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Phuket,
a large island in the Indian Ocean, is 867 kms. from Bangkok.
It is the only island having provincial status, and was a regional
headquarters as well, with a rich and colorful history.
Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, it derived much of its former
glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which in Phuket
dates back over 500 year. Today, Phuket is the major tourist attraction
of Thailand. The surrounding waters contain much varied marine life,
and the town is notable for its Sino-Portuguese architecture. It
is a very attractive island for sightseeing, with lovely seashores
and forested hillsides.
Its population of 1.6 million people ranks sixth among all provinces.
Approximately 1.75 million Rai of the area is forest land. The main
occupation here is rice farming. The average per capita income is
14,343 baht.
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Location
and Boundaries
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Phuket is an island connected by bridges to southern Thailand's
Andaman Sea coast, in the Indian Ocean, lying between 7'45"
and 8'15" north latitude, and from 98'15" to 98'40"
west longitude on the map. Phuket, Thailand's largest islands, is
surrounded by 32 smaller islands that form part of the same administration,
with a total area of 570 square kilometers. Measured at its widest
point, Phuket 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. |
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Geography
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Phuket is the same size as Singapore Island. About 70 percent
of Phuket is forested hills. Mai Tha Sip
Song is the highest peak on the island, 529 meters above sea level.
Low plains form the rest of the area, mainly in the center and south.
There are three canals, Khlong Bang Yai, Tha Jin, Khlong Tha Rua,
and Khlong Bang Rong, which run through the island.
Phuket is the largest island in the country, but the smallest province
in the South. It is located between 7?45' and 8?15' north latitude,
and from 98?15' to 98?40' west longitude on the map.
Surrounded by 32 smaller islands, Phuket
occupies 543 square kilometers. The overall length from north to
south is 47.8 kms and 21.3 kms from west to east. Phuket connects
to the mainland by two bridges, the Sarasin Bridge and Thoa Thep
Krasatri Bridge (600 meter, across Pak Phra Channel, bridging Chatchai
Landing of Phuket and Tha Nun Landing of Phangnga). To the south
and west Phuket adjoins the Andaman Sea, and the Krabi Sea to the
East.
Phuket's average temperature is around 28.0 to 29.3 degrees Celsius.
The lowest average is around 21.8 to 22.7 degrees Celsius and the
highest is 35.7 degrees Celsius (in 1998).
Phuket's weather conditions are 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 and lasts till 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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Economy
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Since the early 1980's the tourist business has been Phuket's
chief source of income. Hotels, 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, cashews, and pineapples.
Prawn farming has largly taken over the east and 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.
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Population
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The island's official population as of December 1998 was 231,206.
Most live in Muang district.
Thirty percent of the island's population are Chinese descendants.
But they differ from those in Bangkok because they came from the
Hokkien region of China, who migrated to Phuket during the boom
of the tin mining industry in the 17th -- 18th century. Today, the
Chinese are responsible for much of the trade and commerce in the
city. They also represent the strongest culture of Phuket town.
Equal to the Chinese descendants is the Thai Muslim community which
also comprises 30 per cent of the island's population. Muslims living
in southern Thailand are of Malaysian extraction and arrived at
an early date. There is also a small number of sea gypsies living
in a village in Ko Sirey. By far, sea gypsies are the most interesting
original inhabitants of Phuket island but
the intrusion of tourists is impinging on their lifestyle.
With the tourism boom in Phuket during the last decade, Phuket
has attracted people from other regions to work in the tourism industry,
which is now the largest source of income. So it's easy for tourists
to spot the local people who can communicate in English.
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Government
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The administration in Phuket is divided into three districts, Thalang
in the north, Kathu in the west, and Muang in the south. 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, or Tambon
councils. The local constabulary is part of the Interior Ministry.
Phuket is the richest province in the south and ranked number six
in Thailand, thanks to the tourism industry. Since the early 1980's,
tourism has been Phuket's chief source of income. In 1997, Phuket's
income per capita was around 156,675 baht. Hotels, resorts, restaurants,
tour agencies, entertainment businesses and souvenir shops have
been springing up like mushrooms along the west coast. In the past,
Phuket's wealth was mainly built on tin mining but when tin demand
in world markets declined, tourism took over as a money machine
for the island. Agriculture ranks as the second source of income.
Rubber, coconut, cashew, and pineapple plantations are an important
part of the economy. Aquatic animal farming such as prawn and pearl
farming are occupations that people living in Phuket rely on.
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Heroines
Monument
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The Heroines Monument was erected in the middle of the city opposite
Thalang National Museum on Highway 402.
After the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya, then the capital of Siam, in
1767, King Taksin drove out the Burmese and re-unified the country.
The Burmese were bad losers, and outfitted a fleet to attack the
southern provinces and carry off the populations to slavery in Burma.
The Monument honors Kunying Jan and her sister Mook who were credited
with the organizing the successful defense of Phuket
Island against the Burmese invaders. This became Phuket's most
unforgettable historic event.
To acknowledge their bravery and leadership, King Rama I conferred
on Kunying Jan the honorific apellation Thao Thep Kasatri - a title
of nobility usually reserved for royalty, and her sister became
Thao Sri Suntorn. Read More...
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