Phrae

Phrae แพร่
Town
NASA picture of Phrae town among the Phi Pan Nam Mountains
Phrae
Coordinates: 18°8′43″N 100°8′31″E / 18.14528°N 100.14194°E / 18.14528; 100.14194
Country	Thailand
Provinces	Phrae Province
Elevation	159 m (522 ft)
Population (2005)	17,971
Time zone	UTC+7 (UTC+7)

Phrae (Thai: แพร่; pronounced [pʰrɛ̂ː]) is a town (thesaban mueang) in northern Thailand, capital of Phrae Province.

The town covers the whole tambon Nai Wiang of the Mueang Phrae district. It has an area of 9 km² and a population of 17,971 according to the 2005 census. Phrae is 555 km north of Bangkok.

Phrae lies on the Yom River, at an elevation of 159 metres (522 ft). The town is mostly built on the east side of the river, but some outlying parts are built on the west side of the river and are connected to the main part by bridges. There are hills both to the east and west of the town; the Phlueng Range to the east are higher, reaching about 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level, whereas the Phi Pan Nam Range to the west are about 500 metres (1,600 ft) above sea level.

At Phae Muang Phi, a few kilometres north of Phrae, there is an impressive landscape of mushroom rocks and distinctive pillars shaped by natural erosive action.

Phrae has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Winters are dry and warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is very hot with the average daily maximum at 37.6 °C (99.7 °F). The monsoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm.

Wat Chorm Sawan and Wat Phra That Cho Hae are two important Buddhist temples in Phrae. The latter is located on a hill, 9 km away from the town center.