{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right" ! colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="#DEFFAD"|Statistics |- ||Capital:||Chanthaburi |- ||Area:||valign=top|6,338.0 km²
Ranked 34th |- ||Inhabitants:||valign=top|480,064 (2000)
Ranked 52nd |- ||Pop. density:||valign=top|76 inh./km²
Ranked 56th |- ||ISO 3166-2:||TH-22 |- !colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="#DEFFAD"|Map |- |colspan="2" align=center| |}

Chanthaburi (Thai จันทรบุรี) is a province (changwat) of Thailand. It is located in the east of Thailand, at the border to Cambodia and the shore to the Gulf of Thailand. The neighboring provinces are Trat in the east and Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao and Srakaeo.

Table of contents
1 History
2 Geography
3 Symbols
4 Administrative divisions
5 External links

History

After the Paknam crisis in 1893 the French colonist troops occupied Chanthaburi, returning it in 1905 when Thailand gave up ownership of the western part of Cambodia. A significant minority of Chanthaburi citizens are native Vietnamese, who came there in three waves - first in the 19th century during a anti-catholic persecution in Cochin China, a second wave cam in the 1920s to 1940s fleeing from French Indochina, and a third one after the communist victory in Vietnam in 1975.

Geography

While the southern part of the province is located at the shore to the Gulf of Thailand and thus is mostly coastal alluvial plains, the hinterlands of the province are quite mountainously. The Chanthaburi Mountain Range in the north has the highest elevation of the province, the 1556 m high Soi Dao Nua Peak.

Together with the neighboring province Trat Chanthaburi is the center of gemstone mining, especially rubies and sapphires. Tropical fruits are also among the main products of the province.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows the moon sorrounded by a aura. Inside the moon disc is a rabbit, as in Thai tradition the dark areas on the moon (maria) form a rabbit shape. The seal symbolizes the peace and tranquility of the province.

The provincial tree is Diospyros decandra, provincial flower is a orchid.

Administrative divisions

Amphoe
(districts)
King Amphoe
(minor districts)
  1. Mueang Chanthaburi
  2. Khlung
  3. Tha Mai
  4. Pong Nam Ron
  5. Makham
  1. Laem Sing
  2. Soi Dao
  3. Kaeng Hang Maeo
  4. Na Yai Am
  1. Khao Khitchakut

External links