Ko Mak

Ko Mak เกาะหมาก
Island
Island location in Trat Province
Coordinates: 11°49′10″N 102°28′42″E / 11.81944°N 102.47833°E / 11.81944; 102.47833Coordinates: 11°49′10″N 102°28′42″E / 11.81944°N 102.47833°E / 11.81944; 102.47833
Country	Thailand
Province	Trat
Seat	Ko Kut
Time zone	THA (UTC+7)
Postal code	23000
Geocode	230504

Beach at Ko Mak

Ko Mak (Thai: เกาะหมาก, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ màːk]) is a small island of Trat Province, Thailand. The island is named after the Areca nut (หมาก).

History

The first settler on the island was Chao Sua Seng, a Chinese Affairs Officer during the reign of King Rama V, who established a coconut plantation. He then sold the plantation to Luang Prompakdii, also a Chinese Affairs Officer whose descendants still own the land to this day. Luang Prompakdii and his children are known to have established more coconut and rubber plantations, effectively covering most of the arable land in these two sought after exports at the time.^[1]

The first attempt at attracting a tourism market was in 1974, when bungalows were built at Ban Ao Nid on the east of the island. Infrastructure, specifically transport and telecommunications were in their early stages and as a result, the tourism industry on Ko Mak took some time to become established. By 1987 certain beaches and land were cleared and the first resorts were built.^[2]

Political history

Originally the area of the Ko Kut district was part of the subdistrict (tambon) Ko Chang, Laem Ngop district. In 1952 the subdistrict Ko Mak was established covering the whole island, at that time subdivided into 4 villages (muban).^[3] In 1980 three villages of Ko Mak were split off to create the subdistrict Ko Kut.^[4] On 1 April 1990 the government upgraded tambon Ko Kut together with tambon Ko Mak to a minor district (King Amphoe).^[5]

Following a decision of the Thai government on 15 May 2007, all of the 81 minor districts were to be upgraded to full districts.^[6] With the publishing in the Royal Gazette on 24 August the upgrade became official.^[7]

As local government entities the two Tambon administrative organizations (TAO) were created in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The Tambon Council Ko Kut was upgraded to a TAO in 2003,^[8] and for Ko Mak in 2004.^[9]

Geography

The island of Ko Mak is situated in the East of the Gulf of Thailand, 35 kilometers from the mainland, and is the third largest island in Trat Province, after Ko Chang and Ko Kut. With an area of 16 square kilometers Ko Mak has 27 km of coastline, many long sandy beaches, and a few hills.^[10] The island is home to approximately 800 locals and renowned for its beautiful beaches, having been included in the U.K's Sunday Times 10 most beautiful beaches list in 2006.^[11] Ko Mak has a temple, a primary school, 3 fishing villages, a market and a health center.^[12]

It is possible to walk to Ko Kham, a smaller island less than 1 km northwest from Ko Mak during low tide. Ko Phi, a tiny island also north west from Ko Mak but southwest from Ko Kham.

Administration

Plantation of rubber trees on Ko Mak.

Ko Mak forms part of the Ko Kut District. The district is subdivided into 2 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 8 villages (muban). There are 2 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO), one for each subdistrict.^[13]

Tourism

Ko Mak is popular amongst tourists for its white sandy beaches and clear blue water.

The island is small and flat with coconut plantations and mangrove vegetation along the coastline.

There are approximately 25 resorts on Ko Mak. Both Ko Kham and Ko Phi can easily be reached with sea kayak or boat rental from the resorts on the north west coast and are renowned snorkeling destinations.^[14]

Gallery

• 

  Forest hut on Ko Mak

• 

  Cococape resort on Ko Mak

• 

  View from hill on Ko Mak

• 

  Jetty at Cococape on Ko Mak

• 

  Palm trees on Ko Mak

• 

  Sunset on Ko Mak looking towards Ko Phi

See also

• List of islands of Thailand

References