area of 570 square kilometers. Measured at its widest
point, is 21.3 kilometers; at its longest, 48.7 kilometers.
it is bounded thus:
| North
: |
Lies
The Pak Prah strait, spanned by two bridges running
side-by-side, the older Sarasin Bridge, and the
newer Thao Thep Krasatri Bridge. |
| South
: |
Is
the Andaman Sea. |
| East
: |
Is
Phang-nga Bay (In the jurisdiction mainly of Phang-nga
Province). |
|
West
:
|
Is
The Andaman Sea. |
Geography
It is about 70 percent of Phuket province
is mountainous; a western range from north to south
from which smaller branches derive. The highest peak
is Mai Tao Sip Song, or Twelve Canes, at 529 meters
high, which lies within the boundaries of Tambon Patong,
Kathu District. Another about 30 percent is mainly in
the center and south, is formed by low plains, streams
including Khlong Bang Yai, Tha Jin, Khlong Tha Rua,
and Khlong Bang Rong, none of which is large.
Administration
The island is divided into three districts, Thalang
in the north, Kathu in the west, and Muang in the south.
Thailand's system of government relies upon a strong
central authority, thus the Provincial Governor is a
civil servant appointed by the Interior Ministry in
Bangkok, as are the Nai Amphoe, or District Chief. The
cities of Phuket and Patong have their own city governments,
with elected city councils, the leading members of which
serve as mayor. There are also elected provincial, district,
and sub-district councils. The local constabulary is
part of the Interior Ministry.
Population
Official population as of March 31, 2001, was 252,282.
This figure those who are registered as living in Phuket.
Phuket' s attraction as a center of economic activity
has resulted in many settlements that living on the
island whose registration is elsewhere. The total population
of Phuket varies considerably depending on the time
of year, through it is never less than the figure given
above.
Economy
Since the early 1980's the tourist business has been
Phuket's principal income from hotel's business, restaurants,
tour companies, and souvenir shops are much in evidence
on the west coast. However, while once all-importance
tin mining has ceased, tourism is by no means the island's
only activity. Agriculture remains important to a large
number of people, and covers by far the most part of
the island. Principal crops are rubber, coconuts, cashew
nuts, and pineapples.
Furthermore, prawn farming has taken over the east and
the south coasts. Pearl farming is also important. Phuket's
fishing port is at all time filled, and processing of
marine products, mainly fish, makes a significant contribution
to the economy. With so many healthy industries supplying
income, construction has become a major factor in employment.
This range from massive public works projects, large
office buildings and hotels, and housing estates with
hundreds of units, down to single family homes, apartments
and additions.
Weather
The weather of Phuket dominated by monsoon winds that
blow year round. It is therefore always warm and humid.
There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy
season begins in May to October, during which the monsoon
blows from the southwest. The dry season is from November
through April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast.
Highest average temperatures, at 33.4 degree Celsius,
prevail during March. Lowest averages occur in January,
when nightly lows dip to 22 degree Celsius.
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