Phop Phra District

Phop Phra
พบพระ
—  Amphoe  —
Amphoe location in Tak Province
Coordinates:
Country  Thailand
Province Tak
Seat Phop Phra
Tambon
Muban
Amphoe established
Area
 • Total 1,006.542 km2 (388.6 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 • Total 63,336
 • Density 62.9/km2 (162.9/sq mi)
Time zone THA (UTC+7)
Postal code 63160
Geocode 6307

Phop Phra (Thai: พบพระ) is a district (Amphoe) in the southwestern part of Tak Province, northern Thailand.

Contents

History

The whole area of Phop Phra was originally Tambon Chong Khaep of Mae Sot district. Due to the large size of Mae Sot and problems with communist insurgents, the government created a separate administration of the area. Effective April 1 1977 the three tambon Phop Phra, Chong Khaep and Khiri Rat formed the new minor district (King Amphoe).[1] It was officially upgraded to a full district on March 3, 1987.[2]

Etymology

The name Phop Phra means Lord Buddha image discovery. Originally the area was named Pho Pha (เพอะพะ), which in Karen language that means swamp area, so the name was changed to have a better meaning.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Mae Sot, Mueang Tak, Wang Chao of Tak Province, Ban Rai of Uthai Thani Province, Umphang of Tak Province again and Kayin State of Myanmar.

The Namtok Pha Charoen National Park is located in the district. The park is known for its Pha Charoen waterfall with 97 small levels.

The important river of Phop Pra is the Moei River.

Miscellaneous

Along Mae Sot-Umphang Highway is a refugee center Ban Um Piam (บ้านอุ้มเปี่ยม). It houses Karen fled from Myanmar. They were relocated from the camp in Mae Sot close to Thai-Myanmar border which risked being attacked by guerrillas Democratic Karen Buddhist Army from Myanmar.[3]

Administration

The district is subdivided into 5 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 52 villages (muban). Phop Phra is a township (thesaban tambon), which covers parts of the tambon Phop Phra.

No. Name Thai name Villages Inh.     
1. Phop Phra พบพระ 9 12886
2. Chong Khaep ช่องแคบ 14 12064
3. Khiri Rat คีรีราษฎร์ 11 19567
4. Wale วาเล่ย์ 7 6973
5. Ruam Thai Phatthana รวมไทยพัฒนา 11 11846

References

  1. ^ "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แบ่งท้องที่อำเภอแม่สอด จังหวัดตาก ตั้งเป็นกิ่งอำเภอพบพระ" (in Thai). Royal Gazette 94 (26 ง): 1315. March 26 1977. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2520/D/026/1315.PDF. 
  2. ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งอำเภอพญาเม็งราย อำเภอพบพระ อำเภอทับคล้อ อำเภอบ้านโคก และอำเภอโพธิ์ไทร พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๐" (in Thai). Royal Gazette 104 (156 ก special): 26–28. August 12 1987. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2530/A/156/26.PDF. 
  3. ^ "Thailand relocates 100,000 Myanmar refugees". Asian Political News. August 30, 1999. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_1999_August_30/ai_55759603. 

External links