Mae Chan District

Mae Chan
แม่จัน
Amphoe

Doi Nang Non, the "Mountain of the Sleeping Lady"

Amphoe location in Chiang Rai Province
Coordinates: 20°8′48″N 99°51′12″E / 20.14667°N 99.85333°ECoordinates: 20°8′48″N 99°51′12″E / 20.14667°N 99.85333°E
Country  Thailand
Province Chiang Rai
Seat Mae Chan
Area
 • Total 791.0 km2 (305.4 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 • Total 102,586
 • Density 129.7/km2 (336/sq mi)
Time zone THA (UTC+7)
Postal code 57110
Geocode 5707

Mae Chan (Thai: แม่จัน; IPA: [mɛ̂ː tɕān]) is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand.

Geography

Rice planting in Mae Chan District

Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, Doi Luang, Mueang Chiang Rai and Mae Fa Luang of Chiang Rai Province.

Doi Nang Non, the "Mountain of the Sleeping Lady", is part of the Daen Lao Range and is one of the main geographic features of Mae Chan District.

History

The district was created as the successor of Mueang Chiang Saen. The original center of the Mueang later became part of the minor district Chiang Saen Luang, so in 1939 this minor district was renamed to Chiang Saen, while the district Chiang Saen itself was renamed to Mae Chan.[1]

Administration

The district is subdivided into 11 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 138 villages (muban). There are three townships (thesaban tambon) - Mae Chan and Mae Kham each cover parts of the same-named tambon, and Chan Chawa covers parts of tambon Chan Chawa and the whole tambon Chan Chawa Tai. There are further 9 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai name Villages Inh.
1.Mae Chanแม่จัน1411,166
2.Chan Chawaจันจว้า117,233
3.Mae Khamแม่คำ1311,569
4.Pa Sangป่าซาง1513,039
5.San Saiสันทราย92,419
6.Tha Khao Plueakท่าข้าวเปลือก147,510
8.Pa Tuengป่าตึง2222,139
10.Mae Raiแม่ไร่88,072
11.Si Khamศรีค้ำ106,454
12.Chan Chawa Taiจันจว้าใต้128,700
13.Chom Sawanจอมสวรรค์104,285

Missing numbers are tambon which now form Doi Luang district.

Tourism

Doi Nang Non (ดอยนางนอน), "sleeping woman mountain", is an unusual land feature located in Mae Chan district on the western side of the highway between Chiang Rai and Mae Sai.[2] The silhouette of the mountain range takes the shape of a reclining woman with long hair when seen from certain angles. There is a viewpoint at Mae Chan from where the "Sleeping Lady" can be observed best in good weather.[3]

There are a number of caves and water courses in these karstic hills. Tum Luang and Khun Naam Nang Non, have been developed as a tourist attraction.

References

  1. ↑ พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนนามอำเภอ กิ่งอำเภอ และตำบลบางแห่ง พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๒. Royal Gazette (in Thai) 56 (0 ก): 354–364. April 17, 1939.
  2. ↑ Doi Nang Non - Location
  3. ↑ Doi Nang Non View Point

External links