Ranong Province
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| Statistics | |
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| Capital: | Ranong |
| Area: | 3,298.0 km² Ranked 59th |
| Inhabitants: | 161,210 (2000) Ranked 59th |
| Pop. density: | 49 inh./km² Ranked 71st |
| ISO 3166-2: | TH-85 |
| Governor: | Mekhin Methakhun (since 2005) |
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Ranong (Thai ระนอง) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, at the shore to the Andaman Sea. It is the province with the fewest citizens. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang Nga. To the west, it also borders to Kawthaung Province, Union of Myanmar.
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[edit] Geography
Ranong is located on the Kra Isthmus, the narrow strip that connects mainland Thailand with the Malay Peninsula, on the west side of the Phuket mountain range. It has a long coast on the Andaman Sea. The province is known for having the most rainfall of all Thailand, the rainy season lasting for about 8 months. In 1955 the annual rainfall reached 6699.5 mm, compared to about 1200 in central Thailand.
The province is the least populated province of Thailand, 80% of the area are covered by forests, and 67% are mountainous terrain. Historically the major industry was tin mining, but most mines are exploited already now. White clay mining for the production of porcelain and fishing are the main industries today, together with the rubber and cashew nut farming.
The Ranong Biosphere Reserve in the north of Amphoe Kapoe covering 303.09 km² was declared in 1997. It is the fourth biosphere reserve of Thailand, but the only one located at the coast to protect the mangrove forests. In the south of the province is the Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary.
[edit] History
The name Ranong is actually the Thai corruption of Rundung,[1] a Malay principality under the overlordship of Malay Sultanate of Kedah. Rundung gradually succumbed to repeated Thai invasions in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Khaw Soo Cheang was a Chinese from Zhangzhou-fu, Fukien Province, who tried his luck abroad. In 1810 he arrived at Penang, but after 6 unsuccessful years he came to Takuapa to try his luck there. Earning well from various trading activities, in 1844 he was appointed Royal Collector of tin royalties in the Ranong area, and receiving the title and name Luang Ratanasethi. 1854 King Mongkut made him governour of Ranong and elevated him to Phra. At that time Ranong was a subordinate of the Chumphon province, but in 1864 due to the good performance of the governour it was elevated to full provincial status, and he became the title Phraya. After he died in 1882 his second son became the new governour and in 1896 commissioner of Monthon Chumphon, other sons became governour of Kra, Langsuan, and his youngest son Kho Sim Bee became governour of Trang, and in 1900 commissioner of Monthon Phuket. However after his death in 1913 a commissioner from outside the area was appointed, to stop the traditionally inherited administrative power of the family.
In 1916 all Chinese immigrants and their descendants had to adopt a Thai name, and the family of Khaw Soo Cheang became the Na Ranong family.
[edit] Symbols
| The seal of the province shows a castle on top of a hill, to remember that King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) once visited Ranong and stayed at the Ratana Rangsan Castle on top of the Niveskiri Hill.
The provincial tree is the Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa), and the provincial flower is the orchid Dendrobium formosum. |
[edit] Administrative divisions
Ranong is subdivided into 5 districts (Amphoe). These are further subdivided into 30 subdistricts (tambon) and 167 villages (muban). Ranong itself is the only town (thesaban mueang), and there are 5 more subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Sights
Ranong Governor’s Grave (สุสานเจ้าเมืองระนอง) This Chinese grave of Phraya Rattanasetthi (Kho Su Chiang), Ranong’s first governor, is situated on a piece of land dedicated by King Rama V. There are 3 tiers of stone platform with steps leading up to the grave with antique granite sculptures of Chinese noblemen, horses, goats and lions on both sides.
Hot Springs and Raksawarin Public Park (บ่อน้ำร้อนและสวนสาธารณะรักษะวาริน) The hot springs have been a popular tourist spot ever since King Rama V visited Ranong in 1890. There are three natural spring pools. The temperature of the water in the pools remains constant at about 65 °C.
Wat Hat Som Paen (วัดหาดส้มแป้น) This temple is on Khlong Hat Som Paen and provides a sanctuary for a shoal of soro brook carp.
Wat suwan Khiri (วัดหน้าเมือง) It contains a Burmese style Chedi of over 70 years old and 10 metres in height, which was built by a Burmese, a main ordination hall or Phra Ubosot where a beautifully bejeweled standing Buddha image is enshrined and a belfry decorated with a feline pattern.
Namtok Punyaban (น้ำตกปุญญบาล) Formerly known as Namtok Set Takuat, this 20-metre high waterfall is located at Mu 1 Tambon Bang Non, on the right at Km.597 on Highway No.4 towards Chumphon.
Namtok Ton Phet (น้ำตกโตนเพชร) Surrounded by moist evergreen forest with Ranong’s hightest Phota Chong Dong Mountains being the source of water, each tier of the falls cascades down boulders all year round.
Phukhao Ya (Grass Hill) or Khao Hua Lan (Bald Hill) (ภูเขาหญ้าหรือเขาหัวล้าน) Known to locals by a variety of names and endearingly referred to as Thailand’s version of a Swiss pasture, this hill is something of an anomaly as it is completely treeless, being covered instead by a thick blanket of grass.
Namtok Ngao National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกหงาว) Covering a total area of approximately 417,500 rai in Amphoe La-un and Amphoe Mueang of Ranong and Amphoe Sawi, Amphoe Thung Tako, Amphoe Lang Suan and Amphoe Phato of Chumphon, it was declared a national park on 3 June, 1999.
Ngao Mangrove Forest Research Centre (ศูนย์วิจัยป่าชายเลนหงาว) has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve Zone by UNESCO owing to the essential role this mangrove plays in maintaining the region's ecological integrity. Many species of marine life come to the mangrove to mate, incubate their eggs and care for their young until the offspring are strong enough to face the perils of the open sea.
Hat Chan Damri (หาดชาญดำริ) This small beach and pier, and a nearby hillside viewpoint offer good vantage points from which to witness seafaring life along the mouth of Ranong's principal river.
Victoria Point or Ko Song (วิคตอเรียพอยท์ หรือ เกาะสอง) As an island in neighbouring Myanmar
Ko Chang (เกาะช้าง) With an area of 18 square kilometres and 80 homes on the entire island.Cashew and para rubber plantations as well as coastal fisheries are the people’s main .
Ko Phayam (เกาะพยาม) is famous for both its long fine white sandy beaches and for the cashew nuts which are grown on the island. A number of sea gypsies, or Chao Le, live on the island as well.
Mangrove Arboretum (สวนรุกขชาติป่าชายเลน) Located within Pa Khlong Lamliang-La-un National Reserve area and attached to a concession forest, the mangrove became under concession for 15 years before reforestation under the Khlong La-un Mangrove project. Two years later, it was developed into a mangrove arboretum with a 1,500-metre long boardwalk being constructed.
Royal Initial Stones (ศิลาสลักพระปรมาภิไธย) There is an area where the royal initials of King Rama V were inscribed onto a stone to mark his royal visit. There are also inscriptions of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit’s as well as Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s initials on their royal visit.
Kho Khot Kra or Kra Isthmus (คอคอดกระ หรือ กิ่วกระ) The Kra Isthmus is the Malay Peninsula’s narrowest point, spanning a mere 44 kilometres from the Gulf of Thailand on the east coast to the Andaman Sea on the west coast. The Kra Isthmus provides an excellent vantage point from which to see the Kra Buri River forming a natural boundary between Thailand and Myanmar.
Tham Phra Khayang (ถ้ำพระขยางค์) Despite its small scale, this cave is related to a legend of the establishment of the district. Some 40 metres deep inside, a staircase leads upward and further outside the cave to where some rare herbs are believed to have been grown.
Namtok Chum Saeng or Namtok Sai Rung (น้ำตกชุมแสงหรือน้ำตกสายรุ้ง) In the rainy season, a lot of water cascades down the boulders in rainbow splashes. This is how it is called “Namtok Sai Rung” or Rainbow Waterfall.
Namtok Bok Krai (น้ำตกบกกราย) At the end of the road, a 20-metre walk through farmland and a moist forest will lead to this enormous waterfall that runs throughout the year.
Khlong Nakha Wildlife Reserve (เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าคลองนาคา) This wildlife reserve houses a breathtaking waterfall known as Namtok Phan Met (น้ำตกพันเมตร) amid a stretch of verdant forest.
Laem Son National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติแหลมสน) It covers a total area of 196, 875 rai. It also covers islands in the Andaman Sea; namely, Ko Khangkhao and Mu Ko Kam. Places of interest within the national park include:
Hat Bang Ben (หาดบางเบน) is a long and vast sandy beach shaded by pine trees where the national park headquarters is located.
Hat Laem Son (หาดแหลมสน) is a white sandy beach approximately 4 kilometres next to Hat Bang Ben.
Hat Praphat or Hat Hin Thung (หาดประพาส หรือ หาดหินทุ่ง) is located at Mu 2 Tambon Kam Phuan. Similar to Hat Bang Ben, Hat Praphat is a large beach shaded by pine trees.
Ko Khangkhao (เกาะค้างคาว) is an island with fine sandy beaches and a gravel beach known as Hat Hin Ngam in the north.
Ko Kam Yai (เกาะกำใหญ่) is a scenic island with white sandy beaches almost all around.
Ko Kam Nui (เกาะกำนุ้ย) is not far from Ko Kam Yai with beaches on one side and many other nearby islets.
Khao Fa Chi (เขาฝาชี) So named because of its resemblance to a traditional Thai food cover, Fa Chi hill is located in Tambon Bang Kaeo. The hill provides an excellent vantage from which to see two rivers, the Kra Buri and the La-un, converge. Japanese soldiers used this area as a port of sending support to Burma during the Second World War.
Japanese Shipwreck (ซากเรือรบญี่ปุ่น) Approximately 2 kilometres beyond Chao Fa Chi, a wreck of a Japanese logistic warship used in World War II between a pier in Tambon Pak Chan, Amphoe Kra buri and Burma is visible at low tide.
[edit] Local Products
Ranong is renowned for it preserved seafood such as dried shrimps, shrimp paste, as well as cashew nut and dumplings.
[edit] Activities
Cruising along the Kra Buri River (การล่องเรือแม่น้ำกระบุรี)
Fishing and Diving at Mu Ko Kam (การตกปลา ดำน้ำชมปะการัง หมู่เกาะกำ) Hiking in Mangrove Forests (การเดินป่าทัศนศึกษาป่าชายเลน) The mangrove forests along the shore, at the mouths of the rivers, and on islands, though covering a relatively small area of the province, are essential to the region's integrity and continued prosperity. The people of Ranong take pride in having some of the best preserved and protected mangrove forests in the country. Twenty-five of the world's sixty-eight species of mangrove trees can be found in the province.
Elephant Riding (ขี่ช้าง) Near the hot springs in Raksawarin Public Park, there is a forest management unit responsible for protecting and maintaining the adjacent forest.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Festivals
Visit Ranong and Andaman Fair (งานเปิดเมืองระนองท่องอันดามัน) Held in December, the Fair features exhibitions by various organizations, booth displays of travel agencies and folk sports activities.
Image Boat Procession and Races (งานเสด็จพระแข่งเรือ อำเภอกระบุรี) Held cooperatively by Thai and Burmese people during the 1 st – 3nd days of the waning moon of the 11 th lunar month, the event features a Buddha image boat competition. Boats will be decorated to carry Buddha images and will float in procession along the Kra Buri River, near the Kra Isthmus, passing by riverside communities. There will be a boat song contest and boat races as well as other forms of entertainment in front of the Kra Buri District Office.
[edit] References
- ^ Shamsudin Mohd. Yusof (1992). Sejarah Kedah Darul Aman sepanjan zaman, 27.
[edit] External links
- Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
- Official website
- Website of Kiwi Orchid containing a Ranong travel guide
- Ranong provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp
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