Ubon Ratchathani อุบลราชธานี |
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Province | ||
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Nickname(s): Ubon | ||
Map of Thailand highlighting Ubon Ratchathani Province |
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Country | Thailand | |
Capital | Chaeramae | |
Government | ||
• Governor | Somsak Changtrakun (since 2015) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 15,744.850 km2 (6,079.121 sq mi) | |
Area rank | Ranked 5th | |
Population (2014) | ||
• Total | 1,844,669 | |
• Rank | Ranked 3rd | |
• Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) | |
• Density rank | Ranked 44th | |
Time zone | ICT (UTC+7) | |
ISO 3166 code | TH-34 |
Ubon Ratchathani (Thai: อุบลราชธานี, pronounced [ʔù.bōn râːt.t͡ɕʰā.thāː.nīː]), often shortened to Ubon (อุบลฯ), is one of the northeastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, and the country's easternmost. Ubon is about 630 km (390 mi) from Bangkok. Neighboring Provinces are (from west clockwise) Sisaket, Yasothon, and Amnat Charoen. To the north and east it borders Salavan and Champasak of Laos, to the south Preah Vihear of Cambodia.
At Khong Chiam the Mun River, the biggest river of the Khorat Plateau, joins the Mekong, which forms the northeastern boundary of Thailand with Laos. It is called Maenam Song Si or the Mun River alluvium because the brown water from Mekong River is mixed with blue water from Mun River. It is about 84 km (52 mi). from Ubon Ratchathani city centre.
The area in the Dângrêk Mountains where the borders of the three countries Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia meet is promoted as the Emerald Triangle, in contrast to the Golden Triangle in the north of Thailand. The emerald refers to the large intact monsoon forests there.
The city was founded in the late 18th century by Thao Kham Phong, descendant of Phra Wo and Phra Ta, who escaped from King Siribunsan of Vientiane into Siam Kingdom during the reign of King Taksin the Great. Later Thao Kham Phong was appointed to be "Phra Pathum Wongsa", the first ruler of Ubon Ratchathani. In 1792 Ubon Ratchathani became a province, and was also the administrative center of the monthon Isan. In 1925 it became part of monthon Nakhon Ratchasima, with the abolition of the monthon in 1933, the province became a first level subdivision of the country. Until 1972 Ubon Ratchathani Province was the largest province of Thailand by area. Yasothon Province was split off from Ubon Ratchathani Province in 1972, followed by Amnat Charoen Province in 1993.