Bueng Kan Province

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Bueng Kan
บึงกาฬ
Province
View of a cliff side at Phu Thok
View of a cliff side at Phu Thok
Official seal of Bueng Kan
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Bueng Kan Province
Map of Thailand highlighting Bueng Kan Province
Country  Thailand
Capital Bueng Kan SAO Area
Government
 • Governor Phongsak Prichawit (since 2014)
Area
 • Total 4,305 km2 (1,662 sq mi)
Population (2014)
 • Total 418,566[1]
 • Rank Ranked 63rd
 • Density rank Ranked 40th
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
ISO 3166 code TH-38[2]
Bueng Kan Province area[3]

Bueng Kan (Thai: บึงกาฬ, pronounced [bɯ̄ŋ kāːn]), also spelled Bung Kan,[4] is the 76th province (changwat) of Thailand, established by the Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011) on 23 March 2011.[5] The province, consisting of the districts (amphoe) partitioned off Nong Khai Province, is in the northeastern region of the country, called Isan (Thai: อีสาน). It is named after its central district, Mueang Bueng Kan.

Geography

The province is in the northeastern corner of Thailand. It borders, from the south clockwise, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, and Nong Khai Province. To the north and east it borders Bolikhamsai Province of Laos, with the Mekong River forming the boundary.

In Bung Khla district is the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, protecting forest-covered hills close to the Mekong River.

History

In 1994, Sumet Phromphanhao, a member of the House of Representatives from Nong Khai Province, proposed that the province of Bueng Kan be established by consolidating Amphoe Bueng Kan, Amphoe Seka, Amphoe So Phisai, Amphoe Bung Khla, Amphoe Bueng Khong Long, Amphoe Pak Khat, Amphoe Phon Charoen, and Amphoe Si Wilai of Nong Khai Province as a new province. The new province, if created, would be 4,305 km2,[6] with a population of about 390,000 inhabitants.[7] At that time, the Ministry of Interior replied that creating a new province would load a heavy burden to the state budget and was contrary to the resolution of the Council of Ministers.[8]

The proposal to create Bueng Kan Province was tabled for about 20 years, until 2010 when the Ministry of Interior renewed the project and made a proposal to the Council of Ministers to have a "Bill Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE..." (Thai: ร่างพระราชบัญญัติจัดตั้งจังหวัดบึงกาฬ พ.ศ....) considered.[7] In a poll at the time, 98.83% of the inhabitants of Nong Khai Province supported the proposal.[7] On 3 August 2010, the Council of Ministers resolved to present the bill to the National Assembly,[9][10] citing that the proposal met its criteria for approval.[11]

On 7 February 2011, the National Assembly approved the bill.[12] Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presented it to King Bhumibol Adulyadej for royal assent. Bhumibol Adulyadej signed the bill on 11 March 2011, enacting it as the "Act Establishing Changwat Bueng Kan, BE 2554 (2011)" (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติตั้งจังหวัดบึงกาฬ พ.ศ. 2544). The act was published in the Government Gazette on 22 March 2011 and came into force the next day.[5]

Provincial seal

The provincial seal of Bueng Kan, Thailand's 77th and newest province, has a depiction of Phu Thok, a mountain in Si Wilai District, an Isan language name which means "Lonely Mountain".[13]

The provincial flower and tree is Bauhinia sirindhorniae K. and S.S. Larsen.[citation needed]

Climate

Climate data for Nong Khai (1961-1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29.3
(84.7)		 31.6
(88.9)		 34.3
(93.7)		 35.7
(96.3)		 33.7
(92.7)		 32.5
(90.5)		 32.0
(89.6)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.6
(88.9)		 31.3
(88.3)		 30.1
(86.2)		 28.6
(83.5)		 31.8
(89.2)
Average low °C (°F) 16.2
(61.2)		 18.6
(65.5)		 21.4
(70.5)		 23.8
(74.8)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.7
(76.5)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.0
(75.2)		 22.7
(72.9)		 19.4
(66.9)		 15.9
(60.6)		 21.7
(71.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 7.0
(0.276)		 10.5
(0.413)		 30.7
(1.209)		 89.5
(3.524)		 240.3
(9.461)		 278.5
(10.965)		 249.3
(9.815)		 336.7
(13.256)		 275.6
(10.85)		 76.6
(3.016)		 12.2
(0.48)		 3.3
(0.13)		 1,610.2
(63.395)
Average rainy days 2 3 5 8 17 19 20 22 18 9 2 1 126
Source: Thai Meteorological Department[14]

Bueng Kan’s climate consists wet season and dry season (between December and January). The temperature decreases during November and will be lowest in December and January. The temperature quickly increases in March, and will be highest in April.[15]

Administrative divisions

Bueng Kan area

The province is subdivided into eight districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 53 subdistricts (tambon) and 615 villages (muban).

  1. Mueang Bueng Kan
  2. Phon Charoen
  3. So Phisai
  4. Seka
  5. Pak Khat
  6. Bueng Khong Long
  7. Si Wilai
  8. Bung Khla

Tourist attractions

  • Wat Phu Thok, a temple on Phu Thok Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., a rocky sandstone outcrop which is now the symbol of the province.[16]
  • Bueng Khong Long, a lake south of the town which is a breeding ground for aquatic birds.
  • Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected natural area with forests and waterfalls.
  • Nam Tok Tat Kinnari, a waterfall with pools of clear water
  • Ahong isles – are located in Mueang Bueng Kan district. It is the deepest area of the Mekong River. The isles can be seen during March and May. It is also a popular area for tourists to observe the Naga fireball during October too.[17]
  • Wat Sawang Arom (or Wat Tham Sri Thon) – is a temple on the hill located in the Pak Khat district. There are a cliffs, woods, and a small lake. A wide landscape of this area, including Laos can be observed here.[18]
  • Chet Si waterfall – is located in Seka district. Chet Si in Thai means seven colors, because the water spray reflects with sunlight and causes a rainbow. There are three levels of this waterfall.[19]
  • Tham Fhoon waterfall – is located in Bung Khla district. This waterfall located near a cave which is surrounded by the forest.

Culture

Festivals

Bun Bang Fai(or Rocket Festival) – is a rain making festival for Bueng Kan citizens. Bun Bang Fai is held every May.[15]

Candle Procession Festival – it is a festival during October to celebrate the Wan Khao Phansa.[20] Citizens will craft many huge candles with many decorations, and they also having a contest of their candles.

Long Boat Racing festival – is held in the second week of September.[15] Many people come for the competition, including local people and foreigners.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ ISO 3166-2:TH follows the Thai standard TIS 1099, which in turn follows codes assigned by the Ministry of Interior. Though no number hasn't been assigned yet, 38 is the only still free number in the number range for the northeastern province.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ [http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/281197/thailand-newest-province Bangkok Post - Thailand's newest province
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ ไทยรัฐ, ครม.ตั้ง 'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77 แยกจากหนองคาย, 3 สิงหาคม 2553.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 กรุงเทพธุรกิจ, ชาวอ.บึงกาฬดีใจ มท.ชงเข้าครม.ตั้งจังหวัดใหม่, 6 พฤษภาคม 2553.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ หนังสือพิมพ์เดลินิวส์ ฉบับวันพุธ ที่ 4 สิงหาคม 2553 หน้า 15
  10. ↑ กรุงเทพธุรกิจ, ครม.มติเห็นชอบตั้ง'บึงกาฬ' จังหวัดที่77, 3 สิงหาคม 2553.
  11. ↑ ครม. มีมติตั้ง จังหวัดบึงกาฬ เป็น จังหวัดที่ 77. กระปุกดอตคอม. สืบค้น 10-12-2553.
  12. ↑ วุฒิฯจัดให้ผ่านฉลุยกฎหมายจัดตั้ง 'จังหวัดบึงกาฬ'
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 บรรยายสรุปจังหวัดบึงกาฬ(in Thai)
  16. ↑ Seal of the province
  17. ↑ "Naga Fireball Festival", December 28th, 2014. Retrieved from Naga Fireball Festival, Date of Accessed: October 10th, 2015
  18. ↑ Tourism Authority of Thailand (January, 2012).Bueng Kan Travel Guide E-book.p. 14.
  19. ↑ Bueng Kan Attractions, Attractions in Bueng Kan, what to do in Bueng Kan, Bueng Kan Sightseeing Retrieved On October 10th, 2015
  20. ↑ "Wan Khao Phansa".Retrieved from Wan Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent Day), Date of Accessed: October 10th, 2015

External links

 Bolikhamsai Province,  Laos
Nong Khai Province
  Bueng Kan Province  
Sakon Nakhon Province Nakhon Phanom Province

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