Chanthaburi จันทบุรี |
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Province | ||
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Map of Thailand highlighting Chanthaburi Province |
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Country | Thailand | |
Capital | Chanthaburi | |
Government | ||
• Governor | Witurat Srinam (since 2016) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 6,338 km2 (2,447 sq mi) | |
Area rank | Ranked 34th | |
Population (2014) | ||
• Total | 527,350 | |
• Rank | Ranked 52nd | |
• Density rank | Ranked 56th | |
Time zone | ICT | |
ISO 3166 code | TH-22 |
Chanthaburi (Thai: ; Chong: จันกะบูย, chankabui, lit: "Lady Chan, Who wear a pan on her head") is a province (changwat) of Thailand. It is in the east of Thailand, on the border with Battambang and Pailin of Cambodia and on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Trat in the east and Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Sa Kaeo to the west and north.
After the Paknam crisis in 1893, French colonial troops occupied Chanthaburi, returning it in 1905 when Thailand gave up ownership of the western part of Cambodia. A significant minority of Chanthaburi citizens are native Vietnamese, who came there in three waves: first in the 19th century during anti-Catholic persecutions in Cochin China; a second wave in the 1920s to 1940s fleeing from French Indochina; and a third wave after the communist victory in Vietnam in 1975. The town of Chanthaburi has been the seat of a Bishop of Chanthaburi since 1944.
While the southern part of the province is on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand and thus is mostly coastal alluvial plains, the hinterlands of the province are quite mountainous. The Chanthaburi mountain range in the north has the highest elevation of the province, the 1,556 m high Soi Dao Nua Peak. The main river of the province is the Chanthaburi River.