| Statistics | |
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| Capital: | Samut Prakan |
| Area: | 1,004.1 km² Ranked 70th |
| Inhabitants: | 1,014,449 (2001) Ranked 18th |
| Pop. density: | 1.010 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 Samut Prakan province.
| Table of contents |
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2 History 3 Symbols 4 Administrative divisions 5 External links |
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 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. It is part of the Bangkok metropolis, the urbanization on both sides of the provincial boundary is identical.
History
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 Smut and Phra Chilachomklao.
Symbols
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The provincial seal shows the temple Phra Samut Chedi, the most important site of Buddhist worship in the province. Provincial tree is Thespesia populnea . |
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