Ko Phra Thong

Ko Phra Thong
เกาะพระทอง
island
Ko Phra Thong
Coordinates: 9°6′0″N 98°17′0″E / 9.10000°N 98.28333°E / 9.10000; 98.28333
Country Thailand
Province Phang Nga Province
Seat Thapayoi
Area
 • Total 88 km2 (34 sq mi)
Population (2012)
 • Total 300
Time zone UTC+7 (ICT)
Official name Ko Ra-Ko Phra Thong Archipelago
Designated 12 August 2013
Reference no. 2153[1]

Ko Phra Thong (Thai: เกาะพระทอง, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ pʰráʔ tʰɔːŋ]) is an island in Khura Buri district, Phang Nga Province, southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea. It has an area of 88 km² and is separated from the mainland by a seven metre deep canal. It is off the west coast of Thailand and the closest town is the port town of Khura Buri, on the mainland about 10 km east.[2]

Ko Phra Thong is the middle link in a chain of three islands. It is largely flat with expanses of inland savanna. It has long uninhabited beaches, fringed by coconut palms. There have always been a number of special natural features of Ko Phra Thong Island. It fronts onto over eight kilometres of beach on the Andaman Sea and, in addition, over six kilometres of beach on a beautiful bay containing small picturesque islands with rocks and coral for snorkelling. It is only 60 km from the Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, and only slightly further to the Similan Islands. All are renowned diving locations.

On the east side is a small fisher village, Thapayoi and on the southeast end is another small village, Thung Dap. These villages total fewer than 300 inhabitants consisting of Moken, a tribe of sea gypsies, and Thais. The largest village, Thapayoi, has a school and a staffed community health centre.

To the north is Ko Ra. It is long, mountainous and covered in ancient rain forest. This terrain is quite inhospitable to humans but does house a large number of animal species.

To the south is Ko Kho Khao which is similar to Ko Phra Tong.

The island is part of the Mu Ko Ra–Ko Phra Thong National Park, established in 2001.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Ko Ra-Ko Phra Thong Archipelago". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Ko Phra Thong". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Mu Ko Ra - Ko Phra Thong National Park". Department of National Parks (DNP) Thailand. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.

Coordinates: 9°6′N 98°17′E / 9.100°N 98.283°E / 9.100; 98.283


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