Pakse

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Pakse
ປາກຊັນ
City
The Champasak Palace Hotel, Pakxe, formerly the palace of Boun Oum Na Champassak
Pakse
Location in Laos
Coordinates: 15°07′N 105°47′E / 15.117°N 105.783°E / 15.117; 105.783
Country  Laos
Province Champasak Province
District Pak Sé District
Population
 • Total 87,000
 • Religions Buddhism

Pakse or Pakxe (French Paksé; Laotian ປາກເຊ [pȁːk séː] "Mouth of the river Se") is the capital and most populous city in the southern province of Champasak, making it the third most populous city in Laos. It has a population of about 87,000,[1] situated at the confluence of the Xe Don and Mekong Rivers. It also served as the capital of the Kingdom of Champasak until it was unified with the rest of Laos in 1946.

History

This city was founded by the French as an administrative outpost in 1905, and was formerly the capital of the Lao Kingdom of Champasak until its abolishment in 1946 when the Kingdom of Laos was formed. During the Franco-Thai war the French ceded Pakse to the Thai authorities. The city served as the primary seat and residence to Prince Boun Oum Na Champassak, an important figure in the Laotian Civil War. He built Champasak Palace but fled in 1974 before it was completed. In May 1975, it fell to Pathet Lao forces. Since 1975, Pakse has become an economic power and of regional importance within the region. The construction of a bridge over the Mekong (built with Japanese aid), allowing road traffic with Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand, has further integrated the city with neighbouring countries.

The Bridge over the Mekong, Pakse

Demographics

Pakse is home to many ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese people.

Religion

The city population predominately practices Buddhism but has a Catholic church.

Culture

The city has the Champasak Provincial Museum, which holds historical documents and artifacts of the province.

Infrastructure

Health

There are two hospitals located within the city, one is the second biggest of Laos, but many citizens travel across the border to Thailand to receive better treatment, as they are better equipped.[2] There is a high risk of malaria and dengue fever during the monsoon season.

Transportation

Road

Pakse is located along National Road 13, the main transportation highway of Laos. It has the bridges over the Xe Don, the French and the Russian Bridge, and one bridge over the Mekong River, the Lao Nippon Bridge, only one of five bridges over the Mekong in Laos. Pakse is the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau, as well as to the southern provinces of Salavan, Sekong and Attapeu.

Air

It is served by Pakse International Airport. The Pakse airport finished construction on November 2, 2009, resuming flights to Vientiane, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.

Climate

Pakxe
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.8
 
31
18
 
 
16
 
33
21
 
 
25
 
35
24
 
 
75
 
35
25
 
 
245
 
33
25
 
 
324
 
31
25
 
 
434
 
31
24
 
 
468
 
30
24
 
 
309
 
30
24
 
 
116
 
31
23
 
 
30
 
31
21
 
 
2
 
30
19
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:

Pakse has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with very warm temperatures throughout the year. Temperatures are especially high in the months before the monsoon season (March-April). There is a distinct wet season (April-October) and dry season (November-March).

Climate data for Pakse
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31.0
(87.8)		 32.7
(90.9)		 34.4
(93.9)		 34.8
(94.6)		 32.9
(91.2)		 31.0
(87.8)		 30.4
(86.7)		 30.1
(86.2)		 30.3
(86.5)		 30.8
(87.4)		 30.5
(86.9)		 30.2
(86.4)		 31.59
(88.86)
Daily mean °C (°F) 23.2
(73.8)		 27.0
(80.6)		 29.7
(85.5)		 29.3
(84.7)		 28.1
(82.6)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.5
(79.7)		 27.3
(81.1)		 26.3
(79.3)		 25.5
(77.9)		 22.4
(72.3)		 26.56
(79.81)
Average low °C (°F) 16.3
(61.3)		 21.4
(70.5)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.9
(76.8)		 24.9
(76.8)		 23.9
(75)		 24.1
(75.4)		 24.3
(75.7)		 23.7
(74.7)		 22.9
(73.2)		 22.4
(72.3)		 19.7
(67.5)		 22.75
(72.94)
Precipitation mm (inches) 2.0
(0.079)		 7.9
(0.311)		 19.8
(0.78)		 75.7
(2.98)		 223.1
(8.783)		 420.0
(16.535)		 383.2
(15.087)		 523.9
(20.626)		 297.5
(11.713)		 99.6
(3.921)		 19.3
(0.76)		 2.8
(0.11)		 2,074.8
(81.685)
Avg. rainy days 0 1 2 7 15 21 22 25 13 12 10 0 128
% humidity 62 60 59 65 75 82 83 85 84 79 72 67 72.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 278.0 247.3 285.6 221.5 218.3 136.2 145.2 125.5 160.6 193.6 225.5 258.9 2,496.2
Source: NOAA (1961-1990) [3]

Tourism

Pakse is growing as a tourist destination with tourist arrivals doubling over the past decade, from 53,000 in 2002 to over 111,000 in 2008.[1] Sites of interest include:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://pid.adb.org/pid/LoanView.htm?projNo=43316&seqNo=03&typeCd=2&projType=GRNT
  2. ↑ http://pakse.info/healthcare-in-pakse/
  3. ↑ "Pakse Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 11, 2013. 
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Coordinates: 15°07′N 105°47′E / 15.117°N 105.783°E / 15.117; 105.783

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