Koh Kong (city)
|
Khemarak Phoumin ក្រុងខេមរភូមិន្ទ |
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|---|---|
| City | |
Koh Kong Bridge
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|
 Khemarak Phoumin
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| Coordinates: 11°37′N 102°59′E / 11.617°N 102.983°E | |
| Country |
 Cambodia
|
| Province | Koh Kong Province |
| District | Smach Meanchey |
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 36,053 |
Krong Khemarak Phoumin (Khmer: ក្រុងខេមរភូមិន្ទ), also known as Koh Kong (Khmer: ក្រុងកោះកុង), is the capital of Koh Kong Province in Cambodia. It is located near the mouth of the Kah Bpow river in Smach Mean Chey district on the Gulf of Thailand. The city lies only 10 kilometres from the Thai border. However, it is 138 kilometres by Highway 48 to National Highway 4 at Sre Ambel and a further 133 kilometres to Phnom Penh. After the completion of the bridges on the Highway 48 in 2007 - 2010 the terrestrial link to Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville has significantly improved.
Koh Kong has long had a reputation as a “Wild West” frontier town. Until recently, access to the town from Cambodia was mostly by sea or air due to the poor road conditions. In this relative isolation, illegal logging, wild animal smuggling, banditry, gambling, prostitution and a soaring rate of HIV AIDS infection have given Koh Kong its frontier town reputation. However, with the building of the Thai-Cambodian bridge across the river and the upgrading of the road to the national highway, industry and investment has increased and the town is becoming a modest tourist destination.
Koh Kong town is accessible by land, sea and air. From Bangkok it is 450 Kilometres by road to Had Lek in Khlong Yai district in Thailand and a short trip from there to the Cham Yeam international border crossing. From the border it is 10 kilometres to the town. Travelling from the capital Phnom Penh, it is 133 kilometres west along National Highway 4 to the town of Sre Ambel. From Sre Ambel a narrow road winds 138 kilometres through the lower Cardamom Mountains before reaching Koh Kong. The road crosses four large rivers where bridges have recently been built. In 2002, the Koh Kong bridge was completed linking the town of Koh Kong with the border crossing to Thailand. The bridge was completed at a cost of US 7.2 million dollars and is 1900 metres long, making it the longest bridge in Cambodia.
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