Ubon Ratchathani province

Geography

At Khong Chiam the Mun River, the biggest river of the Khorat Plateau, joins the Mekong, which forms the northeastern boundary of Thailand with Laos. It is called "Maenam Song Si" or the "Mun River alluvium" because the brown water from Mekong River mixes with the blue water of the Mun. It is about 84 km from Ubon Ratchathani city centre.

The area in the Dângrêk Mountains where the borders of the three countries, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia meet is promoted as the "Emerald Triangle", in contrast to the "Golden Triangle" in the north of Thailand. "Emerald" refers to the largely intact monsoon forests there. The total forest area is 2808 km² or 18 percent of provincial area.

History

The city was founded in the late 18th century by Thao Kham Phong, descendant of Phra Wo and Phra Ta, who escaped from King Siribunsan of Vientiane into Siam Kingdom during the reign of King Taksin the Great. Later Thao Kham Phong was appointed to be "Phra Pathum Wongsa," the first ruler of Ubon Ratchathani. In 1792, Ubon Ratchathani became a province, and was also the administrative center of the monthon Isan.

Until 1972, Ubon Ratchathani was the largest province of Thailand by area. Yasothon was split off from Ubon Ratchathani in 1972, followed by Amnat Charoen in 1993.

Before it became a province. Ubon Ratchathani was the administrative center of the monthon Isan, of which monthon Ubon was split off. In 1925 it became part of monthon Nakhon Ratchasima, with the abolishment of the monthon in 1933 the province became a first level subdivision of the country.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a lotus flower in a pond. This alludes to the meaning of the name of the province, which translates to 'royal city of the lotus flower'. The provincial flower is the lotus (Nymphaea lotus). The provincial tree is the Yang-na (Dipterocarpus alatus). Black-eared catfish (Pangasius larnaudii) is the provincial aquatic animal.

Economy

Ubon Ratchathani's economy is largely agricultural. It is the nation's leading rice-producing province. It earns more than 10 billion baht a year from rice sales. It is also an important grower of casava.

Around 50% of the workforce in Ubon Ratchathani are in the agricultural sector.

It also generates billions of baht from manufacturing.

Ubon Ratchathani is also along the Meekong with a major crossing into Laos at Chongmek. It also borders Cambodia. This makes it important for both trade and as a tourism gateway.

National parks

Ubon Ratchathani boasts the following national parks:

• Phu Chong–Na Yoi National Park is in the mountainous southern region of the province.
• Kaeng Tana National Park is in Khong Chiam District.
• Pha Taem National Park, plateaus and hills dominate the park landscape. The sheer cliffs here are a result of earthquakes. The interesting places in the national park are Pha Taem and Pha Kham. On the cliffs surfaces are numerous prehistoric cave paintings from 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. These paintings depict scenes of fishing, rice farming, figures of people, animals, hands and geometric designs that depict life during the pre-historic time and reflect the ancient lifestyle of the people who lived there. There are four national parks, along with two other national parks, make up region 9 (Ubon Ratchathani) of Thailand's protected areas.
• Phu Chong–Na Yoi National Park, 686 km2
• Pha Taem National Park, 340 km2
• Khao Phra Wihan National Park, 130 km2
• Kaeng Tana National Park, 80 km2

Wildlife sanctuaries

There are two wildlife sanctuaries, along with four other wildlife sanctuaries, make up region 9 (Ubon Ratchathani) of Thailand's protected areas.

• Buntharik–Yot Mon Wildlife Sanctuary, 350 km2
• Yot Dom Wildlife Sanctuary, 225 km2

Health

The main hospital of Ubon Ratchathani province is Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital.

Transportation

Air

Main article: Ubon Ratchathani Airport

Ubon Ratchathani is served by Ubon Ratchathani Airport.

Rail

Ubon Ratchathani Railway Station is the main railway station in Ubon Ratchathani.

Education

Ubon Ratchathani province is the home of Ubon Ratchathani University.

Administrative divisions

Provincial government

The province is divided into 25 districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 219 subdistricts (tambons) and 2,469 villages (mubans).

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Municipalities

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 60 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Ubon Ratchathani has city (thesaban nakhon) status. Chaeramae, Det Udom, Phibun Mangsahan and Warin Chamrap have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 54 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 179 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations – SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

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.

Gallery

File:Wattamheosinchai 01.jpg|Wat Tham Heo Sin Chai File:Sao Chaliang ,Pha Taem National Park.jpg|Sao Chaliang or mushroom-like sandstone pillars, dated from the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods, Pha Taem National Park File:Sinrinthorn temple.jpg|Wat Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Phrao, Sirindhorn District File:1074 ภาพเขียนสีบนผาแต้ม อุทยานแห่งชาติผาแต้ม.jpg|Pha Taem National Park

Sister cities

• BDI Bujumbura, Burundi
• RWA Kigali, Rwanda
• COD Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• FRA Paris, France

Notable people

• Luang Phu Chah (1918–1992), Buddhist monk
• Banyen Rakgan (born 1952), mo lam and luk thung singer
• Superlek Sorn E-Sarn (1969–2013), Muaythai kickboxer
• Nungubon Sitlerchai (born 1971), Muaythai kickboxer, professional boxer
• Orono Por Muang Ubon (born 1973), Muaythai kickboxer
• Tai Orathai (born 1980), luk thung singer
• Wanchalearm Satsaksit (born 1982), pro-democracy activist who mysteriously disappeared in June 2020

References

References

1. "Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019". Royal Forest Department.
2. "Official statistics registration systems". Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA).
3. (July 2019). "''Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition''". Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
4. "ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)".
5. "Ubon Ratchathani".
6. "Maenam Song Si".
7. (18 August 2018). "How to pad farmers' pockets". Bangkok Post.
8. "Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park".
9. "Kaeng Tana National Park".
10. "Pha Taem National Park".
11. (May 2007). "An Introduction to the Mekong Fisheries of Thailand". Mekong River Commission.
12. (December 2020). "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง".
13. (2019). "ตาราง 5 พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า พ.ศ. 2562".
14. Department of Provincial Administration. (2014). "Official Statistics Registration System".
15. (26 November 2019). "Number of local government organizations by province". Department of Local Administration (DLA).