Pakxe

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Pakxe
ປາກເຊ (pȁːk séː)
The Champasak Palace Hotel, Pakxe, formerly the palace of the King of Champasak
Pakxe is located in Laos
Pakxe
Location in Laos
Coordinates: 15°07′N 105°47′E / 15.117°N 105.783°E / 15.117; 105.783
Country  Laos
Admin. division Champasak Province
Government
 - Mayor
Population
 - Total 70,000
 - Religions Buddhism

Pakxe or Pakse (French Paksé; Laotian ປາກເຊ IPA: pȁːk séː "Mouth of the river Se") (population 70,000) is a city in southern Laos, situated at the confluence of the Xedone and Mekong Rivers. It is the largest city in Champasak province and its capital and is the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau. It was also the former capital of the Lao Kingdom of Champasak.

[edit] 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 and residence of the King of Champasak at Champasak Palace, which was abolished in 1946 when the Kingdom of Laos was formed. Since the construction of a bridge over the Mekong (built with Japanese aid), allowing road traffic with Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand, Pakse has become the commercial centre of southern Laos. The Pakse airport finished construction on November 2, 2009, resuming flights to Vientiane and Bangkok.

The Bridge over the Mekong, Pakxe

The city has the Champasak Provincial Museum.

Pakxe
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
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: [1]

Coordinates: 15°07′N 105°47′E / 15.117°N 105.783°E / 15.117; 105.783