Jump to content

Nam Phong district

Coordinates: 16°42′7″N 102°51′24″E / 16.70194°N 102.85667°E / 16.70194; 102.85667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 223.24.146.80 (talk) at 19:02, 22 August 2022. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Bangkok
Bangkok
District
District location in Khon Kaen province
District location in Khon Kaen province
Coordinates: 16°42′7″N 102°51′24″E / 16.70194°N 102.85667°E / 16.70194; 102.85667
CountryThailand
ProvinceKhon Kaen
SeatWang Chai
Area
 • Total
828.7 km2 (320.0 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total
112,414
 • Density136.8/km2 (354/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code40140
Geocode4007

Nam Phong (Template:Lang-th, pronounced [náːm pʰɔ̄ːŋ]) is a district (amphoe) of Khon Kaen province.

Geography

The Nam Phong district is surrounded by Non Sa-at (in the Udon Thani province), Kranuan, Sam Sung, Mueang Khon Kaen, Ubolratana, and Khao Suan Kwang.

The district is located along Mittraphap Road (Thailand Route 2) and the Northeastern Railway. The district office and the train station are about 7 km east of the main settlement, Ban Nam Phong.

Despite its name, Nam Phong National Park does not occupy any of Nam Phong District, but is located farther southeast. Both are named after the Nam Phong River, which originates in the national park (and after the Ubol Ratana Dam flows through the district towards the Chi River).

Economy

The district is mostly agricultural, its main activities being rice and sugar cane growing and animal husbandry. The two major factories are a sugar factory and a distillery for lao kao (white spirits).

An oil survey in 1979 found a natural gas reserve of an estimated 1.5 trillion cubic feet (42 km3). Since 1989 the gas field has been exploited for the Nam Phong power plant operated by EGAT. With a capacity of 710 MW, it is the main source of electricity for northeast Thailand.[1]

History

The district was created on 10 February 1908, at first named Tha Wa (ท่าหว้า). In 1909 it was renamed to Nam Phong.[2]

From 1972 to 1973, the Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong was a U.S. military facility used in the Vietnam War.

Attractions

Phrathat Kham Kaen is an ancient Buddhist monument. The stupa at Wat Chetiyaphum is believed to mark the original site of Khon Kaen. According to local legend, relics of Buddha were to be brought to Nakhon Phanom. The monks camped at a dead tamarind tree. When they arrived in Nakhon Phanom the Phrathat Phanom was already finished, thus they planned to return the relics. On the return way they found the dead tree flourishing again, and built the stupa at the site of the miracle.[3]

Ban Khok Sa-nga is famous as the King Cobra Village. In 1951 a local doctor started to conduct cobra shows to attract clients to the village. Now the cobra shows are the main income of the villagers, who also travel around to perform the show and sell herbal medicine.[4]

Administration

The district is divided into 12 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 167 villages (mubans). There are two sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons): Nam Phong covering parts of tambon Nam Phong, and Wang Chai covering parts of tambons Wang Chai and Nong Kung. Each of the tambons is administered by a tambon administrative organization (TAO).

No. Name Thai Villages Pop.[5]
01. Nam Phong น้ำพอง 17 14,081
02. Wang Chai วังชัย 16 10,494
03. Nong Kung หนองกุง 10 09,915
04. Bua Yai บัวใหญ่ 17 07,797
05. Sa-at สะอาด 14 09,657
06. Muang Wan ม่วงหวาน 14 09,385
07. Ban Kham บ้านขาม 16 09,281
08. Bua Ngoen บัวเงิน 17 12,095
09. Sai Mun ทรายมูล 13 07,333
10. Tha Krasoem ท่ากระเสริม 10 07,500
11. Phang Thui พังทุย 13 07,137
12. Kut Nam Sai กุดน้ำใส 10 07,739

References

  1. ^ "Nam Phong Power Plant". Electrical Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  2. ^ "อำเภอน้ำพอง". Khon Kaen University. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Phrathat Kham Kaen". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Ban Khok Sanga-King Cobras Village". Bangkok Post. n.d. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Population statistics 2008". Department of Provincial Administration. Archived from the original on 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nam_Phong_district&oldid=1105997053"