Samut Prakan province: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Statistics
Capital:	Samut Prakan
Area:	1,004.1 km² Ranked 70th
Inhabitants:	1.028.401 (2000) Ranked 18th
Pop. density:	1024 inh./km² Ranked 3rd
ISO 3166-2:	TH-11
Map

Samut Prakan (Thai สมุทรปราการ) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are in the west and north Bangkok and Chachoengsao to the east.

The new Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently under construction in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province.

Geography

Samut Prakan is located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya river to the Gulf of Thailand. Thus the province is also sometimes called Pak Nam (ปากน้ำ)by the Thai word for the mouth of a river. The part of the province located on the western side of the river consist mostly of rice and prawn fields as well as mangrove forests, while the east part is the urban center - including industrial factories. It is part of the Bangkok metropolis, the urbanization on both sides of the provincial boundary is identical.

The province was created during the Ayutthaya period, with its administrative center located at Prapadaeng. It was the sea port of Siam, and was secured with forts, town moats and town-walls. King Rama II starting the building of the new center at Samut Prakan in 1819, after his predecessor King Taksin had disbanded the town fortification. Altogether six forts were built on both sides of the Chao Phraya river, and on an island in the river the pagoda Phra Samut Chedi was erected. Of the original six forts only two still exist today, Phi Sua Samut and Phra Chulachomklao.

By the way, the word, Samut prakan means rampart of shore.

The provincial seal shows the temple Phra Samut Chedi, the most important site of Buddhist worship in the province. Provincial tree is Thespesia populnea.

The province is subdivided into 5 districts (Amphoe) and one minor districts (King Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 50 communes (tambon) and 396 villages.

Provinces of Thailand

North: Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Kamphaeng Phet | Lampang | Lamphun | Mae Hong Son | Nakhon Sawan | Nan | Phayao | Phetchabun | Phichit | Phitsanulok | Phrae | Sukhothai | Tak | Uthai Thani | Uttaradit North-East: Amnat Charoen | Buriram | Chaiyaphum | Kalasin | Khon Kaen | Loei | Maha Sarakham | Mukdahan | Nakhon Phanom | Nakhon Ratchasima | Nongbua Lamphu | Nong Khai | Roi Et | Sakhon Nakhon | Sisaket | Surin | Ubon Ratchathani | Udon Thani | Yasothon Central: Ang Thong | Ayutthaya | Bangkok | Chainat | Kanchanaburi | Lopburi | Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon Pathom | Nonthaburi | Pathum Thani | Phetchaburi | Prachuap Khiri Khan | Ratchaburi | Samut Prakan | Samut Sakhon | Samut Songkhram | Saraburi | Sing Buri | Suphanburi South: Chumphon | Krabi | Nakhon Si Thammarat | Narathiwat | Pattani | Phang Nga | Phattalung | Phuket | Ranong | Satun | Songkhla | Surat Thani | Trang | Yala East: Chachoengsao | Chanthaburi | Chonburi | Rayong | Prachinburi | Sa Kaeo | Trat