Pang Mapha District

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Pang Mapha
ปางมะผ้า
Amphoe
Amphoe location in Mae Hong Son Province
Coordinates: 19°31′21″N 98°14′46″E / 19.52250°N 98.24611°E / 19.52250; 98.24611Coordinates: 19°31′21″N 98°14′46″E / 19.52250°N 98.24611°E / 19.52250; 98.24611
Country  Thailand
Province Mae Hong Son
Seat Soppong
Area
 • Total 798.375 km2 (308.254 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 • Total 19,708
 • Density 24.7/km2 (64/sq mi)
Time zone THA (UTC+7)
Postal code 58150
Geocode 5807

Pang Mapha (Thai: ปางมะผ้า) is the northernmost district (Amphoe) of Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand.

Etymology

In the Shan language, Mapha or Makpha (มะผ้า or หมากผ้า) means lime and Pang means hill, so a translation into English might be Lime Hill.

History

Several prehistoric sites are known within the Pang Mapha area. The most famous one is the Spirit Cave, discovered by Chester Gorman in the mid 1960s, was occupied from about 9000 till 5500 BC by Hoabinhian hunters and gatherers. Two other significant sites nearby are the Banyan Valley Cave and the Steep Cliff Cave. Much more recent are the coffin caves like Tham Lot.

During World War II the Japanese troops built a road from Pai to Mueang Mae Hong Son and further to Myanmar. Later people used the road for transportation and commercial, using Ban Sop Pong Mae Umong (บ้านสบป่องแม่อูมอง) for the overnight stop. The government built a police station in the area that called Pangmapha in 1948. Later in 1977 the government improved the road, many people from other districts and provinces, hill tribes and refugees from Myanmar moved to the area. This created problems like drug trafficking and deforestation. To improve the administration of the area, the government created the Pang Mapha minor district (King Amphoe) on April 1, 1987, by splitting the two tambon Soppong and Pang Mapha from Mueang Mae Hong Son district.[1] It was upgraded to a full district on December 5, 1996.[2]

Geography

The Daen Lao Range dominates the landscape of this district. Neighboring districts are (from southeast clockwise) Pai, Mueang Mae Hong Son of Mae Hong Son Province and Shan State of Myanmar.

The main river of the district is the Khong River.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 4 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 38 villages (muban). There are no municipal (thesaban) areas, and 4 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai name Villages Inh.
1.Soppongสบป่อง87,398
2.Pang Maphaปางมะผ้า114,017
3.Tham Lotถ้ำลอด73,784
4.Napu Pomนาปู่ป้อม124,509

References

  1. ↑ "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แบ่งเขตท้องที่อำเภอเมืองแม่ฮ่องสอน จังหวัดแม่ฮ่องสอน ตั้งเป็นกิ่งอำเภอปางมะผ้า". Royal Gazette (in Thai) 104 (67 ง): 2485. April 9, 1987. 
  2. ↑ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอเหนือคลอง อำเภอนายายอาม อำเภอท่าตะเกียบ อำเภอขุนตาล อำเภอแม่ฟ้าหลวง อำเภอแม่ลาว อำเภอรัษฎา อำเภอพุทธมณฑล อำเภอวังน้ำเขียว อำเภอเจาะไอร้อง อำเภอชำนิ อำเภอโนนดินแดง อำเภอปางมะผ้า อำเภอสนธิ อำเภอหนองม่วง อำเภอเบญจลักษ์ อำเภอโพนนาแก้ว อำเภอบุ่งคล้า อำเภอดอนมดแดง และอำเภอลืออำนาจ พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๙". Royal Gazette (in Thai) 113 (62 ก): 5–8. November 20, 1996. 

External links

  • Mueang Mae Hong Son
  • Khun Yuam
  • Pai
  • Mae Sariang
  • Mae La Noi
  • Sop Moei
  • Pang Mapha
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