Country Thailand Time zone THA (UTC+7) Geocode 6504 Province Phitsanulok Province | Seat Bang Rakam Postal code 65140 Area 936 km² | |
 | ||
Bang Rakam (Thai: บางระกำ) is a district (Amphoe) in the western part of Phitsanulok Province, northern Thailand.
Contents
- Map of Bang Rakam District Phitsanulok Thailand
- History
- Geography
- Administration
- Significant Settlements
- Flooding
- Geology
- References
Map of Bang Rakam District, Phitsanulok, Thailand
History
The district was established on December 10, 1905, then named Chum Saeng (ชุมแสง) district. Khun Phadet Prachadun was the first district head officer. Later King Rama VI ordered the district name to be changed to be the same as the central tambon, thus the district name was changed to Bang Rakam on April 24, 1917.
Geography
Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Phrom Phiram, Mueang Phitsanulok, Bang Krathum of Phitsanulok Province, Sam Ngam, Wachirabarami of Phichit Province, Lan Krabue of Kamphaeng Phet Province, Khiri Mat and Kong Krailat of Sukhothai Province.
The district's chief water resources are the Yom River, and the secondary Khlong Bang Kaeo and Khlong Grung Grak. For all practical purposes, Bang Rakam lies within the Yom Basin, although the district's eastern border with Amphoe Mueang Phitsanulok is essentially the booundary between the Yom Basin and the Nan Basin as well. The distinction between the basins is blurry in this region, as the terrain is flat, and residents have diverted much of the water flow for agriculture over the years. Both basins are part of the Chao Phraya Watershed.
Administration
The district is subdivided into 11 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 135 villages (muban). Bang Rakam and Plak Raet are townships (thesaban tambon), covering parts of the same-named tambon. There are further 11 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Significant Settlements
Of the numerous villages that comprise Bang Rakam District, those significant in size as to occupy multiple muban are as follows:
Flooding
During the rainy season of 2006, 24,400 Bang Rakam residents were affected by flooding, including 1,122 residents who contracted conjunctivitis. In late September, 2006, Princess Siribha Chudhabhorn sent trucks of food from the Princess Pa Foundation to assist 11 of the district's villages. In 2006, there were also reported cases of leptospirosis among residents of Bang Rakam, contracted due to the amount of standing water.
Geology
The Thung Yai oil field is located in Bang Rakam.