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 |
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]
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.
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.
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]
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 |
|