Ko Lanta District
|
Ko Lanta เกาะลันตา |
|
|---|---|
| Amphoe | |
 Amphoe location in Krabi Province |
|
| Coordinates: 7°39′20″N 99°2′31″E / 7.65556°N 99.04194°ECoordinates: 7°39′20″N 99°2′31″E / 7.65556°N 99.04194°E | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province | Krabi |
| Seat | Saladan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 339.843 km2 (131.214 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 30,500 |
| • Density | 81.4/km2 (211/sq mi) |
| Time zone | ICT (UTC+7) |
| Postal code | 81150 |
| Geocode | 8103 |
Ko Lanta (Thai: เกาะลันตา, also Koh Lanta) is a district (amphoe) in Krabi Province, Thailand.
The district was established in December 1901. It consists of four island groups : Mu Ko Lanta (170 km2), Mu Ko Klang (162 km2), Mu Ko Rok (3.5 km2), and Mu Ko Ngai (3.6 km2). Other island groups are smaller, like Mu Ko Haa.
The origin of the name is unclear, but it may originate from the Javanese word "lantas", meaning a type of grill for fish. The name of the island was officially changed to "Lanta" in 1917.
It is believed that the area was one of the oldest communities in Thailand, dating back to the prehistoric period. It is believed that this province may have taken its name after the meaning of Krabi, which means "sword". This may have stemmed from a legend that an ancient sword was unearthed prior to the city's founding.
The district, approximately 70 km from Krabi town, consists of three major islands. The first, Ko Klang, is separated from the mainland by a small river (klong) and road bridge, and is often mistakenly thought of as part of mainland Krabi Province. Of the two remaining larger islands, the largest, more populated Ko Lanta Yai (commonly known as simply "Ko Lanta") and the smaller Ko Lanta Noi, together with 50 other smaller islands make up the 52-island Mu Ko Lanta National Park. The largest island (Ko Lanta Yai) has nine white sandy beaches running down the entire west coast, forests, and tropical jungle. The geography of the island is typically mangroves; coral rimmed beaches; and tree-covered hills. A popular tourist destination, the islands are known for their long, sandy beaches and scuba diving.Ko Lanta Yai and Ko Lanta Noi are connected with a bridge (opened in 2016). The bridge has led to many tourist projects on the undeveloped island. The first tourist facility on Ko Lanta Noi will open in 2017.
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Wikipedia