Mae Hong Son province

History

Mae Hong Son province was formerly part of Mawkmai State, one of the Shan States which had been founded in 1767 by Hsai Khiao, from a noble family of Chiang Mai.

As a result of the Anglo-Siamese Boundary Commission of 1892–1893, Mae Hong Son district was ceded to Siam, but the adjacent Möngmaü and Mehsakun trans-Salween districts also claimed by Siam (as territories on the eastern side of the Salween River), were kept as part of British Burma.

Environment

The Thai government, to solve persistent water shortages in the central region, have proposed a 70.7 billion baht plan to divert some 1.8 billion m3 of water annually from the Yuam River to the perennially underfilled Bhumibol Dam. Several of the province's districts would impacted. As part of the plan, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), would build 69 metre high dam with a storage capacity of 68.7 million m3 constructed on 2,075 rai of forest land, together with a pumping station on a separate 55 rai plot and a 61.5 kilometre-long tunnel passing through 14 villages. The inhabitants of the area—primarily Karen tribes people—largely oppose the project. In December 2019, the RID submitted a second environmental impact assessment (EIA) to the Office of the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). ONEP rejected the EIA for the second time due to concerns about forest destruction, tunnel rock waste, and compensation issues.

Demographics

Ethnic diversity

Shan people is the largest population group in the province. They migrated from Shan State in Myanmar. Further there are seven hill tribes which consists of 63% of the provincial population: Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Lua, Miao, Chinese Yunnan and Pa-O people.

The Karen are not a single group, but rather a mix of closely related tribes. Among the smallest of the Karen tribes in Thailand are Kayan Lahwi. This group's women are recognized by the large brass rings they wear around their necks. Population density is 22 persons per km2, the lowest of all provinces.

Language

• Tai Yai people speak their own language. The written language with round alphabets is like Mon and Burmese script.
• Karen and Chinese Haw have their own spoken and written language.
• Lahu, Lisu and Lua people have their own spoken language, but their written language uses the Latin alphabet.

Religion

Most inhabitants, 77.5%, are Buddhists, followed by Christians at 20.9%, and Muslims at 0.5%. About 1.1% believe in animism and other religions.

Geography

Location

Mae Hong Son province is approximately 924 km north of Bangkok by road. To the north and west it connects to a total of three states in the Union of Burma, namely the southern portion of Shan State, Kayah State, and Kawthoolei State, via the Dawna Range, and the Salween and Moei Rivers. These formations serve as natural boundaries between the countries. To the south, it borders the district of Tha Song Yang and Tak, via the rivers Yuam and Ngao, which serve as a provincial boundary. To the east it borders the districts of Wiang Haeng, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, Mae Chaem, Hot and Omkoi in Chiang Mai province, via the central and east sections of the Thanon Thongchai mountain ranges, which serve as a boundary between the two provinces.

Every district in Mae Hong Son province shares a common border, measuring approximately 483 kilometres in total length, with Myanmar. The common border consists of approximately 326 km of land boundary and 157 km of river boundary (not counting the Salween, 127 km, and Moei, 30 km).

Topography

Most of the areas of Mae Hong Son province are the complex mountain ranges of the Thai highlands, parts of which are still covered with rainforest. The total forest area is 10,915 km² or 85.5 percent of provincial area.

The Daen Lao Range, in the northernmost portion of the province, marks the northern boundary between Thailand and Burma, while the Dawna Range in the west serves as the boundary between Thailand and Burma. The Thanon Thongchai Range in the east of the province serves as the boundary between the provinces of Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai. The highest point of the province is Doi Mae Ya (ยอดเขาแม่ยะ), in the Pai District in the province's northeast, at 2,005 m elevation.

Climate

Mae Hong Son province has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification category Aw). Winters are dry and warm. Temperatures rise until May. Monsoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm. Temperature statistics: Its maximum temperature is 44.6 °C (112.3 °F) on 28 April 2016 and the lowest temperature is 3.9 °C (39.0 °F). The highest average temperature is 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) on 25 December 1999 and the minimum average temperature is 18.0 °C (64.4 °F). The average relative humidity is 96.99% and the minimum relative humidity is 20%. Annual rainfall is 1,064.9 millimeters and on 23 April 1968 was for 24 hour the rainfall 130.4 mm. The number of rainy days was 130 days for a year. Weather box Mae Hong Son and Weather box Mae Sariang

National parks

There are six national parks, with total area of 3,419 km2, of which five in region 16 (Mae Sariang branch) and Huai Nam Dang in region 16 (Chiang Mai), they are the protected areas of Mae Hong Son province. (Visitors in fiscal year 2024)

Wildlife sanctuaries

There are six wildlife sanctuaries, with a total area of 3,684 km2, of which five in region 16 (Mae Sariang branch) and Mae Lao-Mae Sae in region 16 (Chiang Mai), they are the protected areas of Mae Hong Son province.

Location protected areas

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Water resources

There are 31 water reservoirs with total capacity of 12.31 million cubic meters:

• Huai So Tue, capacity 1,880,000 m3
• Huai Fai Kho, capacity 950,000 m3
• Huai Mae Hong Son, cap. 734,000 m3.
• Huai Mae Salap, cap. 700,000 m3.

There are 617 groundwater wells, which are used to mine groundwater for general use.

Mineral resources

Among the minerals that have been discovered in the province are limestone, coal, lignite, lead, zinc, tin, tungsten, antimony, fluoride, and feldspar. The mineral area is approximately 2,440 km2 (19% of provincial area). One of those mines in Mae Hong Son province is the Samoeng mine.

Administrative divisions

Provincial government

The province is divided into seven districts (amphoes). These are further divided into 45 subdistricts (tambons) and 415 villages (mubans).

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Mae Hong Son Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and seven municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Mae Hong Son has town (thesaban mueang) status. There are a further six subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 42 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations (SAO) (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

Symbols

The provincial seal, Rup chang nai thong nam (รูปช้างในท้องน้ำ), meaning 'image of an elephant in a body of water', is a reference to the training of wild elephants for battle and various types of animal labour. "Rup chang nai thong nam" was selected as the provincial seal because it refers to Mae Hong Son's founding, which began with Lord Kaeo of Ma being sent to capture elephants for the Lord of Chiang Mai (1825–1846). Once in Mae Hong Son, he gathered the scattered Shan settlements to establish two main villages, Ban Pang Mu and Ban Mae Hong Son, that would be ruled by their elected leaders.

The provincial flag is horizontally divided in dark brown/blue/dark brown (1:3:1) with the image of the provincial seal in the middle of the flag.

The provincial tree is the Millettia brandisiana (; ).

The provincial flower is the Tree marigold (; ).

The provincial animal is the Blyth's river frog (; ).

The official provincial slogan promoted by the Thai government is หมอกสามฤดู กองมูเสียดฟ้า ป่าเขียวขจี ผู้คนดี ประเพณีงาม ลือนามถิ่นบัวตอง () 'Mists throughout the three seasons, the Kong Mu (monastery) that scrapes the sky, verdant forests, gentle people, beautiful customs; renowned land of marigolds'.

Infrastructure

Education

Higher educational institutions are:

• Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Mae Hong Son campus.
• Mae Hong Son Community College.
• Nawamintrachinaracha Industrial and Community Education College.
• Mae Sariang Industrial and Community Education College.

There are eight secondary schools in Mae Hong Son.

Healthcare

Every district has a hospital. There are also 72 subdistrict health-promoting hospitals. There are 63 public health centers, 10 insect-induced disease control centers, 15 malaria clinics, 21 community malaria centers and one health service (Thanyarak Mae Hong Son hospital).

Transportation

Roads

There are four major roads in the province:

• Hot District of Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son, distance 345 km
• Mae Tang District of Chiang Mai province to Mae Hong Son, distance 246 km.
• Mae Sot District of Tak province to Mae Hong Son.
• Mae Chaem District of Chiang Mai province to Khun Yuam District of Mae Hong Son province, distance 90 km.

Public transport

Two bus companies (Prem Pracha Transport Co and Sombat Tour Co.) operate four bus services:

• Bangkok - Mae Hong Son, distance is 928 km, travel time is 17 hours.
• Chiang Mai - Mae Sariang - Mae Hong Son, distance is 359 km, travel time is eight hours.
• Chiang Mai (Pai District) - Mae Hong Son, distance is 250 km, travel time is six hours.
• Mae Sot District of Tak province - Mae Sariang District of Mae Hong Son.

Air transport

Bangkok Airways provides daily flights between Chiang Mai International Airport and Mae Hong Son Airport.

Kan Air provides flights, three times a week, between Chiang Mai International Airport and Pai Airport.

Electricity

Mae Hong Son is supplied with electricity from power stations in Chiang Mai province (districts Chom Thong, Hot and Mae Taeng), along with eight power plants in Mae Hong Son province

• Pha Bong Dam Hydro Plant
• Mae Sa Nga Dam Hydro Plant
• Mae Sariang Hydro Plant
• Mae Hong Son Diesel Power Plant
• Pha Bong Solar Power Plant

In 2020, out of 123,826 households only 77,402 households have electricity.

Communications

As of 2018 there were 65,153 households, of which 2.1% used telephones, 15.2% used computers with no internet connection, and 45.5% used computers with internet. As of 2018 there were 182,615 people aged six years and older, of which 22.2% used computers, 38.9% the internet, and 81.3% used mobile phones.

Human achievement index 2022

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.

Events and festivals

• Poi Sang Long Procession (งานประเพณีปอยส่างลอง)
• Chong Phara Procession (งานประเพณีจองพารา)
• Bua Tong Blossom Festival (งานวันดอกบัวตองบาน)
• Loi Krathong Festival (ประเพณีลอยกระทง หรือ งานเหลินสิบสอง)
• Small World Festival

Gallery

File:Mae Hong Son, Stupas, Thailand.jpg|Stupas in Mae Hong Son File:Mae Hong Son, Thailand.jpg|Mae Hong Son countryside File:Mae Hong Son, Forest on the hills, Thailand.jpg|Hills near border with Myanmar File:Mae Hong Son, Forested hills 2, Thailand.jpg|Mountains near border with Myanmar File:Mae Hong Son, Hills at twilight, Thailand.jpg|Mountains around Mae Hong Son at twilight File:Huai Nam Dang National Park, Mountains, Thailand.jpg|Huai Nam Dang National Park file:จุดพักชมวิว ทางเข้าดอยดำ เวียงแหง - panoramio.jpg|Entrance of Doi Kham-Wiang Haeng viewpoint, the border of Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai file:Chong Klang and Chong Kham Temple.jpg|Reflections on the water surface of the lake in front of Wat Chong Klang, a temple in Mueang Mae Hong Son image:สะพานสมัยสงครามโลกที่ ปาย - panoramio.jpg|Historic Pai Memorial Bridge in Pai file:Pai Fishing (23853434966).jpg|Pai River File:Pai countryside 2, Thailand.jpg|Pai countryside image:อ.ปางมะพ้ายามเช้า - panoramio - ----=UT=----.jpg|Morning atmosphere in Pang Mapha Image:Salawin river at Mae Sam Laep.jpg|Salween River at Mae Sam Laep, Sop Moei District. Left is Myanmar. image:Longneckkaren.jpg|Long Neck Karen, a tribal group who living on the hills on the Mae Hong Son-Myanmar border.

References

References

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